Nintendo 3DS Architecture - A Practical Analysis

Cover
1 - About this edition
	1.1 - Open to feedback
2 - A quick introduction
	2.1 - Recommended reading
3 - Suporting Imagery
	3.1 - Model
	3.2 - Motherboard
	3.3 - Diagram
4 - Models and variants
5 - Displays
	5.1 - Principles
	5.2 - The special screen
		5.2.1 - A small update
	5.3 - The special games
6 - CPU
	6.1 - An iconic industry
		6.1.1 - New dialects…
		6.1.2 - … and a fragmented distribution
	6.2 - Core functionality
		6.2.1 - The original MPCore
		6.2.2 - The ‘New’ MPCore
		6.2.3 - The AXI bus
	6.3 - Any other CPUs?
		6.3.1 - Multi-core communication
	6.4 - Memory available
		6.4.1 - A new type of memory spotted
	6.5 - Faster memory transfers
	6.6 - Programming
		6.6.1 - Dealing with the ‘New’ hardware
7 - Graphics
	7.1 - Architecture of the PICA200
		7.1.1 - Organising the content
		7.1.2 - Adopting open standards
	7.2 - Constructing the frame
		7.2.1 - Commands
		7.2.2 - Vertex
		7.2.3 - Geometry
		7.2.4 - Rasteriser
		7.2.5 - Fragment
		7.2.6 - Post-processing
	7.3 - Interactive comparison
	7.4 - Nostalgic rendering
8 - Audio
	8.1 - The 3DS-only hardware
		8.1.1 - Operation
	8.2 - The backwards-compatible block
	8.3 - Pipeline
9 - I/O
	9.1 - External interfaces and peripherals
		9.1.1 - The ‘New’ enhancements
	9.2 - Internal interfaces
		9.2.1 - The supplemental computer
	9.3 - Ready for trends
10 - Operating System
	10.1 - Architecture
		10.1.1 - The security processor
		10.1.2 - The user processor
		10.1.3 - Imposed behaviour
	10.2 - Storage Medium
		10.2.1 - Boot ROMs
		10.2.2 - OTP memory
		10.2.3 - eMMC NAND
		10.2.4 - SD/microSD
	10.3 - Boot process
		10.3.1 - Multi-core chaos
		10.3.2 - Boot procedure
		10.3.3 - Alternative boot processes
	10.4 - Interactive shell
		10.4.1 - Maintaining consistency
		10.4.2 - The legacy shell
		10.4.3 - Updatability
11 - Games
	11.1 - Development ecosystem
		11.1.1 - Hardware Kits
		11.1.2 - Software Kits
	11.2 - Medium
		11.2.1 - Gamecards
		11.2.2 - eShop/SD Card
		11.2.3 - Local wireless
	11.3 - Virtual console(s)
		11.3.1 - Extra backwards compatibility
	11.4 - Game updates
	11.5 - Network service
12 - Anti-Piracy and Homebrew
	12.1 - Main targets
	12.2 - The card reader front
	12.3 - The Operating System front
		12.3.1 - Dedicated hardware
		12.3.2 - Chain of trust
		12.3.3 - Operating system functions
		12.3.4 - Flaws
	12.4 - Defeat
		12.4.1 - The DS flashcard era (2011-2013)
		12.4.2 - The 3DS flashcard era (2013-2016)
			12.4.2.1 - The first real 3DS Flashcard
			12.4.2.2 - Inside the Gateway3DS
			12.4.2.3 - Subsequent anecdotes
		12.4.3 - Nintendo acts fast
		12.4.4 - The dawn of homebrew (2014)
			12.4.4.1 - Open-source SDKs
			12.4.4.2 - Ninjhax chain
			12.4.4.3 - Gaining Kernel11 access
		12.4.5 - Most-wanted tools
		12.4.6 - New console, permanent mods (2015)
			12.4.6.1 - arm9loaderhax
			12.4.6.2 - The effects of arm9loaderhax
		12.4.7 - The Golden Age (2016-2017)
			12.4.7.1 - Extracting Boot9
			12.4.7.2 - Sighax
			12.4.7.3 - Boot9strap
			12.4.7.4 - Ntrboot
		12.4.8 - The remaining years (2018-present)
			12.4.8.1 - The Safe Mode route
			12.4.8.2 - The HOME Menu route
			12.4.8.3 - Post-2023 and conclusions
13 - That’s all folks
14 - Support
	14.1 - Other ways of contributing
	14.2 - Acknowledgments
15 - Licensing
16 - Changelog
17 - Sources