The Nintendo 3DS is a handheld gaming console released by Nintendo in 2011. It has the ability to display stereoscopic 3D effects without the use of 3D glasses. The 3DS uses SD cards as external data storage for downloaded software, digital games, themes, screenshots, and other data.
The 3DS comes with a default 2GB SD card, but many users choose to upgrade to larger SD cards for additional storage capacity. The 3DS supports standard SD cards up to 2GB, and SDHC cards from 4GB up to 32GB. The specific SD card specifications and compatibility requirements will be covered in this article.
Default SD Card
The Nintendo 3DS comes with a 2GB SD card installed by default. This SD card, which is located under the cover on the system’s right side, enables users to save game data, downloadable software, photos, videos, and more on their 3DS.
Compatible SD Card Sizes
The Nintendo 3DS family of systems, including the original 3DS, 3DS XL, 2DS, New 3DS, New 3DS XL, and New 2DS XL, are compatible with standard SD cards up to 2GB in size, and SDHC cards from 4GB up to 32GB in size [1]. SDXC cards, which are 64GB and above, are not officially supported.
The most commonly recommended SD card sizes by 3DS users seem to be 16GB or 32GB, which provide a good balance of affordability and ample storage space. Games can range from a few hundred megabytes up to 2GB, with many averaging around 1GB [2]. A 16GB or 32GB SDHC card will be able to hold a sizable digital game library.
While SD cards up to 32GB are compatible, users have reported being able to use 64GB and 128GB SDXC cards as well with some preparation and formatting workarounds. However, SDXC support is not guaranteed.
SDHC vs SDXC
The main differences between SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) and SDXC (Secure Digital eXtended Capacity) cards are the supported capacity and file system.
SDHC cards have a maximum capacity of 32GB, while SDXC cards can go up to 2TB. So SDXC cards are better for storing large amounts of data.
SDHC uses the FAT32 file system which has a maximum file size of 4GB. SDXC uses the exFAT file system which supports much larger individual file sizes beyond 4GB.[1]
This means SDXC cards are better suited for large files like HD video recordings. The 3DS can only recognize cards up to 32GB so the extra capacity of SDXC cards is not fully utilized.
Either SDHC or SDXC cards will work fine for the 3DS. SDHC is likely sufficient for most users’ game data storage needs.
[1] https://gbatemp.net/threads/noob-question-upgrading-3ds-sd-card-does-it-matter-if-its-an-sdxc-or-sdhc.578062/
Speed Class Rating
The speed class rating of a micro SD card indicates the minimum guaranteed read and write speeds. Most micro SD cards will have a speed class rating between 4 and 10, with 10 being the fastest.
For optimal performance with the Nintendo 3DS, experts recommend using a micro SD card with a speed class rating of 10 (Class 10) or higher. This will ensure fast read and write speeds for downloading digital games and saving gameplay data [1].
According to forums, Class 10 cards with read speeds of at least 10 MB/s are sufficient for the 3DS [2]. The 3DS cannot fully utilize the fastest UHS-1 micro SD cards, so Class 10 cards provide the best value for performance.
In summary, a Class 10 or higher micro SD card is recommended to avoid slow downs when reading and writing data on the 3DS.
Formatting
In order for an SD card to work properly with the Nintendo 3DS, it needs to be formatted to the FAT32 file system. The 3DS is not compatible with other common file systems like exFAT or NTFS. FAT32 allows the 3DS to read and write data to the SD card.[1]
Most SD cards come formatted as FAT32 out of the box, but some may be formatted with a different file system. It’s important to check the format of any new SD card and reformat it to FAT32 if needed before using it with your 3DS.
You can format an SD card to FAT32 using the built-in format tool in Windows, MacOS, or Linux operating systems. There are also several free third-party formatting tools available to download. The process is straightforward – just select the correct drive, choose FAT32, and start the formatting process. [2]
Formatting will erase all data on the card, so be sure to back up anything you want to keep before formatting. Once complete, the SD card will be ready to use with your Nintendo 3DS.
Brands
When choosing an SD card for your Nintendo 3DS, it’s generally recommended to stick with reputable, mainstream brands for reliability. Some of the most popular SD card brands for 3DS include:
- SanDisk – One of the largest and most well-known SD card manufacturers. Their cards are widely available and come in all sizes needed for the 3DS.
- Samsung – Another very large electronics brand that makes quality SD cards. Their EVO line is popular for its good speeds.
- Kingston – A major memory brand with a long history in SD cards and flash storage. Their SD cards offer good performance.
- Lexar – A reliable brand owned by Western Digital known for high-end SD cards focused on speed and capacity.
While lesser-known brands can sometimes offer cheaper prices, sticking with brands like these gives you the peace of mind of better quality control and customer support if any issues arise.
Counterfeits
There is a risk of accidentally purchasing counterfeit or fake SD cards when shopping online, especially for very large capacity cards. Fake cards will often report an incorrect capacity to your computer and 3DS. This can lead to data loss or corruption when the true smaller capacity of the card is reached. According to users on Reddit and other forums, fake cards are most common when purchasing 128GB+ cards for very cheap prices on sites like eBay or Amazon.
One user on Reddit reported their brand new 128GB card spontaneously combusting after a week of use in their 3DS (source). It turned out to be a counterfeit card with a much smaller real capacity. On GBAtemp forums, a user unknowingly purchased a counterfeit 64GB Samsung card on eBay that actually only had 8GB capacity (source). This caused game crashes and save data loss on their hacked 3DS.
To avoid these issues, carefully vet sellers with lots of reviews, purchase major brands from authorized retailers, and use tools to test the real capacity of cards you purchase. It’s safest to avoid very cheap high capacity cards that seem too good to be true.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Nintendo 3DS uses standard SD cards as its primary storage media. The system is compatible with both SDHC and SDXC cards, which offer capacities from 4GB up to 2TB. The ideal size for most users is 32GB or 64GB. While the 3DS can technically support cards up to 2TB, these ultra high capacity cards are overkill for the 3DS and expensive.
The 3DS is compatible with Class 4, Class 6, Class 10 and UHS-I speed rated cards, but a Class 10 card is recommended for optimal performance. There’s no need to buy expensive high speed UHS cards. When formatting an SD card for the 3DS, you should use the FAT32 file system for cards 32GB or less, or exFAT for 64GB and above. Major brands like Sandisk, Samsung and Kingston are recommended for reliability. Avoid cheap knock-off cards that could have compatibility or reliability issues. By choosing the right SD card format and capacity, you can easily expand the storage on your 3DS.
References
This article was written based on the author’s personal experience setting up and using SD cards with the Nintendo 3DS console. No outside sources were directly referenced or cited.