Hardware Specs

• Mass: 275 grams (9.7 ounces).
• Physical size: 148.7 x 84.7 x 28.9 mm (5.85 x 3.33 x 1.13 inches).
• Screens: Two separate 3-inch TFT LCD, resolution of 256 x 192 pixels, dimensions of 62 x 46 mm and 77 mm diagonal, and a dot pitch of 0.24 mm. Note that the gap between the screens is approximately 21 mm, equivalent to about 92 "hidden" lines. The lowermost display of the Nintendo DS is overlaid with a resistive touchscreen, which registers pressure from one point on the screen at a time, averaging multiple points of contact if necessary.
• CPUs: Two ARM processors, an ARM946E-S main CPU and ARM7TDMI co-processor at clock speeds of 67 MHz and 33 MHz respectively, with 4 MB of main memory, which requires 1.65 volts.

The system's 3D hardware performs transform and lighting, texture-coordinate transformation, texture mapping, alpha blending, anti-aliasing, cel shading and z-buffering. However, it uses point (nearest neighbor) texture filtering, leading to some titles having a blocky appearance. The system is theoretically capable of rendering about 120,000 triangles per second at 60 frames per second. Unlike most 3D hardware, it has a set limit on the number of triangles it can render as part of a single scene; the maximum amount is about 6144 vertices, or 2048 triangles per frame. The 3D hardware is designed to render to a single screen at a time, so rendering 3D to both screens is difficult and decreases performance significantly. The DS is generally more limited by its polygon budget than by its pixel fill rate. There are also 512 kilobytes of texture memory per screen, and the maximum texture size is 1024x1024 pixels.

The system has two 2D engines, one per screen. These are similar to (but more powerful than) the Game Boy Advance's single 2D engine. However the cores are divided into the main core and sub core. Only the main core is capable of vertex 3D rendering. There is also 656 kilobytes of Video memory.[17]

The unit has compatibility with Wi-FiIEEE 802.11b, but only supports the WEP security. Nintendo has no plans to implement the stronger WPA security at this time.[18] The unit also supports a special wireless format created by Nintendo and secured using RSA security signing (used by the wireless drawing and chatting program PictoChat for the DS). Wi-Fi is used for accessing the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, where users can use the internet or compete with other users playing the same Wi-Fi compatible game.

[edit] Media specifications

Games use a proprietary solid stateROM "game card" format resembling the memory cards used in other portable electronic devices such as digital cameras. It currently supports cards up to 2 gigabit (2048 Mb or 256 MB) in size.[19] The cards always have a small amount of flash memory or an EEPROM to save user data, for example progress in a game or high scores. The game cards are 33.0 × 35.0 × 3.8 mm (approximately half the width and half as thick as Game Boy Advance cartridges) and weigh around 3.5 g (1/8 ounces).

Based on a blog on IGN by the developer of MechAssault: Phantom War, larger (such as 128 MB) cards have a slower data transfer rate than the more common smaller (such as 64 MB) cards. However the specific rates were not mentioned.[20]

The system's code-name was Nitro, which is where the letters NTR in the serial number written on the back of game cards and the system itself come from. NTR-XXX indicates the model numbers found on the original ****Nintendo DS and its accessories.

[edit] Firmware

Nintendo's own custom firmware boots the system (first requiring the player to read health information, but it is easily skipped by pressing any button on the system or touching any place on the screen): from here, the user chooses to run a Nintendo DS or Game Boy Advance game, use PictoChat, or search for downloadable games. The latter is an adaptation of the Game Boy Advance's popular "single cartridge multiplayer" feature, adapted to support the system's wireless link capabilities (players without the game search for content, while players with the game broadcast it; the game host is able to set the rules of the game).

In November 2004, Nintendo announced that there could be some sort of "download kiosk" that would transmit a signal for a Nintendo DS in the area to pick up, and download a demo of a game (just like the "Download Play" feature that it in fact, uses). As of 2006, there are now download kiosks placed in select EB Games, GameStop, Game Crazy, Toys "R" Us, Wal-Mart, and Target stores.

The PictoChat program, which is permanently stored on the unit, allows users to communicate with other Nintendo DS users within range over the wireless network by text, handwriting, or drawings, using the DS's touchscreen and stylus for input, or a small visual keyboard on the screen.

The DS's main menu also features an alarm clock and the ability to set preferences for boot priority (booting to games when inserted, or always booting to the main menu), Game Boy Advance game screen usage (top or bottom), and user information (name, date of birth, favorite color, time, etc.).

[edit] Battery life

The Nintendo DS contains a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. On a full four-hour charge, the battery life can last about 10 hours.[21] Battery life is affected by multiple factors including speaker volume, use of one or both screens, back lighting, and use of wireless connectivity. The biggest effect on battery life is caused by using the backlight, which can be turned off in the main menu screen, or on selected games (such as Super Mario 64 DS).

The battery is designed to be removed only when it expires and should be replaced. It is removable with the use of a Phillips-head screwdriver. Removing the battery will cause the Nintendo DS to prompt the user to re-enter all of the unit's settings (user's birthday, user's name, etc.), but it will not affect saved data on Nintendo DS game cards or Game Boy Advance game paks.

To sustain battery life in the midst of a game, users can close the Nintendo DS system, which will then put the DS in sleep mode that also pauses the game that is being played. A system in sleep mode can run for several hundred hours without completely draining the battery. However, closing the shell while playing a Game Boy Advance game will not put the Nintendo DS into sleep mode; the game will continue to run normally including the back light. Certain DS games (such as Animal Crossing: Wild World) also will not pause but the backlight, screens, and speakers will turn off. When saving the game in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl and Zoo Tycoon DS, the DS will not go into sleep mode.

Replacement batteries are available from select electronic stores and Nintendo's website.

Thx for the info.

The Nintendo DS wasn't even as powerful as the N64, So I was looking at a the PSP which is a little faster than the PS2. But now I am waiting, because I have read one report that the New N3DS is alot more powerful. The N3DS on Hardcoreware.net has been reported to have a Processor from DMP called PICA200, which is said to be clocked at 200MHz, which this is stated on more than one website, but I have only read on Hardcoreware.net that the GPU can be clocked at 400MHz. This is believable after seeing the screen shots for Dead or Alive for N3DS. It would be nice, if Nintendo releases their own in depth Hardware specs.

The Nintendo DS wasn't even as powerful as the N64, So I was looking at a the PSP which is a little faster than the PS2. But now I am waiting, because I have read one report that the New N3DS is alot more powerful. The N3DS on Hardcoreware.net has been reported to have a Processor from DMP called PICA200, which is said to be clocked at 200MHz, which this is stated on more than one website, but I have only read on Hardcoreware.net that the CPU can be clocked at 400MHz. This is believable after seeing the screen shots for Dead or Alive for N3DS. It would be nice, if Nintendo releases their own in depth Hardware specs.

monanri

Dude... you do know this is a 3 year old thread?

This 3 year old thread can still be accessed now! I put the 411 up there in case someone is looking for 3DS 411!