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Line 9: + + − We have gotten a price quote from a professional lab on the deal (removal, decap, delayer, SEM imaging) and it came out to $400 per layer of the chip, which they estimate will come to "about $2000 total". Plus the cost of the 3DS we will be donating for the hardware sample(s). + Line 18:
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There has been alot of tinkering with the 3DS since launch, and although there have been leaps and bounds due to the combined efforts of many contributors, much of what we're doing would be expedited by extracting the boot code and other proprietary information (secrets) from the custom Nintendo (System-On-a-Chip) of a retail 3DS.
There has been alot of tinkering with the 3DS since launch, and although there have been leaps and bounds due to the combined efforts of many contributors, much of what we're doing would be expedited by extracting the boot code and other proprietary information (secrets) from the custom Nintendo (System-On-a-Chip) of a retail 3DS.
= What is chip decapping? =
For those that are unfamiliar: the CPU, GPU & DSP all exist on one proprietary SOC design used on the 3DS. Secure information is stored there partly, most likely burned onto the SoC during manufacturing and not readable by any other normal means or from outside of the SoC, in such a way that the secure information there, always stays there. In good design it will never reach the main memory of the 3DS and so sensitive data (like encryption keys or algorithms) stay secure.
For those that are unfamiliar: the CPU, GPU & DSP all exist on one proprietary SOC design used on the 3DS. Secure information is stored there partly, most likely burned onto the SoC during manufacturing and not readable by any other normal means or from outside of the SoC, in such a way that the secure information there, always stays there. In good design it will never reach the main memory of the 3DS and so sensitive data (like encryption keys or algorithms) stay secure.
Chip decapping has been used by the "emulation" community to reverse-engineer and recover data from special proprietary chips, such as those in SNES cartridges. It has also been used to to reverse-engineer other hardware to create emulators for other platforms besides the SNES.
Chip decapping has been used by the "emulation" community to reverse-engineer and recover data from special proprietary chips, such as those in SNES cartridges. It has also been used to to reverse-engineer other hardware to create emulators for other platforms besides the SNES.
= How much? =
We have gotten a price quote from a professional lab on the deal (removal, decap, delayer, SEM imaging) and it came out to $400 per layer of the chip, which they estimate will come to "about $2000 total". Plus the cost of the 3DS we will be donating for the hardware sample(s).
= Why should I help? =
Kicking it around with other contributors on this site, we all agreed it would be interesting or valuable to us but $2000+ is simply a lot to ask of anyone to drop suddenly on a hobby project. Also $2000+ while a lot for an individual is a very achievable goal for a fund raising.
Kicking it around with other contributors on this site, we all agreed it would be interesting or valuable to us but $2000+ is simply a lot to ask of anyone to drop suddenly on a hobby project. Also $2000+ while a lot for an individual is a very achievable goal for a fund raising.
We're considering giving contributors a copy of the images produced as thanks.
We're considering giving contributors a copy of the images produced as thanks.
= How can I help? =
If you'd like to donate and help contribute to this cause you can do so by donating [http://n-dev.net/donate.php here].
If you'd like to donate and help contribute to this cause you can do so by donating [http://n-dev.net/donate.php here].