[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] SPEEDHAMMER:
Hi,

this thread will serve as a useful aid to select a suitable NAND ROM for your HD2 and to also enable you to post questions on "which is the best ROM" and what not. I hope this thread will lead to a less cluttered forum where more often than not, there are questions asked on a suitable NAND Rom.

To begin with, here is a guide to select a suitable ROM:

Currently, there are 5 active categories of ROMs in no particular order:

1) Stock Android 2.4 Ice Cream Sandwich ROM based on a ported over AOSP code.

2) Stock Android 2.4 Ice Cream Sandwich ROM with Cyanogen Mod 9.0.

3) Stock Android 2.3.7 Gingerbread ROM with Cyanogen Mod 7.2.

4) MIUI ROM based on stock Android 2.3 with a custom UI and appearance.

5) HTC Sense 3.0 ROM with Android 2.3, ported over from other devices like the Evo 3D.

Descriptions and comparison of of ROMs:

For testing and as a daily ROM:

1) The latest stock ICS ROM is adapted to the HD2 from Google's AOSP source code and from that of the Galaxy Nexus. It is basically just Android 4.0 without any third party launcher and UI. The launcher is based on Cyanogen Mod's Trebuchet Launcher. Current builds are still in Beta or just came out of Beta stage. However, the ROMs are not buggy or slow to hamper everyday usage. Camera support is still slightly buggy and may result in force closures and VPN is still in the works. Moreover, graphics acceleration may not be as good and fast as 2.3 ROMs. Nevertheless, most features work and you can install your own third party apps like custom launchers and games. But, the developers are still working ever so hard to improve the ROMs so you cannot expect it to be the fastest and most stable just yet. It is recommended that you try this ROM to get a feel of ICS regardless of what ROM you are looking for.

Some ROM Examples:

A) Tytung's Stock ICS ROM: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1354267

B) Michie's Stock ICS ROM: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1417472

C) Smokin 901's MIUI ICS ROM: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1439363

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For a long run everyday ROM with all the latest stuff:

2) This is the current development craze now, which is ICS with CM9. As with the first ROM, this one is also ported over from other devices. However, this ROM also includes Cyanogen Mod 9. Currently, most of the features of ICS are enabled, and all of Cyanogen Mod works. Like the former build, the VPN is still in the works and features like the camera and tethering may require some extra work and trickery to get them fully working. Since this will be the HD2's primary ROM in the very near future, updates are frequent and development is fast. Hence, if you are looking for the latest ROM with Cyanogen Mod and ready to join the development process, this is for you, as this will be definitely be the ROM to flash in future.

Some ROM Examples:

A) Tytung's CM9 ICS ROM: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1434860

B) Redjama's CM9 ICS ROM: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1412168

C) Xylograph's CM9 ICS ROM: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1441462

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The current staple ROM for HD2 users. Suitable for everyday use, and its very stable and fast:

3) This ROM has come a long way from early beta releases and although the ICS CM9 ROMs are set to precede this ROM, this ROM offers the most features in the most stable and fastest package. This is of course due to the developers' hard work and not because of the nature of Android 2.3. These builds have Cyanogen Mod 7 and come with custom launchers like GO Launcher and ADW. Tethering, VPN, etc...everything works and most of the time are available for both clk and Magldr. Moreover, with Cyanogen Mod, you can access advanced features like overclocking, to keep your HD2 competitive with current single core devices. There many varieties of this particular ROM, where the lock screen,font,theme,etc may differ. However, the more eye candy and apps a ROm offers, the heavier it may be. If you are looking for a primary everyday ROM that has speed, stability and features, this category is for you. However, since there are many ROMs to be tried, i am not stating examples.

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For a unique twist to stock 2.3 ROMs and as an no frills alternative to the earlier ROM:

4) If you are looking for a light stock gingerbread ROM, this ROM is the closest you will get to. MIUI Roms are custom designed and modified gingerbread ROMs with a totally different UI, launcher and overall appearance. Although, the features of Cyanogen Mod may be absent, this ROM is still one of the best Android ROMs available. This is also a ROM that you definitely have to try, which could also turn out as an everyday ROM for you.

Some ROM Examples:

A) Langthang's MIUI ROM: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1010498

B) jan-willem 3's MIUI ROM: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1050645

C)patensas's MIUI ROM: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1138088

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The ROM with the most eye candy and user friendly UI:

5) Sense 3.0+ ROMs are basically ROMs that are ported over from other HTC devices like the Evo 3D and adapted to the HD2. It has Android 2.3 and the Sense interface, which is considered to be one of the best UIs ever. Like the MIUI ROM, everything is customized. However, this ROM also includes HTC's own messaging, email, calender, browsing, gallery, etc apps. So all in all, this brings you a better user friendly experience. It also looks the best among most Android ROMs, with its crisp 3D effects. Some ROMs that are ported over from Beats devices like the Sensation XL have the beats functionality as well. Nevertheless, all these perks make the ROM the heaviest among all Android ROMs, and this can hamper performance and boot time. However, if you fancy some overclocking and tweaking, this ROM can be a good choice as an everyday ROM, especially, if you like the Sense UI.

Some ROM Examples:

A) Daekin's Sense 3.5 ROM: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1124757

B) Dansta34's Sense 3.5 ROM: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1275119

C) NRGZ28's Sense 3.5 ROM: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=733649

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*Credits to all the wonderful and hardworking developers like dansta34 for making the HD2 very much alive today

With the above, i conclude my explanations and comparison of the ROMs.

I hope the information have been useful. Do post your questions regarding ROM choices in this thread. XDA members or myself will try to answer your questions quickly.

Disclaimer: I would like to strongly address that the ROMs i featured are not favored by me in any way or are not better in any way. They are just a few choices to get you started. Also, if you are in the HD2 Android business, i would advice you to try at least one ROM from each category and see which one you prefer. All information featured are based on my knowledge and experience. I do not assume responsibility for any harm done to your device when installing ROMs.

It would be better if you can contribute to this thread and provide information like benchmark figures, performance figures like available RAM and also personal experience faced with a ROM.Thank You

Cheers