I'm not sure what to do any more - I've been looking more into the cost of things and it does add up quite a bit hahaICMF wrote: ↑Sun Jun 25, 2017 6:50 pmOkay first, taking a step back: computers. (since you asked elsewhere)
There are a bunch of option with pluses and minuses to each, but I'll make it simple: use a Pi0W. It has the smaller form factor of the Pi0 (which makes it easier to fit inside a gameboy shell... and *possible* to fit in an altoids tin), but it also has WiFi and Bluetooth, which makes a USB hub less critical. That saves some money, and some space in your build.
again, in order...spofy wrote: ↑Sun Jun 25, 2017 2:27 pm- Not entirely sure about this point; I have no idea of the pros/cons of those options (I don't actually know what any of those things do/are
- I'd probably just settle for speaker sound tbh haha
- ummm.... i'm not sure, i don't really need to be able to do any fancy extra stuff so.. none? (yeah im pretty conscious about keeping it simple/ as low cost as i can so my parents don't get mad at me for spending too much hahahah)
- I don't mind; whatever's cheapest as long as it works then I'm happy
GPIO vs Teensy
- GPIO means you solder directly to the Raspberry Pi. The board has two rows of holes on the side - those are the General Purpose Input/Output connections. The benefit is, fewer components (you don't need a microcontroller) = lower cost and less stuff to cram in the case, plus you leave the USB empty, to use with something else. The downside is, you need to program your Pi so it understands what those inputs mean which can be tricky and make troubleshooting more difficult, and you're kind of locked in to that method.
- Teensy (or Pro Micro, or microcontrollers) means you use essentially another small computer, which you program to act like a keyboard. The benefit is, because it's a separate device, it's a little easier to program and troubleshoot, and you don't have to worry about compatibility issues with the Pi - especially if you update the software later. The down side is that it adds cost ($3 - 15, depending on the device), takes up some space, and uses up the USB port.
USB vs. PWM audio. The Pi0 doesn't really have an audio output, so you need a device to pull out the audio signal.
- USB means using a USB sound card, which decodes audio from Retropie (the emulator software). It's a small USB dongle. The benefit is ease and supposedly a cleaner signal (cleaner sound); downside is, it uses up the USB port. Also, it only works once the emulation software has loaded, so if you want a fancy startup screen, you won't hear it.
-PWM is Pulse Wave Modulation. Basically, it's pulling the limited signal directly off the Pi. You'll need an amp, and possibly a filter circuit, so it's a little more 'hands-on' to build, but it works from startup. So pro: no USB, always on; con: more complicated, may be inferior sound.
USB connections.
-The Pi0 and Pi0W only have one USB connection. Several of your build choices amount to "connect X via USB, or use a different method". If you're just using the Pi, you can only pick one thing to connect via USB; if you add a USB hub, you can use all of the USB options. A hub adds some cost and takes up space, but may make it easier to connect some components.
Cartridge reader.
-When completed, the Pi itself will be buried inside the shell. You can do a lot via WiFi, but in order to physically access the MicroSD card (and you will), you'll have to open up the device. Or, you can - in effect - relocate the MicroSD card into the cartridge, so you just remove the cartridge, then pull out the MicroSD. So in practical terms, it can save you from re-opening the device (which is a hassle, and risks stripping the screws). The real reason most people want to do it, though, is that it's cool. It's reading the games off a cartridge, just like a real game boy! The down sides are, it takes up a bunch of space and you may not physically have enough room (this is where the AIO boards come in handy - more stuff in less space); also, it's tricky to pull off - it seems prone to interference, and a lot of people have reported difficulties. It's certainly not impossible, but it can take some trial and error.
Lastly, feel free to ask questions. There's a lot of info scattered around the forum and it can be overwhelming, and tough to get up to speed. As long as you're not demanding ridiculous additions to the Minty Pi (can you fit a GTX 1070 inside so I can play Vive games?!?).
I can't really tell if it would be cheaper to make a minty pi or make a very minimal gbz; or maybe i should try and find a cheaper project to work on (any suggestions welcome lol)
Also I'm not sure whether I would need the mega kit or essentials kit for the pi, the mega kit's like almost double the price
i think i'll probably make the gbz because i feel like there's less time pressure to order the parts and probably more info about it that i can find on the forums