Page 1 of 2
Alexln's Game Boy Zero
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 11:45 am
by alexln
Welcome to my Game Boy Zero project.
I am a danish guy who accidentally stumbled upon Wermy's first guide on Youtube and was instantly hooked. This is the first time i've ever embarked on a project like this. But i love the classic Nintendo games and will look forward to playing them again!
The main difference on my GBZ build compared to others, is that i will be using a DC jack power socket (like the original GB) instead of a micro USB. This is purely for aesthetic reasons. Other than that i will use the following components:
Pi Zero
Gearbest Screen
Helders new AIO
Dominators screen surround and game cartridge stickers
Powerboost 1000c
Prerunnerseth's SD cartridge slot
Wermy's 3d printed screen bracket, button wells, DS-lite cartridge slot mount and power switch brace
Camble's safe shutdown switch
DS-lite cartridge slot - has yet to arrive
A bigger speaker (2 watt i believe)
I am also planning to use a custom splash screen.
Progress so far:
[spoiler="Lots of pictures"]

- I bought a cheap rotary tool. And it works great.
- 2016-09-28 18.52.47.jpg (1.23 MiB) Viewed 11189 times

- 2016-09-28 18.55.29.jpg (966.97 KiB) Viewed 11189 times

- Test fitting Dominators screen surround
- 2016-09-28 19.16.05.jpg (863.98 KiB) Viewed 11189 times

- Soldering the jumper wire. Ended up removing the chip completely because of poor soldering.
- 2016-10-08 18.34.46.jpg (1.13 MiB) Viewed 11189 times

- Testing the zero
- 2016-10-08 23.12.51.jpg (1.21 MiB) Viewed 11189 times

- Testing the screen after modification
- 2016-10-09 00.57.04.jpg (1.03 MiB) Viewed 11189 times

- 2016-10-09 00.57.07.jpg (4.02 MiB) Viewed 11189 times

- Nice and clean work space.
- 2016-10-09 15.30.53.jpg (1.55 MiB) Viewed 11189 times

- The bigger speaker.
- 2016-10-09 15.44.54.jpg (1.21 MiB) Viewed 11189 times
[/spoiler]
I had to trim of the edges of the speaker and the compartment around the speaker in the case, in order to have it fit. Can't wait to test it out!
Re: Alexln's Game Boy Zero
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 11:55 am
by alexln
Here's a picture of the modified speaker next to an unmodified version:

- 2016-10-09 15.45.07.jpg (1.14 MiB) Viewed 11187 times
I've decided to clean the original screen protector with acetone. I won't be using it for this build. But i have enough materials for another build (once i've ordered Kite's Super AIO).

- 2016-10-09 17.22.36.jpg (1.61 MiB) Viewed 11187 times

- 2016-10-09 17.24.42.jpg (1.35 MiB) Viewed 11187 times
It's a lot of work. I should have used a mask and gloves.

- 2016-10-09 17.25.43.jpg (1.78 MiB) Viewed 11187 times
I got the SD cartridge slot from Prerunnerseth. Unfortunately the envelope wasn't protected so the SD card holder got quite banged up. Fortunately i was able to save it using a couple of tweezers.
[spoiler="The game cartridge"]

- 2016-10-13 14.44.17.jpg (952.53 KiB) Viewed 11187 times

- 2016-10-13 14.44.28.jpg (956.02 KiB) Viewed 11187 times

- 2016-10-13 14.44.38.jpg (1.1 MiB) Viewed 11187 times

- 2016-10-13 14.44.45.jpg (1.13 MiB) Viewed 11187 times

- 2016-10-13 14.46.44.jpg (1.04 MiB) Viewed 11187 times

- 2016-10-13 14.46.52.jpg (947.2 KiB) Viewed 11187 times
[/spoiler]
I think it looks pretty good.
Re: Alexln's Game Boy Zero
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 11:59 am
by alexln
I glued the screen (and screen bracket) in place. Might have to move the driver board at some future time.

- 2016-10-18 23.21.09.jpg (1.06 MiB) Viewed 11186 times
How it looks so far.

- 2016-10-18 23.03.39.jpg (1.95 MiB) Viewed 11186 times
I can't get any further until Helders AIO arrives. Hopefully that will be any day now.
Re: Alexln's Game Boy Zero
Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 3:27 am
by vnman
Do you intend to use just the two buttons A & B?
If not be careful when drilling the X & Y buttons otherwise you might damage the screen. As I see it you will get your screen cover in bits of plastic when you start drilling for the X &Y or anything you need to do (modding) of the top case.
Re: Alexln's Game Boy Zero
Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 7:33 am
by alexln
vnman wrote:Do you intend to use just the two buttons A & B?
If not be careful when drilling the X & Y buttons otherwise you might damage the screen. As I see it you will get your screen cover in bits of plastic when you start drilling for the X &Y or anything you need to do (modding) of the top case.
No, the intention is to drill X and Y once i get Helders board. I think i have to remove the glue and screen before i drill. It shouldn't be that troublesome though.
Re: Alexln's Game Boy Zero
Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 8:31 am
by sotasystems
alexln wrote:vnman wrote:Do you intend to use just the two buttons A & B?
If not be careful when drilling the X & Y buttons otherwise you might damage the screen. As I see it you will get your screen cover in bits of plastic when you start drilling for the X &Y or anything you need to do (modding) of the top case.
No, the intention is to drill X and Y once i get Helders board. I think i have to remove the glue and screen before i drill. It shouldn't be that troublesome though.
As I was drilling the holes in my build, my screen was already glued in and the tension on the case cracked the screen

I would first drill the holes, put in the button pcb to see if everything lines up with the spacing and then test fit the screen to check if any of the button holes become inacessible (because that's what almost happened to me). Then I would glue in the screen and [mention]wermy[/mention]'s 3d printed bracket, so that everything fits without wrong spacing.
Re: Alexln's Game Boy Zero
Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2016 2:20 pm
by fcn
alexln wrote:Here's a picture of the modified speaker next to an unmodified version:
2016-10-09 15.45.07.jpg
I've decided to clean the original screen protector with acetone. I won't be using it for this build. But i have enough materials for another build (once i've ordered Kite's Super AIO).
2016-10-09 17.22.36.jpg2016-10-09 17.24.42.jpg
It's a lot of work. I should have used a mask and gloves.
2016-10-09 17.25.43.jpg
I got the SD cartridge slot from Prerunnerseth. Unfortunately the envelope wasn't protected so the SD card holder got quite banged up. Fortunately i was able to save it using a couple of tweezers.
[spoiler="The game cartridge"]2016-10-13 14.44.17.jpg
2016-10-13 14.44.28.jpg
2016-10-13 14.44.38.jpg
2016-10-13 14.44.45.jpg
2016-10-13 14.46.44.jpg
2016-10-13 14.46.52.jpg[/spoiler]
I think it looks pretty good.
Does it come out clean when you use acetone? Or was it hard? I have a spare screen protector, I want to clean it and use it too.
Re: Alexln's Game Boy Zero
Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2016 2:51 pm
by alexln
fcn wrote:alexln wrote:Here's a picture of the modified speaker next to an unmodified version:
2016-10-09 15.45.07.jpg
I've decided to clean the original screen protector with acetone. I won't be using it for this build. But i have enough materials for another build (once i've ordered Kite's Super AIO).
2016-10-09 17.22.36.jpg2016-10-09 17.24.42.jpg
It's a lot of work. I should have used a mask and gloves.
2016-10-09 17.25.43.jpg
I got the SD cartridge slot from Prerunnerseth. Unfortunately the envelope wasn't protected so the SD card holder got quite banged up. Fortunately i was able to save it using a couple of tweezers.
[spoiler="The game cartridge"]2016-10-13 14.44.17.jpg
2016-10-13 14.44.28.jpg
2016-10-13 14.44.38.jpg
2016-10-13 14.44.45.jpg
2016-10-13 14.46.44.jpg
2016-10-13 14.46.52.jpg[/spoiler]
I think it looks pretty good.
Does it come out clean when you use acetone? Or was it hard? I have a spare screen protector, I want to clean it and use it too.
I wasn't hard, but it takes 10-20 minutes of scrubbing with a cloth. But afterwards it's perfectly clear. I'm waiting on some paper from China that allows me to print stickers. When it arrives i'll print a screen surround and hopefully it'll look as good as dominators

Re: Alexln's Game Boy Zero
Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2016 4:41 pm
by Muon
Looking good, you've got the same helping hand as me, I see you've got it weighted down with a hammer. It's really annoying the way it keeps tipping over isn't it? I find a few big bits of blu-tack around the base can help steady it too. What kind of speaker is that by the way, do you have a link?
Re: Alexln's Game Boy Zero
Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2016 6:51 am
by alexln
Muon wrote:Looking good, you've got the same helping hand as me, I see you've got it weighted down with a hammer. It's really annoying the way it keeps tipping over isn't it? I find a few big bits of blu-tack around the base can help steady it too. What kind of speaker is that by the way, do you have a link?
Blu-tack is apparently a necessity in these builds. I have to try out your tip!

.
This is the speaker:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/231788510418?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT
I haven't tested it out yet. And i'm not sure if i'll end up using it. I have to cut out the battery compartment to fit it and i'd rather not. I've bought some ipad speakers from China as well. I got the idea from Kite.
If you want one of the speakers i'd gladly ship it to you free of charge if you live in (northern) Europe
