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D56: Gameboy Pi3

Posted: Fri May 20, 2016 9:47 pm
by DirtyBullets
Here we go, another GameBoy mod,

Spec:
* Black ABS case
* Raspberry Pi 3 (v.B)
* 4000mAh Power Bank
* common ground keyboard PCB
* Teensy LC (with different script)
* RBG led's (to light up the buttons)
* Tact Switch power button instead of slide switch
* 640x480 LCD

Here is the progress so far (Images Hosted by Doom56.com


I brought multiple power banks
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Took them apart to see what i can use
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The Raspberry Pi 3 (Model B) Turned up but needs slimming
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Removed the Connectors (USB, Network, Camera, ect)
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Marked the link for further slimming
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First power bank battery is a bit too big
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Found the right ones so started to remove plastic
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In with the new batteries (2x 2000mAh)
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The battery cover would not shut so had to file some edges down
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Made a USB socket and added some Epoxy to give it some strength
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soldered a tactile switch to a board, Then filed it down to make it smaller
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Ripped an old game cart apart and started filing them down to make a frame cover, then dab of black hot glue was applied
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added a clear window so you can still the pi and may add a ligh to shine too (if i have room)
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Super glued in the tact switch to the power button and added a dab of glue to stop the switch sliding
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little messy but thats the way i do my projects (kinda my signature lol)
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Re: D56: Gameboy Pi3

Posted: Sat May 21, 2016 7:15 am
by solder
Looks pretty clean to me ;]

Good work & thanks for sharing :]

Re: D56: Gameboy Pi3

Posted: Sun May 22, 2016 8:39 pm
by DirtyBullets
Installed the Power board from a battery bank enough to provide upto 2.1A (with indicators)
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Added the micro USB breakout board
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Installed the USB socket ready for expansions
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Back half almost done, Need to add a distribution board soon
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Re: D56: Gameboy Pi3

Posted: Mon May 23, 2016 12:17 am
by Kilren
Awesome work. Definitely one that I am keeping my eye on. Interesting choice with the batteries, compared to a pack.

Just a friendly tip for the forum, put your pictures in spoilers for ease of navigation. Here's the syntax code (substitute the one parentheses for a bracket, and replace text with what you want to say). (spoiler="text"][img]image_source.jpeg[/img][/spoiler]

Re: D56: Gameboy Pi3

Posted: Mon May 23, 2016 3:07 am
by Camble
I really like the visible Pi inside the game cartridge.

Re: D56: Gameboy Pi3

Posted: Mon May 23, 2016 3:15 am
by SidSilver
Very nice ! ;)

Where have you found your batteries ?

Re: D56: Gameboy Pi3

Posted: Mon May 23, 2016 7:11 am
by wermy
Dang, nice! I know a lot of people are interested in doing a Pi3 build -- have you run into any heat issues yet? Seems like my overheating indicator comes on all the time on my Pi 3's when under heavy load. :\

Re: D56: Gameboy Pi3

Posted: Mon May 23, 2016 7:20 am
by Mad_Duke
wermy wrote:Dang, nice! I know a lot of people are interested in doing a Pi3 build -- have you run into any heat issues yet? Seems like my overheating indicator comes on all the time on my Pi 3's when under heavy load. :\
Really?

I've put it in the gameboy enclosure and ran a 24 hour on the loop Metal Slug 3 or 4. And it worked normal (plus a few hours of playing Mario World with my gf.

Could you recommend any way of tracking/logging the temperature? I'll do another test qute soon (And I'm deciding to leave the top of my build opened) Plus, I'm new in the Pi world so what are standard, hot and "too hot" operating temps?

Re: D56: Gameboy Pi3

Posted: Mon May 23, 2016 7:26 am
by wermy
Mad_Duke wrote: Really?

I've put it in the gameboy enclosure and ran a 24 hour on the loop Metal Slug 3 or 4. And it worked normal (plus a few hours of playing Mario World with my gf.

Could you recommend any way of tracking/logging the temperature? I'll do another test qute soon (And I'm deciding to leave the top of my build opened) Plus, I'm new in the Pi world so what are standard, hot and "too hot" operating temps?
Well that's encouraging. I was just saying that based off of a fresh Raspbian install, with a copper heat sink installed, compiling some pretty hefty code bases (so all CPU cores pegged at 100% for hours on-end). The overheating square/indicator kept showing up in the top right corner (it's orangish/yellow), indicating that the CPU had reached whatever the default thermal limit is, and it had underclocked the CPU until it cooled down. I had to point a desk fan at it to get it to stop underclocking itself. Had this happen with 2 Pi 3's.

So yeah that's why I haven't bene recommending folks use the Pi3 (in addition to the power requirements). But if it's not as big an issue as I've been making it out to be, then great! :)

Re: D56: Gameboy Pi3

Posted: Mon May 23, 2016 7:51 am
by Mad_Duke
wermy wrote: So yeah that's why I haven't bene recommending folks use the Pi3 (in addition to the power requirements). But if it's not as big an issue as I've been making it out to be, then great! :)
Thanks for the info. I don't really think that with this application (Emulators love single core performance and usually max out with dual cores) people will run into problems if they put any kind of heatsink on the chip. But for the general computing stuff (or compiling like you said which uses all the cores) it might be a problem. But still, integrating a small vent could be a good idea. Of course, not to keep it "always on" but having a simple on/off button or switch when needed.

I think I'll go and do some tests with Quake 3 when I get the chance also.