Alexln's Game Boy Zero

[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 11184 times

2016-09-28 18.55.29.jpg (966.97 KiB) Viewed 11184 times

Test fitting Dominators screen surround

2016-09-28 19.16.05.jpg (863.98 KiB) Viewed 11184 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 11184 times

Testing the zero

2016-10-08 23.12.51.jpg (1.21 MiB) Viewed 11184 times

Testing the screen after modification

2016-10-09 00.57.04.jpg (1.03 MiB) Viewed 11184 times

2016-10-09 00.57.07.jpg (4.02 MiB) Viewed 11184 times

Nice and clean work space.

2016-10-09 15.30.53.jpg (1.55 MiB) Viewed 11184 times

The bigger speaker.

2016-10-09 15.44.54.jpg (1.21 MiB) Viewed 11184 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!

[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 11182 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 11182 times

2016-10-09 17.24.42.jpg (1.35 MiB) Viewed 11182 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 11182 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"]

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2016-10-13 14.44.28.jpg (956.02 KiB) Viewed 11182 times

2016-10-13 14.44.38.jpg (1.1 MiB) Viewed 11182 times

2016-10-13 14.44.45.jpg (1.13 MiB) Viewed 11182 times

2016-10-13 14.46.44.jpg (1.04 MiB) Viewed 11182 times

2016-10-13 14.46.52.jpg (947.2 KiB) Viewed 11182 times

[/spoiler]
I think it looks pretty good.

[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 11181 times

How it looks so far.

2016-10-18 23.03.39.jpg (1.95 MiB) Viewed 11181 times

I can't get any further until Helders AIO arrives. Hopefully that will be any day now.

[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.

[alexln]

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.

[sotasystems]

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.

[fcn]

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.

[alexln]

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

[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?

[alexln]

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