BenOfTheNorth's GBZ (WiP)

[BenOfTheNorth]

Hi all! My build is in it's infancy, but I'll update as I go (and when I remember!).

I'm still waiting on a few bits to arrive, but enough has arrived for me to begin. I started with modifying the front of the case:

[spoiler="Button Holes Drilled and Screen Cut Out"][/spoiler]

I have a screen cover from [mention]dominator[/mention] with an equal radius on all 4 corners that looks great. Sadly my shell makes the element sit a little high so I've been careful taking the plastic down so it sits more flush, but thats on going (its a slow job!). I didn't quite get the corner cutout as nice as I'd like but its only a small issue and not that visible.

In the photo the protective cover alignment (from me fiddling) has moved and makes it look like it sits higher, bit it's almost flush now.

[spoiler="Screen Cover Placement"][/spoiler]

I have parts from other forum members and community shops etc who I need to thank (If I've forgotten anyone let me know, I'm losing track!):

@wermy - 3D printed parts
@camble - Safe shutdown (Banggood Edition) - can't wait for this one to arrive, final big puzzle piece!
@dominator - Screen Cover and Stickers
@Helder - I used your power strips via OSH
@abrugsch - Cartridge Reader
@kitsch-bent - Button PCB, Cartridge PCB, Buttons, Audio PWM board
@deadpanrobot - More Buttons
@hand-held-legend - Gameboy Shell (and yet more buttons!)

Most of the other parts I have are from China/Amazon/Ebay - I still have a few small parts left to arrive but no show stoppers right now.

I've decided with this build to not use an AIO - mainly because I just want to see what I am capable of. I plan on another though and I'll hopefully grab one of the next batch of @Kite 's AIO with the 640x480 support as I really don't think the 320 display I have on this one will cut it completely - but it'll do for now

On with the soldering!

[abrugsch]

Awesome dude!
Did you manage to desolder the cartridge reader ok? Or is that still to come?

[BenOfTheNorth]

Yep all removed cheers - waiting on my new iron before I solder it up though

[BenOfTheNorth]

Test fit and power up for the screen

[spoiler="Screen Test Fit and Running"][/spoiler]

[DoggieWokkie]

Test fit and power up for the screen...

Love the colours. The square screen looks like a good fit too, nice job.

[BenOfTheNorth]

Thanks!

Screen is working a treat, have now hooked up the USB hub and the controls - loved testing it out, 2 minutes testing turned into all night!

IMG_0344.jpg (841.87 KiB) Viewed 11393 times

IMG_0345.jpg (927.16 KiB) Viewed 11393 times

IMG_0346.jpg (1.35 MiB) Viewed 11393 times

[BenOfTheNorth]

First complete test fit - still need to tweak a few things, such as slightly hissing audio and pop back in the external USB port (I had it upside down and it was interfering with the display board). I have however missed out some important (to some) components - there's no headphone jack now, and I've skipped the SD card in the cartridge. The latter was a wiring issue, there's just too much of it in there as it is and I felt I could open up the device if I really needed too. The headphone port is just not something I'll use!

The battery cover doesn't quite close 100% yet, but I'm almost there. I have my next build planned with one of @helder 's AIO boards which should make life MUCH simpler! I think I'm going to treat this one as the learning build (I know the components inside out now!), the next one will be the 'it just works' device I think.

No shots of the inside, it'll give you nightmares - it's a truly horrific scene in there.

IMG_0361.jpg (1.14 MiB) Viewed 11322 times

IMG_0364.jpg (1.18 MiB) Viewed 11322 times

[jellybelly]

nice looking build

[BenOfTheNorth]

And a shot of it all running I was actually surprised by the quality of the screen - I was aware it's low resolution, but it's a lot clearer that I expected, I really don't see a desperate need for higher resolution, although making the games list font larger certainly helped that. As far as the gaming experience goes, I think it's totally fine.

IMG_0380.jpg (1.26 MiB) Viewed 11300 times

IMG_0378.jpg (1.57 MiB) Viewed 11300 times

[jellybelly]

i found that also

if you also set the resolution in the config.txt right it improves also