Hi all!
Long time lurker, first time portable builder. For now I'm calling it the M64 (M for mobile) but the name is subject to change. I intend on making this thread a worklog but also hope it could be a place to bounce ideas off of more experienced members of the forum.
A bit of background on me, I'm a mechanical engineer who focused my studies on design (CAD modelling) and applications in FDM (traditional 3D printing). I've designed multiple 3D printers from scratch and doing so has enabled me to expand my knowledge of wiring and circuitry.
Here are my goals of the project
Here is my current list of acquired parts:
So, what have I done so far besides copious amounts of research? Here we go.
So, what is next? Well I need to get a few things to continue, and that's where I'm looking for some input and support from the community.
Power management:
Currently I'm torn on my power management. I really love the N64 PMS solution, but unfortunately it's pricey for me as a Canadian. The $66.64 US (thats including shipping) comes out to $90 CAD and part of the goals of this project are having a reasonable budget. So I'm currently looking for a suitable replacement that won't break the bank. I see @Booshman is using this 2S inteligent balance charging board and it seems like a decent choice, would love some thoughts on this.
Screen:
̶I̶ ̶a̶m̶ ̶a̶l̶s̶o̶ ̶t̶o̶r̶n̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶c̶r̶e̶e̶n̶.̶ ̶I̶ ̶a̶m̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶g̶o̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶g̶o̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶a̶ ̶s̶e̶t̶u̶p̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶U̶l̶t̶r̶a̶H̶D̶M̶I̶ ̶n̶o̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶U̶l̶t̶r̶a̶V̶G̶A̶,̶ ̶b̶u̶t̶ ̶g̶o̶ ̶s̶i̶m̶p̶l̶e̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶p̶o̶s̶i̶t̶e̶.̶ ̶I̶ ̶w̶a̶n̶t̶ ̶a̶ ̶m̶i̶n̶i̶m̶u̶m̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶5̶"̶ ̶s̶c̶r̶e̶e̶n̶,̶ ̶b̶u̶t̶ ̶d̶o̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶m̶i̶n̶d̶ ̶g̶o̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶u̶p̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶6̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶7̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶g̶e̶t̶ ̶a̶ ̶m̶o̶r̶e̶ ̶N̶i̶n̶t̶e̶n̶d̶o̶ ̶S̶w̶i̶t̶c̶h̶ ̶l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶f̶e̶e̶l̶.̶ ̶T̶h̶e̶ ̶c̶u̶r̶r̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶n̶t̶ ̶r̶u̶n̶n̶e̶r̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶a̶ ̶s̶c̶r̶e̶e̶n̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶ this car monitor ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶p̶o̶s̶i̶t̶e̶ ̶h̶o̶o̶k̶ ̶u̶p̶.̶ ̶@MomSpaghetti ̶u̶s̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶s̶c̶r̶e̶e̶n̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶m̶o̶d̶e̶d̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶r̶u̶n̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶3̶.̶3̶V̶.̶ ̶I̶'̶m̶ ̶a̶l̶s̶o̶ ̶e̶y̶e̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶ this screen ̶w̶h̶i̶c̶h̶ ̶s̶e̶e̶m̶s̶ ̶v̶e̶r̶y̶ ̶s̶i̶m̶i̶l̶a̶r̶ ̶b̶u̶t̶ ̶i̶t̶'̶s̶ ̶1̶5̶ ̶b̶u̶c̶k̶s̶ ̶c̶h̶e̶a̶p̶e̶r̶.̶
Ended up ordering the 5" ZJ050NA-08C screen.
Audio:
̶I̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶n̶k̶ ̶I̶'̶l̶l̶ ̶u̶s̶e̶ ̶a̶ ̶P̶A̶M̶8̶8̶0̶3̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶p̶e̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶p̶o̶r̶t̶a̶b̶i̶l̶i̶z̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶B̶O̶M̶.̶ ̶S̶e̶e̶m̶s̶ ̶l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶r̶i̶g̶h̶t̶ ̶c̶h̶o̶i̶c̶e̶.̶ ̶I̶'̶m̶ ̶l̶o̶o̶k̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶c̶u̶r̶r̶e̶n̶t̶l̶y̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶g̶e̶t̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶a̶u̶d̶i̶o̶ ̶j̶a̶c̶k̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶w̶e̶l̶l̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶h̶o̶o̶k̶ ̶u̶p̶ ̶h̶e̶a̶d̶p̶h̶o̶n̶e̶s̶ ̶t̶o̶,̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶w̶e̶l̶l̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶u̶s̶e̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶p̶a̶s̶s̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶u̶d̶i̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶r̶o̶u̶g̶h̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶d̶o̶c̶k̶ ̶I̶'̶l̶l̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶m̶a̶k̶i̶n̶g̶.̶ ̶M̶y̶ ̶l̶o̶c̶a̶l̶ ̶e̶l̶e̶c̶t̶r̶o̶n̶i̶c̶s̶ ̶s̶t̶o̶r̶e̶ ̶c̶a̶r̶r̶i̶e̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶S̶p̶a̶r̶k̶f̶u̶n̶ ̶P̶R̶T̶-̶1̶2̶6̶3̶9̶ ̶w̶h̶i̶c̶h̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶a̶ ̶T̶R̶R̶S̶ ̶j̶a̶c̶k̶.̶ ̶I̶t̶ ̶h̶a̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶e̶x̶t̶r̶a̶ ̶r̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶y̶p̶i̶c̶a̶l̶l̶y̶ ̶u̶s̶e̶d̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶a̶ ̶m̶i̶c̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶v̶i̶d̶e̶o̶ ̶s̶i̶g̶n̶a̶l̶,̶ ̶b̶u̶t̶ ̶I̶ ̶d̶o̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶n̶k̶ ̶I̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶a̶ ̶u̶s̶e̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶.̶ ̶I̶'̶d̶ ̶r̶a̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶f̶i̶n̶d̶ ̶a̶ ̶T̶R̶S̶ ̶j̶a̶c̶k̶ ̶b̶u̶t̶ ̶c̶a̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶f̶i̶n̶d̶ ̶a̶ ̶s̶u̶i̶t̶a̶b̶l̶e̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶l̶o̶c̶a̶l̶l̶y̶.̶
Decided to design an audio amp solution based on JacksonS' board. Using his design but only keeping the analog volume control and using a wheel potentiometer much like the Gameboy color
So that's it for now, I look forward to continuing the project and hopefully getting feedback from the community. I'm most excited to start work on designing the case, but first I want to get the electronics completely sorted out before starting that.
Long time lurker, first time portable builder. For now I'm calling it the M64 (M for mobile) but the name is subject to change. I intend on making this thread a worklog but also hope it could be a place to bounce ideas off of more experienced members of the forum.
A bit of background on me, I'm a mechanical engineer who focused my studies on design (CAD modelling) and applications in FDM (traditional 3D printing). I've designed multiple 3D printers from scratch and doing so has enabled me to expand my knowledge of wiring and circuitry.
Here are my goals of the project
- Have a portable N64 (obviously) with internal expansion pack and a cartridge slot. To keep cost down I decided against an internal everdrive. I already have the x7 so I can just swap it between the portable and my home console.
- Entirely 3D printed case.
- 3D printed charging dock with controller ports and tv screen hookup inspired by @Booshman.
- I'd like to take this project as an opportunity to start learning PCB design via Eagle. Even if I don't use any custom made PCBs in the final result, I'd like to start thinking about it and honing some skills for future projects.
- Hopefully be able to have a comfy controller layout so I can practice my Super Mario 64 speedrunning on the go (I'm by no means good, but enjoy running none the less). This means having a good stick and a well placed Z button.
Here is my current list of acquired parts:
- Nintendo 64 Rev05 board with minimum trim (generously donated by a friend)
- Original N64 controller and buttons
- Expansion pack (in the mail, currently using a regular jumper for testing)
- 4x 3000mAh 18650 Li-Ion batteries
- 2k resistor for Pin 8 on the PIF
So, what have I done so far besides copious amounts of research? Here we go.
First thing I did was strip down this sad looking N64. The case was in shambles after a botched paint job, and P1 and P2 ports had damage. The console has been tested and works fine.
Now, being the dummy I am, I decided to start desoldering components to get ready for the board trim. However in hindsight I think I should have kept as making things on the board until I figured out how I would do my cartridge relocation and subsequently test it along with any screen that I buy. Regardless, I started with the expansion slot:
Then made my way to the other unnecessary components, as well as the parts that would be in the way of my trim.
As you can see I made a test cut with my dremel on the bottom right near the controller port just to tune the speed I'll need to make a smooth cut.
Now this is where I'm at and what my thoughts are going forward. Since I desoldered the power button, controller ports as well as some capacitors which were in my way, I am not sure if I'll be able to test my cartridge relocation or not. If anyone knows if I can run the board without C134, C24, C28, C34 and C140 I'd love to know, I don't want to risk frying the board.
Now, being the dummy I am, I decided to start desoldering components to get ready for the board trim. However in hindsight I think I should have kept as making things on the board until I figured out how I would do my cartridge relocation and subsequently test it along with any screen that I buy. Regardless, I started with the expansion slot:
Then made my way to the other unnecessary components, as well as the parts that would be in the way of my trim.
As you can see I made a test cut with my dremel on the bottom right near the controller port just to tune the speed I'll need to make a smooth cut.
Now this is where I'm at and what my thoughts are going forward. Since I desoldered the power button, controller ports as well as some capacitors which were in my way, I am not sure if I'll be able to test my cartridge relocation or not. If anyone knows if I can run the board without C134, C24, C28, C34 and C140 I'd love to know, I don't want to risk frying the board.
I'm not going to end up going with this method after some test fitting, but I'll leave these imaged here for documentation reasons.
̶I̶ ̶t̶o̶o̶k̶ ̶i̶n̶s̶p̶i̶r̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶@Bamboo ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶c̶a̶r̶t̶r̶i̶d̶g̶e̶ ̶r̶e̶l̶o̶c̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶.̶ ̶I̶ ̶t̶h̶o̶u̶g̶h̶t̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶a̶ ̶v̶e̶r̶y̶ ̶s̶m̶a̶r̶t̶ ̶w̶a̶y̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶g̶o̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶b̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶r̶e̶l̶o̶c̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶b̶e̶c̶a̶u̶s̶e̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶r̶e̶q̶u̶i̶r̶e̶s̶ ̶m̶i̶n̶i̶m̶a̶l̶ ̶s̶o̶l̶d̶e̶r̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶q̶u̶i̶t̶e̶ ̶n̶i̶f̶t̶y̶.̶ ̶I̶'̶m̶ ̶u̶s̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶5̶0̶ ̶p̶i̶n̶ ̶I̶D̶E̶ ̶c̶a̶b̶l̶e̶ ̶a̶l̶o̶n̶g̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶r̶i̶g̶h̶t̶ ̶a̶n̶g̶l̶e̶ ̶p̶i̶n̶s̶ ̶s̶o̶l̶d̶e̶r̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶c̶a̶r̶t̶r̶i̶d̶g̶e̶ ̶s̶l̶o̶t̶.̶ ̶I̶'̶v̶e̶ ̶e̶n̶s̶u̶r̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶l̶e̶n̶g̶t̶h̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶w̶i̶r̶e̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶u̶n̶d̶e̶r̶ ̶5̶ ̶i̶n̶c̶h̶e̶s̶,̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶y̶'̶r̶e̶ ̶a̶r̶o̶u̶n̶d̶ ̶4̶ ̶n̶o̶w̶.̶
̶I̶ ̶t̶o̶o̶k̶ ̶i̶n̶s̶p̶i̶r̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶@Bamboo ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶c̶a̶r̶t̶r̶i̶d̶g̶e̶ ̶r̶e̶l̶o̶c̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶.̶ ̶I̶ ̶t̶h̶o̶u̶g̶h̶t̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶a̶ ̶v̶e̶r̶y̶ ̶s̶m̶a̶r̶t̶ ̶w̶a̶y̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶g̶o̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶b̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶r̶e̶l̶o̶c̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶b̶e̶c̶a̶u̶s̶e̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶r̶e̶q̶u̶i̶r̶e̶s̶ ̶m̶i̶n̶i̶m̶a̶l̶ ̶s̶o̶l̶d̶e̶r̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶q̶u̶i̶t̶e̶ ̶n̶i̶f̶t̶y̶.̶ ̶I̶'̶m̶ ̶u̶s̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶5̶0̶ ̶p̶i̶n̶ ̶I̶D̶E̶ ̶c̶a̶b̶l̶e̶ ̶a̶l̶o̶n̶g̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶r̶i̶g̶h̶t̶ ̶a̶n̶g̶l̶e̶ ̶p̶i̶n̶s̶ ̶s̶o̶l̶d̶e̶r̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶c̶a̶r̶t̶r̶i̶d̶g̶e̶ ̶s̶l̶o̶t̶.̶ ̶I̶'̶v̶e̶ ̶e̶n̶s̶u̶r̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶l̶e̶n̶g̶t̶h̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶w̶i̶r̶e̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶u̶n̶d̶e̶r̶ ̶5̶ ̶i̶n̶c̶h̶e̶s̶,̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶y̶'̶r̶e̶ ̶a̶r̶o̶u̶n̶d̶ ̶4̶ ̶n̶o̶w̶.̶
So, what is next? Well I need to get a few things to continue, and that's where I'm looking for some input and support from the community.
Power management:
Currently I'm torn on my power management. I really love the N64 PMS solution, but unfortunately it's pricey for me as a Canadian. The $66.64 US (thats including shipping) comes out to $90 CAD and part of the goals of this project are having a reasonable budget. So I'm currently looking for a suitable replacement that won't break the bank. I see @Booshman is using this 2S inteligent balance charging board and it seems like a decent choice, would love some thoughts on this.
Screen:
̶I̶ ̶a̶m̶ ̶a̶l̶s̶o̶ ̶t̶o̶r̶n̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶c̶r̶e̶e̶n̶.̶ ̶I̶ ̶a̶m̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶g̶o̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶g̶o̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶a̶ ̶s̶e̶t̶u̶p̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶U̶l̶t̶r̶a̶H̶D̶M̶I̶ ̶n̶o̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶U̶l̶t̶r̶a̶V̶G̶A̶,̶ ̶b̶u̶t̶ ̶g̶o̶ ̶s̶i̶m̶p̶l̶e̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶p̶o̶s̶i̶t̶e̶.̶ ̶I̶ ̶w̶a̶n̶t̶ ̶a̶ ̶m̶i̶n̶i̶m̶u̶m̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶5̶"̶ ̶s̶c̶r̶e̶e̶n̶,̶ ̶b̶u̶t̶ ̶d̶o̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶m̶i̶n̶d̶ ̶g̶o̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶u̶p̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶6̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶7̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶g̶e̶t̶ ̶a̶ ̶m̶o̶r̶e̶ ̶N̶i̶n̶t̶e̶n̶d̶o̶ ̶S̶w̶i̶t̶c̶h̶ ̶l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶f̶e̶e̶l̶.̶ ̶T̶h̶e̶ ̶c̶u̶r̶r̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶n̶t̶ ̶r̶u̶n̶n̶e̶r̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶a̶ ̶s̶c̶r̶e̶e̶n̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶ this car monitor ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶p̶o̶s̶i̶t̶e̶ ̶h̶o̶o̶k̶ ̶u̶p̶.̶ ̶@MomSpaghetti ̶u̶s̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶s̶c̶r̶e̶e̶n̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶m̶o̶d̶e̶d̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶r̶u̶n̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶3̶.̶3̶V̶.̶ ̶I̶'̶m̶ ̶a̶l̶s̶o̶ ̶e̶y̶e̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶ this screen ̶w̶h̶i̶c̶h̶ ̶s̶e̶e̶m̶s̶ ̶v̶e̶r̶y̶ ̶s̶i̶m̶i̶l̶a̶r̶ ̶b̶u̶t̶ ̶i̶t̶'̶s̶ ̶1̶5̶ ̶b̶u̶c̶k̶s̶ ̶c̶h̶e̶a̶p̶e̶r̶.̶
Ended up ordering the 5" ZJ050NA-08C screen.
Audio:
̶I̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶n̶k̶ ̶I̶'̶l̶l̶ ̶u̶s̶e̶ ̶a̶ ̶P̶A̶M̶8̶8̶0̶3̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶p̶e̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶p̶o̶r̶t̶a̶b̶i̶l̶i̶z̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶B̶O̶M̶.̶ ̶S̶e̶e̶m̶s̶ ̶l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶r̶i̶g̶h̶t̶ ̶c̶h̶o̶i̶c̶e̶.̶ ̶I̶'̶m̶ ̶l̶o̶o̶k̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶c̶u̶r̶r̶e̶n̶t̶l̶y̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶g̶e̶t̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶a̶u̶d̶i̶o̶ ̶j̶a̶c̶k̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶w̶e̶l̶l̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶h̶o̶o̶k̶ ̶u̶p̶ ̶h̶e̶a̶d̶p̶h̶o̶n̶e̶s̶ ̶t̶o̶,̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶w̶e̶l̶l̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶u̶s̶e̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶p̶a̶s̶s̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶u̶d̶i̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶r̶o̶u̶g̶h̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶d̶o̶c̶k̶ ̶I̶'̶l̶l̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶m̶a̶k̶i̶n̶g̶.̶ ̶M̶y̶ ̶l̶o̶c̶a̶l̶ ̶e̶l̶e̶c̶t̶r̶o̶n̶i̶c̶s̶ ̶s̶t̶o̶r̶e̶ ̶c̶a̶r̶r̶i̶e̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶S̶p̶a̶r̶k̶f̶u̶n̶ ̶P̶R̶T̶-̶1̶2̶6̶3̶9̶ ̶w̶h̶i̶c̶h̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶a̶ ̶T̶R̶R̶S̶ ̶j̶a̶c̶k̶.̶ ̶I̶t̶ ̶h̶a̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶e̶x̶t̶r̶a̶ ̶r̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶y̶p̶i̶c̶a̶l̶l̶y̶ ̶u̶s̶e̶d̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶a̶ ̶m̶i̶c̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶v̶i̶d̶e̶o̶ ̶s̶i̶g̶n̶a̶l̶,̶ ̶b̶u̶t̶ ̶I̶ ̶d̶o̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶n̶k̶ ̶I̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶a̶ ̶u̶s̶e̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶.̶ ̶I̶'̶d̶ ̶r̶a̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶f̶i̶n̶d̶ ̶a̶ ̶T̶R̶S̶ ̶j̶a̶c̶k̶ ̶b̶u̶t̶ ̶c̶a̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶f̶i̶n̶d̶ ̶a̶ ̶s̶u̶i̶t̶a̶b̶l̶e̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶l̶o̶c̶a̶l̶l̶y̶.̶
Decided to design an audio amp solution based on JacksonS' board. Using his design but only keeping the analog volume control and using a wheel potentiometer much like the Gameboy color
So that's it for now, I look forward to continuing the project and hopefully getting feedback from the community. I'm most excited to start work on designing the case, but first I want to get the electronics completely sorted out before starting that.
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