Guide Gameboy Macro Screen Swapping

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Mar 11, 2017
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This will let you switch what screen is displayed on the bottom screen of a phat DS. This is usefull for playing some DS games on a Gameboy Macro.
PhatDS.png

It's not easy, but the main idea is to have DCLK2 go to the bottom screen (this will display the top screen down there). If the trace isn't cut, it will display the top screen, but pixels will be distorted depending what is drawn on the bottom screen normally.

This only works with DS Phat as of now, but I'll probably look into getting it to work with a DS lite.

Thanks to the people at bitbuild, and @cheese for the idea to test the DCLK pins

Edit: DS lite is mostly a no-go. Phat DS Shares it's 18 color pins between both screens, but each screen has it's own DCLK.
As for DS lite, it shares one DCLK for both screens, and has 18 color pins per screen (why nintendo?) This would basically require cutting 18 traces, soldering to 18 pins, and 36 vias, and using a switch with 54 pins
 
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4Reddy

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This will let you switch what screen is displayed on the bottom screen of a phat DS. This is usefull for playing some DS games on a Gameboy Macro.View attachment 4212
It's not easy, but the main idea is to have DCLK2 go to the bottom screen (this will display the top screen down there). If the trace isn't cut, it will display the top screen, but pixels will be distorted depending what is drawn on the bottom screen normally.

This only works with DS Phat as of now, but I'll probably look into getting it to work with a DS lite.

Thanks to the people at bitbuild, and @cheese for the idea to test the DCLK pins

Edit: DS lite is mostly a no-go. Phat DS Shares it's 18 color pins between both screens, but each screen has it's own DCLK.
As for DS lite, it shares one DCLK for both screens, and has 18 color pins per screen (why nintendo?) This would basically require cutting 18 traces, soldering to 18 pins, and 36 vias, and using a switch with 54 pins
and how can i swap the screen? do i need a extra button for that the change the bridge?
 
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Dec 29, 2016
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Nice man, a lot of games like Chrono Trigger, Metal Slug and MarioKart will benefit greatly from this
 
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Is this tested and confirmed as working? I've done the setup as described and when I flip the switch to DCLK2 I'm not seeing anything. Some help would be greatly appreciated!

And yes I know, old thread :P
16147127767566354161965668095496.jpg

16147128055005254466600999494157.jpg


Here's the bottom screen output:
16147128554837552528547120519662.jpg

And top screen:
16147128703475716007828145500201.jpg


I've checked around with my multimeter and there are no shorts.
 
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Interesting. Might buy a broken ds lot off of ebay or something and do some poking around. Certainly worth the investigation
 

buzzyc

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From what Ive learned so far, it works, but is very finicky.
Requires Flashme, TwilightMenu & NDS-Out to be run before launching any games.
People are hoping there is a FW flash option in the future as the current scenario is messy and R4DS cart depedant
 
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This is how I was able to get the screen swap to work on my DS Phats



I'm looking forward to the NDSL screen swaps as well. I have a PCB that used multiplexers to swap the entire ribbon from one to another but I have never populated them. I never ordered a solder mask and my SMD skills are terrible. Might be time to give it another shot.
 
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