Bacteria's "Make a portable Nintendo N64 handheld" video log

[bacteria]

The gunk works fine, after all, it was used on the original console fine.

The copper is mirror shiny anyway, looks good!

Uploaded 6th video - keeping the N64 cooler

On my site with the others!

[bacteria]

Uploaded 7th video - opening up a Sony PSone screen, pinout, modding and basic board trimming.

YouTube link

What would take about 20 mins took all afternoon with video logs!

More videos to come over the next weeks!

[bacteria]

Next video uploaded: video -8-

Preparing the case, sanding it; positioning buttons, screen and controllers; preparation.

LINK

(on my site too)

[bacteria]

Working well on the case, going to look awesome!

Dimensions will be: 217 x 133 x 54mm. Very comfortable to hold and use.

[MrPopo]

Working well on the case, going to look awesome!

Dimensions will be: 217 x 133 x 54mm. Very comfortable to hold and use.

<pulls up Google convert>

Yeah, that does sound like a good size.

[bacteria]

When I made the vacuum formed case originally, I made it specifically for the N64, SNES and PSone; and at 54mm tall, not only is the very comfortable to hold but also the two case halves match together almost exactly. When the supports to the sides are made and on, the case halves will meet quite exactly. Also at this height, things fit in the case nicely without being crammed in to excess.

In my video log, I will also detail (using pics from another project) about making one with tupperware as a free option. I don't want to give the impression that I am trying to sell cases, that isn't the point, however if I am working on a case it will naturally be the one in the video and form center stage in it. If people want to buy a case they can, but that isn't my aim: my aim is to hopefully get more people making an N64 portable themselves and getting into the hobby, and knowing how to make one. BTW, before I started this video log project, about half a dozen people here said they would make one using my guides - have all fallen by the wayside? (I don't see any topic threads, people!). *feels lonely*

On a side note, I had intended to have the copper sheet piece showing through the back of the system for passive cooling; however it might prove very hard to get it installed like that and not moving about, so might instead either use vent holes in the case, or install a fan; not sure yet. Also, copper tarnishes quickly and looses its looks, gets dull, so loses its sheen quality, as has happened. I am quite sure using vent holes should be fine as there is enough surface area on the copper, will experiment. After all, the chips in an N64 get warm when using heatsinks, not hot; so removal of warm air is ok with vents.

[MrPopo]

I'd agree with the idea of using vent holes as opposed to bare copper. I'd also be concerned about accidentally touching the copper. Either it doesn't get hot at all, and so it's not needed to have them exposed to external air, or it does get hot (not as hot as a PC CPU of course) and you don't want to touch that during a heated game of Mario Kart.

[bacteria]

Finished sanding the sides down of the case. In places the case is very thin, about 1/4 to 1/2 mm thick, however the strength of the case is still fine. The case is very smooth indeed and there should be barely any noticable gap between the two case halves when shut. The holes are cut out for the Start, Z and shoulder buttons, speaker grills; have the A/V jack, recharge jack and headphone jack to install, then done. The speakers will be mounted at the back of the case, that way it is far easier to mount them; it doesn't make a lot of difference to the audio anyway if the speakers are at the front or back of the case. Regards cooling, going passive cooling might mean I don't need to add any vents at all, as there should be enough airspace between the cart slot - will experiment.

Regards joysticks, there are many types of third party joysticks about. I thought for my project I would use a flatter one, and dismantled the one from a Gravis X-Terminator controller. It looks like it will be rather good, however I need to test it to see if it is suitable, which means connecting it to an N64 controller and the N64 board and testing.

When these steps are done, I can crack on and paint the case after making screw holes to secure the case halves together.

I have taken one stage of the next video so far, will have two or three more stages to video before in a stage to compile it and upload.

[bacteria]

On a portable you need some jacks/plugs/switches for the system to work, and also there are some nice addons you can apply to if you like.

Essential:

* Recharge jack for batteries
* System on/off

Not essential but certainly needed:

* Headphone jack
* Screen controls for volume and contrast

Nice addons but not important

* TV output
* Use of external controller instead of one in portable (if connecting to a television for example)
* Run system on external mains power instead of batteries


The PSone screen doesn't often need its contrast setting changed when set, and volume - well, again, you want a nice volume that is good for gameplay and not "pumpin", so don't often need to change this either; however you do need the ability to adjust contrast and volume settings. This means you don't NEED to have these controls prominent in the case, but have access to them.

Some people have built a small circuit to adjust contrast and volume using "C" keys on the N64 in conjunction with the start button, however, as a video of this principle working shows, the reality is the gameplay is affected whilst adjusting the screen; so not ideal. I prefer to keep things clean anyway and just use defined buttons.

In my portable, i'm going to therefore use the following:

* Headphone jack
* System on/off
* Multi-output plug from a PSone screen, has 12 pins, so 12 connections. This will interface with a modded male plug to control the screen contrast, volume, also external video and audio, and use of external controller if needed; also recharge facility. Plug in as needed.

This is therefore just three plugs, far tidier.



Pinout:



Comments?

[bacteria]

Teaser:



Spent many hours on this - teeth to secure the case halves together and strenghen the final product, a lot of sanding work, spray painting. Result is very smooth and looks awesome! Probably spent something like 20 hours on the case part alone so far.