N64 game socket FAQ

monster · Post by **monster** » Sun Mar 13, 2005 1:17 am

hi everyone, my names monster, and this is my first post.

this summer i will be portibilizing a N64 after modding the crystal to overclock it. (just have to find the linky... uh oh...). i would like to relocate the game socket to parallel behind the screen, pointing up (like a game boy). does the N64 use a standard socket, one that i could buy at molex.com and just solder an extension? or will there be much unpleasantness with all the soldering and resoldering?

please help, i am a total noob at portabilizing, but i'm my shop teachers favorite student (i'm just that good). i'll post a log and take mucho pictures.

PS anyone that has a link to the guide for the overclocking, all i remember is that it has to be a later model, easily distinguished by the colored case, not plain black.

PPS, what screen size should i use? i'm looking at a 7" flatscreen, is that ok?

Post by **Sparkfist** » Sun Mar 13, 2005 11:23 am

No if you want to move the cart slot you have two options. One wire it the cart slot and use the IDE interface form some cables to just plug the slot into it. Or you can solder a wire to each pin on the slot to the corisonding connection.

As for screens you can use one as small as the Hip Screen (2.6") to the PSone screen (5"). I dont think it would be best to have a 7" as the N64's mobo is going to be smaller and that will make to add width or hight to add controlles.

If you want to know where to get most of the info for making one if to go to http://www.doomportables.org and look under systems and then N64. RPGNick has made a very useful howto that you can use.

monster · Post by **monster** » Sun Mar 13, 2005 2:45 pm

[raises fist] damn you nintendo and your non standard connectors!!!

deiol · Post by **deiol** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 8:21 pm

monster wrote:[raises fist] damn you nintendo and your non standard connectors!!!

um, i don't know what type of 'standard' connector you would want them to use...

another thought, if you're going to overclock the n64, its going to get hotter, which won't be good when you try cramming it in a smaller case with less ventilation than the regular case.

evilmongoose · Post by **evilmongoose** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 8:56 pm

and as any well educated person knows the hotter it gets the slower it runs

monster · Post by **monster** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 10:32 pm

deiol wrote:
monster wrote:[raises fist] damn you nintendo and your non standard connectors!!!
um, i don't know what type of 'standard' connector you would want them to use...

another thought, if you're going to overclock the n64, its going to get hotter, which won't be good when you try cramming it in a smaller case with less ventilation than the regular case.

you can buy risers for IDE and AGP cards, to make a card turn 90 degrees and lay flat against the motherboard. standard means that other systems/electronics use it.

deiol · Post by **deiol** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 12:43 pm

monster wrote:standard means that other systems/electronics use it.

uh yeah, i know what standard means

monster · Post by **monster** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 4:29 pm

sorry, misread what you meant. i would've gone with a standard connector if it was possible, such as PCI or AGP, parts are readily available, instead of buying the machines and making molds to make custom connectors

samuelm · Post by **samuelm** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 9:27 am

Use Ribbon cable like I did.

CaptainPlanet · Post by **CaptainPlanet** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 11:14 am

samuelm wrote:Use Ribbon cable like I did.

So, you just plugged the little black things into the n64 cart slot pins?

samuelm · Post by **samuelm** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 11:36 am

Those are IDE cables (look in any old computer). Just check the first pin to line them up and solder every other one opposite. Make sure you double check all connections (some cables are missing some pins) and the direction you insert the game first before turning the system on. The pins on your slot might have to be bent a little kinda like this "(" for contact to be made.

nos_slived · Post by **nos_slived** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 1:47 pm

If you take off the Extension Slot on the bottom, solder the cables to the top and bottom rows of holes, instead of the middle two. If you decide to leave the Extension Slot in place, make sure that you push the wires in far enough to contact the pins of the slot on the other side.

Here is a detailed description of how it works(thanks comp_wizard306):