I have started on my own build. This is my first build, but i do have moderate electronic skills as i used to build portable guitar pedals from scratch. (I also studied electrical engineering for a little while too) So far I have taken apart the screen and trimmed it down. I have an N64 coming in the mail today. Here is my idea for the case:
The overall shape is the same as an n64 game cartridge except bigger. On the back, the game cartridges would slide down the back middle and line up with the top edge of the case. It would also have two z buttons on the left and right back side. I haven't decided on dimensions or name yet (maybe Cart64) but will keep a detailed picture log here as the project progresses.
Thanks for the redesign! I hadn't drawn everything to scale yet, i was gonna work on that when i build the case later. I will be creating a vacuum formed case. This project is moving along quick, I took a little bit off the screen board and did the led mod to the screen. The cartridge slot has been successfully relocated and new heat sinks have been installed. I found a great heatsink from mouser they're part #567-625-25ABT4 they cost $2.10 a piece, you only need 4, and they fit right on all the chips perfect size. For batteries I am using 12 AA 2500mAh NimH batteries. Not many people use AA batteries but with the two battery holders I have which are 3 battteries long and 2 wide they end up very low profile and take up very little space. (6" long, less than an inch wide, and about a little more than a 1/4" tall.) I installed a small fan, wired up a power switch, wired a power regulator, and connected all video/audio connections. Everything is checked and working. All I have left is to trim the n64 board a little bit and wire the controller. For the controller I am cutting an n64 controllers sides off so a square with the main chip is left on it. Then I will wire individual tact switches straight to the chip. this will reduce space for the control. The case will be jam packed when i'm done but should be one of the smallest n64p's to date if my initial planning for the internals works out. I will post pictures later of the n64 running.
Here's an idea, how about remaking the carts to be far slimmer? Most of the N64 games are a few chips on a board, the rest of the space is the cartridge case and space - you could, if you wanted to, remake your game carts from about 18mm thick to probably under half that, and end up with a complete system about 30mm thick...
bacteria wrote:Here's an idea, how about remaking the carts to be far slimmer? Most of the N64 games are a few chips on a board, the rest of the space is the cartridge case and space - you could, if you wanted to, remake your game carts from about 18mm thick to probably under half that, and end up with a complete system about 30mm thick...
That would be a huge hassle for anyone with a library of more than 5 games.
40mm is really thin with the cart slot. Mine will be more then that i'm sure. Overall it won't be the thinnest, but it will be one of the smaller portables overall thus far. width and length will be very small. I'm estimating approximately a little under 50mm thick including the cart slot. Length and width will be determined by the size of the cut down 64 board.
bacteria wrote:Here's an idea, how about remaking the carts to be far slimmer? Most of the N64 games are a few chips on a board, the rest of the space is the cartridge case and space - you could, if you wanted to, remake your game carts from about 18mm thick to probably under half that, and end up with a complete system about 30mm thick...
That would be a huge hassle for anyone with a library of more than 5 games.
Indeed, although it is a good application for making very slim game carts by vacuum forming; then transferring the board from a proper cart into slimline mini case carts.
bacteria wrote:Here's an idea, how about remaking the carts to be far slimmer? Most of the N64 games are a few chips on a board, the rest of the space is the cartridge case and space - you could, if you wanted to, remake your game carts from about 18mm thick to probably under half that, and end up with a complete system about 30mm thick...
That would be a huge hassle for anyone with a library of more than 5 games.
Indeed, although it is a good application for making very slim game carts by vacuum forming; then transferring the board from a proper cart into slimline mini case carts.
But it would be impractical for, say, playing your friend's super cool game for 5 minutes...
And if you borrowed it and it was returned casemodded...*ouch*
I think a more reasonable solution would be a cart slot that folded in when there was no game in it. When you're playing, and not storing, it really doesn't matter if it has a huge wart on that back.
jjhammerstein wrote:I think a more reasonable solution would be a cart slot that folded in when there was no game in it. When you're playing, and not storing, it really doesn't matter if it has a huge wart on that back.
Here is a picture of the n64 motherboard as it is currently. I still need to trim down the edges a little bit (probably should have done that before). Also a picture of the screen and the system running on batteries all wired up. The screen was led modded and trimmed down on the top and right side.
And the system running:
I won't be getting too much done this week do to school work picking up. gotta love being an engineer. I will be working on controls, making the 64 board smaller, and removing the on/off/reset switches throughout the week. The next week after that I will hopefully vacuum form a case and finish the project.
