GP2X break-out board?

myersn024 · Post by **myersn024** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 10:11 am

Has anyone ever built one of these? I really want to be able to use an external controller with my GP2X since the thumb stick isn't up to par, but I don't want to do any internal mods. I've found schematics for connecting USB devices through the EXT port, but I don't want to go to the trouble if it doesn't work the way it should. Any advice or info on your experiences is greatly appreciated.

TIA.

Reaperman@home · Post by **Reaperman@home** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 11:46 am

why not just buy one? The official cradle is only $50...

no need to reinvent the wheel here

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 5:02 pm

Indeed, on the www.gp32x.com/board forum they have been about for a while now (board only), recently encased it.

Personally, I will be interested if they can ever do RGB out - the tv out quality on the GP2x sucks.

myersn024 · Post by **myersn024** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 7:48 am

bacteria wrote:Indeed, on the www.gp32x.com/board forum they have been about for a while now (board only), recently encased it.

Personally, I will be interested if they can ever do RGB out - the tv out quality on the GP2x sucks.

That's where I've been looking at stuff regarding the GP2X and modding it for a d pad. Last night I was playing a game, and I finally had enough of the joystick. So, I opened the case and desoldered it, then I cut out a cross in the front of the case big enough for a NES d pad. Then I used your pinout to attach some IDE cable to the proper pins. By that time it was almost 12:30 am and I decided that it was time for bed. This afternoon I'll finish it up and get everything back together. I wasn't as patient as I should have been with cutting the cross for the d pad, though. It looks like I used my teeth to make the hole. I'm going to try to find a way to clean the edges up without making the hole any larger. Regardless of the edges, the d pad will kick the joystick's ass.

I took some pictures, so I'll be sure to post them for others thinking of doing something similar to their GP2X's.

P.S. Motoman, please don't hate me for modding your old GP2X....I haven't broken it, I'm just making it better. I think you'll agree that the stick needed to go.

myersn024 · Post by **myersn024** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 9:37 pm

Well, I got the d pad mod done. I had to go a different route than I planned since I couldn't make everything fit the way I wanted it to. Right now it looks pretty rough, but as you'll see in the video it is 100% operational and 100% better than the thumb stick was. I'm going to bondo up something to cover it all up and incorporate a d pad from a NES or PS2 controller. I'll post more pics when it is finished, but for now these will have to do.

Thumbstick removed.
<img width=400 src="http://www.austinbull.com/gp2x/1.jpg">

Everything taped off for sanding.
<img width=400 src="http://www.austinbull.com/gp2x/2.jpg">

The hole I cut for the d pad. Looks like crap, but it got covered up in the end anyway.
<img width=400 src="http://www.austinbull.com/gp2x/3.jpg">

Here's the leads going to the d pad bread board that I soldered together.
<img width=400 src="http://www.austinbull.com/gp2x/4.jpg">

Here's a front view of the d pad bread board. HORRAY FOR LEAD FREE SOLDER!
<img width=400 src="http://www.austinbull.com/gp2x/5.jpg">

And here's the finished (for now) product with the d pad hot glued to the front of the GP2X. I wish everything could have been mounted internally, but, unfortunately, that wasn't an option.
<img width=400 src="http://www.austinbull.com/gp2x/6.jpg">

<a href="http://www.austinbull.com/gp2x/mov1.mpg">Click here for the video.</a>

Post by **Triton** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 9:49 pm

your a braver man that i dude, i wouldt take the knife to mine unless something broke, of course ive been using the bare thumbstick with no cap for like a year and a half lol, i dont mind the stick really.

Motoman · Post by **Motoman** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 10:22 pm

myersn024 wrote:
P.S. Motoman, please don't hate me for modding your old GP2X....I haven't broken it, I'm just making it better. I think you'll agree that the stick needed to go.

Psssh, why would I hate you for that? I think everyone who owns/owned a GP2X is in agreement that the stick is despicable. Good luck with all your mods regarding the GP2X, its good to see it in the hands of someone who likes it.

PEACE

Post by **Triton** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 10:38 pm

as previously stated i dont mind the stick at all, im used to it i guess, most the games i play dont use it anyway lol (beat2x ftw)

paul4990 · Post by **paul4990** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 12:36 am

the thumbstick rules! why does everyone complain aboot it

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 1:41 am

myersn024 - Comments:

1) Pleased you found my pinouts useful. Work for GP2x version 1 and 1.5, MK2 rotated it a bit. Most people who modded the GP2x from joystick to D-pad used my pinout diagram - great!
2) I made my external D-pad out of foil and card, it was about 3mm high so didn't stick out. Sounds crappy, but worked well. I didn't have the skills I have now then!
3) The stick on the MK2 is fine, not as good as a D-pad, but far better than version 1 or 1.5.
4) You mounted your NES D-pad externally; someone else managed to make it internally (search the GP2x forum), although it was hard given the small space available, and because the space was so limited, I don't think the operation of the D-pad was perfect (and the NES D-pad is a bit big), so...

If I were to do a D-pad mod on the GP2x now, given my skills have improved somewhat recently, I would use a D-pad from a GBA (smaller), cut a circle from the GP2x taking out the old joystick area, so I could raise the casing a bit (c. 1-2mm should be enough) by cutting a similarly sized shape from the GBA casing and securing it to the top of the GP2x. A little putty to smooth the edges, light sanding, respray the front of the GP2x, and job done. Would look nice, work great.

Turbo Tax 1.0 · Post by **Turbo Tax 1.0** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 10:27 am

I think that grahf did a d-pad mod to his 2x either using a GC dpad and cutting it down a bit or a NES d-pad

hey bacteria what ever happened to the guy on the 2x forums who was making a logic board for the d-pad and using the ngage qd d-pads?

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 4:43 pm

Turbo Tax 1.0 - grahf did, you are right, (using my pinouts). A couple of other people have too - similar issues. He had two problems - 1) he had to shave lots off the mobo to make it fit in the GP2x; and 2) when assembled, it slightly stuck when pressing directions (as there is so little space between the top case and the mobo of the GP2x) - in other words, not ideal. See the last paragraph on my last post for a way around this.

In regards to the other query - that was Radek. My posts on the issues with his proposition proved on the nail. He got frequently annoyed with me because I kept making valid points that more often than not he had to concede; especially when he kept trying to pull the wool over people's eyes.

Epicenter got a sample sent from Radek - total crap. He slated it. The small motherboard Radek used was hit and miss as to if it worked or not, was hard to install, and also apparently melted some of its components when it got too hot! The D-pad was unresponsive - you had to press hard in a direction for it to work, and it was far too easy to press all 4 directions at the same time!

I warned people and gave them alternative methods (eg mount a centre push button anywhere instructions, pinout diagram, "how to" guides, etc); people only seemed to listen to Radek. Anyway, as soon as people realised how much his product sucked, he disappeared entirely, never to be seen again. (obviously, he agreed!).

If you want a D-pad for the GP2x, you have 2 options - buy from DaveC (if he has any) for something over $30 I think it was, or better still, the fact you are in these forums indicates you have reasonable modding skills; make your own - it isn't difficult - see comments in my last post. You can also make one for a few quid, far cheaper than DaveC can provide; and as I said, it isn't a difficult proceedure - and far more fun if you make your own.

Epicenter · Post by **Epicenter** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:09 pm

The GP2X is poor hardware in all regards and should be avoided. The stick, while prominent, is just ONE of the system's numerous glaring problems. It's a terrible system built around a processor meant for a DVD Player or camera, not a game console, and it shows. Build quality, design, and the very concept behind the whole machine is a disaster. It's difficult to take apart, modify and put back together, the company knows about all the problems but refuses to fix them (they took over a YEAR to release a breakout box in a case, after releasing a bare board for $50 apiece, which had major engineering problems regardless) and have no intentions to replace the stick with a proper d-pad. The sellers of the system are all scam artists and deceitful liars who will say anything to move their piles of faulty GP2X systems off the shelves, even lying about their specifications, like the CPU clock speed.

Steer clear of this piece of garbage.

Sweebez · Post by **Sweebez** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 11:08 pm

Wow. I own a gp2x, and I don't at ALL believe in ANYthing that Epicenter says above. I love my gp2x, and there aren't any real problems with the system, as long as you know its limits (no it ISNT a portable pc).

My advice? Try it out for yourself, and don't listen to other's opinions.
With a little TLC, this system can be your best friend.

Post by **Triton** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 11:28 pm

i have to disagree 100% on all counts pretty much, yes its far from perfect but not nearly as bad as you make it out to be.

It's a terrible system built around a processor meant for a DVD Player or camera, not a game console, and it shows.

what? since when is a 200mhz ARM processor meant for a dvd player or camera?

Build quality, design, and the very concept behind the whole machine is a disaster.

build quality on the first units wasnt that great but it improved, design (aside from the stick) is ok by me, i like how it looks, i dont understad what you mean by the concept being a disaster.

It's difficult to take apart, modify and put back together, the company knows about all the problems but refuses to fix them (they took over a YEAR to release a breakout box in a case, after releasing a bare board for $50 apiece, which had major engineering problems regardless) and have no intentions to replace the stick with a proper d-pad.

i didnt find mine that hard at ALL to take apart, the screws were in really tight but that was it and for the other things, what can you expect! its a tiny no name company from KOREA, the only reason they fixed anything at all is because the retailors (ED and craigex) keep on them to fix stuff, i agree the BOB is overpriced tho and actually i have heard rumors of a cheap dpad replacement or something

The sellers of the system are all scam artists and deceitful liars who will say anything to move their piles of faulty GP2X systems off the shelves, even lying about their specifications, like the CPU clock speed.

havent seen any evidence of this, if you have any i would like to see it. it seems like you have a very large bais against this system, too bad really, i love mine and have gotten my moneys worth out of it preorded the first edition so i have had mine since day 1