WTB: Original Game Boy (GBO) (Can be broken, details inside)

thedevilman · Post by **thedevilman** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 1:52 am

Hello, I am new here. I found this site while looking to find Original Game Boy (GBO) parts.

I picked up a used GBO on craigslist for my kids and it had the missing vertical lines problem. This one happened to have several dead lines on both of the outer sides of the screen. It was the problem where if you push at the bottom of the screen just under the dead lines, some of the lines reappear.

I am often able to fix this specific problem if it's not too bad by quickly and gently rubbing a hot blunt tipped soldering iron against the ribbon cable that connects to the bottom of the LCD screen. In this case i was able to fix the right side completely but I got sloppy and slipped while doing the left side so my soldering iron went under the ribbon cable and tore a few of the attached circuited wires.

Not much I can do now but buy a new GBO. I was hoping though, that someone here might have a bad one or broken one they would give me or sell cheap. I will of course pay shipping in either case. I will make any payment in advance before you ship and prefer PayPal but can send a MO, too.

The GBO has two main boards inside. I only really need the board with the LCD screen attached. I do need this part in working order, though, if possible. I might be able to swap some parts from mine. At the very least the LCD screen and connecting ribbon cables should be working and intact. Even if it has a few dead lines I might still want it. As I stated, I can usually fix this particular problem. I just need to slow down a bit next time, hehe.

I know it could just be easier to buy another GBO since they are so cheap. I was just hoping a replacement part might be even cheaper. Seems a shame to toss this GBO just for one bad part.

Thank you!
-TDM

P.S. Great site, can't wait to look around even more.

-edit-
Sorry for rambling on. I didn't realize how long it was until after I'd posted, hehe.

ampscardshop · Post by **ampscardshop** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 1:58 am

i have a broken GB original with a booded screen would u want it

thedevilman · Post by **thedevilman** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:01 am

Wow, that was a fast reply.

I might be interested. I'm sorry to say though, I'm not sure what you mean by "booded"?

ampscardshop · Post by **ampscardshop** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:26 am

I mean the screen inside is broken and beyond repair you wont see video but u can hear sound

thedevilman · Post by **thedevilman** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:40 am

Ah, gotcha. Thank you very much for the offer but the screen is the main thing I need working really.

Thank you very much for the offer, though!

While searching though, I did see someone else in another topic that might be able to use a part from yours depending on what they find out is wrong with their own...
http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?t=25466

palmertech · Post by **palmertech** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 10:25 am

Welcome to the benheck forums, land of the last members of the race known as "People who have brand new mint GBO replacement screen".

I have a small box filled with them! Brand new, never used, still sealed. The screen thing is pretty common, like half the GBOs out there have busted screens, I plan on breaking most of these screen out in 20 years when every other GBO in the world has a badly deteriorated screen.

I also have a few replacement logic boards, headphone boards, and power boards, if you need them.

How much are you looking to spend? And why did you get a GBO for your kids? The GBO is so outdated, you should have gotten one of the more modern consoles... Like a Gameboy color!

Seriously, though, I am probably the one of the last people in the world with new GBO parts. Got them off an old electronics repair workshop.

thedevilman · Post by **thedevilman** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 11:01 am

Thank you for the reply!

The reason I got the kids a GBO is because my boys are 2 and 4. My 4 year old is only just starting to get into gaming and I can get GBOs for so cheap. This one I got on craigslist for $20 with about 15 games or so. Most of them even came with their original boxes and manuals.

I did also win a GBA with 4 or 5 games on eBay last week for about $15 including shipping, too. But I would still like to get this GBO working again.

Once they get older and more into gaming, I'll spend more for a more modern handheld.

The main reason I am looking to fix the one I have instead of buy a new one is that I hate to throw it away and I can be a bit obsessive when I know I can fix it. It was just a matter of finding the part, hehe.

I might be willing to pay up to $5 or $6 bucks for the part I need including shipping. Less if possible even. Any more and it would just make more sense to buy a new one.

I have a fantastic list of all of the major courier's websites with direct links to their shipping calculators and location finders to help you find the best rate possible and the most convenient location possible. And I will pay in advance.

Really, if I had all the time in the world to look around, I could prolly find a whole new one for that price or less. But I just don't have all of that much time and like I said, I would like to fix it. Just a pride thing there I guess, hehe.

The specific part I need is the LCD screen. If possible, I prefer to get it pre-soldered to the board it is normally attached to since the solder points are so small and close together. But if you have just the screen, I suppose I could give it a go. I've not soldered points that small and close together in a while, but I remember not liking it much, hehe.

Just let me know. If all goes well, I might even buy another from you down the road. I have another GBO boxed away somewhere that my cousin gave me for free because the LCD screen was cracked pretty bad. If I find it, it might be fun to get that one going, too.

Thanks again!
-TDM

GoldenfrankO · Post by **GoldenfrankO** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 11:04 am

I've got a busted GBO Mobo pm me if you want it.

thedevilman · Post by **thedevilman** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 11:20 am

PM sent. Thank you!

I'm still happy to hear other offers if people have them and waiting for palmertech to reply, too. Since I seem to actually have options, I'm looking for the best I can do for the best price. I hope that makes sense. Right now palmertech might have my favored solution, but I should know for sure soon.

I did not expect so many replies so quickly. Thanks to all of you!

palmertech · Post by **palmertech** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 11:25 am

Honestly, your best bet is to try ebay, I have gotten GBOs there for under $7 shipped. Last one was $0.99 with $4.70 shipping.

I might sell the screens, I have to think about it. I am sure you understand that mint brand new GBO screens are rather rare.

Give a me a bit to think about this.

thedevilman · Post by **thedevilman** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 11:46 am

No problem. I am not in a huge hurry so take your time deciding.

I did a quick search on eBay last night and found a few. I was just hoping to fix this one for less than getting another. That, and my pride of wanting to fix it, hehe.

I certainly understand that these are new and sealed. For me it is just a matter of the cost of a replacement part vs a replacement GBO. (and my pride, hehe) And GBOs were one of the highest selling handhelds of all time but are outdated now. So there are prolly still quite a lot of cheap ones out there, hehe. You seem to have found some very cheap.

I hope that makes sense.

Thanks again! Just keep me updated as to what you decide. I will certainly understand either way.

grossaffe · Post by **grossaffe** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 1:54 pm

You know, one thing that I always considered is how I would expose my kids, should I ever have any, to video games. I decided that when they're young they should start out with older systems and work their way up to the modern systems so they can learn to appreciate the old-school stuff the same way I did. I think that there may be a bit of a lack of appreciation for older games with some of today's younger kids who are growing up with portable systems capable of fully 3d graphics.

thedevilman · Post by **thedevilman** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:43 pm

Yeah, I tend to agree with that. When I was a kid our first real exposure to video games aside from the local arcade that we were too young for, was an Atari 2600 we got for X-mas one year. We were not that well off of a family but we felt rich that year.

As video games evolved we were there for most of the systems since. I have very fond memories of the 2600, original NES, Sega MS, Genesis, SNES, and original Game Boy... that made up much of my childhood video gaming.

We have not yet set up our 2600 but will be soon. I'm not sure if my oldest will like it or not yet. I do know that he loves the Game Boy despite him not knowing how to really quite use it yet. He has been playing the one that I need the part for. It has about 20 or so vertical lines missing from the left side of the screen but he doesn't seem to mind yet, hehe.

Nurd! · Post by **Nurd!** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:35 pm

I have a Gameboy with the same problem.

It's mostly together, but If you are just looking for the screen, it's fine.

Interested?

Post by **Triton** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:42 pm

i found that poping the GBO in the freezer for a while then letting it thaw out can actually fix that problem

no harm in trying just dont leave it in there TOO long