n64 motherboard strip-down?

[eurddrue]

Good point about switching vs linear. Still, I would not run my super sensitive N64 3.3v line off a computer power supply; Don't trust it.

If anything, a computer PSU is MORE stable than a TI reg.

No way.

If I am wrong, someone smarter than me on this stuff please correct me; I always thought those TI regs were incredibly accurate, and the N64 needs EXACTLY 3.3v (give or take 0.1v) to run correctly.

no you fail...


bacteria ran his on 2.89v remember?
expansion pak needs 3.2~3.4v but not with jumper...

[palmertech]

Fine, fine. I know that, but what reason would you have if it is in a computer to not include an expansion? They cost like $10 shipped, and I doubt power savings is an issue.

But good job, ya caught me there.

[timmeh87]

HELLO EVERYBODY

lol.

Yeah ok Im going to go out on a limb and say that a PC power supply is way better than a TI regulator. It /is/ a switching regulator... But the TI regs make a lot of switching noise, I bet your PC supply looks a lot cleaner. And it can supply like 20A so its more "ideal" or "linear" and all that crap.

And linear regs are not a stupid idea. Come on. Go on a crusade against incandescent light bulbs or gas engines if you want to talk about wasting power, the PC power supply you are running it off of is itself using up more power than than you would be wasting with a linear reg. They are a cheap, compact solution for anything that needs less than a few amps. We're talking about like 5 watts here. Your hard drive uses that much to idle. Any engineer working at a company would immediately choose a linear reg for this application. It costs a tenth as much, take up less space, you are mounting it to a heatsink anyways, its easier to troubleshoot and repair. Its nice and clean.

And /I/ did my 64 on 2.89v, I believe Bacteria was quoting my figure as it is a pretty random number otherwise. Anyways none of these choices are going to have a problem with voltage sag. All you PC lines are probably +- 5% or less right up to the current rating.

Id say its more like driving with the air conditioning on.

[XCVG]

Actually, never use a linear reg with an N64. It'll melt a hole in the case, because the thing consumes something like 1.5 amps.

[timmeh87]

The 3.3v line uses almost that much which the thing is rated for. I think you are quoting the number for the entire system (+screen?) obviously its going to have a heatsink did you even read the first post? Its not a portable. Its in a PC case.

here. jeez. "Guaranteed 1.5A output current"

http://www.national.com/mpf/LM/LM317.html

[XCVG]

D'oh!

[bacteria]

bacteria ran his on 2.89v remember?

Indeed, that was before I had a TI card to play with and I used a Sony car adapter. System worked fine on the jumper pack, but had to run off mains power as batteries couldn't cope with the car adapter (mind you, that was before I used Li-ions). The car adapter is also very inefficient and not ideal - but yes, system worked at 2.89v on that line; if you can't get TI cards or similar and don't mind mains power, at least this is another option!

[asdfjkl;]

what's the highest it will work with a jumper?