If I'm a beginner...

Includes PS2, Xbox 1, GameCube (but not the Phantom Game Console)

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AKATSUKIComics
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Joined: Thu Mar 26, 2009 7:40 pm

If I'm a beginner...

Post by AKATSUKIComics »

If I am totally new at this and am only a teenager would it be extremely hard and exspensive to attepted to make a portable ps2. I know what your thinking "oh great another teenager who just goes to one of these boards and assumes he can make a portable ps2 in a weekend" but I know this will take a lot of time, effort, and money. I just want to know if it would require a lot of learning and what not. Because I have always wanted to make a portable ps2. If I should start with something simpler then please by all means tell me. but basicly what I want to know is, will it be very hard, how much will it cost, would it be easy to find people to help me on this forum, and how long could it possibly take (I was thinking of doing this over summer vacation), also will I need a big open workshop? i can use my garage but I just wanted to know if that is completely neccissary.
XCVG
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Re: If I'm a beginner...

Post by XCVG »

It would be expensive unless you salvage and exploit stupid people, like the guy who sold me an N64 for 6 bucks.
AKATSUKIComics
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Re: If I'm a beginner...

Post by AKATSUKIComics »

XCVG wrote:It would be expensive unless you salvage and exploit stupid people, like the guy who sold me an N64 for 6 bucks.
dang, yeah, i might be able to acually buy my friend's barely functional ps2 (he recently played it and said it worked fine but he still might sell it) I could also maybe find a slim line for pretty cheap in creigslist... but how exspensive are we talkin? and if u could answer my other questions in the post that would be nice too xD.

edit: no replies yet? meh, maybe its just late.
64M320N3
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Re: If I'm a beginner...

Post by 64M320N3 »

BTW if you were looking at a fat ps2, DON'T do it.
This is because that thing is incredibly huge, and sucks down way more power than that of the slim.
Also, slims are fairly cheap. I remember getting a new PS2 slim, two official controllers, and two games (JAK III and Battlefront 2) at Sam's Club for $80. That's not that bad.
Unfortunately, the PS2 used is still incredibly expensive at GameStop (again, something like $80, which honestly is a rip for a used outdated system) and they hardly have any slims. Just look around and hound online, or perhaps post a WTB/WTT thread in the trading post.
Hope that helped. :wink:
Also, the total portable should come to around, well depends what you are getting and how you plan on getting it. What I mean by this is screens and batteries don't really have a fixed price, as you can find a PSone screen (or ps2 zenith screen, for that matter) for $50, and yet I found mine for $10. It all depends on where you look.
As for the time it will take you to finish your project, it really depends on effort, and how much you know about the console itself. For example, ShockSlayer completed most of his N64ps in around 5 hours.
As for batteries, look at li-ion or li-ion polymer (slightly smaller and much more flat; what you'd find in new cell phones). They hold great charge, and usually have a great mAh rating.
Do some research, and in the end the possibility of your portable being great is much better.
Oh, and also, make your title sound more professional. That's just a hint, as questions that appear to be noobish usually do not get much traffic. Just for the future, I guess.
As for your portable, good luck, as you are going to need it. :)
Making stuff with my new beautiful CNC machine!
Would you like a professional looking custom case for your portable? I may be able to help you. Check out this link:
http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=32724
themadhacker
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Re: If I'm a beginner...

Post by themadhacker »

Oh, and BTW, most of the members here are in their teens or 20's.
rest in peace, Ronnie James Dio! \m/
ShockSlayer
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Re: If I'm a beginner...

Post by ShockSlayer »

$50 bucks for PS2
$50 bucks for screen
$75 bucks for batteries
$20 for controllers
$0 dollars for case(seriously, its possible. ask anyone who knows me)
$30 bucks for misc. parts

SS
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XCVG
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Re: If I'm a beginner...

Post by XCVG »

64M320N3 wrote:I remember getting a new PS2 slim, two official controllers, and two games (JAK III and Battlefront 2) at Sam's Club for $80. That's not that bad.
Wow.
AKATSUKIComics
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu Mar 26, 2009 7:40 pm

Re: If I'm a beginner...

Post by AKATSUKIComics »

64M320N3 wrote:BTW if you were looking at a fat ps2, DON'T do it.
This is because that thing is incredibly huge, and sucks down way more power than that of the slim.
Also, slims are fairly cheap. I remember getting a new PS2 slim, two official controllers, and two games (JAK III and Battlefront 2) at Sam's Club for $80. That's not that bad.
Unfortunately, the PS2 used is still incredibly expensive at GameStop (again, something like $80, which honestly is a rip for a used outdated system) and they hardly have any slims. Just look around and hound online, or perhaps post a WTB/WTT thread in the trading post.
Hope that helped. :wink:
Also, the total portable should come to around, well depends what you are getting and how you plan on getting it. What I mean by this is screens and batteries don't really have a fixed price, as you can find a PSone screen (or ps2 zenith screen, for that matter) for $50, and yet I found mine for $10. It all depends on where you look.
As for the time it will take you to finish your project, it really depends on effort, and how much you know about the console itself. For example, ShockSlayer completed most of his N64ps in around 5 hours.
As for batteries, look at li-ion or li-ion polymer (slightly smaller and much more flat; what you'd find in new cell phones). They hold great charge, and usually have a great mAh rating.
Do some research, and in the end the possibility of your portable being great is much better.
Oh, and also, make your title sound more professional. That's just a hint, as questions that appear to be noobish usually do not get much traffic. Just for the future, I guess.
As for your portable, good luck, as you are going to need it. :)
lol trust me if I were to make a portable ps2 I would NEVER EVER conisder using a regular ps2 xD. So w8 about how much charge will a li-ion or an li-ion polymer battery give me? Oh yeah and I realised how the thread topic sounded noobish only after I already posted it xD, I'm glad I have gotten as many responses as I have currently gotten xD.
I would guess around $300 dollars

$50 bucks for PS2
$50 bucks for screen
$50 bucks for batteries
$10 for controller
$100 dollars for case
$20 bucks for misc. parts

and then $50 bucks because you broke your second PS2 so far

I would suggest trying to do a Nintendo. They're extremely small simple, and you could probably build one for around $100 dollars. You'll learn a lot and then when you finish you'll have a little experience under your belt.

Oh yeah... READ BEN'S BOOK
hmmm 300 dollers... I don't know if I should say dang... or less than I expected... sorta in the middle but still... if a nintendo portable will cost about 100 then... just dang... lol. I do plan on buying Ben's book btw, it looks pretty cool. I was accually planning on making a portable super nintendo first and selling it to a friend to get the money to make the portable ps2 because I don't play many super nintendo games, does the book cover making a portable super nintendo? also is a portable gamecube or portable NES hard to make?
eurddrue
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Re: If I'm a beginner...

Post by eurddrue »

ShockSlayer wrote:$0 dollars for case(seriously, its possible. ask anyone who knows me)SS
:lol: except for you hotglue and electrical tape costs, which are pretty high :lol:
Banned indefinitely if you desperately need to contact me STOPPHONESPAMPLOX Please dont be a dick and call for something random like "HEY YURDRUE DOO U HAZ SPAM?"
wallydawg wrote:
chainfire95 wrote:220V I believe
I think we should check to see if you can withstand 220 volts
AKATSUKIComics
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Re: If I'm a beginner...

Post by AKATSUKIComics »

so exactly what do I have to do to make a portable ps2? is there some sort of guide to it?
collinE
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Re: If I'm a beginner...

Post by collinE »

there's no guide. What you should do is read Ben's book and notice the similarities between all the different projects, the read the different projects here and notice the similarities. There's some pretty basic things on all consoles like power and video inputs, some have cd drives or cartridge slots. so just familiarize yourself with the very basics for any project and it starts to "click" how simple most projects are (coming from someone who hasn't managed to finish a project yet).

Learning to solder and desolder can be done on anything. Get some broken electronics and go to town. Try removing components or wiring random things just so you get a feel for doing it before messing with a motherboard you paid for.

That's my 2 cents. :D
It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man.

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AKATSUKIComics
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Re: If I'm a beginner...

Post by AKATSUKIComics »

So, lets say if I get the book and make a portable NES and a portable ps1 it will be easier to make a portable ps2? Also would it be cheaper to buy a case for the NES or PS1 portable from Ben's website, or would it be cheaper to make my own? and how would I go about making my own case?
eurddrue
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Re: If I'm a beginner...

Post by eurddrue »

It would be easier to use bens book, because he has step by step instructions on everything and parts lists. Yes, I reccommend doing a portable from his book just to get experience, because you obviously have none :lol:
It would be easier to buy a case from ben, but cheaper to make your own.
Banned indefinitely if you desperately need to contact me STOPPHONESPAMPLOX Please dont be a dick and call for something random like "HEY YURDRUE DOO U HAZ SPAM?"
wallydawg wrote:
chainfire95 wrote:220V I believe
I think we should check to see if you can withstand 220 volts
AKATSUKIComics
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu Mar 26, 2009 7:40 pm

Re: If I'm a beginner...

Post by AKATSUKIComics »

eurddrue wrote:It would be easier to use bens book, because he has step by step instructions on everything and parts lists. Yes, I reccommend doing a portable from his book just to get experience, because you obviously have none :lol:
It would be easier to buy a case from ben, but cheaper to make your own.
Ok, but how would I make my own case? (If its cheaper I want to do it cause I am pretty low on cash).
eurddrue
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Re: If I'm a beginner...

Post by eurddrue »

well, there is a parts list in the book, it will tell you everything that you need, but you will make your case out of engraving plastic and hot glue.
Banned indefinitely if you desperately need to contact me STOPPHONESPAMPLOX Please dont be a dick and call for something random like "HEY YURDRUE DOO U HAZ SPAM?"
wallydawg wrote:
chainfire95 wrote:220V I believe
I think we should check to see if you can withstand 220 volts
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