Making N64 portable for the first time

[Mak Manto]

Well, where to begin...?

I've been a member of this site for about a year and a half now. I originally came on to look for the SNESP MkIII for sale, but I went inactive. Now, I'm back, and instead of asking to buy a portable N64, which seems impossible to do so, I decided to build one. I've seen different designs, etc.

But the case I absolutely love is perhaps the sleekest looking N64 portable: The Sixtyfree Lite-R.



No offense to the other designs, but the smaller, in my opinion, the better. Sifu made something I fell in love with.

Well, I PMed him to ask if he could remake one, but he hasn't gotten back yet, and instead of hampering him, I'm going to try to build this thing on my own.

Now, I've looked at some of the guides, but some of them are incomplete and others are missing altogether. I'm a complete noob when it comes to this stuff. I can get the parts, but I wouldn't know what to do with it. I need major help here with information.

I've seen the case forum, the screen forum, and I'm still confused.

I'm thinking of getting the book. Even though it doesn't have the N64 from what I've seen, I'll need all of the help.

So, here's happy hunting! I'll be posting in this thing constantly, updating on me getting the right parts. If anyone has any suggestions, please, give it to me. Criticism included.

It's going to be a rocky few months.

[themadhacker]

just buy one from SS. What you want to do would be nearly impossible for somebody with no experience.

[Mak Manto]

Who is SS and what does his portable N64 look like?

[jjhammerstein]

ShockSlayer. Search around, he just did a comission that isn't too ugly.

[ShockSlayer]

Hi. Sifuf won't respond. And it took him 8 months, with previous skill.

I've done it enough times to be able to crank one out with no casualties, but I've got a line right now, so maybe sometime this summer. If you are really interested in building one yourself, you should probably see about gathering cash and learning the basics first. If you still want to make one that is exactly the same as his, then you probably won't be done until this time NEXT YEAR.

SS

[thewise1]

The reason most people make portable n64s that are bigger than sifufs is because it's insanely hard, not because we prefer a larger one. With the amount of experience you have right now, I don't think you'll be able to make one like sifufs on your first try.

[jjhammerstein]

I bet it wouldn't take as long as everyone says. Bacteria made a pinout for wiring the cart SMT style, and after that it's just careful soldering. Hey, Mr. "Solder an N64 cart slot in 45 minutes," I bet you could do it in a matter of days.

[Skyone]

Hi. Sifuf won't respond. And it took him 8 months, with previous skill.

I think the guy is looking for quality.

[Mak Manto]

ShockSlayer: How about this, then? Right now, I have no money, but I'll be getting a job soon. If it is cool with you, if you can remake that same console that Sifu made, I'll pay you.

I think it's safe to say that if all of you are saying it'll be nigh to impossible for me to do, I'd rather have a guy who knows what he's doing.

[jjhammerstein]

ShockSlayer: How about this, then? Right now, I have no money, but I'll be getting a job soon. If it is cool with you, if you can remake that same console that Sifu made, I'll pay you.

I think it's safe to say that if all of you are saying it'll be nigh to impossible for me to do, I'd rather have a guy who knows what he's doing.

He'll charge you like, $600.
Maybe more. It's only been done once!

[Mak Manto]

Price is not a problem.

How many people can say "I have a portable N64?"

When people are paying out of the pocket for the new gen systems, I want to have something that's completely original. That's why I like you guys.

If Nintendo, Atari, Sega, Sony, etc. did this stuff, they'd make millions. Honestly, if you guys can make portables in a few months of N64's, Nintendo would be rich.

But like I said, money's not an issue. Right now, it is, but like SS said, he's working on another one.

SS, if you're willing to put in the time to make that, I'd be willing to pay for it.

[metalcookie]

you don't understand how hard it is to make a portable like sisuf's. to make one like sisuf, you need to be a micro soldering GOD

it's insanely hard, and as good as shockslayer is at making portables, such as his gamecube portable, i don't think he could relocate a cart slot directly to the rcp, and the expansion pak would be 100 times harder

[Mak Manto]

I'm getting that it'll take AWHILE if SS agrees. But, time's not really an issue. If he's up for it, I'm willing to work with him.

[thewise1]

The issue isn't time, it's pure skill. Sifuf probably worked with electronics for a career, and had probably at least 5 years of previous experience under his belt. The only person on here who maybe be the equivalent or higher is daftmike. And he's usually offline. He was able to replace the standard 16mb ram with larger 32mb ram.

The bottom line is that time is not the problem, it's the ability.

I'm sure Shockslayer would love to build you one, but it won't be as small as sifufs.

But when you think about it, it's not even that big to hold most of the portables one these forums. Mine is a little chunky and it's still pretty awesome and small.



Plus there is one crucial problem that even sifuf couldn't solve, is that his portable doesn't have batteries. So it's not even 100% portable.

[metalcookie]

that was exactly what i meant, mak manto. if he does attempt to build one just like that, you'll go bankrupt. just one single bridged pin on the rcp or the expansion pak and you need a new n64. as thewise1 said, he probably has a career in soldering and what not and probably has a lot of experience in extremely small scale soldering.