My first PS1 build, first build ever actually!

[glassjoe92]

Hi, as you can tell by my posts, I'm ENTIRELY new to ben heck forums, though I've known about his site for a good while. I happen to have a spare PS1 lying around, going to waste.

This would be my FIRST project, so-

I have a few questions about getting started:

-What kind of screen is cheapest to use? I've seen a LOT of PS1 screens, but what about PSP? would that lead to image distortion? I have a broken Zune 30 Gig (FAIL) lying around, would it be possible to hardwire the memory card storage to the HDD of the Zune? OR could I use the screen from the broken Zune as a screen for the PS1, that would be CHEEP. The res. is 320x240, not sure what the PS1 runs at, I'd bet my money that it runs at a 4:3 aspect ratio though.

A Zune's screen is actually 4:3 pixel aspect ratio! Wow, so could I technically use this as a screen then?!


-What's the best, cleanest material to cake my project in? Epoxy? Also, would wood be a good substance for this kind of project? I know a guy down the road from me, he owns a cigar bar and ALWAYS has a ton of empty cigar boxes out by his trash, all really good condition too! Does anyone else think it would be cool to host all of the parts inside the box, maybe have the disk running on the outside of the box ( I could work up a cover or something ), and have like wooden handles where I could put the analog stick, buttons, etc. I also think it would be really cool to decoupage, if you aren't familiar here's a pic of a guitar I did about 2 years ago, it's a glue that allows you to stick an image on to wood or something similar and it stays there, then you put polyurethane over it, and it works like a charm. Really cool matte, rugged texture.

-Having very little experience, only working with guitars, and pickups, am I capable of actually doing this task?


Thanks a lot guys, for helping a portable noob.

*I'll post pics of the deco guitar as soon as I get them up if anyone is interested*


GlassJoe92

[Zeturi]

You might want to check out the stickies a bit first, as well as other people's projects to get some ideas. If you do have the entire summer, then try a NES first.

They sell tons of clones that will suffice for a NESp on Amazon and ebay. You can get some screens from places like dealextreme, and miscellaneous parts from either radioshack, mouser or digikey.

All in all, spend some time researching the forums and better yet, buy Ben's book to get some first-time help. And by the way, no Zune parts or ipods, laptop lcds, or 700 mah batteries are going to be good for any project.

For a cheap first-time project, here are some links to cheap stuff:

NOAC: http://www.amazon.com/Power-Player-7600 ... 539&sr=8-1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

SCREEN: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.14781" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

BATTERY: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... Id=2147160

Good luck !

EDIT: Fixed broken link

[glassjoe92]

Thanks for the help man, I like this forum, people actually respond in a nice manner, a LOT more helpful than facepunch studios! I'll be sure to check it out. Does Ben have an eBook as well?

[mikeyg]

Thanks for the help man, I like this forum, people actually respond in a nice manner, a LOT more helpful than facepunch studios! I'll be sure to check it out. Does Ben have an eBook as well?

Facepunch studios? doesn't sound very friendly. Anyway, just make sure to read the stickies like the poster above me said.
I would like to officially welcome you to benheck, too.

[glassjoe92]

Facepunch studios? doesn't sound very friendly. Anyway, just make sure to read the stickies like the poster above me said.
I would like to officially welcome you to benheck, too.

Thanks a lot dude, yeah FPS is more of a PC Gamer's forum. Focused on Garry's Mod, a Half Life 2 mod that's pretty famous. I really love these forums though, lots of friendly people, no flaming, lots of info. Kudos.

[Zeturi]

I'm pretty sure Amazon sells it as an ebook: http://www.amazon.com/Hacking-Video-Gam ... 184&sr=8-1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Oh yeah, not everyone on here is nice. You'll see what I mean soon enough.

There's a good amount of forum support though; just keep your grammar as you have it right now, and it'll keep the flames to a minimum.

[schmellyfart]

+1 on the book. One of the BEST investments you can make for this portablizing stuff. I've had it for 3 years and still use it. In short, get it!

[XCVG]

Yeah, get the book. If you have to ask this sort of question, get the book.

[eurddrue]

GIT DA BUK YO! Psone is in the book, it will explain everything you need to know because the psone isn't very well documented on here. You could check Bacteria's site though, he made a guide for the n64 and he may have made one for the psone when he made his. You could also buy one of Bacteria's cases if you wanted to save some time/effort, and you wanted a nice looking easy case.

[glassjoe92]

Okay, I have the eBook, it's really a great book. I've already learned so much about amps, volts, watts, all of that good stuff. I'm looking around at what kind of screen I should get, they're expensive (for me at least). I tried the cigar box. Sadly, it isn't (or hasn't) come out as I'd planned / hoped! So I'm either getting a larger box, or else just using an entirely different material. I actually think I WILL go with the radioshack project box. I need something with layers, for power and such. I have a program I just got from Warez called AutoCAD, so I may just draw a schematic with that, too bad it costs so much to get it cut out!

I'll figure something out! Also, should I add a fan to the case? Just for looks, and added cooling?



Well, by the way I'm still going through with the PS1 portable. Lol, sorry for being stubborn. I just found out I have a PSX, so it's pretty big! I wasn't aware that the PSOne was so much smaller! Oh well, guess I'll deal with what I got.

[glassjoe92]

Yes! Found a great craigslist deal! Just bought all of this for just $5.00!

http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/tag/1207589774.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Should give me everything I need (and maybe a bit more) in order to pull off a SNESp.

[bacteria]

GIT DA BUK YO! Psone is in the book, it will explain everything you need to know because the psone isn't very well documented on here. You could check Bacteria's site though, he made a guide for the n64 and he may have made one for the psone when he made his. You could also buy one of Bacteria's cases if you wanted to save some time/effort, and you wanted a nice looking easy case.

Yes, made a guide on my site.

Ben's book is not accurate on the PSone controller, I PM'ed him a while back. The pinout is (I tested this on my multimeter, and works fine as my portable uses this):



Just thought I would save you time wondering why your system didn't work.

[roxasnobody]

I'm pretty sure Amazon sells it as an ebook: http://www.amazon.com/Hacking-Video-Gam ... 184&sr=8-1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Oh yeah, not everyone on here is nice. You'll see what I mean soon enough.

There's a good amount of forum support though; just keep your grammar as you have it right now, and it'll keep the flames to a minimum.

i know exactly what you mean , and welcome to the forums im the famous grammar boy,who everybody keep questionning my grammar. .
cheer and HOOHAA.
RoXaS out