Do we have room for another N64P? (t64 WIP)

[dragonhead]

are the two memory chips on the same traces? if thats the case, you could physically stack the two chips to save space.

[snowpenguin]

But then how would you heatsink them? You usually should. You could have problems with one chip melting the other.

[nevermind1534]

But then how would you heatsink them? You usually should. You could have problems with one chip melting the other.

But aren't they ceramic/porcelain?

To heatsink, you could use some arctic silver adhesive.

[kibble]

are the two memory chips on the same traces? if thats the case, you could physically stack the two chips to save space.

Most of the pins are connected to each other but there's a couple that need to run in order from one chip to the other. Also, the RAM needs termination resistors at the very end, similar to the way SCSI works so I don't really thing stacking them would be a good idea. If space permits, I'll squeeze in the components closer together once I start arranging the connections in a more organized manner.

Oh, and by the way, I have considered dubbing this project T64 for "Tiny 64", as you can see by the T and 64 vias on the board layout.

[kibble]

Updated progress:

Finally got a second expansion pack that I can remove the 36Mbit RAM chip from.

Here's a tentative layout of the power supply section and related components. So far, the board is about 8X9cm. I expect it to grow just a tiny bit more, but not too much. The connector on the bottom right corner is one I'm considering using to connect a daughter board containing the AVDC and PIF chips. There will be a second connector just to the top right of the RCP for the cart slot to connect to. I'm trying to use the smallest connectors I have access to in order to keep the size small. A lot of the connectors I'm using I'm removing from old laptop mobo's.

[marshallh]

What are those, 3 mil traces?

If you're creating your own parts library, why not use connectors from Digikey so that you have replacements

Otherwise, lookin good so far. If you want a *good* autorouter, let me know.

[stuntpenguin007]

:O

What program are you making the schematics with?

[kibble]

:O

What program are you making the schematics with?

I'm just using EAGLE.

What are those, 3 mil traces?

If you're creating your own parts library, why not use connectors from Digikey so that you have replacements

Otherwise, lookin good so far. If you want a *good* autorouter, let me know.

The connectors I'm using can be found at Digikey, I've checked. I'm just taking them from laptops because I have a bunch of them so I have plenty of connectors.

As for autorouting, I haven't used autorouting on this board, I've been doing it by hand. I'm worried that I'll get too comfortable trying to autoroute everything that I'll miss something small and then find out at the last minute after the board's been made. I'm checking and double checking things as I go, I had already found some errors I'd made just by checking the layout against my "exploded" drawings and the N64 board.

One thing I'm thinking of doing is eliminating all the ground traces that run between the connections from CPU to RCP and just leaving the bottom layer ground but, adding an insulated, grounded sheet of foil later on above the signal lines, hopefully to prevent crosstalk, if it would happen at all, what do you think? I mean, people have been wiring everything with loose wires and they haven't had any problems. Eliminating those ground traces would cut down on the space required by quite a bit and further simplify the design.

[kibble]

MOAR pics!!!!!..........well actually just one.

Anyway, this is what I think the end product *may* look like. I have most of the pads laid out for the various IC's and other components. There's been quite a few parts that I've had to make the layouts for myself as they don't exist in the program and doing so has consumed a lot of my time. I'm wanting to replace the crystals for the two clock chips with smt oscillators (those tiny black squares next to the 8-pin clock chips) as they are way smaller than the original crystals themselves. I don't know for sure if the fact that the clock chips would be externally clocked would make a difference in the way they operate. I'd have to test them with one of my other n64's before building this board.

As it is shown in the pic, the board measures 13 x 9cm and would include almost everything in the regular console plus 8MB total RAM, voltage regulators, circuitry for controlling a miniature laptop fan depending on temperature, header for a cable assembly to connect to the cartridge connector, header for audio/video, controller circuitry, header for controller buttons/control stick, 1Mbit memory for saving games and rumble pack circuitry with vibrating motor (removed from a 90's Motorola pager ).

[snowpenguin]

Well it certainly does look smaller! Hope it works out. If they're significantly smaller you could make a wad of cash selling boards.

[Alie]

Are you planning to do other PCBs without rumble pack circuitry (so even smaller)?

[kibble]

Well it certainly does look smaller! Hope it works out.

I hope so too, I'm putting a lot of time into this project. Sometimes I'm up working on it so late I don't go to bed til 2am.....

Are you planning to do other PCBs without rumble pack circuitry (so even smaller)?

My original intention was to make the board contain only the stuff required to make the n64 run and everything else would connect to it. The controller and all the other stuff (memory, rumble) would all connect to that one board, which would be stacked on somewhere between the N64 and LCD but, I figured since I'm trying to make this portable as small and thin as possible, I might as well include all that stuff too. My goal has become to reduce the system down to two main components; N64 and LCD. All the other stuff required, buttons, speakers, etc, has to be separate of course.

Oh sorry, I diverge.. So to answer your original question: Yes, it's possible to remove all the extra stuff and make it smaller but, I'd have to remove the controller chip too, only because it extends the board on the right hand side. Removing the rumble circuitry alone wouldn't really shrink it down because it's in the top right corner of the board.

As I'm building this I keep in mind that not everyone would be able to solder some of the smd's or have some of the components I'm using so I'm making it where some things can be omitted, like the 3.3v regulator and associated circuitry can just be bypassed and a PTH08000 used and connect 5V directly to the spot that needs it.

Once I complete this and it works (trying to stay positive here ) I may be nice enough to share the files and or make extra boards/custom boards......... I guess we'll see how it goes.

Oh and I have one request for anyone that would be nice enough to do this for me; I'm considering using a BT-41 or 50 battery but, would like to know the physical dimensions of the cells (length x width x height) in mm, preferably measured with a caliper or approximated with a ruler is fine too. I would also like the know these dimensions for the charging circuit. If anyone has one of said batteries and could do me this favor, I'd be extremely grateful! I want to know the size of the cells so I can get an idea of how much room I need to leave space for. I will hopefully get my LCD on Wednesday and I'll be tearing that apart to see if it will suit my purposes. If it's too thick or is wide screen (which is a possibility), I may opt to hunt down a PSone screen.

[marshallh]

The MX8330 clockgen chips need a quartz crystal - try this out:

http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSea ... -9153-1-ND" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[kibble]

I read through the MX8330's datasheet to see if it said it specifically required the crystal but, it doesn't really say so. I was going to order some like the one's you linked me to as well as backup in case the oscillators didn't work out. Nothing ventured nothing gained, I guess...well, I could lose a few dollars but, what the heck.

[Alie]

My original intention was to make the board contain only the stuff required to make the n64 run and everything else would connect to it. The controller and all the other stuff (memory, rumble) would all connect to that one board, which would be stacked on somewhere between the N64 and LCD but, I figured since I'm trying to make this portable as small and thin as possible, I might as well include all that stuff too. My goal has become to reduce the system down to two main components; N64 and LCD. All the other stuff required, buttons, speakers, etc, has to be separate of course.

Oh sorry, I diverge.. So to answer your original question: Yes, it's possible to remove all the extra stuff and make it smaller but, I'd have to remove the controller chip too, only because it extends the board on the right hand side. Removing the rumble circuitry alone wouldn't really shrink it down because it's in the top right corner of the board.

As I'm building this I keep in mind that not everyone would be able to solder some of the smd's or have some of the components I'm using so I'm making it where some things can be omitted, like the 3.3v regulator and associated circuitry can just be bypassed and a PTH08000 used and connect 5V directly to the spot that needs it.

Once I complete this and it works (trying to stay positive here ) I may be nice enough to share the files and or make extra boards/custom boards......... I guess we'll see how it goes.

Oh and I have one request for anyone that would be nice enough to do this for me; I'm considering using a BT-41 or 50 battery but, would like to know the physical dimensions of the cells (length x width x height) in mm, preferably measured with a caliper or approximated with a ruler is fine too. I would also like the know these dimensions for the charging circuit. If anyone has one of said batteries and could do me this favor, I'd be extremely grateful! I want to know the size of the cells so I can get an idea of how much room I need to leave space for. I will hopefully get my LCD on Wednesday and I'll be tearing that apart to see if it will suit my purposes. If it's too thick or is wide screen (which is a possibility), I may opt to hunt down a PSone screen.

Ok, agree, maybe re-doing lower right part of the pcb rotating the controller chip and the connector may make it smaller (i asked because i really hate the rumble pack on the N64 ).
If you share the complete files you'll become a God
Many people used those batteries, i'm sure someone can tell you the measures, i don't have them, sorry