The eN64p STATUS: Finalizing case. Total cost: $134

[XCVG]

Ok, it looks like my N64 board may be fried. I powered up the screen and the N64 together this afternoon, and got no sound or video to the screen. The N64 powers up, the red light comes on, the center chip gets fairly warm (it's twin does not,) I see around a volt drop on both the 3v and 12v line, the screen's backlight shuts off for a second and then comes back on, and nothing seems to be happening. So, I've either got a fried board, or, I've hooked something up horribly wrong. I'm going to search through the N64 test sticky, see what I can find, and then post a "Help needed" thread if necessary. I've got an extra N64, so the project is far from dead, just set back a bit.

You probably accidentally touched the 3.3V and 12V lines. That's enough to fry a board. Happened to mario, happened to me. The difference between me and you is that you have an extra. Well technically I have another one but there's no way I'm risking my ONLY working N64.

[eurddrue]

Ok, it looks like my N64 board may be fried. I powered up the screen and the N64 together this afternoon, and got no sound or video to the screen. The N64 powers up, the red light comes on, the center chip gets fairly warm (it's twin does not,) I see around a volt drop on both the 3v and 12v line, the screen's backlight shuts off for a second and then comes back on, and nothing seems to be happening. So, I've either got a fried board, or, I've hooked something up horribly wrong. I'm going to search through the N64 test sticky, see what I can find, and then post a "Help needed" thread if necessary. I've got an extra N64, so the project is far from dead, just set back a bit.

You probably accidentally touched the 3.3V and 12V lines. That's enough to fry a board. Happened to mario, happened to me. The difference between me and you is that you have an extra. Well technically I have another one but there's no way I'm risking my ONLY working N64.

Well, I've thought 2 of my boards were fried, went through the complete testing crap, almost through them away, but decided to set them on the side for a while, decided to test them last night, BINGO!!! They both work.

[XCVG]

Ok, it looks like my N64 board may be fried. I powered up the screen and the N64 together this afternoon, and got no sound or video to the screen. The N64 powers up, the red light comes on, the center chip gets fairly warm (it's twin does not,) I see around a volt drop on both the 3v and 12v line, the screen's backlight shuts off for a second and then comes back on, and nothing seems to be happening. So, I've either got a fried board, or, I've hooked something up horribly wrong. I'm going to search through the N64 test sticky, see what I can find, and then post a "Help needed" thread if necessary. I've got an extra N64, so the project is far from dead, just set back a bit.

You probably accidentally touched the 3.3V and 12V lines. That's enough to fry a board. Happened to mario, happened to me. The difference between me and you is that you have an extra. Well technically I have another one but there's no way I'm risking my ONLY working N64.

Well, I've thought 2 of my boards were fried, went through the complete testing crap, almost through them away, but decided to set them on the side for a while, decided to test them last night, BINGO!!! They both work.

Well I ripped the expansion slot off of this one, and screwed up the regulator. It's not working again ever.

[robm]

@eurdrue: Thanks for the words of encouragement! I've heard of these things deciding to wake back up after a nap, so mayhap I'll give it a shot again tomorrow.

I may be looking for replacement boards here soon to keep me in stock, in case I kill my extra. It's a blow to my ego to fry a piece of equipment after working with this stuff for so long, but eh, stuff happens.

@xcvg: I know what you mean about the one remaining console; however, I can only convince my wife to have one console at a time hooked up to the TV. This means that my PS2 has a resident, planogrammed spot in our entertainment center. I used to have a Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast, Playstation, SNES, Atari, and my computer all hooked up to the same TV. That went away upon marriage. In fact, I'm pretty sure she put that into the pre-nup.

[Life of Brian]

That's why you need to get her hooked on a couple of different games on different platforms. My wife currently cycles back and forth between Lego Star Wars on PS2 and Banjo Kazooie on N64. It makes me happy because I get away with having at least three different consoles gutted on the kitchen table

[XCVG]

I know what you mean about the one remaining console; however, I can only convince my wife to have one console at a time hooked up to the TV. This means that my PS2 has a resident, planogrammed spot in our entertainment center. I used to have a Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast, Playstation, SNES, Atari, and my computer all hooked up to the same TV. That went away upon marriage. In fact, I'm pretty sure she put that into the pre-nup.

I'm running out of ports on my AV switcher. I had to unplug the VCR a bit back. And I'm getting MORE consoles. I might have to buy another switcher, maybe a component one this time.

[eagle5953]

I'm running out of ports on my AV switcher. I had to unplug the VCR a bit back. And I'm getting MORE consoles. I might have to buy another switcher, maybe a component one this time.

Perhaps it would be possible to combine two. Like this:

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

The left side (primary) is plugged into the TV. Buttons 1-3 are systems plugged into that. The fourth input is internal and is merely a pass-through for the other inputs. Buttons 4-7 are the right side (secondary) AV switcher. Selecting one of those inputs would select the internal fourth input on the primary side.

To the untrained eye, it would work just like a 4-port AV switcher, only with 7.

What do you think?

[robm]

That's just about how I had all those systems hooked up. (My computer was hooked up directly to the TV via S-Video, however.) I had two (I think...) A/V switches for the balance of the various consoles, DVD players, and VCRs.

[XCVG]

I'm running out of ports on my AV switcher. I had to unplug the VCR a bit back. And I'm getting MORE consoles. I might have to buy another switcher, maybe a component one this time.

Perhaps it would be possible to combine two. Like this:

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

The left side (primary) is plugged into the TV. Buttons 1-3 are systems plugged into that. The fourth input is internal and is merely a pass-through for the other inputs. Buttons 4-7 are the right side (secondary) AV switcher. Selecting one of those inputs would select the internal fourth input on the primary side.

To the untrained eye, it would work just like a 4-port AV switcher, only with 7.

What do you think?

I probably would have stacked them but that's the idea.

I'm really cheap so I'll probably hack together a semi-working switchbox. That has absolutely no two-devices-at-once protection. Forgetting to turn off the DVD input and turning the Genesis one on with both powered up should be... interesting.

Actually I'll probably just put up with switching cables.

[budz888]

i'm typing this on a tablet pc while we wait for our ultrasound appointment, so excuse the mistakes

thanks bacteria! i do plan on finishing the case, once mock fitting all the parts together. i admit i'm impatient, though... shouldn't get too hasty, i guess.

hmm... boy or girl...

i think this a good idea,,keep up the good work..will gonna wait..


_________________
Ultrasound Repair

[robm]

It's confirmed, the motherboard is toast. (que Queen)

Therefore, the tearing apart and gutting of another N64 shall soon commence; as there is no point in re-posting my progress on that side of things, I won't post anything to do with the project until I've successfully powered the motherboard and LCD combo together, with a screenshot of StarFox64. Unless I do something interesting enough with the case, which isn't overly likely.

[eurddrue]

(que Queen)

Is this the real life, is it just fantasy? Caught in a landslide or escape from reality?
BICYCLE! BICYCLE! I want to ride my...BICYCLE!
FAT-BOTTOMED GIRLS MAKE MY ROCKIN WORLD GO ROUND
bum bum che bum bum che WE WILL WE WILL ROCK YOU!
I'M BURIN THROUGH THE SKY, yeah, 200 DEGREES IS WHY THEY CALL ME Mr. FARENHEIGHT! I'M TRAVELING AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT! GONNA MAKE A SUPER SONIC MAN OUT OF YOU!
WEEEEEEE ARE THE CHAMPIONS, mah friends, AND WE'LL KEEP ON FIGHTING 'til THE END!!!
She is a killer queen, nothing like I've ever seen, dynamite with a laser beam guarenteed to blow your mind!
On the 7 seas of rye!!


The queen medley!! you get it all my friend!

[robm]

Managed to get all of em except the relevant one!!

*resists typing lyrics to Queen*

[robm]

HAH.

I am an idiot.

Turns out the motherboard was not the problem; it was the cartridge itself. I find this out after I wired up the new board, fired it up, and much to my dismay, it did the same exact thing as the last board. My wife told me it was the cartridge. I said, "Impossible. It's not like an NES." One pin (I do not know why) was corroded. Just one pin.

The upside to this is that I have a prepped, all-ready-to-go N64 motherboard as an extra portable project.

I am now within the home stretch. The case is, by and large, ready to go. The bottom half needs more finishing; I need to sand and paint it. I should have this done by early summer, I believe. I am going to give my optimistic estimate as being done by the end of May.

So, without further ado...

Close-up of screen:


Whole shebang:


Things left to do:
Mount power switch in case
Mount PCBs for d-pad and buttons
Throw finishing touches on case
Get charging circuit put together

Not a whole lot left

[ian2120]

awww, i was about ready to type, "Another one Bites the Dust!"
Hahahaha, glad its working!