Gamecube Micro

[EnterTheHatrix]

OK, I've started a new project called the Gamecube Micro.

I want to make the system as small as physically possible.

My starting list:

One gamecube
Plastic

So far, I've desoldered every port except the AV out and the controller board connector.

This isn't a portable mod just so you know.

Progress so far.



Any more recommendations for microsizing?

Approximate size: 11cm wide x 14.6cm length (12.1cm without AV out) x 1.3cm (with AV out).

I'm in the process of grinding the Heat Sink down to 1cm (plus the feet).

I'm also having the fan at the back where the Digital Out / High speed was. It is going to be a 40cm. This means I need to cut slits down the heat sink to allow for better cooling. but I want you guys advice on doing that. Wise or not?

[vb_master]

Make the DVD smaller.

[EnterTheHatrix]

Make the DVD smaller.

Tips?

So far, I can remove about 0.4cm from the base of the drive and most of the excess on the back of the drive for the fan to go. Removing the rubber gromits will reduce the size slightly but the ditch in the laser bay and cut a bit more plastic and get myself another 0.2mm tops.

Getting the case the right size will take a lot of effort on my part.

Controller ports accessible via the front, Memory cards via the sides, Fan via the back.

[vb_master]

Make the DVD smaller.

Tips?

So far, I can remove about 0.4cm from the base of the drive and most of the excess on the back of the drive for the fan to go. Removing the rubber gromits will reduce the size slightly but the ditch in the laser bay and cut a bit more plastic and get myself another 0.2mm tops.

Getting the case the right size will take a lot of effort on my part.

Controller ports accessible via the front, Memory cards via the sides, Fan via the back.

I don't know much about the DVD drive. Can I see some pics?

[Metroid fan]

You can remove all of the plastic on the bottom of it and then its a lot smaller.

[EnterTheHatrix]

Any idea how much I could save in space? Actually, rather than asking I'll go get the drive and look for myself.

[cennar]

dont stack it, relocate it next to the mobo saves a ton of hight. makes it wider a bit but you'll soon see how little you can chop off the board. try first making it all power up and run on the bare min, then slowly make as small as possable. worked on my n64 mods that way when you go so far and kill it you know not to do it again next time. for the cube hight is the biggest worrie... and try and move the Spindle and the rest of the DVD unit some place off on its own.

[atari2600a]

I see some unused PCB you could cut off...

[EnterTheHatrix]

So far I've got it to an estimated height of 5cm, but I can't confirm that until after I finish grinding down the heat sink. It gets incredibly hot and I don't have gloves to keep myself insulated from the heat.

11cm x 13.6cm x 5cm vs 15cm x 16cm x 11cm.

I can cut 4mm off the front of the board since there are alternative soldering points further onto the board.

This will make the overall board space 11cm x 11.7cm (13.2).

I can also remove an additional 4 - 5mm off the back of the board since those ports are redundant anyway. There's about a 2mm spacing around the sides before I hit some components on the other side of the board, and since I want the memory card soldering points in tact, I'll need to keep most of that front area.

OK decision time!

The front controller PCB is approximately 2.5cm thick. Remove the switch, approximately 1.8 thick (I haven't taken proper measurements yet). This means if I were to have it inside and flush to the outside of the case, it would have to go about 1.7cm inside of the case, limiting the space I have for Memory card ports to nothing, and even forcing the DVD unit back so I have barely any (if any at all) space for the fan.

Removing this and having 2 ports only and 1 memory card port would save me a lot of room.

I could even rip apart a cheap 4mb memory card and hard wire it into the board and have internal memory for slot 2.



I'm open for suggestions.

From the looks of things, Side by side is looking like a good option, but I'm expanding the width to keep features I could remove. Hardly micro if it's bigger.

[atari2600a]

Just curious, but is there any chance of you using a progressive screen on the GC Micro? (It's just that NO ONE has the "Nintendo.com exclusive" Progressive cable, & now would be a good chance to use that unused circuitry...damn I wish I had that cable...

[EnterTheHatrix]

Just curious, but is there any chance of you using a progressive screen on the GC Micro? (It's just that NO ONE has the "Nintendo.com exclusive" Progressive cable, & now would be a good chance to use that unused circuitry...damn I wish I had that cable...

My TV has progressive, but I don't have a progressive cable, hence why I removed the port.. Why, you want to try an experiment with me?

[atari2600a]

No, I just think it'd be cool if someone would use a 480p LCD in a GC portable...

[vb_master]

What if you modded it?

[EnterTheHatrix]

Still don't have the cable.


Anyway back on topic.

Do away with the controller ports and have only 2 or keep them all? Or should I have the ports stick out of the case and keep them on the board? Either way I intend to remove the reset switch and replace it with a smaller alternative.

Suggestions?

I've finished grinding down the heat sink. It's ABOUT half it's original size.

With the fan being at the back, I really need to find away to get ventilation between the heatsink.

Suggestions?

[atari2600a]

You're using some sort of CPU Coolant, right? (If not, you should)

That should take at least 30F off the temperature...(& then of course do away w/ the original coolant-stuff, if any (Use Rubbing alcohol :p))

You'd still need a fan though, but at least it won't have to be as powerful, loud, & take up precious battery life...