My portable n64 project

Kadok · Post by **Kadok** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 7:21 pm

This project will run off standard controllers that youll plug in because i like the three prong. However thats not my problem, my question is if I were to rewire the n64 cartridge slot to the top or side(cant decide) do I solder the wires to the corresponding places above the pin holes? cause theres 2 more holes than pins. Ill keep you posted but right now its just an open N64. Also can you run your portable with a laptop screen? My friends hooking me up with his old laptop I was just wondering if I could do it. I realize that there are prolly other threads of the same questinos but I'm new so gimme a break and help me out, or give me a link where my questins will be answered.

HBN · Post by **HBN** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 7:29 pm

Laptop screens wont work from what I've read. Beyond that, I cant be of much help.

WhatULive4 · Post by **WhatULive4** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 8:54 pm

Technically you could use a laptop screen, but in the end, it would be cheaper to use some other screen.

As far as portablizing the n64, I'd start by taking a look at the stickies. Also, you'll want to listen to Bacteria very very very closely and do whatever he says... because he is God. Also, he seems to know what he is doing in the category.

WELCOME TO THE FORUMS!

HBN · Post by **HBN** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 8:58 pm

WhatULive4 wrote:Also, you'll want to listen to Bacteria very very very closely and do whatever he says... because he is God.

Hes not God....Hes FATE ITSELF! So whenever anybody blames Fate...Now you know who they are blaming.

WhatULive4 · Post by **WhatULive4** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 9:44 pm

HBN wrote:
WhatULive4 wrote:Also, you'll want to listen to Bacteria very very very closely and do whatever he says... because he is God.
Hes not God....Hes FATE ITSELF! So whenever anybody blames Fate...Now you know who they are blaming.

They also say to never tempt fate... Anyone wanna give it a try just to see what happens?

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 1:29 am

You solder the pins above the holes in the cart slot to their corresponding place on the cart slot pins. Like for like. You will notice that one half of the slot has less pins than the other, this makes it easy for you to know which way around to wire the pins!

Ignore the two pins without a hole under them - solder to the pins as per pic below.

As discussed many times before, if your LCD has composite input or S-video, then you are fine; if it doesn't, don't bother, you can't use it.

Kadok · Post by **Kadok** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 2:37 pm

Thanks for your help, just one other question (I hope this will be it) these pictures are of two 9.6v RCcar batteries that I soldered together. Would it be possible to use these for my power source?? Im sorry if there too big i totally forgot, ill start resizing

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 4:16 pm

NiMH cells are not ideal.

9.6v will fry your screen if it can't take this voltage (eg PSone screen). 7.2v is fine.

There are lots of posts on this in this site, have a look.

Kadok · Post by **Kadok** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 6:10 pm

Alright ive decided to lose the laptop screen idea and run with a game cube intec screen. But now im wondering where i need to cut my controller cause i plan on putting in a Dpad. This is my current setup. Its horribly out of proportion and was made in like 5 minutes so excuse its crudeness, I just need to know where to cut the controller board to move the d-pad. And once Its cut how do I rewire it to the main controller board? Im kinda reluctant to do this, but I have confidence in my steady hands. I cant see me working in an L and a Z so...

ill update pictures once I have the conroller cut.

P.S. also what wires do I have to lengthen to mave the joy stick, all of them?

timmeh87 · Post by **timmeh87** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:29 pm

bacteria wrote:NiMH cells are not ideal.

Wha? Perhaps you mean NiCd, NiMh batteries are just fine for a beginner-type person. They offer the highest non-lithium energy density at an affordable price.

However, AA size NiMh batteries are not ideal as they are too small.

Kadok · Post by **Kadok** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:38 pm

Alright thanks timmeh, but my question still stands on how to cut the controller MOBO, see two posts up, thanx

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 2:27 am

NiMH batteries will work fine on an N64p but you don't get much playtime with them and they need to be freshly charged before using or they may only work for literally minutes in a N64p. I know, I tried. It's a bit like my first real project, the BigBoy Advance; freshly charged who sets of 6 x AA batteries (all photo grade, 2700mAh) and I got up to about 1.25 hours; but if the batteries had been unused since charging for a few days I was lucky if the system worked for literally 2 minutes. Sucks.

Kadok - the technique is to hack apart an old controller (NES one is favourite) and use its D-pad and the part of its mobo to control the D-pad, then wire the contacts from that board to your controller board. This is easier than hacking your original controller, unless space is really tight. The alternative is to cut off the D-pad part of your controller making sure that you don't damage anything else, then flux and solder wires from the D-pad cut-away board to the traces they came from from the controller.

Kadok · Post by **Kadok** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 2:49 pm

Unfortunately I dont have a Snes or Nes controller (already thought of that) I was just going to use my existing controller and cut it but I dont know where to properly cut. and once I do how do the wires connect to the dpad I.E. where do I solder wires? Just straght from the little black circles, but to where?heres a pic

evilteddy · Post by **evilteddy** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 3:13 pm

Just go out and buy four tact switches. You can see the places on the board where you can connect them, its very easy, cheap and personally I like tact switches better.

Kadok · Post by **Kadok** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 3:27 pm

I don't want a four tact switch, I want a D-Pad(no offense). I just need to know where to cut & solder