N64 PCB Layers

jleemero · Post by **jleemero** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 6:02 pm

Well I've got a bit to say and a bit of a question to go with it!

I've heard a handful of times before that the N64 has multiple hidden layers in the PCB...

Well, I've spent the day just hacking away at an N64, with saws, dremels, pliers, etc...
And I've found absolutely no evidence that there are any more than the two visible layers, being the top and bottom.

Now, YES, there are tons and tons of via's(?) all over the board, but in all my mangling and dismantling, I've found no evidence of a third or even more layers in between, anywhere at all!
I've used the same, uh, "methods" on other things, such as the DS, and been able to find multiple layers (The DS Lite has 4 if I recall), but I've had nothing turn up in my time with the N64.

So, my real question is, what is the basis for the claims of there being multiple layers, and what evidence is there to support these claims?
I would LOVE to see a cutaway of an N64 board (angled, perhaps) that shows these hidden layers.

Gordon1 · Post by **Gordon1** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 6:54 pm

there is 2 layers to the n64, top and bottom. Nothing else

jleemero · Post by **jleemero** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 7:13 pm

Gordon1 wrote:there is 2 layers to the n64, top and bottom. Nothing else

I certainly hope so.

collinE · Post by **collinE** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 8:13 pm

I guess, because a lot of other consoles have multiple layers, they assume the N64 does, too. It doesn't.

palmertech · Post by **palmertech** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 12:32 am

There are 3 layers, actually.

But the middle one is only a big ground, as far as we know.

ShockSlayer · Post by **ShockSlayer** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 12:54 am

palmertech wrote:There are 3 layers, actually.

But the middle one is only a big ground, as far as we know.

[phoenix]PROVE IT![/phoenix]

How can you tell?

SS

jleemero · Post by **jleemero** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 3:02 am

palmertech wrote:There are 3 layers, actually.

But the middle one is only a big ground, as far as we know.

I couldn't FIND a middle layer though.

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 5:56 am

If the middle layer is just grounding, that is easy to work with. Use your multimeter after doing your slicing and dicing and if a ground doesn't work on a place it used to, wire a wire to make it so. I needed to do this on the PSone screen, as trimming off the controller plugs separates the grounding connection between both halves of the board. No issue.

Looking at the N64 board, it actually isn't hard to make the board smaller, unless you mess with the game cart connector traces of course in which case it would be far harder.

timmeh87 · Post by **timmeh87** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 11:31 am

Just look for blind vias.

This is the first Ive heard of a ground plane. "prove it" to me with a photo of a blind via...

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 11:50 am

Ok, what is a "blind via"? Not heard of that term before.

jleemero · Post by **jleemero** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 11:52 am

bacteria wrote:Ok, what is a "blind via"? Not heard of that term before.

It's a via that does not pass all the way through a board, instead stopping in on one of the inner layers.

And there isn't a single one on the N64 that I can find. (Candle Checked)

collinE · Post by **collinE** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 12:59 pm

true, there wouldn't need to be as many holes connecting front to back if there was a layer inside running through the whole thing.

jleemero · Post by **jleemero** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 1:03 pm

Also, note, there are a heck of a lot of vias not connected to, well, anything!
And I do mean a LOT of these things, just countless.

Post by **marshallh** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 1:49 pm

I'm 99% sure it's 2-layer only. 3-layer PCBs are unpopular in the manufacturing, if they were going to go multilayer, they would've done a 4 layer board with ground and VCC as the middle planes.

Gordon1 · Post by **Gordon1** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 5:03 pm

THERE IS ONLY 2! I even sliced one on an angle. there is only the TOP and BOTTOM.