D56: Gameboy Pi3

[DirtyBullets]

Here we go, another GameBoy mod,

Spec:
* Black ABS case
* Raspberry Pi 3 (v.B)
* 4000mAh Power Bank
* common ground keyboard PCB
* Teensy LC (with different script)
* RBG led's (to light up the buttons)
* Tact Switch power button instead of slide switch
* 640x480 LCD

Here is the progress so far (Images Hosted by Doom56.com


I brought multiple power banks


Took them apart to see what i can use


The Raspberry Pi 3 (Model B) Turned up but needs slimming


Removed the Connectors (USB, Network, Camera, ect)


Marked the link for further slimming


First power bank battery is a bit too big


Found the right ones so started to remove plastic


In with the new batteries (2x 2000mAh)


The battery cover would not shut so had to file some edges down


Made a USB socket and added some Epoxy to give it some strength


soldered a tactile switch to a board, Then filed it down to make it smaller


Ripped an old game cart apart and started filing them down to make a frame cover, then dab of black hot glue was applied


added a clear window so you can still the pi and may add a ligh to shine too (if i have room)


Super glued in the tact switch to the power button and added a dab of glue to stop the switch sliding


little messy but thats the way i do my projects (kinda my signature lol)

[solder]

Looks pretty clean to me ;]

Good work & thanks for sharing :]

[DirtyBullets]

Installed the Power board from a battery bank enough to provide upto 2.1A (with indicators)


Added the micro USB breakout board


Installed the USB socket ready for expansions


Back half almost done, Need to add a distribution board soon

[Kilren]

Awesome work. Definitely one that I am keeping my eye on. Interesting choice with the batteries, compared to a pack.

Just a friendly tip for the forum, put your pictures in spoilers for ease of navigation. Here's the syntax code (substitute the one parentheses for a bracket, and replace text with what you want to say). (spoiler="text"][img]image_source.jpeg[/img][/spoiler]

[Camble]

I really like the visible Pi inside the game cartridge.

[SidSilver]

Very nice !

Where have you found your batteries ?

[wermy]

Dang, nice! I know a lot of people are interested in doing a Pi3 build -- have you run into any heat issues yet? Seems like my overheating indicator comes on all the time on my Pi 3's when under heavy load. :\

[Mad_Duke]

Dang, nice! I know a lot of people are interested in doing a Pi3 build -- have you run into any heat issues yet? Seems like my overheating indicator comes on all the time on my Pi 3's when under heavy load. :\

Really?

I've put it in the gameboy enclosure and ran a 24 hour on the loop Metal Slug 3 or 4. And it worked normal (plus a few hours of playing Mario World with my gf.

Could you recommend any way of tracking/logging the temperature? I'll do another test qute soon (And I'm deciding to leave the top of my build opened) Plus, I'm new in the Pi world so what are standard, hot and "too hot" operating temps?

[wermy]

Really?

I've put it in the gameboy enclosure and ran a 24 hour on the loop Metal Slug 3 or 4. And it worked normal (plus a few hours of playing Mario World with my gf.

Could you recommend any way of tracking/logging the temperature? I'll do another test qute soon (And I'm deciding to leave the top of my build opened) Plus, I'm new in the Pi world so what are standard, hot and "too hot" operating temps?

Well that's encouraging. I was just saying that based off of a fresh Raspbian install, with a copper heat sink installed, compiling some pretty hefty code bases (so all CPU cores pegged at 100% for hours on-end). The overheating square/indicator kept showing up in the top right corner (it's orangish/yellow), indicating that the CPU had reached whatever the default thermal limit is, and it had underclocked the CPU until it cooled down. I had to point a desk fan at it to get it to stop underclocking itself. Had this happen with 2 Pi 3's.

So yeah that's why I haven't bene recommending folks use the Pi3 (in addition to the power requirements). But if it's not as big an issue as I've been making it out to be, then great!

[Mad_Duke]

So yeah that's why I haven't bene recommending folks use the Pi3 (in addition to the power requirements). But if it's not as big an issue as I've been making it out to be, then great!

Thanks for the info. I don't really think that with this application (Emulators love single core performance and usually max out with dual cores) people will run into problems if they put any kind of heatsink on the chip. But for the general computing stuff (or compiling like you said which uses all the cores) it might be a problem. But still, integrating a small vent could be a good idea. Of course, not to keep it "always on" but having a simple on/off button or switch when needed.

I think I'll go and do some tests with Quake 3 when I get the chance also.