Using Banana Pi M2 Zero?

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superbuzz
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Re: Using Banana Pi M2 Zero?

Post by superbuzz » Sun Jul 29, 2018 12:47 am

Hey VeteranGamer - any update on the opi build? I'm considering doing something similar and scouring information on opi gbzs. thinking of using 32teeth's gaboze pocaio board for it :D

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Re: Using Banana Pi M2 Zero?

Post by VeteranGamer » Tue Jul 31, 2018 4:15 am

superbuzz wrote:
Sun Jul 29, 2018 12:47 am
Hey VeteranGamer - any update on the opi build? I'm considering doing something similar and scouring information on opi gbzs. thinking of using 32teeth's gaboze pocaio board for it :D

I've put the Orange Pi build on hold for now, but I am still using the board as a stand alone gaming system (testing it performance)....


Now the OrangePi board i have (OPi Lite) is a very decent board (really impressed with it)...
and IMHO it blows the Pi Zero out of the water performance wise especially as they cost about the same


as i'm a complete NOOB to anything technical when it come to these SBC, I've hit some major stumbling blocks
(i know my limitations. and i've hit the ceiling here)
the support for these boards is very (very) limited, granted at least it does have a very decent OS (Retrorange) which is a major plus for this board...

But...
i've asked for help/assistance on all the forums and the Facebook groups, and the responses have been just non existent...
either no one gets back to you, or if you lucky to get a response its completely useless or not even addressing the request
(nothing against the people running these communities or the odd person getting back, but this is why Sudomod is a cut above the rest)




the issues i've had with my build (these may not be the same for others) have been to do with the screen...


Composite 3.5" (Gearbest) and HDMI (Kedei), these screens work flawlessly and are fairly straight forward to hook up...
the HDMI being simply enough and the composite out on my board (OPi Lite) is also straight forward, once you know the correct solder point...
the issue arises when you try to fit these into a Game Boy case/shell...
unlike Retropie, Retrorange Pi does NOT have a Config.txt file that you can easily edit, this causes an issue if you want to adjust the overscan settings for your screen...
now there most probably is a way to adjust it, but its not as straight forward as it is on RetroPie (my NOOB skills showing up again), and i've searched (and searched) and could not find a NOOB friendly solution to this issue....
which makes using these screens a little problematic in a Game Boy build (i'm sure theres a solution out there, i just havent found it)....
(you could just use these screen and have parts of it over spill behind the opening you make, but thats not for me)

now my solution to this would be to use a 3.2" SPI screen, as you will not need to adjust the screen (once enabled), and if used/paired with a screen surround that i've used in one of my previous builds (SNES themed) then the build is just gonna look sweet...
the issue with the SPI screen is that i have yet to get that enabled on my Retrorange image...
i know it can be done and i've seen online that others have done it with success, but heres my NOOB skills showing up again i've been unsuccessful and i've asked around on the other forums and the Facebook group and got ZERO feedback or assistance on this (extremely disappointing)


the other issue i have with putting this in a Game Boy build is that this little board does got warm/hot really quickly...
even with me adding heat sinks (not sure if there any help or a hindrance) the board still gets warm/hot...
this isnt a good look for a confined build, you could add a fan (as well as the heat sinks), but i still feel your gonna be playing with a warm/hot handheld



until i can get the SPI screen working on this, i'm NOT going to consider it for a Game Boy build
(other can, if they are ok with the issues i've outlined.... but it not for me, not yet)



However, its still a very good board...
and performance wise i cant really fault it
(even when it get warm/hot, there isn't a noticeable drop in performance.... it just gets warm/hot)

it plays these systems without really any issues (it out performs the Pi Zero by a country mile... and they cost the same)
Mame
FBA
NeoGeo
Playstation (PSX) (the games i've tested)
N64 (the games i've tested)


so i'm actually going to be using the board i have in a Bartop Style Arcade build...
this will avoid some of the issues i've faced...
i can build the Arcade around the screen size or just get a HDMI screen that fits....
and with the extra space that you'll get with a slight larger build, the getting warm/hot issues shouldnt be as bad as you'll have more air flow within the build....
and if you want to add a fan, its not so much of a issue as well....


(release date 31/07/2018)
they have just released a updated version of Retrorange Pi, without the Desktop and Kodi


Image


http://retrorangepi.download/download/index2.html


Image




.

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Helder
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Re: Using Banana Pi M2 Zero?

Post by Helder » Tue Jul 31, 2018 4:38 pm

VeteranGamer you really need to visit the Sudomod Discord channel and talk to BitBank and Bluup on getting those issues resolved or at least answered properly. BitBank has pretty much tested every single one of these boards for SPI performance with LCDs, they all outperformed the Pi0.
Chat with me and other members On Discord

Don't contact me about obtaining my board files (as you will not get them). If my Boards or PCB Kits are sold out, they will be restocked as soon as I can get them and there is demand for them. You can join the mailing list on my Website to be notified when they are available.


Helder's Game Tech Website

We will not support any cloned work so don't come to us with technical issues to resolve, go talk to the cloner for help.

superbuzz
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Re: Using Banana Pi M2 Zero?

Post by superbuzz » Tue Jul 31, 2018 8:36 pm

oh - dang ... well I'm probably even more noob than you software/rpi/sbc wise - this will be my first time fiddling with them. Will keep an eye on this but maybe will have to leave the opi lite I have on order as a deskbound/transportable gaming thing..

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Re: Using Banana Pi M2 Zero?

Post by spacemishka » Tue Aug 14, 2018 7:02 am

Well, i ordered an M2 Zero today... lets see how far i will come :)

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Re: Using Banana Pi M2 Zero?

Post by VirgoH » Sun May 19, 2019 5:57 pm

Has anyone had any success with the M2 Zero yet? I just ordered one, and I'm hoping it wasn't a mistake.

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Re: Using Banana Pi M2 Zero?

Post by Bluup » Mon May 20, 2019 6:28 am

I've had one running with inputs working. It does require you to have knowledge of what you're doing, it isn't plug and play. Since I've tried though, there has been a release of Retrorangepi that makes things easier, however if you want a handheld you will have to figure out the SPI LCD and controls. There is something in Retrorangepi that will do controls. I can give more info if you're planning on a handheld, if it's just to plug into a TV, you'll be good to go.

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Re: Using Banana Pi M2 Zero?

Post by waffe » Mon May 20, 2019 6:33 am

Since this post was revived anyhow, how does the power usage compare to a pi zero?

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Re: Using Banana Pi M2 Zero?

Post by KonnorJ » Wed May 22, 2019 12:39 am

waffe wrote:
Mon May 20, 2019 6:33 am
Since this post was revived anyhow, how does the power usage compare to a pi zero?
Draws more power and gets hotter, but probably not as bad as something like a 3b+, though I would advise a beefier PSU anyhow

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Re: Using Banana Pi M2 Zero?

Post by waffe » Wed May 22, 2019 2:30 am

Alright might order one in the future and do a reading off it to check if its viable! :)

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