Atari Lynx | LCD Upgrade (Mcwill Mod)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ก.ย. 2024
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● Description
Following our Lynx restoration series it's time to take it one step further, addressing the systems biggest weakness the passive matrix display.
● Music
End of Summer - The 126ers
Strange Stuff - Matt Harris
Sunburned Salvation - The 129ers
We can hear you - The 129ers
RMC Outro - SonOfHelios.com
● Notes & Corrections
This is not an instructional video for installation. Due to the editing a cable is not present from the brightness dial to the Mcwill screen. This cable was fitted to enable the scan lines to function.
If you're looking for a very in depth step by step installation guide I recommend: • How to install a McWil...
Thank you as always for watching, I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences on the upgrade as well as your Lynx memories. Please note that this is designed to give you an idea of the installation method and the result you can expect, but it's not an instructional installation video, there's a very in-depth 45 minute installation guide here which I recommend here as a primer: th-cam.com/video/6lRJg-zZZOk/w-d-xo.html
Brilliant, pun intended! Very nice. Infinitely better. How's the battery life now? I'd imagine it's almost 4 or 5 times longer.
I never got to play with one. I'm gonna keep my eye out for one.
I've never had a lynx, but it a similar mod was available for the PSP, I'd jump at it. I've already done a drop-in screen replacement, but the new one is just as awful as the original.
Hey how does the screen impact the battery life? Seems like a modern LCD wouldn't use near as much power, not to mention removing the backlight
fantastic! . to be honest i'm a big fan of keeping things stock but you won me over here! excellent mod and video as always! cheers!
I'm right there with you but decided to make an exception. I did hold off cutting a hole in the case for the VGA port though, I'd like to somehow hide a flat cable for that in the battery compartment if possible.
Like all those "stock" Amiga CF card hard drives eh MVG? *wink* ;)
haha i knew someone would mention this - with CF cards you can revert back to original. With a screen transplant its difficult/impossible :)
I like to keep things stock as well, so I will keep my less banged up Lynx untouched and will try the LCD mod on the fully functional, but less worn out unit...cheers.
I have a Lynx 1 with the McWills mod and brilliant it is too however I’ve just picked up a new/old stock (and immaculate) Lynx 1 and am tempted to swap the innards with the McWills machine thus making a brand new looking McWills installed Lynx 1.... sadly this would mean placing a never used lynx1 PCB and screen in an old case.... dilemma indeed!
Wow! The difference is night and day. That screen really makes this system shine. Great work, surface mounting jumper wires always scares the crap out of me. What really warms my heart is the fact there still people in the world making products, mods, upgrades, and parts for these old systems.
Mentat001 there are such great communities and talented people making these niche products out of passion, it's a great time to enjoy retro systems. My biggest fear was waving the soldering iron about on to the new screen or its ribbon cable.
First time I saw a Lynx LCD screen, I thought water had got in on the screen to cause those lines! (happened to a CRT TV I had years ago)
LOL, with 25k volts going through the crt, you were lucky not to get a jolt up your jacksee!
Haha, it's a small world after all! I think I've watched all your videos so far WHILE modifying Lynx's and GameGears for my customers :)
You need to make full sized gaming tvs on that tech man. You got everything right having transparent light red green blues on the grey colours of the LCD screen just like if you were to look close up to a CRT and dark RGB's on the following line with a dark black backing and from a distance it looks just dark grey and you can't see the transparent scanlines at all. Then you had an option on there you turn horizontals on to make the square pixels dots like a real CRT and original Lynx LCD.
We need that on a full sized gaming LCD and you'll make lots of customers on that 4K TV product I think as it would be like playing PS4/X-Box One on a CRT like you could on PS3/360 still but with the LCD tech.
4K UHD gaming on a CRT like dark grey and dark black with transparent RGB darks and lights blended into them striped glass screen made out of the latest UHD QLED tech with a horizonal fine scanlines button where the fully transparent picture scanlines are the same size as the stiped vertical scanlines that would be a beast of a gaming TV the Dragon Box 1 would and with each new screen tech and 10k or whatever the future holds that comes out you can remake and improve it and make the older ones cheaper.
It's always a risk to go full sized and more expensive on the screens but a lot of people out of the ones that can afford the tech that are gamers would get one I think especially if it supports 50/60hz inputs properly like a game mode on a good non El Cheapo LCD TV but more affordable as it's made for the purpose with Analouge RF being changed to old microcomputer or atari game mode as those are the only things RF is useful for now other than the Digital TV as it's not made for Analouge TV anymore but it should still be a mode as a gaming TV.
This is probably the best replacement screen tech out there for Gameboy Dot Matrix Green, Color, GBA, Gamegear, Lynx and whatever else you would make them for in the future and a TV for gaming might just be the latest upsample idea out there for them.
Everyone on the GenXGrownUp crew loves your content, as this Lynx series is no exception. Writing, pacing, editing -- all parts of your production I wish more creators would emulate. Thanks for another video and we look forward to many more.
What a difference! Well worth it.
It's great that there are people dedicated enough to make unusual mods like this. It could not have been easy!
I finally bit the bullet and upgraded my original LYNX I've had since back in the day. That first boot is really something special, there's detail I'd never noticed before in all my games. Brilliant!
I've seen the McWill mod before but the way you present it is excellent. I picked up a 98% mint Lynx I, except the screen has a couple of horizontal lines. I absolutely love the Lynx (actually prefer the model I over the model II), it's so incredibly comfortable to hold and it has this charm about its bulky design. I guess i'll be going for the McWill upgrade as well... Thank you for this fantastic video!
Thank you very much 4 linking to my installation video I really appreciate it :-)
I also have a separate installation video for the Atari Lynx model II
Glen's Retro Show
+Glen Planamento my pleasure Glen, you have quite the Atari Flashback collection!
RetroManCave thank you very much. I do try to find good deals and hop on them....if you look at my newer videos that and other collections have also grown 🤗.
I again thank you and enjoy your channel very much. ..
This is easily one of the best videos I've ever watched about the Lynx. The series about it is awesome
Very kind thank you Nathan I've really enjoyed making this one
the shot at the end of the fully assembled Lynx with the upgraded screen is gorgeous.
"Great for books but not for left hooks" 👌
You know it 🤘
Great Mod! Brilliant soldering work, i just wouldn't have had the patience, well done, i really like these "getting involved" types of vids.
Keep up the good work RMC.
Darren Kendall thank you Darren! My rule is as soon as I get impatient I down tools and come back later or the next day. These devices have waited 25 years, they can wait another day for a good job.
I grew up playing the Atari Lynx v2 on road trips with my family. It's had a special place in my memory ever since and I now own multiple including the ones I grew up with.
Still don't know how to play the half pipe game in California games though lol.
Great modification to the Lynx. If you haven't decided on adding the video output; I would recommend using either a mini-HDMI connection to keep it clean and hidden, and as a plus you can use it on modern capture cards that support HDMI. Even on modern LCD TVs and monitors.
3 people work for passive matrix lcd companies.
Great video! Keep it coming.
Good vid there it's a little fiddly to fit but the rewards speak for themselves. You just need time and patience to do the mod, anyone can do it looks like a good set of instructions is included in the kit. Well done RMC nailed it again....😁
Awesome result, wish I had that back in the days. Slime world looked great with it!
I loved the Lynx and if I ever get one I'd love to do this mod, but it sure looks like a good afternoon's work. Time to practise my soldering skills!
i had a lynx with every accessory , one day when i was a stupid child I fantasised about a pocket tv. So I sold the entire lynx, all games, battery pack and carry case to buy a casio pocket tv. Buyers remorse I tell thee, then ,my mate whacked a football at it ad it broke. Damn I miss my lynx. LOVE THE NEW SCREEN BTW!
Thanks for the great Lynx videos! I also felt the McWill screen made the Lynx 'how it always should've been', it's completely amazing. On the other hand the old Lynx screens are not as bad as they're portraided in some youtube videos (if they're still in ok condition). After playing for five minutes on the old style screens you've already somewhat forgot about the screen :)
Electric Turbodata I agree with you in the most part but Shadow of the Beast was the killer for me. Cali Games and Slime World were playable but SOTB was rendered impossible. Of course designers should factor the screen into their games so it's not entirely the fault of the Lynx
I just realised I got a Lynx II back in the day and I've been using mostly model II over the years and the screen on those is a bit better and they also seem to age better, so that could be one reason as well. You probably wont believe me but I've beaten SotB on my original Lynx (II) some 10+ years ago, haha! But I do feel a bit nauseous when thinking about playing it through again, even with the McWill screen ;D
Lynx's screen with scanlines looks great!
I just sent my Lynx 1 to Mcwill for the LCD mod last week, can't wait for it to arrive. I have already had my Sega Game Gear done with this mod and it is amazing.
Awesome, while it was good to make the video and see what was involved, sending it off would have been a lot easier! You'll love it
RetroManCave thanks. Yes I sent it because it is beyond my capability to install it myself. Awesome video by the way.
Just came across your channel and I am really enjoying your content. Very inspiring although I'd never attempt half your restorations. The most I've done are shell replscements
Thanks Amaroquai I'm glad you're enjoying the content 🖒
This is a great mod, glad you did it! I have a Sega Nomad and the screen on that, although not as bad as the Lynx, isn't very good for fast paced games. (I.e. Sonic.) Thankfully there's a solution for that as new screens which don't show ghosting are relatively cheap, and the fix not too difficult to do. If you ever pick up a Nomad, I'd love to see you tackle the screen change!
What a fantastic upgrade, would love to see more of these. What other systems could have had a minor flaw fixed to really unleash their potential.
I have the LCD replacement screen and will change it soon, but it still amazes me pertaining to the tech of the day. Such an amazing example is simply the Fluorescent backlight they used...simply wow. I have been waiting for this improvement for several years...it's a complete eye opener for both Gamegear and Lynx owners.
The original vision catches up with contemporary tech. Nice.
+MrButtonpresser eloquently put sir
Wow, can't argue with those results. I must learn how to solder/de-solder that stuff to upgrade mine with the time comes. Thanks for this video!
Fantastic video! I really dig that PCB holder/clamp device you have. Looks very handy.
Thank you from one cave to another. I'd like to find a slightly bigger one, it's great for handhelds but I'd like a nice sturdy holder for micros.
They can be found at most quality electronics shops and Amazon/ebay.
My biggest gripe with the lynx was the screen. That new screen looks amazing.👍👍
good snapshot of what seems a pretty in depth but worthwhile mod. makes me want to bust out the storage boxes.
Looks incredible!
Fantastic =D These new screens are just awesome! Worth getting a Lynx SD Flash Cart from Retro HQ if you haven't already ordered one!
+GadgetUK164 - Retro Gaming Repairs & Mods I'd like to get one although I do love these game cards. Just wish more were boxed
Oh wow there's a goddamn CFL tube under the old screen. No wonder those batteries got gobbled up so fast.
Yup, also the same in the Game Gear!
The battery life in the Lynx was also complicated substantially by the lack of ability to "sleep" the CPU at any time. There were hardware bugs that would constantly "wake up" the processors, and reading information from the ROM cartridge was also a power hog since it was accessed through a single byte input port (unlike all of the other game systems which used memory mapping for the ROM).
Not sure how this video hid from me for two years, but nice video though. I am still waiting to install my screen which has been sat in a box, well for many years now. There is a reason for that which I will share one day :-)
YES! So glad you did this. Enjoy mate, it looks incredible.
Just look at that like/dislike ratio bud!
Bet you were well proud with this one man.. wow. Well deserved!
Keep 'em coming! :)
Wow, what a difference! It's like having a new machine.
I always wanted a Lynx as a kid. Never got one. Looking around, they're too expensive to buy simply to relive playing Scrapyard Dog and Cali Games on my cousin's Lynx. If I were to buy one though, I might have attempted this mod. Good on ya for making this video.
The new display is a real must-have for your Lynx! :-)
Looks so much nicer with the new screen i have had a mk1 and mk2 lynx in the past always loved them just a shame they were so expensive new .
I have the Sega Game Gear version of this mod and I installed it myself. It was worth every penny! If and when I get a Lynx I will gladly do it again.
Cool backlight! Gonna get into this console more and what a great mod to use! =)
I'm really considering this upgrade for my Lynx I bought new back in the day. I've had it this long, might as well modernize it.
Thanks for the heads up on Dragonbox, I’m always on the lookout on for great retro sites!
Superb! Im very tempted to do this on my original Lynx which now has a faulty screen.
Whilst the screen protector is good for preventing scratches during installation, I'd also recommend covering the new screen with a piece of card whilst soldering just to be 100% safe. It only takes one wrong move with the iron itself or from stray solder to damage the panel.
+TezzAtari good tip. If you check the video description there's a link to a very detailed installation guide. He uses a post it note to protect from flying solder
I absolutely love it when there’s a new Retro Man Cave video! Happy cave dweller here!
That's just brilliant. Well done!
Very cool video. I have a broken Lynx that I'd like to get working again and would love to get that screen mod put in. I'm awful at that kind of thing, though.
Nice work. Have 3 Lynx's (2 Lynx 1 and 1 Lynx II) and I had McWill do the mod for me as its beyond my skills. He also did a Sega Game Gear for me too.
Very nice that screen makes a big diffence I've never really played a linx they was out when I was younger against the game boy I seen a lynx but never played one
Godspeed R34
What an awesome upgrade.. I need this for my Lynx 1. :D
For the rotating sign I think the original screen looks better while the replacement, the discrete steps of the rotation are more obvious, the inaccuracy smooths things out.
I guess it's a bit like CRT vs LCD. A CRT naturally hides aliasing and blends colours, a technique used to great effect on 8 bit micros to increase the colour pallette. An LCD shows the pixels exactly as they are. The old Lynx screen blurs and blends as a result of it's display method which you're seeing. Ultimately I'll take the brighter new screen though.
Would love to see a follow up video where the battery life is compared to with an orig screen. Top video 😊
Peter Corr me too! I'll be running a side by side just as soon as I have another working Lynx, or if someone with one and the same gamea wants to work with me to share some footage
great video with awesome screen improvement. im proud to leave like 2k.
SammYLightfooD thanks!
way to make something simple, beautiful, nice upgrade!
Great mod, looks like it would test my skills on soldering...
I like the lcd mod, it’s a huge difference.
You should also switch out the batteries for some nice rechargeable lithium batteries and make the ultimate Lynx.
It should run off 3 14500 LiFePO3 cells without any modification, you'd just need to put conductors in the empty battery slots.
I still have my Atari Lynx II and when I heard that the screen could be upgraded, I had to see what was involved. I don't think it's something that I would attempt myself after seeing your video, but I would really like to have it upgraded. Thanks for showing a great video though. The difference is just astonishing.
Probably anyone with some decent soldering experience can do this for you. Might be worth asking around amongst your friends.
If you're still interested, check out Bennvenn's Lynx 2 LCD kit. Solderless basic install. Use the supplied ribbon to connect the driver board to the motherboard, solder one optional wire if you want scanlines, and then you're good to go.
I'm glad to see you did this. Thank you!
That's a world of difference. wow!
That is truly amazing. I may have to try this at some point. Thanks for sharing!
Oh hey, it's evildragon. Bought a gp2x from him back in the day.
Only 1 word fits this.... WOW.
wow, it seems this procedure makes the lynx much lighter too! i bet it's fairly noticeable, right?
such a clean job. great vid!
Just an fyi, I saw you installed that jumper to ground and the backlight on the lcd module. The instructions I had didn’t show or say anything about doing that. I didn’t install the wire and the brightness control didn’t add scan lines, which was fine by me.
DANG! That actually makes the lynx playable. One question. It was always my understanding that the design of the system was to easily cater to left or right-handed people, so that it could be flipped over and played comfortably. And in turn, the display would flip in order to cater to this. Does the modded screen support this behavior? Was this even a thing with the OG lynx? What about the battery? Has this mod improved battery life as well?
Well done, looks great
can't wait for the next video in the series: an oled upgrade :D
Really wish I still had my Lynx. I had the original and the second version. I would definitely do this mod if I still had it.
Used to play California games all the time on the Sega master system.😊
Wow what a difference! Great video :)
One nice 'advantage' of the older screen, is the blurring looks great with flowing fluid effects, like the waves or the waterfall of slime. Worth all the downsides? Prooobably not.
Beware the old fluorescent backlight may contain mercury
Thank you for the tip, I'll dispose of it safely
I'd say the mod on the screen was well worth it.
awesome new screen !
Ah Evil Dragon, I'd bought the first gen Pandora from his shop.
You could turn that little fluorescent rig into a little grow light
Awesome mod , please do follow up where you attach VGA out so we can see it on big TV screen , , ,some say Lynx is 16-bit , but I'm not sure , , , 👍😸
There are some trade Offs: I get flickering with transparencies and some "wrong" Colors. Low Frame rates are more visible.
Great series!
Corbin Davenport Cheers for watching Corbin and for your support!
Looks good. I remember thinking the og screen sucked back when it was new but now like you said it's pretty much unbearable.
I may have ti seriously consider this for my Lynx II. I'll have to see if I can find a company here in the US that offers the service. Maybe see if eStarland does.
Fantastic video
Wonderful! Can you do something like this to replace a Casio FZ-1/Hohner HS-1 display?
To be fair, it shows how far the technology has come. For the time, those screens looked fab when you compare with what Nintendo did with the Gameboy.
treguard1982 very true, I would describe the experience of this upgrade as being on a par of seeing the Lynx for the first time in its original form.
Certainly making me feel nostalgic now :) Btw, nice soldering skills :D
great vid...can you still use the orignal 9v power adapter after the mod?
I KNEW IT! :D
Nice mod. However I have a question. I heard that even though the backlight on this uses much less power than the Lynx's Compact Fluorescent Tube, the FPGA / CLPD when combined with the new screen and backlight actually uses more power thus decreasing battery life? Thoughts?
Thanks to this vid I have brought 2 lynx back to life and now I'm planning the mcwill mod to my pristine lynx 1 so I can enjoy my full lynx library even more 👍👏👑🎉👌
Great to hear! 👍👍👍
Does this mean it's now more power efficient as far as battery life goes too? Those old screens with their extra power module and other bits would've sucked some power.
This is an amazing upgrade. I'm curious now though, is there any chance anyone has developed a lithium ion solution for the lynx?
Cool vid ! I might do it to mine !
extraordinaire!
Day and night difference. great video as always :)
Maby in the future a simulair replacement on an old Nintendo Gameboy screen?? those wear out real fast too.
What is the battery life now with the new screen? I assume it draws way less power without that cold cathoderay backlight??