This is an amazing tutorial! One thing to add is that if you accidentally bridge the connections on the USB-C port when soldering it you can make the SP think headphones are plugged which turns off the speaker. After troubleshooting everything to fix the audio, I redid the solder and it works perfectly!
@@thomasowen5785 yes ,you always get better if you keep paying attention to your work & maybe experiment with new technics & material or maybe trying it on even smaller solder joints
The production quality of all your videos is amazing, from the timing of the opening song that covers the video overview and intro, to the rotating (and opening) GBA SPs, to the overall colour scheme, clean and audible narration, and useful camera angles when zooming in on boards and stuff. Always look forward to these, mostly because of the cool retro mods you showcase, but also because of the effort that goes into each video.
@@MachoNachoProductionsIK this is a late reply, but I also enjoy modding electronics, I'm better with software, but want to learn Soldering to be able to do Hardware better, do you have any suggestions on where to start?
No, the battery absolutely should NOT be pushing the PCB into the contacts! The board is designed to be a wedge fit into the battery compartment. The battery mod is designed the way it is because I wanted it to be available for anyone that wants one but only if you follow the instructions.
@@MachoNachoProductions Also he designed a 3d printable frame for the PCB and battery if your PCB doesn't wedge fit (i.e. some of the cheaper quality reproduction shells).
@@Rodville Not really, the frame is for batteries and pcbs like the RetroModding one so that the battery can be more solid like a regular sp battery. It requires a specific terminal pcb design and the usage of a slightly smaller battery.
The USB C headphone dongle has to be one *without* its own DAC because it uses the GBASP's own internal analogue audio output. I use a red and white OnePlus dongle and it works like a charm. These USB C ports aren't reversible for charging purposes, because it uses the port's innards to recreate the functionality of the official Nintendo dongle - the mute and ground lines are internally shorted, and L/R/AGND go to the headphones. It's a much better solution than other GBA SP headphone mods that don't use AGND and therefore will cause damage to headphones over time!
It gives me the urge to make one for myself, when I was younger I tried to mod my Xbox and simply ruined it because I didn't have the knowledge and the right tools (only a soldering iron with a really large tip) to do it properly, but now that I'm much more older, patient, and that I got money to buy the right tools, I think I'll be trying doing one for myself and my kids so they can enjoy good games on the go. Great videos, thanks!
The reason for the USB-C to USB-A charging is probably due to the USB-C standards for charging. For USB-C to USB-C charging to work, the end connected to the power source communicates to the device to "ask" it what level of power it can accept. If the plugged in device doesn't have the required bits to respond back, then the power source won't send power because it is unsafe to do so. USB-A to USB-C gets around this because USB-A is an older standard that doesn't require the communication bit and just supplies flat power. They (FunnyPlaying) could've added components to their daughter board mod, but that would've increase the footprint of it and added complexity and manufacturing cost.
Actually, the reason the mod maker can't add C-to-C charging is because of the audio out capability. The 5.1 k-ohm resistors needed to safely negotiate 5 volts would also impede the sound too much. With regards to the DAC he used, it's being powered by the audio line, but not enough so he can barely hear. He needs a passive USB-C to 3.5mm cable and headphones with an aux port.
@@MachoNachoProductions That's good to hear, it's a bugbear of mine that devices have USB-C ports but then only work on some certain type of cable. If it doesn't support PD then I'm not keen
@@kurbeco PD charging can shorten the life of that little LiPo battery, it's more appropriate for a power bank with multiple 18650 cells. And there are a ton of type C cables that don't support PD. _(looks pointedly at Anker)_
It case it isn’t clear: The hinges can only be properly ejected with the screen open to the detent position. There are tabs and grooves that only align in this position. It can be very hard to access the left hinge when opened to the detent. You can use the 3D printed tool from Makho or cut down the cone piece from a Bic Round Stic ink pen so that the tube that fits inside the pen body will fit tightly between the hinge clips and the plastic rib in the GBA. Once inserted, open the screen frame to the detent position and use something long/thin to poke through from the right side (remove the right hinge first, of course).
Tito, thank you so much for all of your videos. I've gone back and watched every single Nintendo one and your Gameboy and Gamecube mod videos are my favorites. I'm hopeful to get into hardware modding sometime in the next year thanks to you and the wonderful modding community around the games+console that are so near and dear to my heart.
in defense of the battery situation, i think its nice because it gives you an option to change the battery out even if the makers either discontinue it or a lack of stock
About the low sound issue. If it's attempting to go through the basic hardware, those speakers have an incredibly low power requirement. Especially when compared to larger drivers for headphones. I remember finding a mod for a power amplifier to the speakers for a speaker that used to be produced some time ago that was considerably louder for the game boy advance SP. If my memory serves me, however, it does take the place of that LED mod. It sold onto the front panel around the speaker section. I'm not sure if this helps, it has been a minute since I've looked into this.
DS lite is the ultimate go-to for this, since it's the most recent Nintendo handheld which you can easily just load up with a short GBA cart containing every GB, GBC and GBA game ever! Downside is no GBA multiplayer (notably important in, for example, pokemon), but there's probably a FOSS solution for that by now.
I did already. Just was trying to say "Hey, wouldn't it be neat if mods were made for the 3ds console that would both serve to modernize and provide a longer life span of this other really neat console.". My original comment was a statement, not an opening for an argument.
@@thecaffee1065 think u can get hard mods for 3DS too, but ya there should be more :3 Also sorry if came across as debate/argument, that wasn't the intention!
I just ordered the IPS kit and am waiting on its delivery. I did a lot of research on all the mods available for the GBSP, but since I'm using the original shell and buttons, I only decided to do the IPS kit and the Makho battery. Yeah, having to solder the battery is not ideal, but it is the highest capacity battery for the GBASP I could find. I looked at the same USB-C port/connector, but my cords/chargers are all USB-C to USB-C. Since I'd have to carry around an additional cable, not that I'm going to travel with my GBSP, the stock connector will still do fine.
I got my order this past week and installed it today, aaannnnnddd no video. There's sound, but not picture. I checked the ribbon connections multiple times, desoldered, resoldered and left the menu wire off completely, and no matter what, no video. I've replaced screens in my NGPC and SwanCrystal before, but this is my first Funnyplaying product. I'm not laughing.
After showing FunnyPlaying the non-working display, they sent a new one and that one works great! 'Mighty Morphin Power Rangers the Movie' the game has never looked so good!
How’s the battery life with the IPS screen and Makho battery? I would mainly want to do these two mods as well, but I’m really debating the IPS kit because of battery life
@@Rixcefanz I don't play my GBASP that often or for very long, but I only charged the battery once I got it and haven't charged it yet since. And that was almost a year ago, so I'd say it's pretty good.
great video, but it drove me totally nuts that you didnt go into the differences between the IPS and ITA screens in terms of looks. I was really hoping to see them side by side with the same gameplay so I could see which looks more faithful to the original SP's screen, as that's a big deal to me.
@@jimmy_thelego_kid301that is correct. The ITA screen are surplus DSi screens. Therefore, if you want the authentic feel of usinga GBA Sp, go with the ITA screen.
The real drawback of the IPS is the hit to battery life. I have a GBA with the ITA and GBA SP with the IPS, both with lithium batteries of similar capacity, and the SP has nearly half the battery life using a rayovac pack from batteries plus, considered the best OEM replacement. With the original AGS101 LCD the battery life was noticeably better as well.
These look great and I might have to mod up one of my sp's now but that original gba model when modded is just so perfect. It just feels better in my hands especially when playing longer games.
@@MachoNachoProductions i love your videos. they are always relaxing as TainoMoya says. that's why i keep on coming back. you could be folding paper airplanes for all i care
That’s a tough one…for the modern, with the ability of giving a taste of the retro image feel I would go for the IPS. Definitely sell it. I’d be putting my bet for it.
For those wondering this exact setup (IPS) is 160 USD. Honestly I think thats still pretty decent considering how fleshed out this all is, how much work this was to individually develop, and the easy sourcing from one website. Also they have a clear speaker listed but currently out of stock, would fit really well with this setup.
great to see so many parts for the SP! i've modded a couple GBA's with good success but was dissapointed with the offering for SP shells till you suggested retro game repair, good stuff!
With these LED kits, i wonder how well they would work with an opaque shell but translucent buttons. I'm less of a fan of transparent cases, but i think it would be cool to have the buttons lit up indirectly like that.
This is incredible, makes me want to dive into modding as a hobby. At the same time... I can't be the only person whose wrists hurt just looking at a Gameboy SP. The thing is an ergonomic nightmare. The compact size is cool and all, but it's basically reducing the volume of device that already fit in a pocket. Honestly I appreciate the folding design more for the inherent screen protection. The holy grail of GBA mods (for me) would be one with all the above features that didn't make me feel like I was two-handing a toaster strudel.
RetroModding sells a slightly different version of Makho’s battery mod that sits in a 3d printed frame, so is just as user friendly as the original batteries.
Another great video! To take the SP two steps further I would have added a dehum dehiss flex board and headphone jack as well. It would be nice to also have a video out out option, but I feel they’re not quite there yet.
Retromodding has a pre-assembled version of the makho battery with a 3D printed bracket around it that makes it pretty polished and plug-and-play. You can probably 3D print your own thing to hold it together better as well.
you’re the soul reason i started modding retro consoles and it’s really became a big hobby for me that i really enjoy so i just want to thank you bro 💪🏼 you’re the goat
I did a full update on everything except the system board last year and I love it. I'm not a huge fan of the shell I got even though I love the way it looks. I figured I'd probably do another update on it some time, so I might go for this. I didn't want to remove the charging port, but dang it I'm tired of not being able to just use a USB-C cable to charge the thing. A few things for me to keep in mind. :) Otherwise I updated to the IPS screen, new battery, sound amp, power regulator, battery, buttons, shell, and of course a flash cart to have the library in my pocket. It's not cheap to do it all at once, but if you do one thing at a time it's not too bad. I recommend doing this though. I've played it more than I have since the system first came out back in the day. ABSOLUTELY worth it.
you can 3d print a holder for that battery that houses it altogether and keeps it firmly in the system. I also use a 3d printed jig to pop out the hinges
I'm a sucker for these handheld vids, thanks :D I'm happy to see Funnyplaying sticking with the handheld game too. They've been great for me with customer service. And S/O to Retro Game Repair Shop, another awesome outfit!
Around my parts we tell stories about a man names Tito. With crisp production qualities unrivaled, eyes that shine like an anime protagonist, and the personality of a bag of Jasmine rice
I'll never really do any of this, but watching Tito's videos is just so satisfying... Both very interesting, and very satisfying. The quick cuts to the screws getting... Well, screwed, is just insanely satisfying to watch.
for the usb-c to usb-c cable u probably need to bridge to pins with a resistor. part of the usb-c spec is tell what voltage to supply by checking for a signal from one of the pins
you inspire me. im thinking of going to school to become a computer engineer which is pretty much Software engineering and Electrical engineering and i would love to mod systems like this and even mod games onto it as a hobby on my free time
Another great video Tito! I have a stack of NOS original SP batteries so the SP is probably the last system I would mod. I play my micro way more anyway.
I absolutely love the micro! It was my first GBA and I beat Metroid zero mission on it. I’m sad I sold my original one, but I have one now and still love it
@@MachoNachoProductions one Black Friday Walmart was selling the Mario 20th anniversary Micro and the others for $30. I got 2 20th and one Black version. I wish I got more! They sure are fun! I have the wireless adapters for them too. You had to order them from Nintendo directly.
Glad to see some ITA representation! It’s my personal choice as the screen just feels so much more authentic to me and naturally recreates those original flicker effects.
Awesome builds. One thing I do wonder - why is it so hard to machine some metal SP shoulder buttons? BoxyPixel’s unhinged (and now hinged) SP kit is the same, metal face buttons but no shoulder buttons.
Love these builds! Makho's battery mod is the only one I got for my systems -- it's really inexpensive to get even from other countries as I just need to source the PCB from OSH Park and any decent battery will do. It may not be as refined as the rest, but I am very grateful for its simplicity!
@@monchopr3511I linked some but it might not be allowed as I don’t see it now. Any adapter that is analog only and doesn’t say DAC in the description. Most state when they have DAC.
Hey Tito, love the show, thanks for swapping out the BGM, it was driving me a bit up the wall hearing that same tune. Argh it came back later 😰Oh well it's no biggie, just boy have i heard that wobbly piano way too much 😅
USB-C has digital audio, but it also has an Audio Accessory Mode where the analog audio signal is routed directly to the D+ and D- lines. This is likely what the gameboy mod is using, in which case the built-in DAC in the dongle is irrelevant
Awesome as usual! Something I would like to see is a mod for the PSP (any model) to use an external controller, so you can play on the TV without moving around the handheld (and the video out cables!). Best regards from Uruguay!
13:48 I could be totally wrong as I'm just spit-balling here, but I THINK the reason why it can't be charged using a C-C cable is because, if I'm not mistaken, they would need to design a "middleman PCB" that goes between the USB-C port and the Gameboy itself. I think it has something to do with the Power Delivery protocol and/or because I think I heard somewhere that USB-C can default to 9V instead of 5V, which would potentially fry the internals.
If I remember correctly, the two 5.1k Ohm resistors (each on a CC line of the USB C port) that allow for 5V charging for the USB PD spec interfere with the audio out. So you have to pick one of the other, unless you do a separate mod for the headphone jack.
Hey Tito. Great video as always. I did a similar mod last week with the IPS screen, USB-C port and of course an awesome green shell with yellow buttons in a Zelda Minish Cap theme lol. Anyway, first i want to thank you because i have a similar problem with the sound and i thought i did something wrong, but my issue is that i have normal sound coming from the right headphone and lower sound from the left. I am using the dongle that came with my Xiaomi 8 phone.
Yeah there seems to be some dongles that come with a DAC integrated. The key is to get an analogue dongle without the DAC. Ordering one soon. Your SP build sounds awesome! Can’t go wrong with a Zelda theme
I'm looking forward to eventually, mods for the phat DS. I imagine they could get some better IPS or even OLED screens in there and maybe some better speakers. GBA games are nice but having the possibility of DS games with good screens would be nice. GB(C) could be mostly covered by emulators, honestly. I know there's the DS Lite with halfway decent screens, but I think we could do better nowadays, and I honestly prefer the feel of the original DS.
I find it very odd that the DS has a way worse screen than the GBA SP. The screen in my SP looks almost as good as the DS Lite. And I know that my Game boy is unmoded because my parents bought it brand new back in the day. It's kind of funny but my uncle bought my sister a Game boy micro that same Christmas and so I got to see how It's too tiny.
@@bland9876 the original DS was only like $120 at launch so they might've been really trying to hit a low price point, but yeah the screens were pretty miserable. The lite has much better screens but the rest of the system feels a lot less durable.
@@Aeduo apparently there are two models of the SP and one of them has a better screen like night and day better screen and I have the night and day better screen one.
@@bland9876 yeah I have heard about that. I never had a gba though so I dunno how the screens are on the SP. I just know the original one has a basically useless screen.
I'm looking forward to getting Bluetooth 4 or better audio mods on these some day. I'd really like to be able to use the earbuds I carry with me everywhere for my phone (airpods / galaxy buds)with something like this. Wireless charging (Qi / MagSafe) would also be awesome!
In terms for the dongle i can think of 2 things. 1. Older sets of headphones sometimes dont really work niceley with dongles and vice versa if it has a built in microphone channel. My headset cables don't work in my sony discman because of the mic channel. Whats probably more likely is that the base volume output is low and the dongle doesn't boost the signal enough. Modern dongles in the US and EU have limitations on them to prevent higher volumes, and some dongles comply with this. Apple's usb c dongle is known in the audio world to give an incredibly clean audio signal but the EU version significantly lowers your output. And Sony's new walkman models also have this problem built in, which is why most people opt for the japanese models. Could be the same issue here.
13:53 they designed it to not work with USB-C to C cables because then they'd have to put 2 tiny resistors on the PCB. These resistors are connected from the 2 CC lines to ground, and signal to the upstream device that the port should behave like a standard USB 2.0 port. it would have increased the board size slightly (with 0402 resistors it would have added maybe a mm tops to the width, with 0201 they would've just been tiny specks on the board) and cost maybe a penny more if they got a particularly bad deal on the resistors. Implementing a compliant USB-C port is so easy, that omission is unacceptable. They cheaped out and as a result it simply isn't a USB-C port. EDIT: took a quick skim of LCSC's pricing and it's literally 20 bucks for a 50,000 piece reel of 0201 5.1k resistors. that's $0.0008 BOM cost per final product, plus maybe a couple cents more for pick and place fees
The mods for all the Gameboy line of systems keep coming out... Is anyone ever going to make something for the DS line of systems as well??? (Still a great video, and a pretty cool mod to boot.. Thank you, Tito)
The problem with the dongle is that there are 2 types, one with a DAC and one without a DAC (just wired to some pins in the USB C connector). You need the one without a DAC because the original audio adapters for the GBA SP just connect to the pins for the audio output.
I agree, everything else like a new shell, new screen, hell even usb c and a headphone jack I can understand! But the led’s? Purely there mainly for looks, which isn’t bad but not necessary.
Exactly, it's an infuriating waste of battery life. All you should do is a screen mod, battery mod (even a simple DS battery mod) as well as a mod that nobody ever bothers to do: stereo audio. Why the hell don't people take full advantage of the system's native stereo audio? Seriously, Gameboys support stereo audio via headphones, so just split that feed across 2 speakers. Am I the only one who has this figured out?
Another great video Nacho! Really enjoy your content, and if I get clients wanting the mods you show, your videos work brilliantly as visual guides! Thank you
In addition, there are audio-cleanup and amplification mods from RetroSix I've added a wireless dehum/dehiss board, and have the wireless cleanAMP board on order. The CleanAMP board also removes any noise from the modded screen, as well as adding additional volume.
Another great video Tito. I've got an old GBA SP lying around that can't charge. I've been meaning to get into modding to see if I could repair it and then do a similar mod to this.
For your USB-C headphone adapter, have you checked if you need CTIA or OMTP adapter ? Maybe you don't have the good one. And these are clean builds as always !
To me, this is not an ultimate SP without a recap, Power Cleaner and Audio Amp by Helder; or CleanAmp Pro and Dehum-Dehiss by RetroSix. But seeing as this channel mostly features RetroGameRepairShop products, I can see why it wasn’t included, they don’t carry the amp and power cleaner. RetroModding carries a pre-made Makho battery mod for the SP that’s drop in with a 3d printed case.
I haven't installed the USB-C mod yet, but good to know about the low volume issue. Though, I do have a similar low volume issue on my Galaxy S21 phone using an Apple USB-C to 3.5mm adapter with wired Apple Earpods. I prefer Android, but the Earpods fit me really well. I wish Samsung didn't end up following Apple in removing the headphone jack, it never gets as loud as the old model that still had it. Though, maybe I just need to try different USB-C to 3.5mm DACs.
This is an amazing tutorial! One thing to add is that if you accidentally bridge the connections on the USB-C port when soldering it you can make the SP think headphones are plugged which turns off the speaker. After troubleshooting everything to fix the audio, I redid the solder and it works perfectly!
As an electronics engineer with almost two decades of soldering experience, i must say that your soldering skills are pretty good .well done
I would love to be good at soldering. Do you keep getting better even after 15 years?
@@thomasowen5785 yes ,you always get better if you keep paying attention to your work & maybe experiment with new technics & material or maybe trying it on even smaller solder joints
@@thevoidedwarranty Sounds like the key is to keep challenging yourself and stay focused. Duly noted. Thank you sir
@@thomasowen5785 ur welcome ,but most important thing is practicing & observing your work afterward to check & improve ur inperfections .best of luck
The production quality of all your videos is amazing, from the timing of the opening song that covers the video overview and intro, to the rotating (and opening) GBA SPs, to the overall colour scheme, clean and audible narration, and useful camera angles when zooming in on boards and stuff. Always look forward to these, mostly because of the cool retro mods you showcase, but also because of the effort that goes into each video.
Thank you so much 🙏! I really enjoy the video making process as much as the modding 😅. Cheers!
@@MachoNachoProductionsIK this is a late reply, but I also enjoy modding electronics, I'm better with software, but want to learn Soldering to be able to do Hardware better, do you have any suggestions on where to start?
@@MachoNachoProductions how in the world do you get those rotating shots of the SP at the beginning of the video? They look like 3d renders!
No, the battery absolutely should NOT be pushing the PCB into the contacts! The board is designed to be a wedge fit into the battery compartment. The battery mod is designed the way it is because I wanted it to be available for anyone that wants one but only if you follow the instructions.
Can confirm 😁 I've bought a couple dozen and it works perfectly just like that.
This comment should be pinned.
Ah good to know! Thanks makho.
@@MachoNachoProductions Also he designed a 3d printable frame for the PCB and battery if your PCB doesn't wedge fit (i.e. some of the cheaper quality reproduction shells).
@@Rodville Not really, the frame is for batteries and pcbs like the RetroModding one so that the battery can be more solid like a regular sp battery. It requires a specific terminal pcb design and the usage of a slightly smaller battery.
The USB C headphone dongle has to be one *without* its own DAC because it uses the GBASP's own internal analogue audio output. I use a red and white OnePlus dongle and it works like a charm.
These USB C ports aren't reversible for charging purposes, because it uses the port's innards to recreate the functionality of the official Nintendo dongle - the mute and ground lines are internally shorted, and L/R/AGND go to the headphones. It's a much better solution than other GBA SP headphone mods that don't use AGND and therefore will cause damage to headphones over time!
It gives me the urge to make one for myself, when I was younger I tried to mod my Xbox and simply ruined it because I didn't have the knowledge and the right tools (only a soldering iron with a really large tip) to do it properly, but now that I'm much more older, patient, and that I got money to buy the right tools, I think I'll be trying doing one for myself and my kids so they can enjoy good games on the go.
Great videos, thanks!
The reason for the USB-C to USB-A charging is probably due to the USB-C standards for charging. For USB-C to USB-C charging to work, the end connected to the power source communicates to the device to "ask" it what level of power it can accept. If the plugged in device doesn't have the required bits to respond back, then the power source won't send power because it is unsafe to do so. USB-A to USB-C gets around this because USB-A is an older standard that doesn't require the communication bit and just supplies flat power.
They (FunnyPlaying) could've added components to their daughter board mod, but that would've increase the footprint of it and added complexity and manufacturing cost.
Actually, the reason the mod maker can't add C-to-C charging is because of the audio out capability. The 5.1 k-ohm resistors needed to safely negotiate 5 volts would also impede the sound too much.
With regards to the DAC he used, it's being powered by the audio line, but not enough so he can barely hear. He needs a passive USB-C to 3.5mm cable and headphones with an aux port.
I think they recently added a new usbc port that has host support for usbc to usbc. I’ll add a link once I confirm 👍
@@MachoNachoProductions That's good to hear, it's a bugbear of mine that devices have USB-C ports but then only work on some certain type of cable. If it doesn't support PD then I'm not keen
@@kurbeco PD charging can shorten the life of that little LiPo battery, it's more appropriate for a power bank with multiple 18650 cells. And there are a ton of type C cables that don't support PD. _(looks pointedly at Anker)_
I remember hearing somewhere that if you use USB PD and the charger can't get a signal it'll just output the standard 5 volts 2 amps.
It case it isn’t clear:
The hinges can only be properly ejected with the screen open to the detent position. There are tabs and grooves that only align in this position.
It can be very hard to access the left hinge when opened to the detent. You can use the 3D printed tool from Makho or cut down the cone piece from a Bic Round Stic ink pen so that the tube that fits inside the pen body will fit tightly between the hinge clips and the plastic rib in the GBA. Once inserted, open the screen frame to the detent position and use something long/thin to poke through from the right side (remove the right hinge first, of course).
Ohai emmett
in case it isnt clear? what do you mean, the case is clear! you can see right through it! ;)
@@Cynaras …it is, indeed. :) Too bad that isn’t the one we are ejecting hinges from. ;)
Tito, thank you so much for all of your videos. I've gone back and watched every single Nintendo one and your Gameboy and Gamecube mod videos are my favorites. I'm hopeful to get into hardware modding sometime in the next year thanks to you and the wonderful modding community around the games+console that are so near and dear to my heart.
So glad you’re enjoying the channel Seth! I have more game boy and GameCube videos in the pipeline so stay tuned my friend!
If I get financial problems I'm gonna blame Tito. Hahaha... 🤣 So much amazing content and the mods always reach my heart. Thank you man. 🤗
Haha thank you Moncho! Please don’t get into financial trouble 😅
@@MachoNachoProductions, just need one more mod: the sound amplifier. 😎
how much do these mods total ?
I am just glad I already have 2 modded GBAs and will waste my money only on Gamecube stuff xD, still need this laserbear controller thing
Or, you know, just get a steam deck
in defense of the battery situation, i think its nice because it gives you an option to change the battery out even if the makers either discontinue it or a lack of stock
Gameboy sp is one of my favorite handhelds and the amount of mods for it is astonishing. I love the work u put in to the videos. U earned a sub
Thank you 🙏
About the low sound issue. If it's attempting to go through the basic hardware, those speakers have an incredibly low power requirement. Especially when compared to larger drivers for headphones. I remember finding a mod for a power amplifier to the speakers for a speaker that used to be produced some time ago that was considerably louder for the game boy advance SP. If my memory serves me, however, it does take the place of that LED mod. It sold onto the front panel around the speaker section.
I'm not sure if this helps, it has been a minute since I've looked into this.
this is what I was thinking too, I know for the gba they have boosters and such, I feel SP prbly has those.
Its a line out not a headphone out
Any ideas what to do to boost the sound via a speaker mod? As you said the amp cannot be put on with the neon LEDs so what alternative is there?
Man, I hope people start doing stuff like this for the DS and 3DS lines. That would be amazing!!
DS lite is the ultimate go-to for this, since it's the most recent Nintendo handheld which you can easily just load up with a short GBA cart containing every GB, GBC and GBA game ever! Downside is no GBA multiplayer (notably important in, for example, pokemon), but there's probably a FOSS solution for that by now.
Yeah but I want 3ds
@@thecaffee1065 okay! you can mod one of those and emulate all GB, GBC and GBA titles on it then!
I did already. Just was trying to say "Hey, wouldn't it be neat if mods were made for the 3ds console that would both serve to modernize and provide a longer life span of this other really neat console.". My original comment was a statement, not an opening for an argument.
@@thecaffee1065 think u can get hard mods for 3DS too, but ya there should be more :3
Also sorry if came across as debate/argument, that wasn't the intention!
I just ordered the IPS kit and am waiting on its delivery. I did a lot of research on all the mods available for the GBSP, but since I'm using the original shell and buttons, I only decided to do the IPS kit and the Makho battery. Yeah, having to solder the battery is not ideal, but it is the highest capacity battery for the GBASP I could find. I looked at the same USB-C port/connector, but my cords/chargers are all USB-C to USB-C. Since I'd have to carry around an additional cable, not that I'm going to travel with my GBSP, the stock connector will still do fine.
I got my order this past week and installed it today, aaannnnnddd no video. There's sound, but not picture. I checked the ribbon connections multiple times, desoldered, resoldered and left the menu wire off completely, and no matter what, no video. I've replaced screens in my NGPC and SwanCrystal before, but this is my first Funnyplaying product. I'm not laughing.
After showing FunnyPlaying the non-working display, they sent a new one and that one works great! 'Mighty Morphin Power Rangers the Movie' the game has never looked so good!
How’s the battery life with the IPS screen and Makho battery? I would mainly want to do these two mods as well, but I’m really debating the IPS kit because of battery life
@@Rixcefanz I don't play my GBASP that often or for very long, but I only charged the battery once I got it and haven't charged it yet since. And that was almost a year ago, so I'd say it's pretty good.
@@DCGX thanks! That’s helpful!
great video, but it drove me totally nuts that you didnt go into the differences between the IPS and ITA screens in terms of looks. I was really hoping to see them side by side with the same gameplay so I could see which looks more faithful to the original SP's screen, as that's a big deal to me.
I’m pretty sure the ITA is closer to the OEM pixel density.
@@jimmy_thelego_kid301that is correct. The ITA screen are surplus DSi screens. Therefore, if you want the authentic feel of usinga GBA Sp, go with the ITA screen.
The real drawback of the IPS is the hit to battery life. I have a GBA with the ITA and GBA SP with the IPS, both with lithium batteries of similar capacity, and the SP has nearly half the battery life using a rayovac pack from batteries plus, considered the best OEM replacement. With the original AGS101 LCD the battery life was noticeably better as well.
These look great and I might have to mod up one of my sp's now but that original gba model when modded is just so perfect. It just feels better in my hands especially when playing longer games.
The ambience of these vids are always so relaxing
Thank you! So glad you enjoy the music and video!
@@MachoNachoProductions i love your videos. they are always relaxing as TainoMoya says. that's why i keep on coming back. you could be folding paper airplanes for all i care
Backlit screen and RGB buttons? I'm sold. I need one of these in my life
That’s a tough one…for the modern, with the ability of giving a taste of the retro image feel I would go for the IPS.
Definitely sell it.
I’d be putting my bet for it.
For those wondering this exact setup (IPS) is 160 USD.
Honestly I think thats still pretty decent considering how fleshed out this all is, how much work this was to individually develop, and the easy sourcing from one website.
Also they have a clear speaker listed but currently out of stock, would fit really well with this setup.
great to see so many parts for the SP! i've modded a couple GBA's with good success but was dissapointed with the offering for SP shells till you suggested retro game repair, good stuff!
With these LED kits, i wonder how well they would work with an opaque shell but translucent buttons. I'm less of a fan of transparent cases, but i think it would be cool to have the buttons lit up indirectly like that.
I'm absolutely stealing that idea omg
The makho battery kit works with the original DS fat and DS Lite too. :] Great video.
This is incredible, makes me want to dive into modding as a hobby. At the same time...
I can't be the only person whose wrists hurt just looking at a Gameboy SP. The thing is an ergonomic nightmare. The compact size is cool and all, but it's basically reducing the volume of device that already fit in a pocket. Honestly I appreciate the folding design more for the inherent screen protection.
The holy grail of GBA mods (for me) would be one with all the above features that didn't make me feel like I was two-handing a toaster strudel.
RetroModding sells a slightly different version of Makho’s battery mod that sits in a 3d printed frame, so is just as user friendly as the original batteries.
I have the ITA screen in my SP it's amazing 😊 Some of my favourite games are even more enjoyable. Great video as ever
Thanks love that i started back with Ben Heck and his n64 portable, and now there's a whole community building out new hardware! AMazing stuff
Another great video! To take the SP two steps further I would have added a dehum dehiss flex board and headphone jack as well. It would be nice to also have a video out out option, but I feel they’re not quite there yet.
Retromodding has a pre-assembled version of the makho battery with a 3D printed bracket around it that makes it pretty polished and plug-and-play. You can probably 3D print your own thing to hold it together better as well.
you’re the soul reason i started modding retro consoles and it’s really became a big hobby for me that i really enjoy so i just want to thank you bro 💪🏼 you’re the goat
and sell the ips one i need it, i need it signed too for the display shelf
I did a full update on everything except the system board last year and I love it. I'm not a huge fan of the shell I got even though I love the way it looks. I figured I'd probably do another update on it some time, so I might go for this. I didn't want to remove the charging port, but dang it I'm tired of not being able to just use a USB-C cable to charge the thing. A few things for me to keep in mind. :) Otherwise I updated to the IPS screen, new battery, sound amp, power regulator, battery, buttons, shell, and of course a flash cart to have the library in my pocket. It's not cheap to do it all at once, but if you do one thing at a time it's not too bad. I recommend doing this though. I've played it more than I have since the system first came out back in the day. ABSOLUTELY worth it.
Incredible video production quality. You never fail to stand out among the crowd! Thanks for an awesome retro-renew vid
New screen for mine, new battery, a Gamester, a dual speaker attachment, a 150 in 1 NES cart, and done.. love mine so much.
you can 3d print a holder for that battery that houses it altogether and keeps it firmly in the system. I also use a 3d printed jig to pop out the hinges
I'm a sucker for these handheld vids, thanks :D I'm happy to see Funnyplaying sticking with the handheld game too. They've been great for me with customer service. And S/O to Retro Game Repair Shop, another awesome outfit!
Around my parts we tell stories about a man names Tito. With crisp production qualities unrivaled, eyes that shine like an anime protagonist, and the personality of a bag of Jasmine rice
These are beautiful. I don’t think I’d ever be able to mod something like this. Great video. Thanks for sharing
I'll never really do any of this, but watching Tito's videos is just so satisfying... Both very interesting, and very satisfying. The quick cuts to the screws getting... Well, screwed, is just insanely satisfying to watch.
This channel and voltar got me into mods. Thanks nacho!
for the usb-c to usb-c cable u probably need to bridge to pins with a resistor. part of the usb-c spec is tell what voltage to supply by checking for a signal from one of the pins
Can't believe how good the production quality is on this channel. Might be the best one out there!
you inspire me. im thinking of going to school to become a computer engineer which is pretty much Software engineering and Electrical engineering and i would love to mod systems like this and even mod games onto it as a hobby on my free time
Love your videos Tito, especially the music, makes me want to Don a silk robe, a big cigar and swirling a brandy before taking a sip lol
Thank you!
Been away from Gameboy modding for about a year now... Wow the scene has exploded!
so satisfying to see those clean solderings ^^
Another great video Tito! I have a stack of NOS original SP batteries so the SP is probably the last system I would mod. I play my micro way more anyway.
I absolutely love the micro! It was my first GBA and I beat Metroid zero mission on it. I’m sad I sold my original one, but I have one now and still love it
@@MachoNachoProductions one Black Friday Walmart was selling the Mario 20th anniversary Micro and the others for $30. I got 2 20th and one Black version. I wish I got more! They sure are fun! I have the wireless adapters for them too. You had to order them from Nintendo directly.
This is awesome! I love the SP and this really cool! :)
m8 i watch this vid every few months, i love the gba sp, built my own because of this vid with every mod I could find! it's just amazing dude
I like that you constantly are on the bleeding edge of tech for these mods.
Funnyplaying is making some awesome GB upgrades now a days... awesome video 😁
Glad to see some ITA representation! It’s my personal choice as the screen just feels so much more authentic to me and naturally recreates those original flicker effects.
These builds are awesome. The clear shells are great.
Awesome builds. One thing I do wonder - why is it so hard to machine some metal SP shoulder buttons? BoxyPixel’s unhinged (and now hinged) SP kit is the same, metal face buttons but no shoulder buttons.
The way the battery board is designed i believe allows easily replacing/upgrading the battery if needed.. May not be as easy otherwise.
Love these builds! Makho's battery mod is the only one I got for my systems -- it's really inexpensive to get even from other countries as I just need to source the PCB from OSH Park and any decent battery will do. It may not be as refined as the rest, but I am very grateful for its simplicity!
Low volume over USB-C is definitely due to using an adapter with DAC.
Noodles, can you recommend an adapter to prevent that issue? Thanks.
@@monchopr3511I linked some but it might not be allowed as I don’t see it now. Any adapter that is analog only and doesn’t say DAC in the description. Most state when they have DAC.
Hey Tito, love the show, thanks for swapping out the BGM, it was driving me a bit up the wall hearing that same tune.
Argh it came back later 😰Oh well it's no biggie, just boy have i heard that wobbly piano way too much 😅
Missed you for the past few weeks. I was itching for my "fix" of Nacho's 😂😂🤦♂🤦♂
edit... Oh yeah, there's my solder fix....
modders should blend the link port and charging port to the same usb C port
These are sick! I really want to see someone do an OLED SP mod next, that would be so cool!
Those Gameboys are so awesome looking, and the mods are amazing
The last 3 weeks were hell, glad you’re back! 😅
USB-C has digital audio, but it also has an Audio Accessory Mode where the analog audio signal is routed directly to the D+ and D- lines. This is likely what the gameboy mod is using, in which case the built-in DAC in the dongle is irrelevant
MAAAAAN metal buttons look gorgeous in this portable console
Gorgeous couple of SPs, Tito. Great video!
Thank you Kazin!
Man feels like forever since we got some Nacho goodness!
🙏
Awesome as usual! Something I would like to see is a mod for the PSP (any model) to use an external controller, so you can play on the TV without moving around the handheld (and the video out cables!). Best regards from Uruguay!
Thank you 🙏. I’m hoping to see a consolized psp soon. I know some people are working on it
Very cool. This system is one my brother was big into and it's nice to see what can be done now days.
13:48 I could be totally wrong as I'm just spit-balling here, but I THINK the reason why it can't be charged using a C-C cable is because, if I'm not mistaken, they would need to design a "middleman PCB" that goes between the USB-C port and the Gameboy itself. I think it has something to do with the Power Delivery protocol and/or because I think I heard somewhere that USB-C can default to 9V instead of 5V, which would potentially fry the internals.
im here for the intro, love that music
production value is stupid high. You need 1mil subs.
If I remember correctly, the two 5.1k Ohm resistors (each on a CC line of the USB C port) that allow for 5V charging for the USB PD spec interfere with the audio out.
So you have to pick one of the other, unless you do a separate mod for the headphone jack.
Hey Tito. Great video as always. I did a similar mod last week with the IPS screen, USB-C port and of course an awesome green shell with yellow buttons in a Zelda Minish Cap theme lol. Anyway, first i want to thank you because i have a similar problem with the sound and i thought i did something wrong, but my issue is that i have normal sound coming from the right headphone and lower sound from the left. I am using the dongle that came with my Xiaomi 8 phone.
Yeah there seems to be some dongles that come with a DAC integrated. The key is to get an analogue dongle without the DAC. Ordering one soon. Your SP build sounds awesome! Can’t go wrong with a Zelda theme
I'm looking forward to eventually, mods for the phat DS. I imagine they could get some better IPS or even OLED screens in there and maybe some better speakers. GBA games are nice but having the possibility of DS games with good screens would be nice. GB(C) could be mostly covered by emulators, honestly. I know there's the DS Lite with halfway decent screens, but I think we could do better nowadays, and I honestly prefer the feel of the original DS.
I find it very odd that the DS has a way worse screen than the GBA SP. The screen in my SP looks almost as good as the DS Lite. And I know that my Game boy is unmoded because my parents bought it brand new back in the day.
It's kind of funny but my uncle bought my sister a Game boy micro that same Christmas and so I got to see how It's too tiny.
@@bland9876 the original DS was only like $120 at launch so they might've been really trying to hit a low price point, but yeah the screens were pretty miserable. The lite has much better screens but the rest of the system feels a lot less durable.
@@Aeduo apparently there are two models of the SP and one of them has a better screen like night and day better screen and I have the night and day better screen one.
@@bland9876 yeah I have heard about that. I never had a gba though so I dunno how the screens are on the SP. I just know the original one has a basically useless screen.
@@Aeduo if it's anything like the DS screen then it's not useless but it is not very good.
I'm looking forward to getting Bluetooth 4 or better audio mods on these some day. I'd really like to be able to use the earbuds I carry with me everywhere for my phone (airpods / galaxy buds)with something like this. Wireless charging (Qi / MagSafe) would also be awesome!
In terms for the dongle i can think of 2 things.
1. Older sets of headphones sometimes dont really work niceley with dongles and vice versa if it has a built in microphone channel. My headset cables don't work in my sony discman because of the mic channel.
Whats probably more likely is that the base volume output is low and the dongle doesn't boost the signal enough. Modern dongles in the US and EU have limitations on them to prevent higher volumes, and some dongles comply with this. Apple's usb c dongle is known in the audio world to give an incredibly clean audio signal but the EU version significantly lowers your output. And Sony's new walkman models also have this problem built in, which is why most people opt for the japanese models.
Could be the same issue here.
13:53 they designed it to not work with USB-C to C cables because then they'd have to put 2 tiny resistors on the PCB. These resistors are connected from the 2 CC lines to ground, and signal to the upstream device that the port should behave like a standard USB 2.0 port. it would have increased the board size slightly (with 0402 resistors it would have added maybe a mm tops to the width, with 0201 they would've just been tiny specks on the board) and cost maybe a penny more if they got a particularly bad deal on the resistors. Implementing a compliant USB-C port is so easy, that omission is unacceptable. They cheaped out and as a result it simply isn't a USB-C port.
EDIT: took a quick skim of LCSC's pricing and it's literally 20 bucks for a 50,000 piece reel of 0201 5.1k resistors. that's $0.0008 BOM cost per final product, plus maybe a couple cents more for pick and place fees
the literal best intro ever.
As always Tito, Great video content man!
The mods for all the Gameboy line of systems keep coming out... Is anyone ever going to make something for the DS line of systems as well??? (Still a great video, and a pretty cool mod to boot.. Thank you, Tito)
I’m hoping to do a macro update video soon. That kind of a DS video 😅 glad you enjoyed the video Frank, cheers!
We really need some decent aftermarket shells for the original DS.
I just want a 3DS XL top screen that isn't floppy.
The problem with the dongle is that there are 2 types, one with a DAC and one without a DAC (just wired to some pins in the USB C connector). You need the one without a DAC because the original audio adapters for the GBA SP just connect to the pins for the audio output.
Oooo I'd like to frost and dye that case would look sick with the LEDs diffused
Great video Macho Nacho! Subbed, thumbs-up!
Thank you 🙏
not adding a dedicated headphone jack to an ultimate sp was such a missed opportunity
I don't get the appeal of the button leds. They're just distracting to me.
Fr
Life’s a preference lol. I think they’re a lot too but tbh I still want them just because so unique
Yeah they’re an annoying gimmick
I agree, everything else like a new shell, new screen, hell even usb c and a headphone jack I can understand!
But the led’s? Purely there mainly for looks, which isn’t bad but not necessary.
Exactly, it's an infuriating waste of battery life. All you should do is a screen mod, battery mod (even a simple DS battery mod) as well as a mod that nobody ever bothers to do: stereo audio. Why the hell don't people take full advantage of the system's native stereo audio? Seriously, Gameboys support stereo audio via headphones, so just split that feed across 2 speakers. Am I the only one who has this figured out?
Another great video Nacho! Really enjoy your content, and if I get clients wanting the mods you show, your videos work brilliantly as visual guides! Thank you
YOU'RE ALIVE!!!! YAY!!!
In addition, there are audio-cleanup and amplification mods from RetroSix I've added a wireless dehum/dehiss board, and have the wireless cleanAMP board on order. The CleanAMP board also removes any noise from the modded screen, as well as adding additional volume.
Another great video Tito. I've got an old GBA SP lying around that can't charge. I've been meaning to get into modding to see if I could repair it and then do a similar mod to this.
A black see through case would look so freaking cool.
This guy has reached the peak of modding, removing screen cables without opening the motherboard? what the heck??
For your USB-C headphone adapter, have you checked if you need CTIA or OMTP adapter ? Maybe you don't have the good one. And these are clean builds as always !
I recently modded a couple of gba sps with new shells and ips screens too! They look great!
That's a pretty cool GameBoy SP.
holy cow. This was amazing, thanks for sharing!
Wow that looks gorgeous :o
Clear = all the style points. Timeless look for such things IMO.
To me, this is not an ultimate SP without a recap, Power Cleaner and Audio Amp by Helder; or CleanAmp Pro and Dehum-Dehiss by RetroSix. But seeing as this channel mostly features RetroGameRepairShop products, I can see why it wasn’t included, they don’t carry the amp and power cleaner.
RetroModding carries a pre-made Makho battery mod for the SP that’s drop in with a 3d printed case.
I haven't installed the USB-C mod yet, but good to know about the low volume issue. Though, I do have a similar low volume issue on my Galaxy S21 phone using an Apple USB-C to 3.5mm adapter with wired Apple Earpods. I prefer Android, but the Earpods fit me really well. I wish Samsung didn't end up following Apple in removing the headphone jack, it never gets as loud as the old model that still had it. Though, maybe I just need to try different USB-C to 3.5mm DACs.