Compact and nice GBA consolizer.
Main features:
- small footprint;
- full-size HDMI connector;
- Type-C power port (PD-compatible);
- compatible with modern and retro cartridge slots;
- momentary pushbutton on/off;
- backlit power indicator.
PCB preview:
STP preview:
To build this, you need:
- a GBA or GBA SP, preferably with a broken screen, for salvaging its CPU, SRAM, Link port, cartridge connector (optional) and chokes.
A few more things:
- SpartanEdge Accelerator board (https://wiki.seeedstudio.com/Spartan-Edge-Accelerator-Board);
- SNES controller connector, preferably with 90' pins (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32991018800.html)
- KY002L flip-flop switch (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32955392643.html)
- AtMega 328p-au (or another Arduino-compatible MCU with enough memory) and a 16M oscillator, TC26H works best;
- Vertical momentary pushbutton (13 mm);
- Ribbon HDMI cable (male + female) (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003777630816.html type A2/A3, A4);
- TLV71325 2.5V SOT23-5 LDO;
- 0805 Resistors: 100k x 3, 15R, 18K, 1k x 2, 47R x 2, 330R x 4, 270R, 5k1 x 2.
- 0805 Capacitors: 100n x 14, 10u x 2, 100p x 3, 30p x 2,
- 6-pin Type-C connector;
- common SOD123 diode x 3;
- 5x 1206 LED (optional - backlight) and 3mm (power on) LED;
- 2.54 mm pins (long and short);
- MicroSD card.
How-to (main steps):
- Configure the slide switch selectors of the SpartanEdge to "boot from SD card".
- Solder all the components as directed onto the PCB(s), sandwich in the SpartanEdge.
- Format your MicroSD card as FAT32 and drop the latest bitstream https://github.com/zwenergy/gbaHD/tree/master/bitstream in its root directory.
- Flash the latest controller profile onto the m328p, along with the required bootloader: https://github.com/Zekfoo/gbaHD-AIO-Shield/blob/main/controller/controller.ino Voila! P.S. It's a good idea to add the controller connector last since it might block your access / make desoldering more complicated if something goes wrong.
For educational / entertainment purposes only, build at your own risk!
First demo: Tokyo Game Show 2023, booth 05-N04 (Tassei Denki). Based on zwenergy's GBAHD project (github.com/zwenergy/gbaHD).