Original gameboy backlight mod

[pbj]

Everything that could go wrong during this process went wrong but I've got a backlit and biverted gameboy now. I got to play it for 10 minutes before a horizontal line appeared. I'll kiss it with my heat gun and see what happens, I guess. Still have a bunch of adhesive on the glass that I can't dissolve to save my life.

[pbj]

Yep, well, heat gun didn’t do anything good and I got more horizontal lines while man handling the LCD.  Then I thought, hey, maybe if I’m quick with the soldering iron I can give it a quick pass with that.

Do not do that, the horizontal lines ribbon cable instantly melts.  And I mean instantly.  Which is surprising given how forgiving the vertical line cable is. 

I’ve come to terms with it.  My EZ Flash Jr is already on its way so I’m in pretty deep already.  What’s the harm in an IPS LCD at this point.

Stay tuned?

 

[Howard_Casto]

Good call.  The ribbon cables from nintendo were ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- in that era.... I've got a melted virtual boy cable to prove it.  You'd think somebody would make replacement cables at this point made out of better stuff as they'd probably make a small fortune. 

[pbj]

My mistake was watching the YouTube video showing horizontal line repair on mute and only watching it long enough to see his method.  That ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- doesn’t work and he only claims a 40% success rate.  The thought is nice.  I console myself but saying that the screen was just going to get worse every time I sneezed on it.

Anyway, I ordered one of these.  It’s the newest replacement screen.  Most pointless purchase I’ve made in awhile but eh.  Not like I can buy flights at a brewery anymore.

https://funnyplaying.com/collections/product/products/dmg-retro-pixel-ips-lcd-kit

And now we wait...

[opt2not]

that's a good looking kit 

[KenToad]

"Please consider whether it is really necessary."

Wow! I've never seen a message like that on an ordering page, pandemic or not.

Good luck with your mod.

[pbj]

New screen is awesome, very pleased with it.  You can change the color palette and brightness very easily.  Has a “pixel mode” you can toggle.

My EZ Flash Jr arrived today and also works great.  No idea if this is legit or a clone but it’s on the newest firmware so eh.

Pics related.

[pbj]

Pixel mode off and on

[mahuti]

That is really cool man. I have a Gameboy where the screen is starting to get finicky. I never knew there were all of these upgrade/replacement options until you started this thread. I prefer the pixel style, but it's pretty cool seeing it all smooth.

I did a mod may years ago to the Gameboy Advance (wide) to add low-power front-light kit from some dude making them and selling them from his house... became Trident Solutions or something. All of these years later, I still think it's awesome. My old eyes and body are getting to the point I just can't handle finding some bright spot to angle the Gameboy into so that I can play.

[LTC]

Just ordered that same screen kit from funnyplaying. Can't wait to get it here.

[pbj]

You’ll have fun with it, it’s still working great for me.  In fact, was playing Picross 2 earlier today.  It’s hard to believe we used screens so small back then.

 

[JimmyU]

You’ll have fun with it, it’s still working great for me.  In fact, was playing Picross 2 earlier today.  It’s hard to believe we used screens so small back then.

 

It’s hard to believe that it took Nintendo almost 14 years to sell a self lit Game Boy in America.