So I've had a broken Gamecube for like 2 years now (bought a new one) and I've been running the idea of fixing it and portabalizing it for a while, but I had no electronics knowledge. So first I went and bought Electronics for Dummies. I've gotten about halfway through it and found a lot of it to be really interesting. I also bought Ben's book. After I got like halfway through with Electronics for dummies I read the first couple sections of Ben's book and realize, HALF THE STUFF I READ IS ALMOST COMPLETELY USELESS FOR MY PURPOSES!!!!!! O, well.

Then I attempted to open my GC. I planned on doing the BIC pen trick, but I couldn't find any BIC pens anywhere (I know, weird). So I go and try to find an external torx screwdriver at 2 different Home Depots, neither had one. So I decided to buy a flathead, a triangular file, and a flat file to fashion my own screwdriver (I had seen someone else on these boards do that). I spent 3 hours filing and trying to fit the screwdriver to the GC to no avail. At this point I gave up hope of trying to save my GC Case. I took my file, screwdriver (which by this point was sharp enough to stab my 4 times) and my XActo knife and tore apart the case around the screw wells. Then I put it away until the next morning.

The first thing I did the next morning, was tear apart my house looking for screwdrivers to fit the 3 different screws used in the GC guts. I found them and slowly took apart my GC. I read that book so a lot of the insides made some sense to me, but the pot was nowhere to be seen. So I further dismantled my GC until I had three main sections exposed: the disc drive, the mobo and the metal casing between the two. Still no pot. I was expecting to find a small screw on one of the boards and I eyed this little square thing that looked slightly out of place on the board, but I wasn't sure.

I continued to search every board, even tried to dismantle the disc drive and still nothing. Then I rebuild the entire GC again because I am going to have Easter dinner with a family friend. When there is a little downtime between the meal I decide to check the boards to see if I can find a pic of the pot. Sure enough, it is that little, square thing I had already eyed so suspiciously! So tonight I am FINALLY fixing my old, busted indigo GC and I've decided I am most definitely portabalizing it. I know this was a kind of round-about way of saying I'm making a GCP, but I had to say it when I found a BIC pen in the briefcase I use for my electonics odds and ends.

I am going to start work on it as soon as my friend gets back from vacation in Mexico next week (I can use all his spare parts and tools because he builds computers from scratch and fixes other peoples'). I'm pretty confident I can do it with the electronics knowledge I have gathered and the tutorials and ifo found on this site, but if anyone could post any problems they ran into not outlined in any of the tutorials, the best battery for this (just a GCP, PSOne screen, w/o adding anything but maybe removing a memory card slot), and any space-saving tips.

Thank you to anyone who took the time to read this ridiculously long post and I hope to unveil a sweet new GCP soon. I will post pics soon and hope to keep everyone updated. Thanks again to everyone who made this possible (or close to it).

I have everything planned out. I just got my GC working last night. First I decided I'm giong to build a PNES because it seems like it will be a LOT easier and I need to start working on my soldering skills. Then I'm going to start my GCP when my friend gets back. Everything is going to be in those plastic "custom" cases from Radio Shack (they aren't really custom, they're just plastic boxes) until I have time to make a vacuum form one.

My design is going to be similar to turbotax's, with the bulk in the back and the orignal disc cover. I just don't know where I'm going to find screens. I called three nearby EB's and a Best Buy, but none of them had any PSOne screens. Is there another similar screen I can use? And if so, could someone point me in the direction of a hacking guide for it? I'm looking for something a lot cheaper and bigger than a pocket TV. I had heard of someone using the GC screen, but I have no idea how to hack it for use with a PNES or GCP. Please help this aspiring portabalizer. Thank you.

PNES Just say NESp from now on, okay? Oh, and are you going to use an original NES board, or an NOAC? NOAC's are MUCH easier (I speak from experience). I recommend a Yobo NOAC. Very simple to build. Also, if you are going to build one using an original NES board, I recommend making an SNESp instead. They are good to start off, despite minor capacitor relocation and some heavy desoldering. I did a SNESp as my first, and the skills I learned there helped me with my NESp after that, and hopefully a PS2p soon enough.

CTFan

I wanted to do a snesp, but I have the big SNES and I can't find a mini SNES anywhere. Internet ordering is not an option for me currently. And I'm using the original NES, I can't find NOACs anywhere either.

Ah, I see. Well, if you're good enough to manufacture a GCp, then you should have no problem tracing the leads on the original SNES board and portablizing it. The only problem people have with that board is the size and the amperage consumption (550mAh). As for NOACs, you should check mall kiosks. Any of those mall stands that sell games that look like NES games in a controller/joystick etc. are NOACs.

CTFan