Hackmodford's Gamecube Log

Includes PS2, Xbox 1, GameCube (but not the Phantom Game Console)

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hackmodford
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Hackmodford's Gamecube Log

Post by hackmodford » Wed Mar 09, 2011 2:07 pm

I'm thinking about doing a gamecube portable.
But I haven't been on the scene for a while.

What got me extremely interested is the wiikey-gamecube mod.
1 question... how does one backup the games in the first place? Or does one use... ahem... questionable sources to get backups to play?

I assume this is the best power regulator mod?
http://forums.modretro.com/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=2844" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also... in regards to a heatsink...
Does something like this actually work?
Image

Oh and I'm also the kind of guy that would rather make adaptors then directly solder things...
Soo if I take the ribbon cable from the Gamecube I would go to one of these things right?
Image
http://www.newhavendisplay.com/index.ph ... ts_id=2476" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I would have to buy two of them to make a sort of bridge and then go to the wiikey fusion correct?
Does anyone know if I can buy shorter replacement ribbon cables?

I think I found it
Image
http://www.libertye-online.com/servlet/ ... sh-/Detail" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Last edited by hackmodford on Thu Mar 17, 2011 12:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Ashen
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Re: GC Mod questions

Post by Ashen » Wed Mar 09, 2011 3:35 pm

Yep, that all looks pretty good man. Dunno how cool that flat copper heatsink will keep things though. I'd think even with all that surface area it'll be toasty after playing a while. Those adapters are fine, you'll only need one though... And 14$ for that ffc cable is crazy, i have links to some at home that are like 2$ each
ImageImageImageImageImageImage

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Re: GC Mod questions

Post by hackmodford » Wed Mar 09, 2011 3:37 pm

Can you provide the links please? :D

Also can you explain why I would only need one? Is it easy to solder directly to the wiikey or maybe the gamecube side?

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Re: GC Mod questions

Post by hidiosoman » Wed Mar 09, 2011 4:10 pm

The Gamecube doesn't have a slot for a ribbon cable, so you solder directly to the board.

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Re: GC Mod questions

Post by Ashen » Wed Mar 09, 2011 10:36 pm

http://www.modchipexport.com/wiikey-fus ... rive-cable" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
ImageImageImageImageImageImage

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Re: GC Mod questions

Post by hackmodford » Thu Mar 10, 2011 7:15 am

Thanks for the link Ashens.

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Re: GC Mod questions

Post by hackmodford » Mon Mar 14, 2011 3:58 pm

I'M thinking I should make the case backplate and route all kinds of slots in it. Then make the heatsink that is the same size and mount it to the plate using regular nuts. Might look sharp on the backside.

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Re: GC Mod questions

Post by hackmodford » Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:11 am

With the new developments in the Gamecube-WiiKey mod it has been discovered that you can run a gamecube off of a 3.7V battery alone!

I'm thinking this is a good small battery to use.
Image
http://www.batteryspace.com/polymerli-i ... arate.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also here is a mockup drawing I have been doing of a case.
Image

I had to offset the gamecube mobo to make a battery fit. But with a custom heatsink I don't see that being a problem...

Oh and I need to drop the idea of a psone screen if I'm going to run off 3.7V alone...

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Re: GC Mod questions

Post by hackmodford » Thu Mar 17, 2011 7:33 am

Here's a great website for calculating actual W:H of screens
http://tvcalculator.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I was thinking of using a 3.5" screen instead because It can run on 3.7V fine... ($30 for a screen is awesome too)

Edit: I carefully compared zenlock's cut gamecube to a board scan of the gamecube... this is what I came up with

Image

That makes for a portable that's a lot smaller :shock:
Plus the 3.5" will actually make sense if I can cut a board that small :D

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Re: GC Mod questions

Post by hackmodford » Thu Mar 17, 2011 12:23 pm

I just bought 4 "broken" gamecubes.

Three of them have disc drive errors (who cares right :D)
1 of them just has loose screws inside.

That should give me some breathing room as I try to shrink the size of the console :D

I'm just going to turn this into a build log...

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Re: Hackmodford's Gamecube Log

Post by hackmodford » Wed Mar 30, 2011 4:08 pm

Got 4 gamecubes... 3 with DD errors one that has something loose inside.
I plan on buying the wiikey fusion next and trying to get it working with one of the bad units.
Should work right?

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Re: Hackmodford's Gamecube Log

Post by Tchay » Thu Mar 31, 2011 8:57 pm

good stuff.

And nice job on the battery choice.

I am using 2 cells of those very same batteries for my upcoming GCP. They are indeed freaking small.

And your outline of zenlocs mobo cut looks very accurate too. I will say that there is some minor relocating involved with a capacitor or two and a resistor chip (I believe thats what zenloc relocated) that will get the controller and mem card working.

I still need a spare motherboard to try all this out for myself, but just keep that in mind before you go crazy ;)

Oh and make sure its a DOL - CPU - 20. Otherwise the memory card will not work after making those cuts (I'm still waiting for someone to fix/explain that issue).
Image Image

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Re: Hackmodford's Gamecube Log

Post by hackmodford » Thu Mar 31, 2011 9:48 pm

I'm considering not doing a mobo cut at this point...

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Re: Hackmodford's Gamecube Log

Post by hailrazer » Fri Apr 01, 2011 5:56 pm

The battery in my guide is smaller and cheaper :wink:

http://www.batteryspace.com/polymerli-i ... isted.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
My Portable Systems:
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-----Genimini---------Darth64---------Dreamtrooper--------Ncube---------Kamikazi64---N64Boy Advance

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Re: Hackmodford's Gamecube Log

Post by hidiosoman » Fri Apr 01, 2011 7:58 pm

hailrazer wrote:The battery in my guide is smaller and cheaper :wink:

http://www.batteryspace.com/polymerli-i ... isted.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Battery in your guide is exactly the same except you'd have to solder the PCB yourself... which would make it bigger.

Hackmodford's link would be smaller and cheaper.

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