Hardware AGS-101 screen on AGS-001 motherboard

[arzi84]

This is how to make AGS-101 screen work with AGS-001 motherboard.

Cut this trace. This trace is on board revisions C/AGS-CPU-10 and C/AGS-CPU-11.
on C/AGS-CPU-01 trace goes under display connector.

Solder a wire to leftmost pin on the display connector.

Solder wires to motherboard and step-up converter, The GND connection is better shown in the next photo.
Step-up converter is Pololu U3V12F12 It's the smallest I found.

Use electrical tape to insulate step-up converter.

Cut plastic to make room for step-up converter.

Done.

Comparison with GB Micro on brightest setting.

 

[AyanamiRei0]

Ohh nice

 

[OfficialFBomb]

In the first pic, did you cut both the first and second pin line or just the first?

Also did you use the 3 or 5 volt version. I assume 5, but then again i have assumed wrong lol

 

[Deleted member 381889]

woah neat
bookmarked, thanks!

 

[invaderyoyo]

I think this does the same thing.

https://bennvenn.myshopify.com/products/backlit-sp-lcd-101-led-driver-board

 

[Todderbert]

well this might give new hope to the drawer of AGS 001s sitting here.

 

[arzi84]

In the first pic, did you cut both the first and second pin line or just the first?

Also did you use the 3 or 5 volt version. I assume 5, but then again i have assumed wrong lol

First line only.
Step-up converter is 12V Output version.

I think this does the same thing.

https://bennvenn.myshopify.com/products/backlit-sp-lcd-101-led-driver-board

Yes, it should do the same thing.

 

[OfficialFBomb]

You used a 12v version? Is that because of the screen?

Also BenVenn has already done this, but a bit different glad to see another person do this.

 

[arzi84]

You used a 12v version? Is that because of the screen?

Also BenVenn has already done this, but a bit different glad to see another person do this.

Yes backlit screen needs 11-13V and front lit screen uses 5V.

 

[OfficialFBomb]

Aw thanks man, glad I waited before ordering one lol

 

[Dark_Knight_DA]

Hello to everyone,

I have been watching these forums for quite some time and i finally decided to register! I am pretty interested in modding and decided to mod my both my AGB-001 and my AGS-001 with backlit sceens. After reading through this topic, i was wondering if it is possible to mod the light button of the AGS-001 to act exactly like in ags-101 to create the perfect mod.

According to a picture found in BennVenn's facebook page, it is perfectly possible, as long as you provide the second trace of the display connector with another current. I found a picture in his profile but i cannot tell if the end of the red cable is soldered directly to the resistor or to another component of the motherboard.

(the website will not let me post the actual link)

Can someone figure it out just from the picture? I would hate to kill my GBA SP after coming this far. I left a comment in his profile but i got no replies

 

[arzi84]

Red wire is soldered only to the resistor.

 

[Dark_Knight_DA]

Hi, thanks for your quick reply, i appreciate it! Did anyone who actually performed this mod solder to the LCD pads instead of the FFC socket pins? It is mentioned as an alternative and safer method but i have never seen anyone do it this way yet.

 

[Dark_Knight_DA]

Hello everyone, i thought i should give you a little update with the problems i am facing right now, regarding my mod. A kit including the screen, a 32 pin flex ribbon and a lens arrived a couple of days ago. Before installing the parts, i talked to Bennvenn to ensure that I soldered to the right points and then, verify with a digital multimeter there were no shorts. BennVenn warned me that the Pololu might fry the backlight, since it has no current regulation. I thought i should try anyway and sure enough, i fried the backlight!

Even though the backlight was killed, the screen would still display the gameboy logo, so i figured out i could at least test the ribbon cable. I soldered to DA-1, installed the ribbon cable and the screen and switched on the device. Completely blank, no image at all.I contacted the seller hoping that i will reach a satisfactory solution. I canot predict the end result, but it is not going that well for me....

 

[arzi84]

Do you get 12V if you measure from two solder points on back side of screen.
Dont use DA-1 it doesn't give enough current and voltage goes to low.

 

[Dark_Knight_DA]

Turns out it was my fault all along with the AGB-001, never tried to plug in the screen into the adapter with the contacts facing downwards! I also checked the FFC socket in the SP motherboard and made sure there were no shorts between the pins. I am now waiting for my replacement step up converter to install the screen again

Lastly, to nominate for the idiot of the year award, i managed to damage the polarizing film of the display, so all i see now is plain white. Still trying to figure out what typer of replacement film do i have to buy

 

[mcmarlboro]

Hello.
Even if your English skills are insufficient please understand.
My motherboard number is AGS-CPU-01.
In other versions of motherboard number, the pattern shape of 34 pins is different.
How can I Mod it?
And there is no resistance to add?

 

[Dark_Knight_DA]

Hello and welcome to GBATemp!

Do not worry about the language, with a little effort we will manage to understand each other! First of all, the resistor is not nessesary, you only need to install one if you want to switch brightness levels.

Secondly, i cannot find any traces that go to pin 34 by looking at the picture, but is has to get power somehow. Maybe someone more experienced with this variation can help you? In the worst case scenario, you could always lift the pin and then solder the wire, but i would NOT recommend it if you do not have experience

 

[Liquid_Vegeta]

Would the OP's mod be the same on an AGS CPU 10 board?

I was fooled by a lot of Youtube videos into thinking that you could just put the new screen on the old board I have no experience soldering or working with circuit boards so am totally out of my depth here!

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Turns out it was my fault all along with the AGB-001, never tried to plug in the screen into the adapter with the contacts facing downwards! I also checked the FFC socket in the SP motherboard and made sure there were no shorts between the pins. I am now waiting for my replacement step up converter to install the screen again

Lastly, to nominate for the idiot of the year award, i managed to damage the polarizing film of the display, so all i see now is plain white. Still trying to figure out what typer of replacement film do i have to buy

Are you the same guy that ripped off the polarizer thinking it was just a plastic protector?