Hardware Are there interchangeable parts between an O3DS and a N3DS?

lAkdaOpeKA

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I'm referring to non-XL models and I mean both physically and electrically.
For example, I know for sure that the top screen and the SD card slots are not interchangeable, since the screen on the N3DS is larger and the O3DS uses SD cards, while the N3DS uses Micro SD cards, but are things like, for example, the network card, the circle pad, the IR chip (it's a separate chip, at least on the O3DS), the speaker etc. interchangeable?
 

lAkdaOpeKA

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The charger.
Okay, maybe I wasn't clear enough, here's a list of all the components I don't know if they are interchangeable or not (even if they have to be desoldered):
  • Notification LED
  • Rear cameras
  • The red LED that lights up when the rear cameras are in use
  • Power on LED
  • Charging LED
  • Headphone jack
  • Microphone
  • Wireless indicator LED
  • Charging port
  • Cartridge slot
  • IR chip
  • L and R triggers (the internal electronics)
  • Battery
  • Circle pad
  • Battery terminals
  • Front camera
  • Buttons rubber domes
  • Touch screen
  • Speakers
 

TankedThomas

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It's been a while since I've had either of my 3DS consoles open but I can give you a rough idea.

All LEDs are SMD components (surface-mounted), meaning they'd have to be desoldered. SMD components are not super-easy to solder/desolder unless you know what you're doing/have the right equipment, so I wouldn't bother with these.

I'm not 100% sure about the microphone but I believe it's more or less the same thing, though I think it's also an SMD component, or at least soldered directly to the motherboard.

I believe the cartridge slot and headphone jack should be more or less identical. The old 3DS models have no IR sensor (that's what the "red LED" is, if I remember correctly) next to the cameras (that's for the super-stable 3D), so it's not interchangeable because it doesn't exist. The IR port on the back of the console is an SMD component if I remember correctly.

The charging port is soldered to the board but is the same thing. The notification LED changes places depending on the console so it's not as straight-forward to swap around.

All three cameras should be identical between all 3DS models but I'm not sure what the components on the inside look like. They probably don't have the same wiring setup, meaning they're not interchangeable.

Batteries are not interchangeable (though I'm not 100% sure about 3DS XL and New 3DS XL, but I doubt it). Battery terminals will depend on the consoles involved but generally speaking, I'd say no with the caveat that battery terminals are flexible, in more ways than one.

The circle pad itself should be interchangeable but the actual module that attaches to the motherboard isn't, if I remember correctly, as it will have a specific connection setup depending on the model. I could be wrong about that though. It's been a while since I looked at them.

The cartridge slot should be identical but given the change of position between old and New 3DS consoles, that could cause some problems. Worst case scenario, you'd need to make some minor alterations to make everything line up.

I believe the speakers change depending on the model but I'm not completely sure. Most of them should be interchangeable.

The touchscreen is not interchangeable from the original 3DS to the New 3DS as they are different sizes, but the 3DS XL to the New 3DS XL might be a different story because they're the same size. I haven't tried it so I'm not sure, but the wiring setup is different so it likely wouldn't be straightforward.

The shoulder buttons have different setups depending on the console, so they're not interchangeable.

I'm not sure what you mean by "buttons rubber domes". Most of the buttons should be interchangeable but I'm not 100% sure about that. I'd say it's probably a case-by-case basis depending on which consoles are involved.

Other than that... the charger is interchangeable, and I suppose the stylus is too (though it won't fit in the slot).


As a general rule of thumb, most all of the components have different wiring configurations, making them incompatible, especially when going from 3DS => New 3DS. If you need parts, you can usually find them cheaply on eBay or AliExpress.
 

donneee

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the old 3ds and new 3ds have completely different mobo's. i have repaired a new and an old 3ds recently, and i can't recall anything the same between them. the sizes for the ips/tn panels are the same sure, but where the wiring goes, how long the ribbon cables are, and even the connector (as i recall) is not the same. getting to the mobo is easy on both the n3ds and o3ds. getting to the top screen... well... fuck that stupid knuckle lock on the right side of the n3ds. oh wait........ that might be the only thing that can be interchanged. that damn knuckle that's hard to push out lol.

the charging port could be interchanged (i guess...) but your gonna have to not melt the plastic away on the actual charging port (which almost always melts upon taking off a charging port with plastic in it).

the button's if i recall may be interchangeable with some slight modifications, i didn't check/bother to check if i can use buttons from one system to the other. i do know that the buttons are "fixed" to go into the correct hole right side up, meaning you can't get it wrong at all even if you tried, and if you tried you'd break it's position, and it'd be a free spinning button afterwards. i'm assuming its the same trying to push the A button from an o3ds to the n3ds and wondering why it won't push down all the way. only the n3ds has rubber domes (start, sel, and circle pad).

smaller items that you can heat off such as the metal shielding and plastic shields that keep the buttons.... well buttons are probably interchangable, but not worth heating off due to high risk of melting the plastic and exposing the metal that's above your buttons.
 

Mikemk

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The batteries are interchangeable between O3DS XL, N3DS, and N3DS XL.
I've had all 3, and they all use the same battery. I can't say about small O3DS.

@TCJJ, Why do you say they're not?
 

Elveman

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I know there are hardware pros on GBATemp, so if anyone knows if touch screen on Old 3DS XL is the same as on New 3DS XL, please share this info. Thanks
 

donneee

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it's not. where the ribbon flex connects to is mm's off. it will work being connected onto the mobo, but it will not fit into it's housing correctly unless you want to break the touch screen's digitizer's ribbon flex.
 
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TankedThomas

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The batteries are interchangeable between O3DS XL, N3DS, and N3DS XL.
I've had all 3, and they all use the same battery. I can't say about small O3DS.

@TCJJ, Why do you say they're not?
I said it's been a while since I've had either of my two consoles open so I'm not 100% sure, but I'm pretty sure they're not universally interchangeable. My original 3DS and New 3DS XL have different batteries, as far as I remember. Long story short, I can't open up my old 3DS to check, but I'm pretty sure they're different. I've never owned the original XL or a regular New 3DS though.
 

lAkdaOpeKA

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The old 3DS models have no IR sensor (that's what the "red LED" is, if I remember correctly) next to the cameras (that's for the super-stable 3D), so it's not interchangeable because it doesn't exist. The IR port on the back of the console is an SMD component if I remember correctly.
The LED I'm referring to is the one which is lit up in this picture (O3DS) (sorry for the picture quality):
Senza_nome.png


The IR port on the back of the console is an SMD component if I remember correctly.
On the O3DS it's not:
P_20170207_155412.png


I'm not sure what you mean by "buttons rubber domes". Most of the buttons should be interchangeable but I'm not 100% sure about that. I'd say it's probably a case-by-case basis depending on which consoles are involved.
These are the rubber domes:
P_20170207_155649.png

Left is for the Dpad, right is for the four buttons. There's also one for the power button.
They're called "rubber domes" referring to membrane keyboards, I don't actually know if you're supposed to call them "domes" referring to consoles.

getting to the top screen... well... fuck that stupid knuckle lock on the right side of the n3ds. oh wait........ that might be the only thing that can be interchanged. that damn knuckle that's hard to push out lol.
What are you referring to?

Also, since it's kinda on topic, I'll ask this too: why are there both 3.6V and 3.7V batteries for the non-XL O3DS?
 
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TankedThomas

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I don't remember ever noticing that light on my old 3DS. I mean, it's there, but I don't remember ever seeing it light up. I think I thought it was a microphone. I'm not sure what the point of it is, but it's not on the New 3DS XL, that's for sure.

Now that you've posted a picture, I remember seeing the IR sensor on my old 3DS. That's definitely not an SMD component but it's still soldered to the PCB. The PCBs are different so you'd have to desolder it.

I had a feeling the rubber membranes were what you were referring to, but I've never personally heard them called "rubber domes". I'm not completely sure but at least some models are likely different because of the different motherboard layouts.

As for what @donneee is referring to, I believe it's the actual inner hinge mechanisms that you have to pop out of the plastic hinge casings.

Finally, the batteries... I'm not sure, but are you looking at official models? If so, then it's probably just a revision Nintendo made for some reason or another. If you're looking at them on eBay, well, that'll be your answer.
 

lAkdaOpeKA

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Finally, the batteries... I'm not sure, but are you looking at official models? If so, then it's probably just a revision Nintendo made for some reason or another. If you're looking at them on eBay, well, that'll be your answer.
The batteries are both from O3DSes, and my 3DS itself actually says "3.6-3.7V".
 

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