Pi Zero W GBA [WIP]

[TechieAndroid]

I am making a Pi Zero W GBA and have had much trouble finding a proper screen for the project. I need a screen 2.8"-3.5" it needs to be powered by the Pi. Otherwise I will have to use the same battery that I will use for the Pi (haven't started looking for this yet) and just modify the power from it to the screen to make sure it gets the correct amount, I really don't want to do it this way but I will if necessary.

I don't know whether or not to connect the display to the HDMI (I will solder it if I use the HDMI option) or via the GPIO pins, I would like to know the specifics of using the GPIO pins for it (like will it look okay for playing GBA games, color depth and resolution wise? ).

So far here's what I've got going:
I have a brand new working GBA which I plan to use the shell/case and part of the board (the part for the buttons) unless I decide to send off and have custom PCBs made for that, I'm still thinking about this. I'm planning on using the Pi Zero W for it's size and wireless capability (I plan on keeping it inside the gba at all times).

//Total Parts:

GBA (have)
Pi Zero W (have)
Screen
Battery

//Here's the original GBA screen specs:

Screen: HQVGA 240x160 3:2 2.9 inches

Color support: 15-bit BGR (5 bits depth per channel), capable of displaying 512 simultaneous colors in "character mode" and

32,768 (215) simultaneous colors in "bitmap mode".

//Here are the current displays that I have found. Let me know what you think.

[EDIT]
I for some reason couldn't add these links.

 

[DeoNaught]

Use a ili9341 screen, look that up on EBay, they have screens from 2.8" to 2.2"
and they are fairly cheap.

 

[TechieAndroid]

Use a ili9341 screen, look that up on EBay, they have screens from 2.8" to 2.2"
and they are fairly cheap.

Thank you my friend, I believe you have found what I'm looking for. Only disconcerting thing I see about it is that some have reported screen tearing, is it going to look bad for simple games such as GB, GBC, GBA, NES or SNES?

 

[DeoNaught]

Thank you my friend, I believe you have found what I'm looking for. Only disconcerting thing I see about it is that some have reported screen tearing, is it going to look bad for simple games such as GB, GBC, GBA, NES or SNES?

Naw, it should work fine.

The Sudomod forums have rpi zero experience then Gbatemp does, So You shuold check there too.

 

[TechieAndroid]

Naw, it should work fine.

The Sudomod forums have rpi zero experience then Gbatemp does, So You shuold check there too.

Yeah I was looking on sudomod there. Any ideas for a battery, then I'll have all my parts. I would prefer a Li-Po battery.

 

[DeoNaught]

I would suggest one of these http://www.batteryspace.com/polymer...18-5wh-10-0a-rate-----un38-3-passed-ndgr.aspx
Or two of those in (series) (I think)

 

[TechieAndroid]

Um 3.7V 5A... that battery won't work. The Pi Zero W needs a 5V 2A (5V is necessary & IMO 2A is the happy medium).

 

[DeoNaught]

HA!

didnt see that.......
http://www.ebay.com/itm/121611468285?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
these will work, People use these in there projects all the time(rpi zero projects)

But if you do get them, that link above are genuine cells, if you get them from some where else I can't tell you if they are legit.

 

[TechieAndroid]

HA!

didnt see that.......
http://www.ebay.com/itm/121611468285?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
these will work, People use these in there projects all the time(rpi zero projects)

But if you do get them, that link above are genuine cells, if you get them from some where else I can't tell you if they are legit.

Okay thanks I'll look into those. I might be able to utilize the AA bay in the GBA after all!

 

[SSEpochX]

Why don't you just get the freeplay zero kit? It has the PCB and screen included. You just solder the GPIO pins to it, trim the case and your done.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1227007236/freeplay-zero-freeplay-cm3-by-freeplaytech

 

[TechieAndroid]

Why don't you just get the freeplay zero kit? It has the PCB and screen included. You just solder the GPIO pins to it, trim the case and your done.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1227007236/freeplay-zero-freeplay-cm3-by-freeplaytech

I have the expertise to save my $$$ that's why I don't want to take the easy way. Plus I plan on fabricating my own custom PCBs anyways.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

@DeoNaught
I made a mistake earlier about the batteries, I said "5A" as in Amp when that should have been 5000 mAh, which is completely different. The more mAh the better, I just don't want to push 5A through a Pi Zero W because it'll kill it instantly. And according to a chart I saw on Pi Zero power consumption, 1A should be enough, 1.5A would probably be ideal.

 

[DeoNaught]

@DeoNaught
I made a mistake earlier about the batteries, I said "5A" as in Amp when that should have been 5000 mAh, which is completely different. The more mAh the better, I just don't want to push 5A through a Pi Zero W because it'll kill it instantly. And according to a chart I saw on Pi Zero power consumption, 1A should be enough, 1.5A would probably be ideal.[/QUOTE]
Depends on what you are powering from the pi,

like if you plan to use something like a teensy, and other stuff, your gonna want around 2A,

but I think if you are doing something like GPIO pins for controller, pwm audio, and what not, 1.5A should be fine.

I think

 

[TechieAndroid]

https://www.adafruit.com/product/328 Looking at this for a battery, not sure about running them in serial yet, I'm still calculating all the specs.

 

[DeoNaught]

It looks fine, Are do you plan to use the adafruit powerboost?

also check amazon for adafruit parts, I got a powerboost from there a lot cheaper than Adafruit themselves.

 

[TechieAndroid]

It looks fine, Are do you plan to use the adafruit powerboost?

also check amazon for adafruit parts, I got a powerboost from there a lot cheaper than Adafruit themselves.

I am.

 

[TechieAndroid]

I got the PowerBoost 1000 because it converts it to a 5V 1A input for the Pi Zero W. And I got that Li-Po 3.7V 2500 mAh battery because it's small, will last long and it was what the PowerBoost could use. So... I believe I have everything ordered now, I just have to wait for everything to arrive and the assemble. I also got this screen: 3.2" TFT LCD SSD1289 ILI9341 and this MicroSD which is OP: SanDisk Extreme Pro 16GB MicroSDHC UHS-1

 

[TechieAndroid]

//Cost & Parts

These are my totals which includes tax and shipping (I rounded up).


$0 GBA (I've had this for some time)

$12 Raspberry Pi Zero W

$16 Lithium Ion Polymer Battery - 3.7v 2500mAh

$17 SanDisk Extreme Pro 16GB MicroSDHC UHS-1

$20 PowerBoost 1000 Charger - Rechargeable 5V Lipo USB Boost @ 1A - 1000C

$25 3.2" TFT LCD SSD1289 ILI9341

Total = $90

Cost of Freeplay Zero ≃ $125 give or take

Saved ~ $35

I think my build will be better quality than a Freeplay Zero because of the battery and some other factors.

 

[DeoNaught]

//Cost & Parts

These are my totals which includes tax and shipping (I rounded up).


$0 GBA (I've had this for some time)

$12 Raspberry Pi Zero W

$16 Lithium Ion Polymer Battery - 3.7v 2500mAh

$17 SanDisk Extreme Pro 16GB MicroSDHC UHS-1

$20 PowerBoost 1000 Charger - Rechargeable 5V Lipo USB Boost @ 1A - 1000C

$25 3.2" TFT LCD SSD1289 ILI9341

Total = $90

Cost of Freeplay Zero ≃ $125 give or take

Saved ~ $35

I think my build will be better quality than a Freeplay Zero because of the battery and some other factors.

So you do have a soldering iron already?

 

[TechieAndroid]

So you do have a soldering iron already?

Oh yeah. I've been doing this stuff for years.

 

[TechieAndroid]

So... Im going to video my project when I start building it and I'll upload it to YouTube. I have a custom made tripod that holds my OnePlus One that'll be videoing in 1080p. Shouldn't be but about a week on getting all the parts in.