Hacking Hardware Switch OLED Modchip Questions

Modder_Boi · Mar 22, 2023

Hello all,

I recently started modding consoles and thought it looked interesting to mod my Switch OLED. I've done various soft mods to Wii and 3DS consoles, but I have never done any hard mods (I'm basically a noob). While looking through aliexpress and forums, I have found many different mod chips and have settled on an HWFLY modchip, mainly for the potential and the legitimacy. My main question is which version of the HWFLY mod chip I should get, or if it's even worth going the HWFLY route. I've seen numerous threads saying that the v4 is the best, but many versions have come out since then. Also, how should I go about the issues with spacecraft v1 and switching to v2? Also, I do not have much of micro soldering experience, and I was wondering how hard it would be to install a chip like this?

l7777 · Mar 22, 2023

Modder_Boi said:
Hello all,

I recently started modding consoles and thought it looked interesting to mod my Switch OLED. I've done various soft mods to Wii and 3DS consoles, but I have never done any hard mods (I'm basically a noob). While looking through aliexpress and forums, I have found many different mod chips and have settled on an HWFLY modchip, mainly for the potential and the legitimacy. My main question is which version of the HWFLY mod chip I should get, or if it's even worth going the HWFLY route. I've seen numerous threads saying that the v4 is the best, but many versions have come out since then. Also, how should I go about the issues with spacecraft v1 and switching to v2? Also, I do not have much of micro soldering experience, and I was wondering how hard it would be to install a chip like this?

Based on recent events, I wouldn't spend money on HWFLY. Look at the recently released RP2040 based modchip. Off the shelf components can be used rather than the proprietary and questionable quality controls of the HWFLY stuff.

Modder_Boi · Mar 22, 2023

l7777 said:
Based on recent events, I wouldn't spend money on HWFLY. Look at the recently released RP2040 based modchip. Off the shelf components can be used rather than the proprietary and questionable quality controls of the HWFLY stuff.

How easy would the installation be for a chip like that? I don't have a lot of expertise in soldering and was most likely going to hire someone to install the chip. Also, I have a fairly tight budget and can't really spend more than $100.

l7777 · Mar 22, 2023

Once you have the right components there are a half dozen wires to connect. For OLED specifically there is a friction adapter that can be used for the EMMC or it can be removed/re-balled with a wire attached to the DAT0 point. Do some reading in the exiting threads. Your answers are there.

cowboy619 · Mar 22, 2023

Modder_Boi said:
How easy would the installation be for a chip like that? I don't have a lot of expertise in soldering and was most likely going to hire someone to install the chip. Also, I have a fairly tight budget and can't really spend more than $100.

If you are a novice at soldering then the oled mod is not for you

DawnWorkout · Mar 22, 2023

I canceled my order for 5 hwfly 2 days ago. This is because a new kit called pico was released recently. However, hwflyV4 may be a better choice because Pico has still a lot of trouble for beginners to do. There is a rumor that the hwfly team is making something new using pico. Choose hwfly if you want to try immediately. If you want to get it cheaper, it's better to wait for the pico. I've been pondering a lot for a few days. (The worst thing is that pico easy kit might be more expensive)

Modder_Boi · Mar 22, 2023

DawnWorkout said:
I canceled my order for 5 hwfly 2 days ago. This is because a new kit called pico was released recently. However, hwflyV4 may be a better choice because Pico has still a lot of trouble for beginners to do. There is a rumor that the hwfly team is making something new using pico. Choose hwfly if you want to try immediately. If you want to get it cheaper, it's better to wait for the pico. I've been pondering a lot for a few days. (The worst thing is that pico easy kit might be more expensive)

Could you possibly provide a link for the pico? Also, overall which would be easier (software, installation, ease of use)?

Also, would this be the correct HWFLY chip (see attached)? I'm having trouble finding an oled v4 on the official store. I found a v4 chip on the official store but it didn't have an oled connector. I did find an oled connector sold separately on the official store though. Could I combine the two and have a working chip?

DawnWorkout · Mar 22, 2023

Modder_Boi said:
Could you possibly provide a link for the pico? Also, overall which would be easier (software, installation, ease of use)?

Also, would this be the correct HWFLY chip (see attached)? I'm having trouble finding an oled v4 on the official store. I found a v4 chip on the official store but it didn't have an oled connector. I did find an oled connector sold separately on the official store though. Could I combine the two and have a working chip?

https://gbatemp.net/threads/picofly-aio-thread.628951/

The name is RP2040-Zero. You can look at the guide here. But it's still hard, so I'm watching more.

The model you attached is hwfly oled. I live in a different city, so I think the sales policy is a little different. All the hwfly oled products that are shipped to the city where I live are sold out.

In my opinion it is easier to install hwfly now. Because there are many related guide videos. Pico's information is just coming out. So There is a not have an installation video yet and I have to read it in the relevant thread and try it myself.

There are not many installation precautions.
One problem is that the soldering point is much smaller than you think. So it's better to have a magnifying glass or microscope
Search and watch related videos.

In short, if you can do installation as pico yourself
It can be installed at a low price
Otherwise, you should buy hwfly for $50 ~ $60. If the price of hwfly goes down because of pico, I want to buy hwfly, but no one can know this part right now.

Modder_Boi · Mar 22, 2023

DawnWorkout said:
In my opinion it is easier to install hwfly now. Because there are many related guide videos. Pico's information is just coming out. So There is a not have an installation video yet and I have to read it in the relevant thread and try it myself.

Ok. I think that has swayed me to go the hwfly route even though it's more expensive. I would rather expensive and easy rather than cheap and hard (and a higher possibility of bricking/messing up my switch).

l7777 · Mar 22, 2023

Modder_Boi said:
Ok. I think that has swayed me to go the hwfly route even though it's more expensive. I would rather expensive and easy rather than cheap and hard (and a higher possibility of bricking/messing up my switch).

"easier" is relative. Check out the install videos by sthetix. Neither can be done on an OLED without some specialized tools and a high danger of bricking the Switch since you must carefully remove bits of the CPU shield and scrape away some solder mask in a very precise location. This is in addition to getting a good connection under the EMMC for the DAT0 point. All of those things are required regardless of which modchip you use. I would argue the only "easy" part of the HWFLY install is getting all the parts in one purchase.

Modder_Boi · Mar 22, 2023

l7777 said:
"easier" is relative. Check out the install videos by sthetix. Neither can be done on an OLED without some specialized tools and a high danger of bricking the Switch since you must carefully remove bits of the CPU shield and scrape away some solder mask in a very precise location. This is in addition to getting a good connection under the EMMC for the DAT0 point. All of those things are required regardless of which modchip you use. I would argue the only "easy" part of the HWFLY install is getting all the parts in one purchase.

Ok. So which one do you think would be easier for the installation process? I have found several mail in services and I know someone who would possibly be willing to do it for me, but they both seem pretty expensive and I wanna try to do it myself. Is it worth possibly bricking my switch or should I use a service (or not mod it at all)?

ganons · Apr 7, 2023

Modder_Boi said:
Ok. So which one do you think would be easier for the installation process? I have found several mail in services and I know someone who would possibly be willing to do it for me, but they both seem pretty expensive and I wanna try to do it myself. Is it worth possibly bricking my switch or should I use a service (or not mod it at all)?

What did you end up going with?

Black_Nichirin · Apr 23, 2023

someone with pro soldering skill to do a neat and proper job

ANIL007 · May 2, 2023

i installed hwfly oled v5 chip. And copyed cwf to sd card i using HAKATE console is working hakate is working but i can not open cwf or owf

Hacking Hardware Switch OLED Modchip Questions

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