DMG Screen Recommendations

[Funkoid]

So I was about a third of the way through restoring a battered GBC with broken screen for my girlfriend for the holidays, then, at an event she was more enthusiastic about the grey DMG... change of plans.

Thankfully, I have one already with a broken screen I intended to restore at a later date, I'm looking for screen recommendations though.

I keep hearing the funny playing(?) kits being mentioned, but I'm conflicted:

1) I didn't really want to cut the original case ideally.

2) I'm not certain whether the replica GB DMG shells feel the same as the original, or close to? It's a gift, I want it to be right!

3) The original is currently yellowed pretty badly and needs some love.

Thoughts, recommendations etc?

If there is anything else you'd think would be valuable to add or change as part of the process let me know!

Edit - I'm a bit sad and original style dmg replacement screen isn't available that looks the same but with better back lighting etc. but that's just me!

 

[Jayro]

So I was about a third of the way through restoring a battered GBC with broken screen for my girlfriend for the holidays, then, at an event she was more enthusiastic about the grey DMG... change of plans.

Thankfully, I have one already with a broken screen I intended to restore at a later date, I'm looking for screen recommendations though.

I keep hearing the funny playing(?) kits being mentioned, but I'm conflicted:

1) I didn't really want to cut the original case ideally.

2) I'm not certain whether the replica GB DMG shells feel the same as the original, or close to? It's a gift, I want it to be right!

3) The original is currently yellowed pretty badly and needs some love.

Thoughts, recommendations etc?

If there is anything else you'd think would be valuable to add or change as part of the process let me know!

Edit - I'm a bit sad and original style dmg replacement screen isn't available that looks the same but with better back lighting etc. but that's just me!

1.) The latest kit, the RIPS V5 for the DMG doesn't require any shell cutting or modifications, it's just a drop-in replacement for the front PCB with the screen and control traces on it.
2.)The replacement shell quality can really vary between vendors, but people really seem to like shells from Extremerate. I myself am a huge fan of the Boxy Pixel DMG shell that's made of aluminum. It's nearly a 1:1 recreation of the DMG shell, sans the battery compartment door being re-engineered.
3.) You can do a method to brighten it back to white by watching YouTube videos on how to "retrobrite" yellowing plastic.

My personal DMG is made with the green Boxy Pixel aluminum shell combined with the RIPS V5 screen kit, a glass lens, aluminum buttons, and re-using the OEM rubber membranes under the DPAD and the A+B buttons. I wired mine up with a 1000mAh DualShock 4 battery I had laying around, a TP4056 USB C charging board, and a smol 5v buck converter. (Pictured)

 

[Nephiel]

View attachment 470634

Wow. That is a thing of beauty.

Regarding the TP4056, I recall reading about it being somewhat dangerous if used to charge while playing. I'm not sure if that's still the case.

 

[Jayro]

Wow. That is a thing of beauty.

Regarding the TP4056, I recall reading about it being somewhat dangerous if used to charge while playing. I'm not sure if that's still the case.

Yes, they are not "charge and play" ready, you still have to add some diodes I think. I just don't have the schematic on-hand. But I did create a 3D-printed bracket to keep the TP4056 firmly in place and the charging chip's heat away from the Lithium cells. It will fit all of Boxy Pixel's cells, as well as a DualShock 4 battery.