Hardware Modding an original gba. Screen conversion and soldering?

[Skyhigh_]

So i am a bit confused, upon glacing at a thread of someone who posted pictures of a modded fushia clear gba i don't know whether something needs to be soldered or not.

To clarify i have yet to buy any of the materials besides the shells, which is why i am asking this in advanced so i won't waste any money on something that will require more.

I have both an ags 101 and ags 001 screen, the ribbon cables is my issues as the replies people give are confusing.

My gba is a 40 pin but i see both cables without that wire sticking out and with wire so i don't know which one i need. I was under the impression if i have a 40 pin gba that i don't need to solder a single wire at all.

The cable i was looking to buy has no wires and just says p1 and p2. Can someone clarify is soldering is needed at all?

 

[how_do_i_do_that]

A link to what screen kit you were looking at might help you determin what P1 and P2 are.

If I remeber correctly, your soldering to either ground or supply more power to power the backlight regardless of what pin version you got or type of kit you get.


If your still looking to get a nice shell, you can try here: http://rosecoloredgaming.com/gameboy-advance.html

Requires modding the shell to accept the backlight screen mod, your removing plastic so the screen fits. This is regardless if your keeping the original shell or a custom shell from the link I provided.

 

[Skyhigh_]

thanks for reply and suggestions

I attached a picture of the cable i am buying , i am not buying a kit i already have an ags101 and ags001 and the shells i only need the cable which i am unsure what i would need.
I have seen some people post where they required no soldering ( can someone who has personally done this mod please verify) and others that did.


I already bought some shells, and while some of those look nice they are too expensive for my tastes the only way i would dish out $30.00 for one of those cases was if it was already pre cut to fit the gba sp screens.

 

[how_do_i_do_that]

P1 gets soldered to the board from closest match I could find online. I don't know if P2 gets soldered or not.

When you order the thing, it should come with instructions on what to solder or you will be given a link to what to solder. If it doesn't come with instructions on what to solder to where, you might have to ask the guy your buying from if there is a guide for your cable.

 

[Skyhigh_]

Well here's the thing i messaged 2 different sellers and both told me i don't need to solder anything if i have a 40 pin gba, besides those cables don't even have wires.

But then i noticed in some forums some people still did soldering? This is a bit confusing

 

[how_do_i_do_that]

Yours more or less looks like the one from this thread: https://gbatemp.net/threads/ags-001-screen-light-assembly-into-og-gba-mod.368171/#post-5483271

The backlit mod cables require soldering. The front lit ones are optional depending on the version of the cable you get.

 

[Skyhigh_]

How did you mod your gba ? So if i get one of those cables like i pictured and i use an ags001 screen i won't have to solder?

 

[how_do_i_do_that]

Are you refering to the front lit screen mod?

You still have to modify the shell to some extent, since the lcd for the SP is larger than the original.

 

[Skyhigh_]

i meant the ags001

I realize the case needs modification that is not an issue, my only concern is the need to solder which i want to avoid. So i was asking how you modified yours and what you used.

If someone else has done with mod before without soldering i would really appreciate if you could chime in on details

 

[how_do_i_do_that]

probably not needed to solder then. If the front lit is not bright enough, your likely going to need to solder.

 

[Ben Ten's Dad]

As far as I am aware (and I am planning to mod a couple of units too) is that the 40 Pin cable does not need soldered. Only the 32 Pin needs soldered - otherwise it will not be bright enough. There's a tut on youtube where the guy puts a 40 Pin cable in and is amazed that he doesn't need to solder.

 

[Nusdogg]

For back lit screens, it all depends on the ribbon adapter. If it comes with the single wire, solder it. If they don't, just plug and play.

For the front lit mod, most ribbon adapters I've seen so far always come with a single wire with a resistor soldered to the base where the wire is soldered to.