I'm pleased to say that with some good info from the internet, I've given a scratched up old AGB-001 new life. It turned out to not be the hardest console mod I've ever done, but it was still an adventure, and I'm happy with the results. 
I'd like to ask for some advice. First off, I can't help but notice that the brightness of my screen (AGS-101) leaves something to be desired. It's hard to tell from the pictures, but in a side-by-side comparison I found that I'm getting even less brightness than an actual AGS-101 SP console on its low setting. I have a Bennvenn brightness controller chip on the way, but will that make a difference? Is this screen already set at its top brightness, or will that chip allow me to go brighter? I used a type-B cable for this project (no physical brightness switch, as I don't like the idea of having to pull my batteries to adjust it). Somebody told me that the type-A is actually brighter, but I didn't want to deal with the potential ghosting issues, and was led to believe that the B is more or less an upgraded version of the A, so...I went B. I did not use a voltage regulator chip. Will that make any difference in terms of brightness?
Also, to say this mod was a tight fit is an understatement. I have a GBAmp3 chip in my DMG-01 that I was thinking of popping into this AGB. (I don't want to shell out the bucks for another GBAmp right now - I figure when I'm ready to do that, I can just pop the new one in the DMG, which I don't use as much anyway). But...brightness controller, voltage regulator, GBAmp...is this stuff all going to fit? How many extra parts have people been able to cram into an AGB-001 shell? I'm also wondering about power consumption for all that stuff. I'm using Amazon "High-Capacity" AAs rated for 2400mAh (rebranded eneloops). Haven't had a go at battery life testing yet but I'm wondering what I can expect with the more "stuff" I add to this project.
Finally, because for the life of me I can't seem to find this simple bit of info in any of the Bennvenn guides...what wire gauge is recommended to ensure everything fits? I have a spool of 22 gauge right now, but after the local death of RadioShack and Baynesville, I have to get my small electronics parts online, and I would rather not take a shot in the dark on the right wire gauge. Have people had success with 22? I've used as tiny as 26/28 gauge before, but...damn that stuff is hard to solder, it's so tiny!
Anyway, yay that this all worked out pretty much great otherwise, and thank you for any advice. Feel free to link me to useful articles if some of the above has been addressed elsewhere already - I just wanted to have all of this in the same place (not to mention, you know...I'm proud of my mod and wanted to share it with the community).
Thanks!
I'd like to ask for some advice. First off, I can't help but notice that the brightness of my screen (AGS-101) leaves something to be desired. It's hard to tell from the pictures, but in a side-by-side comparison I found that I'm getting even less brightness than an actual AGS-101 SP console on its low setting. I have a Bennvenn brightness controller chip on the way, but will that make a difference? Is this screen already set at its top brightness, or will that chip allow me to go brighter? I used a type-B cable for this project (no physical brightness switch, as I don't like the idea of having to pull my batteries to adjust it). Somebody told me that the type-A is actually brighter, but I didn't want to deal with the potential ghosting issues, and was led to believe that the B is more or less an upgraded version of the A, so...I went B. I did not use a voltage regulator chip. Will that make any difference in terms of brightness?
Also, to say this mod was a tight fit is an understatement. I have a GBAmp3 chip in my DMG-01 that I was thinking of popping into this AGB. (I don't want to shell out the bucks for another GBAmp right now - I figure when I'm ready to do that, I can just pop the new one in the DMG, which I don't use as much anyway). But...brightness controller, voltage regulator, GBAmp...is this stuff all going to fit? How many extra parts have people been able to cram into an AGB-001 shell? I'm also wondering about power consumption for all that stuff. I'm using Amazon "High-Capacity" AAs rated for 2400mAh (rebranded eneloops). Haven't had a go at battery life testing yet but I'm wondering what I can expect with the more "stuff" I add to this project.
Finally, because for the life of me I can't seem to find this simple bit of info in any of the Bennvenn guides...what wire gauge is recommended to ensure everything fits? I have a spool of 22 gauge right now, but after the local death of RadioShack and Baynesville, I have to get my small electronics parts online, and I would rather not take a shot in the dark on the right wire gauge. Have people had success with 22? I've used as tiny as 26/28 gauge before, but...damn that stuff is hard to solder, it's so tiny!
Anyway, yay that this all worked out pretty much great otherwise, and thank you for any advice. Feel free to link me to useful articles if some of the above has been addressed elsewhere already - I just wanted to have all of this in the same place (not to mention, you know...I'm proud of my mod and wanted to share it with the community
).Thanks!
