Tutorial WonderSwan Color IPS Screen Mod

[djpannda]

Welcome to Pannda’s Marvelous Mods!

I decided to write up reviews of some of my Mods, Hardware or any interesting items. So Enjoy


First is a Mod that I just did today. Around a 2 weeks ago, I found a video with a really nice IPS screen for the Wonderswan. I have seen older mods that don’t look clean or needed case cutting. I really like my Final Fantasy edition WonderSwan Color and did not want to run the risk to ruin it but not an issue anymore.
This mod is really easy to install and looks really clean. I cost me about $50 and took 15minutes to complete.

It can from China in less then two weeks. Really nicely packed with plastic case and Anti Static shielding bag. No worries that it would of been damaged during shipping

The Kit really has everything you need. (LCD screen, PCB, cable, tape, wires and screwdrivers. And a really nice Glass Screen replacement.

Since my WonderSwan’s screen has a design and not to bad shape I won’t be replacing it.
Start by Making sure that any game and battery case is removed.

The WonderSwan Color is just being held together by 6 torx screws, carefully remove the back plate and then disconnect the screen ridden cable.

Remove the four foam pegs (try to remove any residue with some rubbing alcohol)

Solder the each of the red wires to the points pictured. ( The left wire tuck in the hole right on the battery connector. The right wire just goes over the side.)

P.S. Ignore the horrible solder Job…

Flipping the motherboard over. Solder the wire on the A+B button side to GND on the PCB, and the wire from x buttons to Bat on the PCB. Connect the Cable (blue side up) to the PCB.

Now let us work on front of the shell, remove the buttons. CAREFULLY remove the original LCD from the Front panel and I mean “carefully” as my original screen just popped looking at it, lol. You can keep the tape that was hold the original screen as it can be reused to the new LCD.

Stick on one of the Insulating film on the back of the new LCD screen and Connect the new screen to the PCB.

Stick on the other Insulating film on the back of the Motherboard and place the new LCD in the front shell (make sure to place the screen as low as you can)

Remove the film from color and brightness touch buttion and attach them to the shell.

This is the only part that I was a bit nervous to do. The cable ribbon included is just off the shelf and its not really meant for the fix, so it is extremely long and awkward to place. Attached with blue side down and do a fold as you twist the ribbon. Fold any excess ridden on the other side of the motherboard. The next part is that the ribbon is decent quality so it was not damaged with all this folding.

Close it up and before you place the screws, test it as you might need to adjust the screen if crooked. Now Look at your Wonderful WonderSwan Color in all its Bright GLORY!

Here is a screenshot before the mod and after!


With the additional touch buttons installed, you can change the brightness and color platte (more for Black and white games)

Its amazing what 5 years can do. I remember installing one of the first LCD backlights for Gameboy that involved replacing the reflective film from the screen and it would mess up 9/10 times. New Mod are either plug and play or only requesting 1/2 wires to solder.


Thanks for reading till the end.

 

[djpannda]

let know some if there's productive feedback or stuff you want in the next one.

 

[Jayro]

Thanks for this, I kind of want to get a WonderSwan Color now. Never had one.

 

[djpannda]

Thanks for this, I kind of want to get a WonderSwan Color now. Never had one.

their not that expensive and there's a couple of decent Eng translations and list of games that don't require reading
http://videogamekraken.com/list-of-english-friendly-wonderswan-games
and of course WS Flash Masta (bit pricey but nice) I got one of the first betas and works fantastically
https://www.flashmasta.com/product/ws-flash-masta-usb-cartridge-for-wonderswan/

 

[dragonmaster]

i remember the digimon series on that thing, it was a glorious age of my finding emus of this console and trying the half cooked translations, i was a child back then and even my gbc costed me a whole summer of working i wouldnt imagine the cost to bring one to where i lived . oh memories....

 

[Dogson]

This screen isn't compatible with all games, Wonderswan is a 75Hz system most of the time, however some games such as Firelancer (there are more but I forget which, not much documentation) run at other refreshrates (~60Hz). And don't work with this kit sadly, the previous kit had the same issue, however that kit wasn't even 75Hz and had frame stutter issues.

I had high hopes for this mod, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone unless you have a unit with a damaged display.


I also want to suggest waiting on mellotts ws flashcart that's in development. The flashmasta is very limited (only one save file at a time shared between all (15 at a time) games, if you switch games you have to hook up to a computer to save and not have your other save overwritten)

Game compatibility is decent but also lacking, some games like ghost and goblins lack sound, others refuse to boot. This is related to special chips, and it's a good chunk of games you can't play. Really hope mellotts flashcart is what we're all dreaming of.

He previously made one for the virtual boy.

 

[ClancyDaEnlightened]

ordered an ips kit for my dmg, I'm waiting on the mail atm, solderless drop in too

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https://ebay.to/3lDddy1

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https://ugc.kizoa.app/klon1/f344852773_9997768.mp4

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They also have gbp,gbc and gba versions

https://ugc.kizoa.app/klon1/f344851587_9977827.mp4

 

[djpannda]

ordered an ips kit for my dmg, I'm waiting on the mail atm, solderless drop in too

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

https://ebay.to/3lDddy1

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

https://ugc.kizoa.app/klon1/f344852773_9997768.mp4

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They also have gbp,gbc and gba versions

https://ugc.kizoa.app/klon1/f344851587_9977827.mp4

I ordered couple of them last week. I plan to keep one of everything untouched and mod my extra handhelds

 

[ClancyDaEnlightened]

I ordered couple of them last week. I plan to keep one of everything untouched and mod my extra handhelds

Well my dmg lcd has gone to shit, it's worn out, bunch of missing pixels/lines

So this permanently fixes that, also have a new daughter board, there is another one that's slightly cheaper, but you have to use the existing board and solder ribbon cable for the lcd module,also it has issues with whites appearing grayish instead iirc

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1Pc-Origin...sh=item48d8c9da94:g:CDMAAOSwM81d6KBL&LH_BIN=1


I've seen those for as low as about $30


Also got two replacement cases, a clear ice blue dmg case, and I bought a clear black case cause I think it looks better, tie it all with an internal 4.8v 2000mah rechargeable battery

Dat ips picture looks fucking good

 

[DaFixer]

Nice mod, well done!

 

[RetroFailz]

Looks much better, good job!

 

[plasturion]

I can't believe that one battery system can handle backlight of lcd screen. How long it last?

 

[ClancyDaEnlightened]

I can't believe that one battery system can handle backlight of lcd screen. How long it last?

Wonderswan hardware is 3.3v iirc, not 5v like the Gameboy(color), the color normally gets 20 (original one gets 40) hours with the stock screen, so one battery should last up to 10 hours or so

 

[plasturion]

Wonderswan hardware is 3.3v iirc, not 5v like the Gameboy(color), the color normally gets 20 (original one gets 40) hours with the stock screen, so one battery should last up to 10 hours or so

I would not expect that long battery life with only one battery. It seems it works max 3,5 hours on lowest bright level.

13:15
also another yt movie shows fail in instalation when capacitors have not enough capacity... even if it work with stock screen.

despite that cons, having this working screen is a nice mod.

 

[ital]

the first LCD backlights for Gameboy that involved replacing the reflective film from the screen and it would mess up 9/10 times.

*shudders* what a crazy time in modding that was though, so much fun. And even more stress. All for a slightly more playable screen.

Back to the WS:

I often suspect Nintendo had Gunpei clipped for daring to leave and then go into direct competition with them. Yamuchi certainly seemed gangster enough to do it even though the net says this is a "conspiracy theory".

I've never had a WS, what are the best games on there? Esp unique experiences.

 

[SDA]

I've never had a WS, what are the best games on there? Esp unique experiences.

Many. Digimon, Final Fantasy, Mega Man & Bass: Challengers from the Future, etc.

 

[ital]

Sounds a lot like other titles done better elsewhere...