Hardware GBATemp: What's your opinion of these GBA's that some sellers are mass-modding and selling on eBay?

[MrCatFace]

They all use repo shells (And repo screens for the most part). Same thing really.

Also modding it yourself is WAY more fun and cheaper than buying one.

 

[The Frenchman]

I made my own and then made some to sell on ebay for about half the price of most. about a hundred dollars, we had leftover GBA AGS101 screens from light blue units, these have a faulty shell and will dry out and crack for no reason...

depending on the original GBA board you sometime have more ghosting and also sometime no additional soldering is required but most of the time you need to solder few wires. It's enough of a job to be worth about a hundred dollars, I see some posted for $200/$250 ridiculous.

 

[element6]

I see some posted for $200/$250 ridiculous.

Yep.. Like this one.. AGS-101 mod plus rechargeable battery mod: $200

He didn't even install an accessible charger port on the outside of the shell.

 

[MrCatFace]

Yep.. Like this one.. AGS-101 mod plus rechargeable battery mod: $200

I dont see why your complaining. They target the uninformed. Its cheaper to build one yourself. The only case I could see one going for that price is a custom paint job.

 

[The Frenchman]

I personally use an old AC adapter plus something that plugs into the battery port to power it through the "charger" it's official stuff.

 

[Bazahazano]

Man, that is an awesome video. Thanks for taking the time to share that with everyone!

Can you tell me which 12v driver board that is or is that one of BennVenn's?

I used this one https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Micro-12...ark-ImmersionRC-FPV-CAM-orangeRX/191664601519

 

[element6]

I dont see why your complaining.

I have not not made any complaints in this thread.

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

I used this one https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Micro-12...ark-ImmersionRC-FPV-CAM-orangeRX/191664601519

Thanks again Was just curious what the specs were. Yours came out looking awesome!

 

[Flame]

i recently brought one off ebay... so recent it hasnt arrived yet. but it was either buying one which is already done or solder one and the big chance of messing up.

 

[Bazahazano]

Thanks again Was just curious what the specs were. Yours came out looking awesome!

Thanks!!

It cost me all together £80 ($112) I could of got one ready done from china from Aliexpress but I wanted the challenge to build myself and I don't have the patience to wait for parts to come from china so I got local stock witch added around an extra £20.
I am lucky to have access to solder stations, microscopes, cleaning tanks and a few wires and resistors from work.
I think some of the prices for ready modded systems are justified, not everyone is capable do it
It was the first one I have modded and it took me around 4 hours.

 

[element6]

I think some of the prices for ready modded systems are justified, not everyone is capable do it

I agree. Depending on the model it's going into it looks like it can get pretty complicated to get it perfect.

 

[The Frenchman]

I agree. Depending on the model it's going into it looks like it can get pretty complicated to get it perfect.

Abselutely, there are models which require to solder wires directly on the screen converter ribbon's pin and then power cables to the board and also ground to some connectors above the cartridge slot. It's not an easy job. Just scraping the plastic tabs inside to get the screen flush and if you aren't cautious and don't scrape enough plastic you end up with a lens that's always unsticking because the board presses too much on the screen and bends the front shell of the GBA, I understand why people chargem but stores will pay GBAs dirt cheap and most of the time people don't know AGS-101 are any special... I sold mine $125 CAD and made a decent profit.

 

[Flame]

so mine came which i talked about, and this is how it looks like.

very happy with it, no flaws which i see with it.

 

[astrangeone]

• What are your buying points?

Console has to have original buttons and the button "mesh". I hate "sticky"/"laggy" buttons on hardware and I will go out of my way to avoid it. I also don't buy translucent/clear shells (these age terribly and they look like ass after a while), and it means that I'm stuck with solid coloured shells.

• What do you look for in an AGB-001 that really makes you want to throw your hard earned money at one?

1) Stock buttons, stock button mesh, good screens.
2) Shell swap OR an improved battery.
3) Screen protectors/anti-scratch stuff.

• What price do you feel is fair for your ideal AGB-001 (described above)?

I paid about $100 here on GBAtemp for a red unit. I'd pay that again for a modded one, but then again, half of my gaming stuff is on my 3DS.

• How do you feel about the sellers who include a SuperCard miniSD flashcart with the GBA (or similar), filled with the complete game collection?

I really don't mind this. It makes gaming much easier and more enjoyable than trying to track down some older games/cartridges.

• Does the inclusion of certain accessories with the GBA motivate your purchase?

Mostly a new or improved battery, backlit screens and maybe a few chargers (dear Nintendo, why does everything need to be "yours"?)

 

[Essometer]

I don't mind those seller at all. In fact, I build some GBAs just to sell them on ebay myself. I used a aftermarket shell and
a reproduction screen. In my opinion the shell was lower quality as the original, but not that much lower. Also, the
reproduction screen had no ghosting at all and for me looked even better than the GBA-101 screen.

Not all people have the time or skill to do it them self and the thread where those mods are explained are often filled
with people who just want to buy it pre-made. I just liked to build it and made a few bucks, the people who bought were
happy, so and don't agree with OPs points.

Also, 101 are getting rarerer, so if you consider to mod a GBA yourself, don't dismember a working 101.
From my experience, the reproduction screens are cheaper and work as well if not better.

 

[SomeGuy4Twenty]

so mine came which i talked about, and this is how it looks like.

very happy with it, no flaws which i see with it.

Hey, where did you buy it from? I wanted to buy one pre-built (I don't have the knowledge or the time to get the knowledge to make one) from either this guy or this guy but Im really skeptical about all this stuff.
Also how has it been playing with it? Does it still work?

 

[Flame]

Hey, where did you buy it from? I wanted to buy one pre-built (I don't have the knowledge or the time to get the knowledge to make one) from either this guy or this guy but Im really skeptical about all this stuff.
Also how has it been playing with it? Does it still work?

i brought it from here https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Game-Boy-Advance-Console-w-AGS-101-Backlight-Backlit-Mod-Switch-GBA-Console/382306196093?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

works perfect. was cheaper when i brought from they.

i love my backlit GBA.

 

[emuman100]

I would never buy any of that sort. NEVER! First, these jackwagons buy the limited stock of GBAs en masse. This is a problem, because it further reduces the stock and drives up the price for the enthusiasts. I'm not rich, neither are most enthusiasts. Secondly, they use shitty parts, often knowingly and still sell for over inflated prices. Thirdly, and most infuriating is the shitty workmanship. Most of these are 20-somethings and 30-somethings with little to no background in electronics and poor soldering skill. They have their liberal arts and non-technical degrees from college, if they do have college education, talking like they know it all and selling their crappy GBAs as if a seasoned electrical engineer or licensed amateur radio operator did the work.

In the lazy and throw-away society we have today, no one wants to put forth the energy and effort to learn something technical and attempt it on their own. In a society whose members are utterly dependent on technology, it's absolutely appalling the amount of technological ignorance that exists today. These scummy resellers prey on this, and some unfortunately make a lot of money. This practice takes the GBAs out of the community and holds them for ransom, often for shitty workmanship. If you are one of those scummy resellers offended by this, then go pound sand!

 

[bitoriginal]

I find this thread a bit odd in all honesty. It makes complete sense that people who don't have the time/skills are going to pay for a modded GBA on Ebay or Etsy, as it massively enhances the original experience. Add a flash cart and you're good to go. On the flip side, a modded GBA is pretty easy thing to make for people who do have the skills. Granted, the skill level will vary amongst these sellers therefore a buyer must make a sensible buying decision.

Most of the prices for the systems have an understandable markup, lets say £20-30 which seems fair for the amount of time it takes to build a modded GBA. From a cost perspective, it's around £20-30 for the original system, £30 for a screen, £10 for a shell, maybe another £5-10 for some coloured buttons and glass screen. That's a cost price of circa £70. Most of these modded GBA's are on sale for about £100 - you might pay a premium for some sellers with a good reputation or those who add additional mods like an amp and new speaker.

Where we do have an issue is with the AGS101 mods, where the majority are going to be 40pin with type B cables , that almost always have interlacing issues and look sub-par because the cable bypasses the potentiometer removing the ability to calibrate the screen. I think many people would be bothered by a poorly calibrated AGS101 screen only to be told it's because it's a cheap chinese modern replacement screen. That just isn't true - it's the type B cables that aren't good.

The new IPS V2 screens look much better out of the box and don't have the variability of an AGS101 install. Personally I don't like them over the AGS101, but for most people they look great and have brightness control basically built in. Anyone buying from a seller who hasn't soldered 3 cables for the brightness control will be missing out - but this is where you need to do a modicum of research before buying.

 

[Shadow_The_Hedgehog82]

I mean no disrespect to the seller, honestly. He clearly busts his butt churning out fistfuls of modded GBA's every day. It has to be a ridiculous amount of work. I am just seeking to compare and see other's opinions on them. You have the AliExpress options, which.. yes, look great as presented when they are all brand new and fresh out of the box, but I have seen numerous people complain that the plastic is cheap, buttons stick, glass screen is low quality, etc. It's a case of "You get what you pay for." Like anything else.

Then you have one-off's from Rose Colored Gaming and other specialty shops, with very high quality components, one-off parts, extremely skilled and careful installations, etc. These ones demand higher (sometimes insane) price-tags, but they are clearly of a different caliber.

I think its good theres sellers doing this if people are happy to pay these prices its fine. especially with sps the plastic used in those has started turning brittle and itll shatter with very little force its better someone is buying them up and replacing the shells than some poeple throwing them away because the plastic has shattered.

 

[Shadow_The_Hedgehog82]

I would never buy any of that sort. NEVER! First, these jackwagons buy the limited stock of GBAs en masse. This is a problem, because it further reduces the stock and drives up the price for the enthusiasts. I'm not rich, neither are most enthusiasts. Secondly, they use shitty parts, often knowingly and still sell for over inflated prices. Thirdly, and most infuriating is the shitty workmanship. Most of these are 20-somethings and 30-somethings with little to no background in electronics and poor soldering skill. They have their liberal arts and non-technical degrees from college, if they do have college education, talking like they know it all and selling their crappy GBAs as if a seasoned electrical engineer or licensed amateur radio operator did the work.

In the lazy and throw-away society we have today, no one wants to put forth the energy and effort to learn something technical and attempt it on their own. In a society whose members are utterly dependent on technology, it's absolutely appalling the amount of technological ignorance that exists today. These scummy resellers prey on this, and some unfortunately make a lot of money. This practice takes the GBAs out of the community and holds them for ransom, often for shitty workmanship. If you are one of those scummy resellers offended by this, then go pound sand!

the console sold like 80mill units thats like half original half sp, I could maybe understand this complaint if its about micros which are actually quite rare but normal and sp are in abundance