PSPi Version 2.0 - Raspberry Pi Zero in a PSP - Project is Now Complete!

johnweland

Awesome work dude, I'm hoping to undertake something like this soon. Wermy over at http://sudomod.com built a Pi Zero Game Boy and shortly after a lot of his users started building custom PCB which saved on a lot of the wiring and such. It would be really cool to see someone make some PCB to the buttons, power, amp etc that you can just drop in the LCD and the pi zero and be on your way.

Again awesome job!

adamspc

@johnweland
It's funny you say that. I've been working on designing a PCB that would connect to the PSP's FPC cable and that would include the power-on and low-battery circuits, avoiding the hardest parts of the build.

Would anyone out there be interested in buying one if I have them made?

johnweland

yeah what are you thinking the price out will be?

johnweland

Heck it would be really cool to be able to make the hdmi and usb accessible from the bottom so you could 'dock' it and play on a large TV with a controller, when its docked

adamspc

@johnweland
It's hard to say. There is a US based PCB maker I've been wanting to try out whose prices seem reasonable. Then I've gotta add at least a few dollars worth of components. I'll update the page once I get some prototypes made and have a better idea of what cost will be. I expect to spend a decent amount of time and money on the prototypes.

I thought about the HDMI too. The HDMI port on my build is pressed right against the thin bottom plastic on the case, so I think it would be doable and would just require some dremel work.

johnweland

Dude I am stoked, I wanted to go a GBA build but it lacks the extra buttons. The only thing this is missing is some how making the trigger buttons and you could play 99% of the games out there that the Zero can emulate.

UGH sooo stoked.

Admittedly I'm a bit of a PCB design noob but if you want ideas or a sounding board to bounce ideas off of, hmu

adamspc

@johnweland
I'm only slightly experienced in PCB design. What is taking me weeks to design would probably take another person hours.
I appreciate the offer to bounce things off of you. I might just take you up on that. If you head over to my site we can start some discussions in the forum I just set up.

Also, the triggers on this PSPi already work.

johnweland

I thought the PSP only had the bumpers and not the triggers (l1/l2, r1/r2 )

I'll head over the your site and forums now, do you want to start the thread or shall I? (probably better if you do)

adamspc

@johnweland
Yea it's just got the one on each side, not the dual setup like the Xbox

I'm starting a discussion in the forum.

markyh444

@adamspc just for the record, I am totally interested in the pcb route if you are seriously considering designing one.

adamspc

@markyh444
It's official, I'm doing it. Too many people have asked so I can't say no. I hope to make it a group activity, so anyone with PCB design experience or anything helpful to add please visit the this forum to participate.

84TAVeRT

i would definitely buy a couple boards. i have 2 old dead psps that would make good donors :D

adamspc

@84TAVeRT Sounds good. All my focus is on designing the board right now.

adcraggles

@adamspc
Hi I've started the build, but haven't got to connecting the fpc cables to the pi yet.

Is it worth waiting for this pcb you're designing? Do you know timescales yet.

Thanks

adamspc

@adcraggles
It's hard to give a good estimate. I can say that once the design is finished it'll take a couple weeks to get it made and then it needs to be tested. I'm still at least a couple weeks from finishing the design, and some of the circuits are still being designed. I'll post an update when I have a better estimate.

adcraggles

@adamspc

Thanks mate,
I think I'll wait as I'm making 3, 2 for Xmas presents and 2 for myself.

Goodluck

adcraggles

@adcraggles 1 for myself I meant

adamspc

Hey guys, just updating to say I'm considering PSPi Version 2 to be complete. The custom PCB is being designed, and I'm planning to use it for Version 3. Follow along and get involved at my site.

adamspc

I made a Youtube video showing Version 2 in action.

obsidianspider

Wow, now I'm thinking that I may go this route for my portable instead of a Gameboy Advance. That's really slick.