Neo Geo X console mod

Speedy78

Hi there I recently bought a modded Neo Geo X console shell complete with a Raspberry Pi 3 inside. My issue is I intermittently get the dreaded ‘lightning bolt’ sign - which I know means the pi is underpowered.
I have read elsewhere that the problem lies in the poor quality splitter which directs power to not only the pi but also to the usb at the top of the board (which I understand powers the usb inputs on the front of the console). Please see picture.
I really don’t like the thought of the pi being underpowered but cannot fathom how best to fix it. I could get a proper pi plug and power the pi directly, and maybe cut a hole in the case for access, but am concerned I will lose the power to the USB ports on the front of the console if I do this.
I am currently using a 5v PSP power supply which plugs into the back of the console. This is a bit loose and sometimes cuts out so ideally want to replace that somehow too.
Would be hugely grateful if anyone could suggest a step by step solution to the above as I am not especially technical. I can do some soldering if need be, I just need clear, simple instruction lol. Thanks very much to anyone willing to help.

lostless

@speedy78 The PSP power supply is only 2A. Pi3 can use up to 2.5A, and with a USB hub, a little extra OOMF couldn't hurt. But 2.5A is minimum. Buy one with the proper plug. You can still use it without drilling.
BUT, i say just manually wire the whole thing. If youre comfortable with cutting traces and removing the lid from the plug in box. Just think of inputs and outputs.
Gert rid of the probably cheap adaptors with thin wires. We need to push as much electrons as possible. LOL
Tap off the main power plug from the circuit board inside that box and run to the pis power. The original wire can stay if you still want to keep the usb hub connected, just don't use the power plug from that octopus of a harness. Keep the harness for power to the usb hub.
This part is optional if the ports work fine over the hub, but for best performance, don't use the USB hub. You will have to cut traces to disconnect the USB ports from the hub board, but run wires directly to the ports from the USB ports from the pi. This will be up to you.
Lastly, you can add a power button circuit. But that's also up to you
Also, why did you remove the physical USB ports on the pi? They can be useful, like hiding a USB stick for your roms.

Speedy78

@lostless hi thank you very much for the reply, much appreciated. Yeah if it was down to me I would have kept the usbs on the pi, I think the modder who I bought it from removed them so the wires wouldn’t be bent at an angle once in the case. I do appreciate your reply but am afraid I got a little lost in it, am not that technically advanced unfortunately lol. You are right, my first step to fix this is to get a proper Pi 3 plug for the board to get it properly powered. Do I then run the wire from the pi directly to the plug, avoiding the presumably power-sapping usb hub? If so will need to drill a hole for it I think? Once the pi is connected to a proper plug how exactly do I ensure the USB ports are still powered? Am afraid the ‘cutting traces’ part of your reply left me a little confused as to what I need to do. I truly am a bit of a noob with all this this lol. Thanks again for help, very good of you.

lostless

@speedy78 @ruckage did the exact mod I’m talking about without me even looking at what he did. Lol. As far as the power supply, you just need a 5v with 2.5A (2500mA) or higher. If you can find one with the plug on the neo geo (or mod your own) it will work. As far as the usb hub, it doesn’t use much power. If it’s working, you can leave it in circuit. I’ve just had better luck with power getting to certain devices when not using a hub.
Anyway, here is the link to his version of the mod.
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/10806/neo-geo-x-build

Speedy78

@lostless ok thankyou will investigate the new power supply! Thankyou for your help. @ruckage that modded neo geo looks superb! Exactly what I would like to do but fear I lack the skills. How did it all turn out in the end, am interested to know.