Ben Heck Neo Geo Mini Teardown Part 1

[@DogRox]

This is great excellent! I'm glad to see Ben is back doing electronics and teardowns. Don't stop making them, Ben.... Your fans are still here! :-)

[@theinsanityunleashed]

Now *this* is how the Ben Heck show should be produced. Can't wait to see the next video!

[@letsnotplaywithelectricity9346]

You should do the opposite this time Ben... Turn it into a full size arcade cabinet!

[@josuelservin2409]

That would be awesome!

[@kandigloss6438]

This gave me an idea, maybe turn it into something that's portable but you can slot it into a full sized arcade cabinet.

[@thecaptain2281]

That would be great! Or maybe turn it into a full size console!

[@Tron08]

SwitchNK

[@Astinsan]

Yes!

[@willynebula6193]

Actually impressed with the quality of the board and the laidback style of this video welcome back ben

[@GroovyDrifter]

The Heck is Back!

[@IljaSara]

I came here to say this too. ^

[@psanangelo7326]

Thank Goodness!

[@mirabilis]

Holy Heck!

[@SharifSourour]

Yay!

[@charlesjmouse]

...and all is right with the world :-)

[@andywest5773]

I really like the level of detail in this video. It's nice to see every step. Can't wait for the next part!

[@KeMiZe44]

It`s a real improvement over the show, he does a real good job explaining his thought process and technique.

[@PuyoPuyoMan]

For those interested I real quick looked up the two chips on the board: the ATM7013 is as expected the CPU/GPU and interestingly enough is actually MIPS based (74Kf processor) rather than ARM and runs at 1.1GHz. The ATC2605 didn't have a nice convenient Wikipedia chart but I did find a datasheet that described it as an Audio/ Power management IC. Fun fact: according to it there's a 7.1 channel DAC inside, so who wants to do the surround sound mod? More relevantly it includes some power saving modes, I wonder if we could get into the Linux system if it'd be possible to program the device to support a sleep mode for portable applications? Just rambling thoughts.

[@beepboopboop]

The ATC2605 also has battery charging capability, so if they're using that for power management I don't really get why they couldn't slap in a Li-Ion cell and let the 2605 take care of it

[@bland9876]

@@beepboopboop costs

[@Anex952]

PuyoPuyoMan237 NEEEEEEEEEEEERRRD

[@kazriko]

Nice. I was just about to post the same info. The company that makes it only makes 2 MIPS based chips, and this happens to be the cheaper of the two. (They also make an array of ARM chips.)

[@rm2kdev]

Let's bring back the classic Ben heck before all the sponsors and bullshit :D

[@kbhasi]

I heard Ben will eventually move to another country and start a new show in collaboration with another YT channel, assuming everything goes as planned.

[@Davedarko]

@@kbhasi that was an April fools joke

[@Gigator]

I don't mind sponsors, everyone has to earn a living and that is a good way to do it. I just want Ben Heck style projects and not a bunch of random people teaching linux and electronic stuff. (Looking at you, "element14 Presents" renaming channel bullshit.)

[@mrburns366]

I hope Ben has made enough money to "retire" and just make projects on YT without getting a day job. That would be my goal.

[@sdyoungii]

I really like how you explain what you're doing and give background information such as how things came about or what you suspect might be happening as you work through your project. It's super interesting and gives me a lot of valuable information. The amount of information you shared on this project about not just what your are doing but the logic behind it really helps me to be able to apply the learning I did from this project to others that I might do on my own. Thanks!

[@thomasmathew13]

Yes! Ben Heck stuff!!

[@TatsuyaSN]

The "HI" on top of the screen in Magician Lord is really like that, "H" right bar is thinner!

[@andya2794]

seems they $%^&'d up....Ben would have done it right.

[@AwesomeGames56]

Thanks for sharing Ben! Fascinating to see the way it was held together. Can’t wait to see your spin on the portable!

[@tripplehelix]

This just showed up in my recommended feed! So glad I can continue to follow you and your tech.

[@DK-Design]

Ben, I'm glad YT suggested this video. I missed the videos where it was you and the viewer exploring, making and having a good time. I learned so much more this way.

[@andya2794]

Fantastic!!!....when I was 14 yrs. old I had a Atari 400....I wanted to play Ultima 1 on cassette....I ordered a 64K upgrade from some obscure magazine at the time and soldiered it in with some obscure instructions and it worked....this guy takes it all to the next, next, next, next level...watched your videos and it reminded me of this....Fantastic!!!!

[@andya2794]

it was a 48K expansion.....long time ago....:)

[@Tardisntimbits]

I just teared up a bit. Finding this video just cheered me up immensely. I'm so happy you will make videos like this on your own, even if only occasionally!

[@jtr159]

Holy shit it's Ben's own channel! This is like hanging out with your dad after your parents divorced and he no longer seems depressed and miserable. He buys you gifts and it's super awesome but secretly you're slightly worried because he no longer shaves and sometimes smells like booze and cheap cologne.

[@garystinten9339]

Yeah but mum was sucking the life out of him with. Her endless endeavor to be "wealthy" and dad didn't want a bar of it.

[@Candicatta2862]

@@garystinten9339 l

[@Candicatta2862]

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[@Candicatta2862]

@@garystinten9339 Ĺl

[@MichielHaisma]

Ben is back! Yeaaaah!! Also, it surprised me how much detail went into this little thing. The custom molded cable connectors, tiny stereo speakers, the ports are all aligned on the same horizontal plane.

[@spud4242]

back to his roots!! nice work Ben!

[@burkezillar]

You sound so much happier in this video than you did in the last year of the old show. Glad you're back.

[@mattsadventureswithart5764]

Masterpiece. A work showing that the practitioner is a master of the art. Can be many pieces showing this.

[@seanmchughnt]

So good seeing you back doing what made your channel so fascinating in the first place.

[@JasperRubinCode]

I forgot how much I loved these types of videos, great to have you back Ben!

[@crasheffort]

Ben Heck is still the man. You don't need editors and a production team to do some top tier nerdy projects. Thanks for being you.

[@funxiobolic]

Glad to see that you're still making videos and working with electronics and making portables!

[@konkobas]

Classic Benheck portable videos! Takes me back. More of these Ben! Love your work!

[@DarkAvatar1313]

Glad to see the old Ben back! I stopped watching the show because it seemed to become too corporate scripted to me, but this video was more like your original videos that I liked.

[@Daver2212]

Please I love the Heck, don't you leave us again like that, was so scared for a few months! Glad to see you still doing these things, love them!

[@niiiiiiisse]

"heheheh, 420 man" I like this style of content better than TBHS, tbh ^^

[@YourMotherSucksCocksInHell]

You mean E14P.

[@NASIRUB1]

I like it as well, it reminds me of when he first started on KZbin back then.

[@tedfondak5206]

Great format, Ben! Awesome to see you back at the bench!

[@EpicLPer]

This channel is already 500 times better than the old rebranded one 👌

[@thelasttankmage]

Glad to see a new project from you Ben! Hope we get more projects like this from time to time.

[@masterrugg22]

Good too see you back you do great work and happy to watch anything you make or design

[@videogameobsession]

I actually owned a Neo•Geo Gold System (AES + 2 arcade sticks + Baseball Stars Pro) at launch in 1990. The price for the Gold system was $550, and the price of the Silver (1 arcade stick and no game) was $399. I worked my butt off too save up for it and loved it. Worth every penny!

[@wolvenar]

These hacks have certainly changed over the years. So many pre made "Lego" pieces now. Nice to see you again Ben.

[@Rickmakes]

Raw Heck! Can't wait for part too.

[@MichaelAStanhope]

Glad to see you back to your old self Ben. This is what we want to see, hacking things up and reassembling them properly 😂!

[@FezTheSpaceBiker]

The Neo Geo CD gamepad had that square button layout like the Mini, except for some reason the Mini itself and even the pads swapped B and C around for no good reason, plus the game pads have analog sticks instead of the clicky sticks they're known for. Also, Pretty sure that screen is 1 to 1, Magician Lord's HUD font is just like that.

[@DJlegionuk]

It' so good to see you taking something apart Ben, I missed your movie and song quotes too.

[@seshpenguin]

The fact you can get into a terminal is pretty awesome actually, opens up so many possibilities!

[@vickymostwanted]

Man... Waited literally MONTHS to see this guy again! The Heck is Back, baby! #HeckIsBack

[@TheCasualCreator1]

Soo happy to see your back bud. I have been a fan for such a long time. Keep the good stuff coming

[@RebrandSoon0000]

Ben Heck, glad you're back! Lots of love from us.

[@Gohan1138]

bro what ? man oh man this cool , glad to see u back Ben such a treat so just watch those steady hands go to work

[@Nesformers]

Glad to have you back on your own terms Ben, this is the style of video that I know and come for.

[@Legerine]

We love you Ben! I hope you can get some more camera angles in later on. I love watching you work.

[@-TheRetroAddict-]

man i used to hace a Neo Geo cab back in the day . Got it for free! wish i still had it! awesome vid!

[@rtesimpson]

Keep up the excellent videos Ben!...Love watching your stuff!

[@TheJoonbug]

Absolutely love these videos of Ben making handhelds and the likes, thank you so much for making this, hope we see more :D

[@jonathan__g]

I am so happy to see more of your stuff Ben! Can't wait to see part 2!

[@Asobitech]

Looking forward to you putting a decent digital joystick on the NeoGeo Mini, hopefully a microswitched one. With the scaling of the screen, I think it's actually fine, and they're using a high enough resolition scree. The two different sides of the H is just the font they used rather than bad uneven scaling.

[@MasterNix]

Yay, new benheck video. It always interesting to watch you do something new AND old.

[@patjackmanesq]

Delighted to find this channel! Heck, yeah!

[@GingerBeker]

Finally is back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We love you Ben!!!!!!

[@SelfIndulgentGamer]

This is great news. Glad you haven't retired all together : )

[@mushroomsamba82]

great to see ben getting back to his roots, I'm loving it!

[@onebeartoe]

I am so glad you are back, Ben!

[@XTronical]

Saw this as a you tube suggestion, great to see you back Ben and doing what ever you want, great stuff, your content is great, don't need all those fancy pantsy production stuff and kit. This just needs promoting more, bet you very soon get 100k subs.

[@erniesdeck7550]

Very happy to see you doing what you do best! This video made me smile.

[@00AOD]

That Magician Lord is the AES version unfortunately. The AES home version had the intro and checkpoints instead of the MVS drop you where you died with your progress. The version on the mini is pretty disappointing then. Supposed to be a MVS arcade mock-up, but using AES Roms.

[@jronco2]

im glad you still do videos i really like stuff you do its always awesome

[@ACPandStuff]

I 100% needed this :) Life without Ben isn't life at all.

[@ituxcoza]

Ben is back! Back again!! Mondays are worth living again!

[@WJCTechyman]

Great to see you back on KZbin, Ben!

[@emmettturner9452]

That Neo Geo logo was used on AES and MVS games from the start in Japan, though we in North America rarely saw it before Neo Geo CD landed, unless you were importing Japanese copies and saw it on the box/manual.

[@allluckyseven]

"I had it on my amazon cart so many times..." Oh how can I relate to that! xD

[@Kenjic]

Was sad to see the last build project on element14, but man im happy you are posting videos on your main channel again. Def will watch.

[@RAMChYLD]

I took the liberty of looking the two ICs up. The primary IC is an Actions Semiconductor ATM7013 MIPS CPU (yeah, not ARM). The secondary IC, ATC2605, is the PMU and audio codec.

[@SionynJones]

That's a really crappy chip for $100.

[@RAMChYLD]

Sionyn Jones well, for what it’s worth, the MIPS platform has been host to a number of emulators including Neo Geo ones. One wonders if the platform was picked because it’s cheap to license, well documented, and has had been a host to many emulators, especially Neo Geo emulators, for years, meaning the emulators on the platform is probably very stable by now. I remember installing a Neo Geo emulator on my Dingoo (remember that?) over a decade ago. And even at that time, the emulator was actually running really smoothly on such weak hardware, the only issue being audio emulation was inaccurate.

[@KuraIthys]

@@RAMChYLD Not just emulators. Both the Playstation and N64 are MIPS based systems. (older versions of the architecture obviously). The N64 doubly so given that it's a MIPS R4300 CPU combined with second, modified MIPS R4300 core (the modifications being the removal of it's FPU to add a vector processing unit instead, and that it shares the same die with a DSP that contains fixed function 3d graphics features.) Certainly would be a reasonably good choice as the basis for emulating a couple of different systems. It actually makes me wonder what Nintendo will use for the rumoured n64 mini, because I have a feeling the 400 mhz ARM core they've been using in the NES and SNES minis won't cut it for emulating an N64... For that matter what is the mini playstation internally?

[@RAMChYLD]

KuraIthys the ironic thing is that the PSOne Mini is pretty much confirmed to be running an ARM CPU at this point since the emulation core is rumored to be based on PCSX ReArmed. Of course, we don’t really know for sure until the device finally appears on store shelves.

[@KuraIthys]

@@RAMChYLD hehe. That is kind of ironic. You never can tell why companies make the decisions they do. I guess some solutions are just cheaper/simpler than others. I mean, when you think about Nintendo's minis, you could be forgiven for wondering why they didn't attempt to build a PowerPC based system - after all that would likely have allowed them to re-use whatever emulators they wrote for the Wii - For that matter, while that may be too costly in some ways, they could perhaps have created a Wii on a chip, in which case by virtue of what already existed for the virtual console, that would have given them pre-existing NES, SNES and N64 emulators (as well as Sega Master System, Mega Drive, TurboGraphX 16, Neo Geo, and technically even c64 emulation. - plus, if the system is technically a Wii internally it would have allowed gamecube and Wii minis on top of everything.) Of course, perhaps that solution is just too expensive in terms of what the hardware costs, but it certainly would have been an option. Instead they went with an ARM system and presumably wrote entirely new emulators for it... You have to wonder sometimes why companies make the choices they do. (For instance, when nearly everything on the market like this is running an ARM core, here's the Neo Geo with a MIPS core instead. When Nintendo could've killed a dozen birds with one stone using a cost reduced Wii chipset, they instead use an ARM core... I'm sure there's good reasons for these decisions, but superficially, it still looks pretty weird. XD)

[@jd52wtf]

Wait wait.... Ben is doing his own thing now?! Love it!

[@Ultravore]

omg Ben Heck still exists!!! So glad I found this channel. :D

[@spicydeath82]

sweet. had no clue ben was doing this stuff still. glad i found this.

[@theslvrbullt]

Oh, how I missed thee, Ben. Can't wait to see the finished portable!

[@TheDutyPaid]

Very watchable unlike that other channel.

[@BrentWilliams2]

This is just so great. I've been missing these!

[@DrBagPhD]

How I'd missed you, Ben. Subscribed!

[@shanelatondress9259]

Woooooo Hoooooooo!!!! Nothing like the smell of solder melting! Welcome back!

[@vorenge]

So excited! So FREAKIN' excited to seen Ben back!

[@MoarFoam]

Great to have you back Ben!!! And about the weird colors of the international Neo Geo mini... At 0:54 that color scheme was never in America. The Neo Geo candy cabs looked exactly like that but it was a Japan exclusive back in the day...

[@damwaterthomas1980]

You inspire me to enjoy the Raspberry Pi and learned to preciate electronics nowadays.

[@CNC-Time-Lapse]

Man, I wish Ben had his own channel where he did this kind of stuff full time. That would be great. :)

[@TheArmoredGarage]

It's so great to see a new video from you Ben!

[@ramonster163]

Yes! Ben Heck is back! I hope this channel is going to explode! Not literally, that would be silly.

[@RetroHQ]

Good to see you back, and bonus points for correct ZX pronunciation -- us brits are picky. ;) Looking forward to seeing the result, you always do nice case work.

[@emmettturner9452]

Proper MCS cabinets with the memory card slot and headphone jacks were stereo... and not just for the headphone jack! There was a switch that converted the JAMMA connector between their non-standard stereo and standard mono JAMMA output. You only wanted it set to stereo in a proper MVS cabinet, of course.

[@GBNE-kh1fs]

Cool video! - love the new feel of the show!!

[@djsmith3000]

YES! So glad to see you back

[@Sharklops]

I completely agree about USB-C attracting pocket lint at a crazy rate. It becomes an issue as the port seems incredibly sensitive to whether the male end is plugged in completely. The smallest amount of lint keeps the charger on my LG-G6 from going in that last tiny bit, and results in it often being limited to slow charging mode.

[@BrentBlueAllen]

I'm glad to see you didn't leave your favorite pair of tweezers behind on the set of TBHS.

[@DigitalCoffee-OG]

Glad to see ya back Ben!!!

[@emmettturner9452]

4 buttons arranged the way you suggest in portrait orientation would not allow you to press many combinations with one thumb. This is why the Neo Geo CD gamepad had the SNES-style arrangement. They screwed that up with the Mini by changing what was what within that arrangement, presumably for King of Fighters players.

[@davidsiemers196]

The man, the myth, THE LEGEND IS BACK!

[@AdamChristensen]

Hobby mode, activated! Good to see you doing some relaxed hacks at home! 😁

[@AirborneSurfer]

Can't keep a good hacker down! Welcome back to the Tube, Ben!

[@moosemaimer]

"I wish I had three hands." Well, then get your ass to Mars.

[@Dekkia_]

I'm really happy seeing a Video from you again!

[@1903tx]

Clicky thumbsticks is very hard to make

[@markomadic9234]

He-hey, an MJR fan :) For those still wondering, that was the exact response from an SNK rep to MetalJesusRocks in response to asking about clicky thumbsticks.

[@YourMotherSucksCocksInHell]

*FatJesus

[@bruwin]

@@YourMotherSucksCocksInHell No need to be rude.

[@Vintiqueture]

@@markomadic9234 yep, I'm sure he was referring to that haha

[@YourMotherSucksCocksInHell]

@Morgan Not rude, just stating facts.

[@kulgan96]

Felt like watching Bob Ross paint, nice and calm almost fell asleep, in a good way

[@nullwii]

Glad to see ben is back in action!

[@domramsey]

Really enjoy the simple format of this. Even more than TBHS.

[@zackrose6019]

So glad to hear your voice. that show just fails without you.