Building a new Toploader NES in 2023! Opentendo Toploader build guide and demonstration

Thanks to PCBway for sponsoring this video! www.pcbway.com/ We recently received a Toploader NES that was destroyed by a failed mod attempt. Instead of giving up and throwing it in the trash, we used Redherring32's new Opentendo Toploader project to resurrect this console with a brand new open source NES motherboard! This project opens up all sorts of interesting possibilities, including the ability to convert a Frontloader NES into a Toploader!
Check out 1uprestorations.com for more video game console repairs and mods!
Links:
github.com/Redherring32/OpenT...
Bill of Materials:
github.com/Redherring32/OpenT...
Parts that can be sourced from an NES (Frontloader or Toploader):
DAN601 x 2 diode arrays
UPA64H x 2 diode arrays
2SA937 transistor
2SC2021 transistor
CPU
PPU
Parts that can be sourced from a Toploader:
Controller ports, cartridge port, reset button, power switch, and T1 coil
**Working on sourcing modern replacements for these parts**
Music:
Bucky O'Hare (NES)
Target Renegade (NES)
Gimmick (Famicom)
Batman (NES)
Gradius II (Famicom)
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[@whatsupdot1]

Just want to say your channel inspired me to build a NESessity out of parts from an old rusted NES. It works like a charm! Thanks so much for these vids! They're incredibly inspiring

[@LIRetroGaming]

Really glad to hear that! It’s a wonderful feeling to see one working for the first time after you spent many hours building it. Thanks again for the support’

[@douro20]

@@LIRetroGaming NESessity shows up in Google searches as a recording artist!

[@stevenbenson9976]

@@LIRetroGaming just wondering why the decision was made to copy the American to loader and not the Japanese with the av improvement. Seems like a natural fit to me

[@joshmiller887]

I built the Opentendo front loader. I love it and maybe it’s just a placebo effect from building it with new components, but I swear the image looks better on screen than it did before I rebuilt it 😊

[@LIRetroGaming]

Great to hear that you made one as well! I have mine setup in my gaming room and it gets a lot of play time

[@Artsyca]

When I was a kid I wanted a Nintendo so bad, I dreamed of building my own.

[@LIRetroGaming]

And now you can!

[@chrisdaun]

Awesome project! Any chance the developer of this project would consider a redesign to include the AV circuits from the front loader instead of the RF out?

[@R3TR0R4V3]

Yaasss. RF is a waste of time IMHO, especially nowadays.

[@LIRetroGaming]

It should be possible. I am making a follow up video about it soon

[@Y2Kxx]

From my understanding, the purpose of the OpenTendo project is to document the hardware of early Nintendo consoles, including their various revisions. Based on this, a OpenTendo Front-loader based on the AV Famicom is something I'd expect to see done, if it isn't already being worked on.

[@devikwolf]

Whoa, way cool! Gonna have to build one of these once I'm finished with my two current rebuilds...

[@gamebriz4163]

Nice build👍

[@Turtle_1976]

Now you have me excited for the final version! I ended up with a dead and totally corroded Toploader, so this is the perfect project to put into that shell.

[@LIRetroGaming]

It should be released soon! Hopefully in another week or two!

[@Breene4422]

Enjoyed watching this one!

[@npenplz]

I am absolutely hooked on your videos, it's always super cool seeing someone who knows what they're talking about explain or build things

[@LIRetroGaming]

Awesome, thank you! Really appreciate that

[@jeremywright4591]

awesome as usual

[@RetroSho]

Woo! Finally complete! Glad to see that it's working sans a few hiccups!! Eventually my boards will come in, and I can bother ya and Red with questions, hah! Can't wait to see your NESRGB mod on the official release. 😎

[@LIRetroGaming]

Absolutely! Let me know when it arrives and I can help!

[@ScruffyLookinRGB]

Me too!😲

[@MundoNintend0]

This channel is wonderful and my Fridays make me happy when there is a new video, I congratulate you brother for this great project, you are a tremendous technician.

[@LIRetroGaming]

Thanks so much for the support! Really glad you enjoy these videos every week

[@jakebello7988]

You cast a resurrection spell on this NES! Your work is just incredible!

[@R3TR0R4V3]

Awesome! That reminds me.. I do have a front loader I could try to salvage parts from, but finding modern replacements would be nice. Can't wait to see the finalized version. 😎

[@LIRetroGaming]

Thanks! I should have more updates soon

[@garfieldepicmoments]

Definitely an interesting project, and it seems like it would be useful for people with destroyed PCBs. I think that it would be neat to see a similar design but with AV outputs and with the PCB layout changed to avoid the jailbars (so basically a combination between the top loader and AV famicom).

[@LIRetroGaming]

Yes, it should be possible it edit the design and add native composite video instead. I will have an update on this project that adds many more video options to the opentendo toploadrr

[@AlexanderFarley]

Nice, might have to give this a shot

[@RyogaXvX]

Brilliant!

[@MortenAalling]

love the video. some day iam gona try and build one my self

[@coffeecuparcade]

Sweet project! I love the idea of new hardware replacing old defective hardware and harvesting everything you can off of a board. 10/10 for that. You went above and beyond to reuse so much, that's the way! Good to see that top loader back up and running, I have one as well but the AV Famicom version. If you ask anyone that knows me, I secretly love the NES more than anything haha. I have 16 various consoles from around the world, love collecting clones as well. Fun times!

[@LIRetroGaming]

Yeah I am the same as you, I love the NES!

[@rubenmejia4881]

Excellent video would love to see it with future updates

[@LIRetroGaming]

Definitely! Some more updates are coming soon!

[@DORGINATOR]

I've held onto my dead toploader for several years. Looking forward to this.

[@philipboggs3372]

Great video as always! One of these days I'd like to try and build something like this myself.

[@LIRetroGaming]

It’s challenging, but definitely rewarding to see it work for the first time

[@philipboggs3372]

I don't know if I'd actually want to build a NES since I have an AV Famicom and a Twin Famicom that are both in really good shape but some of the Commodore 64 stuff I see looks really tempting.

[@shanewilliammartins]

Very cool!

[@Ps1l0c]

Thank god for this thing. Just like your example unit I'm someone who totally tore up his toploader motherboard doing an RGB mod. Can't wait to fix it with this

[@LIRetroGaming]

Don’t forget, this project is also still pretty challenging and you will need to remove a lot of components off of that Toploader motherboard. But Yes, you could potentially bring it back to life

[@Ps1l0c]

@@LIRetroGaming ha yeah well I have improved somewhat since then, mainly in learning to be much more patient!

[@ScruffyLookinRGB]

Great video as always i cant wait to make one of these with a famicom.

[@LIRetroGaming]

You will enjoy it! It’s a fun project

[@OMundodosRetroGames]

I hope the NESsecity gets an Top Loader version!

[@retro_boy_advance]

oh wow, this is great. I would love to use this to help resurrect my old Famicoms

[@LIRetroGaming]

It should be possible with this project, although it is a challenging build

[@thegametinkerer]

I really enjoy your videos. I think these consoles are awesome. It looks like they will last forever.

[@LIRetroGaming]

I certainly hope that they do!

[@richardheckmann1892]

So cool

[@draconic5129]

Super excited to see the Opentendo toploader in action, yeah it's not exactly ready yet but still pretty cool nonetheless.

[@LIRetroGaming]

All of the issues that I discussed as a beta tester have now been fixed, and I will have a follow up video soon where I add RGB

[@supercool3544]

very nice!

[@groom_of_the_stool]

One day they'll do this with the SNES and I'll be ready.

[@LIRetroGaming]

I would love to build one of those as well

[@mariopic]

o god need one of these boards my flood damaged toploader has been sitting striped for years

[@LIRetroGaming]

Should be released soon!

[@mariopic]

can i pre order

[@_BELMONT_]

great video! in the future it would be great to provide a list of the components required to purchase before hand. no need for links but maybe just a list of the components for those of us who cant read schematics! thanks for another great video!

[@LIRetroGaming]

Yes, I plan to do that when it’s released

[@someonesusingmyname]

Amazing work as always. Not to nitpick, but in case you weren't aware the music that you had cued up for the part where you soldered in the cartridge slot was accidentally laid over you talking right before it and the soldering part has no music. Doesn't affect the video in any way. I'll watch this any day regardless haha.

[@JOEL6780]

I can't wait

[@drewtheelephant511]

Does the 3rd release of this PCB address the trace issues you ran into? love the videos. been keeping an eye on this for a while. excited to possibly save my old famicom with new board and parts.

[@LIRetroGaming]

Yes, it should address all the issues that were identified in the last revision. I have new boards on their way, and I will have a follow up video where I install rgb

[@AerFixus]

This looks awesome! Do you know if there will be a version that uses a PCB mounted multi-out port? That would be awesome! Since it's an open design, if that's not an option, I might have to figure out how to modify it to be included!

[@LIRetroGaming]

This will be released soon and it’s totally possible to modify it to add composite video. No one makes a pcb mounted snes style multiout but there are open source panel mount snes connectors that can be used

[@AerFixus]

@@LIRetroGaming Yeah, I can see how it wouldn't be sustainable until someone made a compatible PCB mount replacement, but I have a few donor SNES boards (missing the working CPU, PPU, etc) to use parts from for myself at least.

[@2Plus2isChicken2013]

This is pretty awesome. I prefer the front loader personally but it's great you were able to get that top loader working again with this project. One question I have that's unrelated to this video: Can any of the mods available for the original PlayStation be done with the slim PSone version of the console? That's the model I own and I was just wondering. I'd love to see you do a Fix It Friday video on the PSone if you ever get a chance.

[@LIRetroGaming]

Eventually I plan to do a PSone video, it’s long overdue. But the new mods are unfortunately not possible with the psone, for now

[@PapaMurphTV]

Does the top loader pcb fit in a Famicom? Also what original components are common between the two? Great video, I always love your uploads.

[@Ozhull]

Just from looking at pics, it seems that the Famicom board is laid out slightly differently in the cartridge slot area so not sure

[@chadmasta5]

I wish I had the know how and confidence to do pcb design. It would be neat to have an opentendo board that fit in the case of a common famiclone like the gamerz tek ones you see on amazon so you could essentially turn a clone console into a real NES.

[@Scyllinice]

Excellent work to all involved. Maybe someone will come behind and figure out an easy way to integrate a composite mod onto the board for those that want it instead of RF.

[@RetroSho]

Composite mod should work just fine on a (OpenTendo) Toploader like this! Check out the composite AV mod by ModzvilleUSA! 😎

[@Scyllinice]

@@RetroSho I'm sure it does. What I'm intending to say is that I'd like to see it integrated into the board itself for those that want composite if it's possible to do so without getting in the way (e.g. a board layout that would allow you to substitute the RF modulator setup for composite.)

[@RetroSho]

@@Scyllinice Ahh I got ya. Well considering it’s RedHerring who designed this, I’m very doubtful that he would integrate composite or RGB to the board since it didn’t exist in OEM boards. The purpose is to keep it as stock as possible so dead boards can be revived with mostly stock parts. 🤔

[@Scyllinice]

@@RetroSho Yeah, but given it's an open source project, someone could fork and maintain a revision that does that if RedHerring chooses not to, which is his right (and I don't expect him to or make any demands :D). It's why I love open hardware like this :)

[@RetroSho]

@@Scyllinice True that! If Red reads this, i know he has a personal disdain for RGB mods, but is a faithful composite guy through and through. 😂 Open hardware is awesome I agree! And you'll never find a more passionate guy in the NES/Famicom space than Red. He's amazing!

[@ray73864]

I started my OpenTendo front loader a couple of years ago (Not too long after your video I think), I eventually found some eBay PAL crystals (Otherwise it means harvesting them), the other hurdle I hit at the time was several of the BOM items just weren't available anywhere, and so I basically shelved it. Have 5 PCB's and 5 modern RF modulator replacement boards :) Mostly because it was cheaper to go via PCBWay than buy the kits, would have been very expensive here in Australia.

[@LIRetroGaming]

It’s hard to get those parts without having a broken Nintendo motherboard laying around. I have parts if you need them

[@ray73864]

@@LIRetroGaming It's funny, because the reason for going with OpenTendo was because I actually have a broken NES, it has so many problem traces that it just wasn't repairable.

[@MrSolidtiger]

We need one of of these for the a/v Famicom.

[@LIRetroGaming]

I think it’s only a matter of time and it will happen

[@AReallyBadSN]

awesome video! is there a reason Opentendo projects don't have built-in HDMI output?

[@LIRetroGaming]

The goal of the creator is to make an accurate reproduction of these boards, and adding something like hdmi would significantly deviate and be more expensive. That being said, there are ways to upgrade the video from an opentendo board which I will review in another video

[@warlockpaladin2261]

​@@LIRetroGaming Building the RCA outputs with only one audio channel too?

[@GhostCorpsGenesis]

There needs to be a better top loader reproduction cart slot. The original top loader slot, and PCB, are missing like 4 pins/traces. Nintendo also put a thinner gap in place of those missing pins, to push out the thicker PCB of a Game Genie or any unofficial cart with thicker PCBs.

[@LIRetroGaming]

It should be possible to edit this design now, maybe as a 4 layer pcb

[@ElectroPotato]

For the CPU and PPU you can also buy new ones. At least new old stock. The UA6527 CPU and UA6528 or UA6538 PPUs made by UMC. They were used in all the early (not NOAC) famiclones.

[@LIRetroGaming]

Yes, these chips also work, but they do have some bugs in them and compatibility with games is not great

[@huangaga6923]

I love your videoes. This project is very good; I expect there would be a model for FC that can use to replace the original poor video quality of FC main board. There are other redsign PCB with more functions, connectors, and better av video output like tiny NES, but cannot use the original shell.

[@LIRetroGaming]

Yes, I believe that there is a Famicom replacement board as well; it’s listed on muramasa entertainment’s website

[@joe-raysix]

I'm curious. Does this also play PAL and NTSC games like a standard top loader will, or has that functionality been lost in reconstruction?

[@LIRetroGaming]

Yes, it plays PAL & NTSC games just like the original one did

[@joe-raysix]

@@LIRetroGaming this now has my blessing.

[@khatharrmalkavian3306]

Why do you always flip the board over after soldering the corner pins? Are you double-checking the chip orientation?

[@LIRetroGaming]

Yes, I’m checking the socket orientation and also making sure that the socket is inserted all the way and is not crooked

[@nathanmonahan6157]

I think that Famicom cartridge adapter should work fine without height modifications to the slot itself, possibly the top case though. But on the whole, the pins on both sides of the connection are much longer than is needed for function, and properly inserting the game evenly all the way across would likely be the biggest issue.

[@LIRetroGaming]

I definitely plan to try the new aliexpress cart slots in a future build. Once I have all the details worked out I will probably make a tutorial for converting a frontloader into a toploader

[@nathanmonahan6157]

@@LIRetroGaming I look forward to seeing that. Good luck brother.

[@stefhannington2218]

I've always wanted a Nintendo entertainment system. Do you build to order and send to UK? If so how much please ?

[@LIRetroGaming]

You can reach me at my website 1uprestorations.com

[@Ps1l0c]

Hmm, could I create a PAL version of this with PAL CPU and PPUs? That could be interesting as we never got a toploader in the UK.

[@LIRetroGaming]

Absolutely, this would work with European chips. The only thing you would need to do differently is replace the North American Crystal oscillator with the correct frequency for Europe.

[@douro20]

I wish ROHM still made SIP packaged transistors.

[@danielleesposito5487]

how much did it cost after all the components and the pcb?

[@LIRetroGaming]

About $25 in parts and about $65 for 5 PCBs which was the minimum quantity I could order

[@chadwolf3840]

Could I use parts from a famicom to do this opentendo thing?

[@LIRetroGaming]

Some parts may be helpful, but the Famicom does not have the same reset button or controller ports

[@MrAlan1828]

Les make a open Super Famicom / SNES too

[@deusprogrammer_thekingofspace]

Does it still have jailbars like most Top Loaders?

[@LIRetroGaming]

Yes it does, but this can be eliminated with composite video or RGB mode

[@shadymaint1]

Does this still have the picture quality issues of a official top loader?

[@LIRetroGaming]

No, it has fixed all of those issues with video

[@arthurcarneirolopes6383]

I think you could make an NES with 100% new parts if you used UMC clone chips. Do you have any other dead consoles that could use a replacement board? Recently people have reverse engineered the Famicom, most of the Game Boys and the Atari 2600.

[@LIRetroGaming]

Technically you are right, but the UMC chips have bugs and many games do not work correctly. There is also a reverse engineered frontloader NES, Game gear and some 8 bit computers like the c64

[@arthurcarneirolopes6383]

@@LIRetroGaming Do you know any games that have problems with it? There were a lot of NES clones that used them, but I don't remember any bugs that weren't in the original.

[@SirRandallDoesStuff]

Could you add the HDMI mod to this?

[@LIRetroGaming]

Yes it’s possible, although no one currently makes an hdmi mod for the nes

[@dylbob9000]

Is there a av fami version?

[@LIRetroGaming]

Not yet, but hopefully soon!

[@lyianx]

I still need to go back and figure out why my modified GBC isnt working.

[@HinkHall]

Can you please filter out the CRT frequencies? Hate being a retro fan who has tinnitus

[@LIRetroGaming]

Sorry, I don’t hear them and I can filter those out

[@mysticknight6724]

Is that a Castlevania T-Shirt your wearing?

[@LIRetroGaming]

Yes sir it is! I picked it up at a convention in Syracuse NY and I love it

[@evilskunk1]

I'm not a fan of the top loader NES overall. I prefer the front loader being that it has built in AV jacks with cleaner picture, cleaner sound and no jail bars without a bunch of mods. It is true that the front loader is a little higher maintenance with the pins but it's worth it to me.

[@LIRetroGaming]

I also prefer the front loader and I have a lot of nostalgia for it. But with some mods the toploader can be awesome as well

[@adventureridergirl]

LIRG: Subscribe to the channel! Me: But I'm already subscribed to the channel, I can't subscribe to the channel any further! Friend backing me up: She's already subscribed to the channel, she can't subscribe to the channel any further! Other Friend: I'm freaking out, man! LIRG (probably): You are freaking out... man. IYKYK

[@LIRetroGaming]

Hahahaha I enjoyed that, and I appreciate your support!

[@mr.number9279]

It's mind boggling that no one has made an aftermarket shell for the console (or the other parts like a controller port... really?) when that would invariably break before an entire motherboard would.

[@LIRetroGaming]

The good news is that it’s very possible to solve all these remaining problems. Technically there are controller ports available but not in the exact shape that is used by the toploader or the av Famicom

[@mr.number9279]

@@LIRetroGaming It's strange that the motherboard was solved first, to me anyway. You'd figure engineering a whole motherboard is harder than a replacement port or, even weirder, the case... we have 3D printed/injection molded cases for handhelds, SNESes, etc. Hopefully they solve it soon. These projects are good because they let you salvage what might still work from an old and broken motherboard. And often, you find quite a lot of the chips still work, even if the whole thing doesn't.

[@michaeltorrent7829]

Damn. I've been playing NES games via an emulator for years. I don't understand why hardware is STILL going on...

[@LIRetroGaming]

Playing games is the important part, doesn’t matter if it’s with emulators or hardware. I used to emulate a lot, but there’s something about using the real hardware that feels better to me. But that’s just my personal preference- the important part is revisiting old games and having fun

[@theJohnnyPinball]

Why would you want to do this with video flaws of the top loader? Why not design the board with the rgb mod integrated?

[@LIRetroGaming]

The goal was to make a faithful recreation. RGB can easily be added which I will demonstrate in a follow up video

[@Y2Kxx]

NESRGB is a closed source design that emulates parts of the NES PPU. This would require a substantial reverse engineering effort to pull off. Also, the goal of the project is to preserve the motherboard designs of NES systems, and as well as other Nintendo systems in the future from my understanding. This includes all the various flaws the original designs may have. The project is open source, if you wanna make a version that fixes the video out problems of the top loader, feel free! ☺️

[@rubberduck4966]

Diode Arrays should not be harvested from an old console - a new design should be created with the goal to use mostly off-the-shelf parts.

[@LIRetroGaming]

Fortunately the design is open source and this should allow for the use of modern diode arrays and transistors with an edited design

[@sos.gamers]

now im sad i almost gave for free a top loader that had broken traces all over the PCB :|

[@loopymind]

If it needs botchwires, it shouldn't be considered a release candidate :)

[@LIRetroGaming]

The few mistakes have been fixed, it’s released (link in the description)

[@neoradjoao7701]

Rgb !!!!??!! 😩

[@LIRetroGaming]

Next video, trust me I’m getting there

[@neoradjoao7701]

@@LIRetroGaming 👍

[@ichemnutcracker]

I don't think I understand the reason for going through this much effort if the video is going to be just as bad as a stock top-loader. I mean, it is neat and all, but surely there is some other reason than "just because we can".

[@2Plus2isChicken2013]

I think it's just a test to see if the board works and identify any issues it has before a final revision is made. He said there would be a later video using the final version of the board. I'm sure he'll do a video mod in that one.

[@LIRetroGaming]

Yeah that’s exactly right. This was a prototype - I had to make sure that it worked as intended first. From here, I’ll make a follow up with RGB and the (hopefully) final version

[@marshmower]

Top loader was $50. Original (superior) front loader was marked down to $89.99. Always used the official cleaning method. Push down and work the card to get good contact. Always store carts in case or box. Sometimes you need to get sandpaper on the cart and in the slot. Try the cart first and push down and work it. If you see green on the freshly sanded cart, the corrosion is inside the edge connector. Repeat or just buy a new connector. Front loaders have a/v. To me the top loaders were not marketed for what they had hidden inside. Really should have been more fully featured

[@blakeromo]

Hi. Just wanted to clarify something important. Sandpaper is NOT an acceptable thing to use to clean your games. Brass gets tarnished or Gets dirty from dust and spit from blowing into cartridges. The game contacts are THIN, meaning that using something abrasive such as Sandpaper damages the cartridge pins, and can render the game inoperable. Isopropyl alcohol is always the first step, if that doesn't work, try brasso, then clean with Isopropyl alcohol, as brasso itself is corrosive if left on the game. Finally, If all else fails get yourself a fiberglass pen, which is a very LIGHT abrasive to remove corrosion then clean with alcohol. They make a modern day cleaning kit as well called the 1upcard which is felt with a cleaning solution. Bottom line: Sandpaper will permanently damage your console and your games. Avoid at ALL COSTS.

[@donwald3436]

Why would anyone prefer a toploader?

[@LIRetroGaming]

Plenty of people hate dealing with the 72 pin connector on the frontloader, and mods can eliminate the toploaders limitations. But personally, my favorite version of the nes is the frontloader

[@officialusb-neschannel5945]

This is a really cool project! Too bad about the space in the middle of the 72-pin connector; I think big N did that because they could not route enough traces between the front and back of the board (without using 4 layers), since originally it was designed for the width of the Famicom connector. I wonder if a future revision would add a footprint option for an A/V out connector akin to the AVFC. Cheers!

[@LIRetroGaming]

Yes, I loved building this project and it has a lot of potential. I think it would be pretty easy to add an av out similar to the av Famicom. Glad you enjoyed the video!