USB-C Modding My N64

[@michaelcowman-strifemalice9251]

I will pay you to create one for me, this is honestly a mod Every Nintendo 64 should have, Period.

[@XipherDesign]

unfortunately I don't do commission work, but this isn't too hard! I believe you can do it!

[@metalkirby1973]

I love this mod, tried it out and cant be more happy with the outcome. As someone from Germany this is a good way to play an NTSC N64 without a converter! Thank you very much :)

[@GarnetSunset]

Oh hey! I bought a gba sp board from you a while back, and holy shit you're insane! This is nuts! Great work!

[@stephenkubowitz5928]

I also just did this mod but installed it in the console and the usb-c out the air vent and right to the power on the motherboard very clean no power supply at all and didn't take a lot of time.

[@retroonlinemultiplayer9196]

I have a portable n64 I am working on and want to add wallpower and this is honestly such a big help. Thank you for sharing

[@lmagiceml416]

I love your work, well done! Is it possible to have more information about the small monitor? :)

[@XipherDesign]

You all seem to like that lil TV. I guess I'll try to do a how to video or atleast a tear-down to give an idea to how I built it

[@goosewerks3157]

Ooo I dig the reuse of the power brick! I'll find the convertor I used internally and shoot the specs over to you.

[@acolombo]

Do you know that USB C PD can supply 12V? It would've been better to step down from 12V to 5V rather than stepping up from 5V

[@XipherDesign]

No I actually havent heard of the PD wall warts before, but thats interesting to see. I might have to look into those in the future :)

[@Cain532.]

This is an amazing mod! I love it man! Really cool stuff

[@KevDoy]

So glad you did this. Thank you!

[@NordicDan]

I love this idea. Would be great to be able to print a module that fills the entire recess on the back of the N64 without protruding though. Would also allow space for better securing those small PCBs.

[@ike-2357]

you should make a new version of that smaller psu chassis, with a small swivel arm inside the psu cavity that's left and at the end has a camera mount, and redesign the mini tv to have a camera mount hole on the bottom! that way you can take your mini TV and mount it directly to the n64 psu and make it somewhat portable :D oh also, where did you get that tiny screen? i love it! do you have a parts list? id love to build one of those for my n64 after i am done rgb modding it! also subbing right now!

[@nicomiccoli4901]

The mini tv is cool , can you make a Video how to build one.

[@Syx7h]

Here we go, the birth of the next big mod.

[@driver7227]

That cable converter from 5v to 12v is rated up to 8W, the N64 PSU is rated at 12v for 9.6W. On top of that, 8.96W at 3.3V(19W in total). Due conversion you need about +20% more, 23W. But a USB charger provides only 5-15W(only some provide 15W). So... there's just too many issues with this

[@TheSourOG]

So I made this and it kinda works kinda doesn't. On an OEM N64 it works fine, but when I use my retrotink and my rgb-modded N64 it seems to not supply quite enough power for it via USB and I have to use my OEM power brick. Do you happen to have a suggestion how I can give it a little bit more juice so it works for my RGB-modded N64? Thanks in advance

[@diegolopezjr1]

I like the little TV. You should make more and sell them

[@draconic5129]

Should have used a USBC port with the correct resistors so it'll be compatible with USB PD power adapters (USB C to USB C) because the way you did this one it likely wouldn't be compatible with them.

[@XipherDesign]

USB-C PD is pretty new and when I came up with this mod, I wasn't aware of it. Its still not widely used either so maybe in the future I could return to this mod with an update, but this at least gives people a very viable option as most folks have a phone charger and USB-C cable hanging around

[@iamdmc]

@@XipherDesignSorry mate no it's not. The spec is at least 2015 with many devices using it from 2016 onward. The USB C PD ZYPDS boards are also not so new - first I saw them was 2019 but they had already been out a while

[@iamdmc]

N64 draws about 20W. From 5V that's 4A. IMHO you're not going to get that safely from any USB-A charger on the market. That's assuming 100% efficiency too - likely nearer 80-90% if just 5V-to-5V, but you're also buck and boosting to 3.3V and 12V, so you're probably closer to 70% or less - meaning your current draw is likely to peak around 5.7A. There's a non-zero chance of fire with your setup. IMHO don't do this mod. If you want to do a USB C mod, get the ZYPDS USB C PD 12V board that feeds in 12V from a USB C PD charger that can easily supply 20W-180W (charger dependant), and you only have to get a buck converter to 3.3V instead of a boost and a buck. 1 fewer board too, much cleaner power, and much more reliable. If you use a GaN charger you can have a tiny 1-port, or still small 2- or 3- port to power a variety of classic consoles off a single AC adapter

[@TheFattestLonelyPickle]

Any good source for the usb-c breakout you mentioned? Can’t get the item to delivery from Ali unfortunately. US based.

[@DAVIDXGAMESmx]

5v at how many amps?

[@XipherDesign]

Depends on your input current, but the current after all the boards handle it is probably 2-3a

[@Kevin-jp4rb]

I've tried the mod but it didn't work

[@Darkz3ed]

If I use a 3 amp 3.3v step down converter, will it ruin my console?

[@jamesheigh9565]

I am interested in the TV and the cart.. how did you do the cart? Can you just make an etsy with these things available already...

[@anonym-g-a-d7817]

That's a very good job 👍👍

[@ahioros]

wow amazing!

[@Embusque]

Disclaimer: This modification may void your warranty.

[@bradleymorris6981]

It would be cool to do this along with an HDMI Mod.

[@JBernabe8949]

Dope Nerv tattoo!

[@24mercado]

do you still need those cmd circuits that are in nintendo's board port? in 3:10

[@alexbutte9843]

Please a video on the monitor

[@leeminh2401]

Can you provide a new link, old ones are dead

[@bieldemen]

could u show u made this tiny tv

[@jamessmithandgarrettsmith3623]

Are there any premade cases out there, I don’t have a 3D printer and they are still too expensive.

[@dustinedwards1021]

You can take the models he provides and get them printed online just look up 3d printing services.

[@omarvelco]

Could you show how you built the little TV?

[@piplup2009]

I'm surprised a modern USB C replacement brick hasn't been made by a 3rd party yet, it would future proof the console and not make it permanent

[@AkujiTheSniper]

Random question, but do you think that this will play nice with both a 64DD and flashcart attached, assuming the USB-C cable is getting 5V 2.4A max? I already have this built and works fine with the flashcart, but I don't know how much a 64DD would also add to that mix. I'm getting one in the mail soon and I don't want to do anything stupid!

[@AkujiTheSniper]

Ended up trying this with a 64DD and the N64 shuts off the moment it tries to do anything with the drive. Really disappointed about this.

[@XipherDesign]

the DD attachment? I'm not sure, but I use an everdrive all the time with no issues. My guess is that the power draw is to great with the DD add on. stock power delivery is your best option.

[@iamdmc]

No, because your draw is 4A-5.7A and that severely overdraws over the USB-A power spec. Should have used a USB C PD ZYPDS board and 20W+ USB C PD AC adapter

[@LegendTheCalmGamer]

what is that small tv id love to make one for myself

[@XipherDesign]

It is a 3.5in LCD TV I made just for quick testing a such. Maybe Ill do a build log of it one day 🤔

[@jamessmithandgarrettsmith3623]

Too bad it isn’t a CRT I saw a video for a DIY Chinese CRT which I think a bigger color version is a good idea but there’s still how to power it efficiently and without overheating or the radioactivity.

[@axelkusanagi4139]

@@jamessmithandgarrettsmith3623 There's apparently an open-source CRT project in the works. The hard part with those is that no-one is making tubes anymore.

[@dreamcast3607]

Cool as shit I got my dreamcast power supply modded but it's a laptop power supply size I wish I had this!

[@TheLegendOfLame]

Is it possible to do a similar mod to the Gamecube? A gamecube with HDMI output powered by usb c sounds awesome

[@MLGPRO-dx8fg]

If you can output the right voltage, yeah.

[@TheLegendOfLame]

@@MLGPRO-dx8fg i'm a complete newbie when it comes to modding so I'm still trying to learn this shit. Hoping to learn how to mod all my old systems to have USB C power some day

[@MLGPRO-dx8fg]

@@TheLegendOfLame Watts is total power consumption Volts x amps = watts Too many volts = dead electronics Too many amps = okay most of the time, the electronics only uses what it needs Not enough volts/amps can also damage some electronics. DC = direct current, easiest to work with AC = alternating current. In the USA it is at 60hz. The easiest consoles to USB C mod are the ones that have external power bricks because 99% of the time it will be a DC connection going into the machine. Read the power brick output information. I'm modding my PS2 slim to use USB C and the power brick says it outputs 9v at 5.8 amps All you gotta do is use a PD board and brick that can deliver 9v at 5a and in theory it should be fine. With machines with internal power supplies you gotta fool around a bit, and I would advise unplugging the device and waiting at least a day before opening it up. Capacitors are a real bitch, dont wanna get zapped

[@digimbyte]

if your using usb C that step up converter is a waste. thats only ideal for USB A/B USB C supports power polling. and will push as much power as it thinks you need. most USB Cs are rated for 40-60W,

[@ike-2357]

do you got a discord server? that would be neat, i would join a server especially if cool stuff like this was there! :D

[@XipherDesign]

There are a few good discord servers to join if you're into this sort of stuff. I think bitbuilt has a discord as well as the Gameboy discord. And those are just a few. Plenty of modding communities out there to join and learn from

[@axelkusanagi4139]

Hey Xipher, I looked at your Gameboy Macro design files and wondered why the GBA slot is the way it is? One of my favorite GBA flashcarts rn is the EZflash Omega and it has an alternative case that makes it flush with a DS lite. I could cut the excess plastic off so that it seats fully, I guess...

[@wyldelf2685]

Plus elephant in the room , that original AC power unit defeats the purpose of an AC adapter design - ac adapters generate substantial HEAT , so what genius at Nintendo thought it was a great idea to put the Bulk of the ac adapter directly next to N64 motherboard instead of having it safely away from console on the wall outlet ??????😮😢