Gamegear LCD replacement Group buy

[turbokon]

Hey guys, I just did an atari lynx lcd replacement and the quality is amazing.  The same guy is also offering lcd's for the gamegear and unlike the board from tim worthington, its full screen for game gear.  It's lcd with driver board.  Its pretty pricy but he'll give discount for orders of 5.  It's normally $105.90 for one plus shipping.  With the group buy discount, it will be 89.18 plus shipping.

1. Turbokon
2. Duo-R
3. Turbokon
4. Brraap
5.


Here are some pictures of before and after for the lynx:

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/233632-lynx-lcd-replacementvga-out-by-mcwill/page-27

[GreatBlue Swirlof99]

You have an Atari Lynx nice !

[VenomMacbeth]

Holy crap!  I'm gonna have to save up for one of these.  Game gear neeeeds a better screen.

[o.pwuaioc]

That Lynx screen can't save the paltry game selection nor other issues (like rotating it for Raiden or Klax).

[VenomMacbeth]

That Lynx screen can't save the paltry game selection nor other issues (like rotating it for Raiden or Klax).

Still better than jag.

[wilykat]

I just got my LCD kit from him yesterday, it was about 10 days from him somewhere in Europe to me in USA.  GG mod is a bit harder than Lynx mod because some of the parts to be removed is much smaller.

Lost 2 of the SMD transistors but aside the CFL, LCD, 2 large caps, and 2 fuses all the little parts could easily fit on a microSD.  You will need a small tip soldering iron or a decent desoldering station to remove those without damaging PCB.  The solder spots where the 2 fuses were removed needs to be cleaned and flat so the LCD mod can slide in.


Yes it plays SMS games off Everdrive GG or via SMS converter and

plays GG games without shrinking a lot like the old RGB mod.

Total time was around 2 hours with lots of distraction to TV. I could probably have done most of it in 70-90 minutes with the TV turned off.

The only mod to the GG case is to remove the screw post on the front shell. Just one.  Additional mod needed if you want to install VGA port.

Another advice: soldering wires on the original LCD connector is also challenging. I would suggest something really small like 30 wires (like kynar). I used 24 and they were a little fat and almost touching next pad.

[PCEngineHell]

Sweet upgrade for either system. watching videos of the two of them with the new LCD, they look damn nice.

[wilykat]

Forgot to add McWill mod has scanline mode that can simulate old LCD look.  It can be turned on and off anytime so no need to power cycle to change mode.   Just hold all 3 buttons.

[Duo_R]

I recall the shipping being pretty pricey, I assume the group rate makes it not as bad? Put me down for one.

[turbokon]

I recall the shipping being pretty pricey, I assume the group rate makes it not as bad? Put me down for one.

Yep, shipping is $38.90 for one but $5.57 each for the 5 qty group buy.

[turbokon]

I just got my LCD kit from him yesterday, it was about 10 days from him somewhere in Europe to me in USA.  GG mod is a bit harder than Lynx mod because some of the parts to be removed is much smaller.

Lost 2 of the SMD transistors but aside the CFL, LCD, 2 large caps, and 2 fuses all the little parts could easily fit on a microSD.  You will need a small tip soldering iron or a decent desoldering station to remove those without damaging PCB.  The solder spots where the 2 fuses were removed needs to be cleaned and flat so the LCD mod can slide in.


Yes it plays SMS games off Everdrive GG or via SMS converter and

plays GG games without shrinking a lot like the old RGB mod.

Total time was around 2 hours with lots of distraction to TV. I could probably have done most of it in 70-90 minutes with the TV turned off.

The only mod to the GG case is to remove the screw post on the front shell. Just one.  Additional mod needed if you want to install VGA port.

Another advice: soldering wires on the original LCD connector is also challenging. I would suggest something really small like 30 wires (like kynar). I used 24 and they were a little fat and almost touching next pad.

How does the font looks with gamegear games?

[o.pwuaioc]

That Lynx screen can't save the paltry game selection nor other issues (like rotating it for Raiden or Klax).

Still better than jag.

Well, that ain't saying much.

[Bardoly]

I am quite interested in this, but I would have to have someone do the mod for me, as I am all thumbs with this kind of stuff.   

[turbokon]

I am quite interested in this, but I would have to have someone do the mod for me, as I am all thumbs with this kind of stuff.   

Bardoly, I can do this for you.

[turbokon]

I already placed orders for the 5 group buy.  One open spot left.

[Bardoly]

PM sent.

[wilykat]

How does the font looks with gamegear games?

Blocky but very easy to read.  I went back to my GG and finished the optional VGA mod.

Anyway update I finished the rest of the LCD mod on my Game Gear.  It now has VGA port.
 
I forgot to take picture of my wiring work before I closed it up.  After looking around my console, I decided port on the side won't work because it's curved and would be a bit tricky to get even cut plus it's also hard to get mounting screws secured near the seam between front and back half.  I ended up having it stick out of the back near the converter mounting screw, it just fits if I ever needed a Master Gear converter and VGA display.
 
 

 
One thing I noticed, I can't change between internal LCD and VGA on the spot, so I needed to set the dial high for VGA or low for internal LCD.
 
VGA default mode: (full with scanline)

 
VGA second mode (full without scanline)

 
VGA third mode (reduced with scanline)

 
and last one (reduced no scanline)

 
SMS games also looked fine in full screen:


 
I did not take the other 2 SMS modes, it was tiny.  Maybe the tiny mode would be fine if you were playing on a 100" display and didn't like Tetris-esque blocks.
 
One thing I noticed was that in scanline mode, there were varying brightness level on horizontal lines.  I don't know if this is the way the mod was done or if I need to recheck my wiring?
 
I used an old NEC VGA panel that I found at a Goodwill for about $5. It had a full glass front which meant easy to clean. Most LCD has bezel that can trap dust and grimes in the corner.

[wilykat]

One thing I noticed, I can't change between internal LCD and VGA on the spot, so I needed to set the dial high for VGA or low for internal LCD. I don't know if this is intended or not.

my bad, missed a wire, it now works correctly and I can change between LCD and VGA anytime.

[turbokon]

The lcd's are on its way to me. Still one spot left if any body wants to get in.

[turbokon]

The gamegear lcd's are here. I will be contacting those that participated in the group buy.

[turbokon]

Just finished installing one of the lcd in a gamegear.

[johnnykonami]

Wow, that looks really nice.  Certainly better than the default GG screen in my memory.

[turbokon]

Vga out.  Has scaler and scanline options.

[turbokon]

Now I just need to add controller ports to make the gamegear fully consolized.

[SplatterTrigger]

Great work Shawn!

[turbokon]

Great work Shawn!

Thank you sir

[johnnykonami]

Wow, I think that actually makes me wanna play a game gear for once.

[turbokon]

Gamegear hooked up to my projector.

[roflmao]

Awesome work, as usual Turbokon! If I had more interest in the Game Gear, I'd totally want this done on mine. The screen in mine is rubbish.

[Koop]

Wow that is crazy with the VGA mod. Is VGA the only thing that could be done or could you also do things like S-Video and composite? (not that you'd want to I guess but just curious)

[turbokon]

vga is the only video included with the lcd.

[wilykat]

There are room inside GG if you have a small VGA to anything converter but it's probably cheaper to get a hold of external VGA converter.  I found mine at a Goodwill for a few dollars, provides composite and S-Video output plus pass through VGA.

[turbokon]

Lastest lcd install install on a game gear.  I also added
Two controller ports to the gamegear.

[johnnykonami]

Man, makes me want one too!  Maybe I'll get a fixer upper GG and try this one day...

[DeshDildo]

Just curious if anyone ever grabbed the 5th kit from this group buy.

[turbokon]

Just curious if anyone ever grabbed the 5th kit from this group buy.

Sorry this group buy is long gone.