r/Famicom • u/CrazyJuice64 • 10h ago
Hardware Mods Game Axe Color, modded with an IPS screen
galleryJust received my Game Axe Color. The screen was working, but the quality wasnt the best, and the screen was a little dark in some places. It might be the polarized, even if it looks ok, but i choose to replace the screen with an IPS one. Thanks to Skyway1985, who guided me buying the screen and soldering it.
Used this Alibaba screen + control board:
https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/4-inch-LCD-display-module-with_1600468023611.html
For the soldering in the control board, as you can see on the photos, i used pins 1,3 and 4 of the third connector, having video on 1, ground on 3 and power in 4.
For the soldering on the board, power goes to the top right on photo 5, ground to the bottom left on photo 5, and video to photo 6.
For the screen location, i tested first without any cutting, and ended up cutting the bottom screw holes (not in photo) to make it fit better. Still, is not 100% perfect, and a custom crystal protector with some less black on the top would solve it. Still, only a few games will use the top part of the screen in a way you notice it, so no problem there.
Also, used hard glue to prevent the screen for moving. Someone making a 3D print mount to fit the screen would prevent this step 🤣.
After the mod, the contrast wheel does nothing, and the LCD on/off only turns on/off the sound. There is probably a way to mod the functions in again (at least the power off, if you get the 5V somewhere else), but im ok with the screen always on.
The screen comes with a pannel with buttons to configure it (contrast, brightness, etc). I personally left it connected inside because there is enought space inside after taking out the old LCD screen, but you can take it out, or make holes on the shell and access them from the outside. The board is needed at least on first use, because you need to 'change the channel' to get the screen to show in.
The console works flawlessly, with both batteries and connector, and with normal games, repro games, and everdrive. I read somewhere that the everdrive was problematic with the original screen... It seems solved now.
Hope more people with this console mods it and make if worth playing today. I now need to find a way to transport this monster 🤣.
