Mods on Pimp my retro handheld

Ultimate Amiga 1200: PiStorm, CD32 Mode and Full Hardware Expansion

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 21:15:04 +0000

Some time ago, I had the opportunity to get both an Amiga 500 and an Amiga 1200. While the Amiga 500 was restored as a fairly traditional machine, I had a more ambitious project in mind for the Amiga 1200.

My goal was to build three different machines into a single computer:

A high-end Amiga with a powerful CPU, graphics card, networking capabilities and all the modern conveniences normally associated with an upgraded Amiga 4000.
A more traditional Amiga 1200 with Fast RAM and a hard drive for maximum software compatibility.
A CD32-compatible system able to run games specifically enhanced for Commodore’s console, without requiring dedicated CD32 hardware such as the Akiko chip.

To achieve this, I combined several solutions:

Pimped Amiga 500

Sat, 15 Nov 2025 20:22:23 +0000

Back in the early ’90s, I had an Amiga 2000 with just one expansion card: a SCSI controller paired with a massive 290 MB hard drive. Getting software and games to run from the hard drive—with only 1 MB of chip RAM—required a lot of tricks. But it was fun, and it taught me a lot about computers.

A few months ago, I stumbled upon a cheap Amiga 500, and I couldn’t resist. I decided to restore it from the ground up and add a GottaGoFast RAM + IDE controller to finally build what would have been my dream machine in 1990: an Amiga running OS 1.3 with fast RAM!

Playstation 2 : new lens / silent fan / FreeHDBoot

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 20:28:20 +0000

Some time ago, I had the chance to buy a used PlayStation 2 for cheap because it was sold as “defective.” In fact, the console was unable to read any discs, whether DVD or CD. I thought that wouldn’t be a problem, as installing FreeHDBoot is easy, and replacing the DVD lens should be straightforward and inexpensive. It turned out I was right—except for the lens replacement.

Here is the story of my upgraded PS2, featuring a new DVD lens, a silent fan, and FreeHDBoot…

PSP Go : screen replacement and microSD storage

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 20:28:03 +0000

Repairing a scratched PSP Go screen and expanding its limited storage with a microSD-based solution.

Sega Master System FM sound expansion module

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 20:09:47 +0000

Adding an FM sound expansion module to a Sega Master System to reproduce the Yamaha audio capability of the Japanese Sega Mark III.

K6-III + Voodoo 3 : ultimate socket 7 upgrade

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 20:48:29 +0000

Upgrading a Socket 7 PC with an AMD K6-III and Voodoo 3, including compatibility checks and period-appropriate performance testing.

Pimped socket 7 / BabyAT with K6-II 400 + Riva 128

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 22:12:15 +0000

Building a Baby AT Socket 7 PC around an AMD K6-II 400 and Riva 128, with period hardware choices and configuration notes.

PSOne bios replacement (PSX-XBoo)

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 22:13:29 +0000

Replacing a Japanese PSone BIOS with PSX-XBoo to address region restrictions after a compatible modchip installation.

PSone modchip with PSNee (SCPH100 / PM-41)

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 17:38:10 +0000

The playstation 1 is not my favourite system, but I have to admit that it has some good games. I got an NTSC PSOne for really cheap and some NTSC games can be difficult to find in Europe (at least at a reasonable price). For such games, the only solution to play them on the original hardware is to use a modchip so the console is able to run backups. For this purpose, I chose to use an opensource solution : PSNee on an Arduino ATtiny45.

Pimped Amiga 600

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 16:38:09 +0000

Restoring an Amiga 600 and adding practical upgrades including storage, RGBtoHDMI, memory, Wi-Fi and AmigaOS configuration.

Wonderswan color : discreet LiPo mod

Sun, 04 Jun 2023 08:02:38 +0000

A compact LiPo power modification for a WonderSwan Color, designed to improve runtime without a bulky external battery solution.

Wonderswan color : IPS display and new shell

Sat, 13 May 2023 17:40:05 +0000

The Wonderswan color is an upgrade of the Wonderswan which had a black & white display… Well an upgrade regarding the colors of the display, but not its quality. The original screen is even worth than the one of the GameBoy Advance : very dark but also very blurry (ghosting) because of its cheap technology, a passive matrix LCD (FSTN). Fortunately, an IPS display upgrade exists !

The Wonderswan crystal, which is an upgrade over the Wonderswan color, has a better screen. But it is also more expansive and still has no backlight. An IPS display upgrade also exists, but it requires to modify the shell.

Nintendo 64 CPU overclock

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 19:13:58 +0000

I recently modded my N64, first by converting it to NTSC, then by adding a Tim Worthington’s RGB kit. The motherboard was still out of its shell and the temptation was high to apply a last mod before remounting it : overclock ! A small and heap kit can be found on ebay or from https://www.delta-island.com/forum (french). The purpose is to be able to switch the original CPU frequency from 93.75Mhz to 125 Mhz. A video on youtube show how to install the mod.

Nintendo 64 : modded to output RGB

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 18:23:34 +0000

In a previous post, I shared how I converted my PAL Nintendo 64 to NTSC. The problem is that my CRT TV does not support NTSC composite signal, so an RGB mod was mandatory. I used Tim Worthington kit version 3.0.

I’m not going to explain what is already on the official install guide, I’m just sharing my experience…

Overview

Here is the N64 motherboard with what is in the kit : RGB board and wires:

Converting a PAL Nintendo 64 motherboard to NTSC

Mon, 06 Feb 2023 20:58:31 +0000

Like many consoles of its generation, the Nintendo 64 is zoned. That is to say, each of the 3 usual regions (NTSC / Japan, NTSC / USA, PAL / Europe) had a specific model that could only play same region’s cartridges. In fact, NTSC regions share the same hardware and the protection is only physical (like the Megadrive and Snes) : a simple piece of plastic that could easily be removed. But The PAL model has a different hardware, including a specific region check chip (PIF-NUS) and video encoder to output a (obviously) PAL video signal.

RGB Scart cables may not display RGB on a real CRT TV

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 13:20:10 +0000

Diagnosing RGB SCART cables that display composite video on a CRT because the blanking signal is missing or wired incorrectly.

Homemade consolized Neo Geo MVS

Thu, 19 May 2022 21:34:31 +0000

A home-built consolized Neo Geo MVS project: arcade hardware adapted for use as a home console.

Famicom : modded to output RGB signal

Sun, 20 Mar 2022 20:40:07 +0000

Installing an NESRGB board in an original Famicom to replace Japanese RF output with usable RGB video.

PC-Engine DUO : RGB mod and jailbars fix

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 12:52:39 +0000

The video output of the original PC Engine DUO is composite only. Fortunately, the quality of its output is really good comparing to other consoles from the late 80’ / begining of 90’. But the signal is NTSC-J and if your display is not compatible, the picture will be in grey instead of colors. And that is the case of my old european CRT TV (a Grundig one). So I purchased an RGB kit from otakus-store and modded my DUO. The result is a nice and very sharp picture, but like many others I also had to fix the so called “jailbars” problem after this mod.

Repairing and Extending PC Engine Duo Backup-Memory Life

Wed, 23 Feb 2022 22:08:02 +0000

Repairing the PC Engine Duo’s backup-memory power circuit and extending save retention with a replacement supercapacitor solution.

Atari Lynx 2 : replacing the speaker

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 21:04:10 +0000

One of the most common problem with the Atari Lynx 2 is bad sound output. It can becomes very low and / or kind of saturated. Usualy, the source of the problem is the speaker. The replacement is easy, cheap and as a bonus, the sound quality can be improved with better low-ends / low-mids.

This is the short story of my Lynx 2 speaker replacement…

Needed materials

An atari Lynx 2 : I don’t know if the first Lynx version use the same speaker
A phillips screwdriver to open the console
A soldering Iron
A 2 watts 40mm speaker, 8 or 16 Ohms
A small Flat screwdriver

Replacement

I already opened the console to change the screen as explained in a previous post, so I did’t took new photos of theses steps.

Modded Game Boy Pocket : IPS + backlit buttons + Lipo

Sun, 23 Jan 2022 22:19:40 +0000

The Game Boy Pocket is my favourite model. I already modded one with backlight and bivert. This considerably enhance the display and the gaming experience. However it is still a passive dot matrix screen which makes fast action game difficult to play (eg. Donkey kong land, Super Mario land). Fortunately there is a nice solution : IPS display ! So I deciced to use such a screen on another game Boy Pocket and as the model I took was an ugly green one, I also decided to enhance it futher more : new shell, translucent backlit buttons and lipo battery.

MegaCD 2 : region free bios install

Sat, 08 Jan 2022 18:43:38 +0000

The Mega CD (1 or 2) is region locked. Unlike the Megadrive, the region check is not done in hardware, but directly in the BIOS. It means that all MegaCD are (almost) identifcals but a different BIOS has been installed for each region (EUR / USA / JAP). There is basicaly two ways to get another BIOS : loading one from an everdrive or replacing the original BIOS by a region free one. I have at least one game that does not work with a BIOS loaded from an everdrive : “Soul Star”. Moreover, I find it more convenient to launch CD games directly. IMHO, the worst BIOS version is the EUR because it is locked at 50Hz. The JAP one is told to be “the best” because it is said to have some unique features / API needed for some JAP games, but I do not know any game in that case. So The best option seems to be the USA version with its english text menus.

Game Boy Color : IPS display and new shell

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 18:37:08 +0000

The Game Boy Color is a pretty good portable console with some funny games (e.g. Wario land 3, Motoross maniac 2). Unlike others handhelds, the screen has not a big ghosting effect like the Sega Game Gear or the Atari Lynx. But even if the Game Boy Color’s display is brighter than the one found on the Game Boy Advance, it is not always easy to see as it is not backlit. In addition, over the time the console may have been scratched and often lacks its battery cover. Chance is that we can easily find custom replacement shell and backlit IPS display.

Mega Drive 2 Cartridge Slot Modification for Japanese Games

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 18:10:39 +0000

Widening a European or US Mega Drive 2 cartridge slot so Japanese cartridges fit without changing the console’s electronics.

Game gear : from trashed console to brand new with TFT display

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 21:06:47 +0000

A Sega Game Gear restoration covering repair work, a TFT display upgrade, and a replacement shell.

Sega Megadrive 2 overclock

Sun, 28 Nov 2021 20:48:32 +0000

Overclocking a Sega Mega Drive 2 from its original CPU speed to reduce slowdown in games that stress the Motorola 68000.

High quality LCD display on Atari Lynx 2

Mon, 22 Nov 2021 20:47:26 +0000

Replacing the original Atari Lynx II screen with a modern LCD to improve visibility and reduce ghosting.

Sega Megadrive : switchless region mod

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 20:32:38 +0000

The Sega Megadrive for PAL regions, like other consoles from the 90’, suffered from slow games because of 50hz TV, thus 50 fps max versus 60Hz, thus 60 fps max in NTSC regions. Some later games had been “optimized” for 50HZ and in this case, you must take the japanese or US version to play in 60 fps (e.g : Sonic 3, Street of rage 2 and 3). However, a lot of games work out of the box in 60Hz even if they have been tagged “PAL”. This is the purpose of the switchless mod : changeing the region code and the TV output standard of a PAL console. If you are used to solder, this mod is simple, cheap (around 10 euros), and it’s a real game changer for the PAL Megadrive, allowing to play all US and Japanenes games as well as most PAL games in 60Hz.

2 X Game Boy advance IPS + new shell

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 20:39:57 +0000

Two Game Boy Advance projects combining IPS screen upgrades with replacement shells, including the fitting work needed for each console.

IPS display on a Neo Geo Pocket Color

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 20:32:45 +0000

Like a lot of (all ?) handheld consoles with a color display that was released in late 90’ / early 2000, the Neo Geo Pocket color’s screen is barely visible if not exposed to a bright and direct light source. Regarding the original Neo Geo Pocket, which had an awfull display with a ghosting / bluring effect, (like a Game Boy DMG or GBP), the color version’s display is a lot better on this aspect… But again, not bright enough to be usable by today standards !

Gameboy pocket : backlight + bivert

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 21:51:23 +0000

Even if you can now put an IPS screen on a Gameboy pocket, adding backlight (and bivert) is a cheaper solution and it’s still a good way to enhance the screen.
Adding backlight without bivert is quite acceptable on the Gameboy pocket, but you loose a lot of contrast. However, together with bivert mod, the screen become better than the original non-backlit screen… And this also accentuate a little bit the ghosting effect of vertical lines.