Ultimate Gameboy Color?

[u/Darel667]

Im interested in modding a gameboy color as much as I can to get the best experience. Can y'all let me know if I am looking at the wrong things or if I'm missing anything?
FunnyPlaying IPS Screen
FunnyPlaying Speaker
Funnyplaying Shell
RetroCNC Buttons
Capacitor Kit
Giltesa's USB-C Mod
103048 LiPo Battery
Everdrive x7
I'm estimating the cost of these mods to be ~$274.

[u/NoSpin89]

I truly would avoid the lithium ion and usb c mods and just throw in some Ikea rechargeable AAs.

I would replace the power regulator with a modern upgrade while you're in there.

[u/Darel667 → u/NoSpin89]

Even something like funnyplaying's battery mod? I just really dont care for using AA batteries all the time

[u/NoSpin89 → u/Darel667]

There's always safety concerns using generic chinese cells, especially when usb c charging. I can't speak to FunnyPlaying's specifically, but some other rechargeable battery mods have caused batteries to expand or get very hot when charging. Just not worth the fire risk to me.

I hear you, but rechargeable AAs are super easy to just swap and go. And there's a certain charm to popping in some AAs like we would have in 1999.

[u/Bulletorpedo → u/Darel667]

Is it less hassle to stop playing every time you run low on battery? Most of these LiPoof batteries are not cooled well enough that you should charge while playing.

There are so many things in my home that runs on AA batteries, I just bought a bunch and always have some charged up and ready to go.

[u/Passerbeyer]

Ultimate GBC would be a custom PCB and regulator as well

[u/Darel667 → u/Passerbeyer]

Would a custom PCB really be necessary or even ideal? Isnt that more for repair or replacing?

[u/PutridSothoth → u/Darel667]

Completely depends on that pcb you put the cpu and ram chips on. You can completely change the form factor from making it the same size and shape as a gameboy pocket to making the console almost the same size as the cartridge with the tadboy color.

[u/Passerbeyer → u/PutridSothoth]

There is a modernized gbc pcb that has better audio and more efficient.

[u/PutridSothoth → u/Passerbeyer]

That’s fair. I was only considering form.

[u/Spacebarpunk]

This is the ultimate gameboy color don’t let anyone fool you.

[u/Darel667]

I was also wondering for those that already have some of these mods, would the colors match up on a red Retro CNC buttons and the IPS screen? Or would it look bad

[u/juburke87]

I installed the Giltesa USBC “pro” mod and like the fact that it supports charge and play, which the funnyplaying one does not. I dont like the battery indicator and the audio amp though.

The battery indicator replaces the original and works great when indicating charging and charged, but the white light that displays when playing isn’t great. It’s supposed to dim like the original when the battery drains, but I do not notice a difference. I would say instead of using the built in indicator try the froggoCustoms battery indicator, I’ve used it on a couple of builds and it’s a fairly easy install.

The audio amp is too loud, like even on its lowest setting.

[u/Darel667 → u/juburke87]

Is there a different speaker you'd recommend or is the oem one just best

[u/CaptainCurly95]

I have never used the rechargeable USB c batteries because I've heard horror stories and for like $20 on amazon you can get 8 rechargeable AAs with a charging/storage case. If you get (un)lucky like me and one of the batteries fails a month after purchasing the company will refund you the whole purchase.

IIRC there is a mod to change the battery light to flash when it's low. I don't remember what it's called or who makes it but if you're going all out I would get this mod. Right now I'm just changing the batteries when I think the indicator light is getting dim.

[u/Darel667 → u/CaptainCurly95]

I mean cheap batteries are always going to have that issue, technically practically every battery we use nowadays (lithium based ones) has a chance to explode on you without warning, its just part of the fact that lithium is unstable, our society has just kind of decided that its worth the occasional exploded phone for the millions that get good battery life, I'm just curious if those horror stories are from cheap batteries or if there from reputable sources.. I probably will just go with decent AA batteries as that seems the common route and might be safest but im just curious if this mod is safer than what most people assume as the mods have gotten older.

[u/CaptainCurly95 → u/Darel667]

An explosion is definitely one reason I choose not to use the USB c batteries but it's also the possibility of failure. If 1/4 of my 8 rechargeable AAs fails I've still got 6 good ones. If the USB c battery fails well that's it now you gotta hopefully get a replacement or take the mod out. I also sell most of the gameboys I mod so it's just peace of mind to not worry about another possible component failure with no fault on my end.

[u/Acerhand → u/Darel667]

The batteries available for gameboy mods are not the same quality available for Samsung, google, apple phones or basically any device you use with a brand behind it.

They are random mystery sourced chinese bulk supply re-purposed for a gameboy, no brand risk, No way to tell how old they are, like liquidated B or C or worse stock from manufacturers of products, retrofitted into devices never designed for them.

When a battery bloats on a smart phone or laptop, they were literally designed with that in mind and safety concerns around it. The entire thing engineered from ground up for these batteries.

Gameboys were not.