Hello! I've been trying to mod my gameboy advance over a year now and I've been having quite the difficulties. At first I broke two screen and on my third one I realized that there was an issue where the screen would try to turn on but the screen would main slightly less darker than it would have been turned off. Someone from this discord actually recommended that I should buy a new ribbon which I did but the results remained. After this someone had told me to just buy a brand new gba to recieve a new motheboard. But when I recieved it, the exact same thing happened. I do not understand this because at this point everything I have is new from when the issue first happened. Would somebody be able to tell me if I am doing something wrong or can give me some advice on this issue. I'll put in a video to make things more clear.
#GBA IPS Installation Confusion
brisk cradle
elfin apex
Low brightness after power on?
On the Video there’s no display tho
Oh it’s very slight
I’d assume the ribbon isn’t fully seated either at the board or the screen.
brisk cradle
on my third screen (i think they are called pannels)
here i can take a vid with the lights off
harsh bloom
Can you take a picture of all the places the ribbon cable is connected?
Both to the Gameboy and to the screen
elfin apex
Need a closer look here
harsh bloom
Be very gentle with it while the ribbon cable is attached
elfin apex
And back there
brisk cradle
I had gotten a new ribbon because of the poor condition of the other one. but here are some pictures
I hope they cane out pretty clear
elfin apex
Well the screen needs to be connected there. All the way down. Should have a nice click. What about to the motherboard
Also are you sure you’re using the correct end of the ribbon to the motherboard?
harsh bloom
Aye, reassemble it,
Making sure these are all the way down
And this fully clicks in
brisk cradle
thanks guys, the bigger pin in inside. the one that fits the whole area
harsh bloom
Yes, that part seems right
brisk cradle
is it normal that the new gba has this part and my old one dosen't? it's the only thing i've noticed is different. I assume this should be a huge change but just asking
elfin apex
Different boards
Not all are exactly the same. That’s one of the difference between the 2 types of boards.
limpid heath
Is it just me or is one pin perhaps misaligned. Perhaps it's just a camera flash or a light or something
harsh bloom
Is it just me or is one pin perhaps misaligned. Perhaps it's just a camera flash...
I thought so too, but I'm leaning towards lighting
elfin apex
Can you show the backs
harsh bloom
Don't just assume the issue is the panel each time
elfin apex
Can’t see the ribbon connection
harsh bloom
More often than not it's not
brisk cradle
elfin apex
Of the gba boards
brisk cradle
here
elfin apex
The panel looks fine.
limpid heath
Yeah top board is 40pin while the bottom is 32
brisk cradle
harsh bloom
Aye, reassemble it,
Still waiting on this
elfin apex
Yeah I was wondering if that was dirt or bad flux
harsh bloom
Let's get the 40 pin working before nitpicking the 32
brisk cradle
i tried it again with the reassemble and it showed the same result.
harsh bloom
i tried it again with the reassemble and it showed the same result.
Can you post pics of the connector on the panel while connected
This bit, from the side so we can see how they connect
elfin apex
And the rear of the gba board while connected
brisk cradle
on the last pic, i've always noticed this on all of my panels but I was wondering by if the small light coming out of the back
harsh bloom
Can you squeeze them together firmly
brisk cradle
i don't wanna push to hard but i'll try
i did hear the click and everything seems to be in right
harsh bloom
brisk cradle
here is a better look at the light
harsh bloom
The light is fine
brisk cradle
that seems to be the max i can push it
harsh bloom
If you've had this issue with
- 3 GBA boards
- 2 ribbon cables
- 3 panels
I believe you may just not be gentle enough when installing it and may be damaging something each time. These are very fragile.
And if that's the case, I strongly suggest just commissioning someone to assemble a modded Gameboy, as you're burning a lot of money and time on what should be a 1 hour project.
brisk cradle
no 2 gba boards. I think you are right although I am trying to be careful. and thank you for the suggestion
harsh bloom
I suppose something else to consider: do these two GBAs all work normally?
limpid heath
You bent this PCB in places it shouldn't have been, looking at what I can see here
brisk cradle
thank you for noticing that. I can show you the other ribbon to compare if you'd like
this one is pretty bent as well so I assume that there won't be much of a difference
limpid heath
Yeah I think that's the same one I screenshot, with the smaller chips
What's the onechip like?
limpid heath
I don't see any bends but that's not to say you haven't damaged it at some point during install, either
brisk cradle
yea...
after the first ribbon though I tried being very careful of the second.
At this point, i'm guessing there is nothing really throwing you off to identify anything that is wrong?
harsh bloom
Nothing that I'm noticing
limpid heath
tbh the onechip board looks good to me. Perhaps I wouldn't have bent it at the joint connecting the PCB to the ribbon cable, but I don't see how that would bork it
brisk cradle
would you suggest I purchase a new ribbon. I really don't mind buying a new one.
limpid heath
there's a possibility you received a faulty ribbon but it's slim
harsh bloom
I don't suggest buying a new ribbon
brisk cradle
I did buy it off ebay instead of the first one being off funnyplaying but it had the same issue
brisk cradle
yes
harsh bloom
You said the first two panels are broken; how are they broken?
brisk cradle
oh, the connector broke off for both of them. I was not as gentle
harsh bloom
So
limpid heath
How can the screen be dark if the backlight seems to work? The image itself is dark in contrast?
brisk cradle
i don't think you are, the second one had the "same issue" and then it broke off
actually i forgot to tell you something but i don't think it is important but it might support your point. When I had got the3rd pannel and tried it out for the first time. 0.5 seconds after turn on it worked perfect showing the animation and everything after that split half a second it permanently became like this
harsh bloom
That's super important
It sounds like something is blowing, though I'm unsure exactly why
brisk cradle
for sure not the ribbon though or i guess could be
harsh bloom
Was this on the 32 or 40 pin Gameboy