Michael David Morsette Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 These boards are only for the ATARI LYNX, because of the special internal hardware. The Game Gear has almost the same data lines, but it has different internal hardware. So the boards won't run with a Game Gear / NOMAD without changes. I will make tests with the NOMAD in the future . BTW: I already have a running Game Gear system with my new LCD mod. GG and SMS games in fullscreen !!! But I have to make a few changes on the board. Then these boards also will be available in a few weeks . But at present I'm still making tests with the LYNX-I. That is my priority to get the existing boards running with the LYNX-I. I will keep you all up to date! That is crazy awesome! I must have a Game Gear with your mod! Be sure to update here when you finish making changes to the board! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orange-Phantom Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Wow people, thanks for posting the photo's and video up! I really need to get this done and stop getting distracted by the garage and the olde Mini. I will get it done this week! Hang on just remembered I've got a stag do this weekend! I'd better get my @rse in gear then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Level42 Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 This is what I need to re-awaken my Lynx love and I've been hoping for this for a good number of years now..... >>> AWESOME !!!!! <<< Love the Lynx. Never got it when it was new, but picked one up for cheap at one of the later German Atari Messe's when they were being dumped (together with loads and loads of games). I've had Lynxes ever since. The I is my favorite, I liked the better sound and for me being a rather tall guy it's nicer in the hands plus I like the buttons and cross control,better. However, the last years my interest for the system waned mostly because of the screen. BITD we never knew better and things were acceptable, but as I grew older which doesn't generally help on eye-sight AND of course the fact that we got used to better and better LCDs....it made the system kinda unplayable for me. I hope you will finish the version for the Lynx I soon, my money is burning in my pocket ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Level42 Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 What I notice on this video (at least to my eye) is apart from the obvious better brightness and colors, the screen is also a LOT faster. Of course game speed remains the same but the changes on the screen are much faster. Maybe thas also makes the games easier to play Nathan Sttrum... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Nathan Strum Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 What I notice on this video (at least to my eye) is apart from the obvious better brightness and colors, the screen is also a LOT faster. Of course game speed remains the same but the changes on the screen are much faster. Maybe thas also makes the games easier to play Nathan Sttrum... That's entirely possible. I don't have an unmodded Lynx to check it against, but that would be an interesting comparison to make head-to-head (that, and battery life). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Level42 Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 It would be nice to measure the current on both modified and unmodified units that would say a lot about battery consumption. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7800fan Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 Remind me to check that later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emehr Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 Received my kit today! So excited! Not sure if I should wait for my variable-temp soldering station to arrive or just go for it with my soldering pen... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7800fan Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 A fixed iron 20-30w should be OK for soldering but you may have a bit of trouble desoldering and removing unwanted part with lower heat iron, especially that transformer. So it comes down to how badly you want to start playing with the new LCD. Do you want to risk a $100+ hardware to older iron or spend a few days for a new soldering iron? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emehr Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 A fixed iron 20-30w should be OK for soldering but you may have a bit of trouble desoldering and removing unwanted part with lower heat iron, especially that transformer. So it comes down to how badly you want to start playing with the new LCD. Do you want to risk a $100+ hardware to older iron or spend a few days for a new soldering iron? Yep. I've started on the ribbon cable connector and smaller components but I'll wait for my soldering station for that transformer. Thanks for the nudge. For anybody still waiting on their kit, don't trust that tracking number. My domestic tracking number still says mine is in New York...a week ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy the Atarian Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 I got mine the other day. My soldering equipment wasn't the right for the job and I missed that part on the forums here that you don't need to connect pins 7 & 8 to the mod board. Overall, I got it working! Thanks McWill, it is an awesome mod: https://arcryphongames.wordpress.com/2015/03/17/atari-lynx-ii-lcd-mod-arrives/ I also shared it on the Atari Museum FB group where it has caught a bit of attention: https://www.facebook.com/groups/105586892805903/permalink/909046575793260/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HunterZero Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 My kit arrived a couple of days ago. Woohoo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HunterZero Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 A data point for anyone curious about battery life with the new screen - in a simple test leaving the Lynx to run Lynxopoly (8 players) continuously, a fresh set of Duracells powered the Lynx for 4h 40min 4h 40min with the new screen? Wonder how long the batteries would last under the same test with the old screen? I don't have Lynxopoly so can't recreate this test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clint Thompson Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 You guys suck. This thing is absolutely beautiful! I want another Lynx now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7800fan Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 What I notice on this video (at least to my eye) is apart from the obvious better brightness and colors, the screen is also a LOT faster. Of course game speed remains the same but the changes on the screen are much faster. Maybe thas also makes the games easier to play Nathan Sttrum... It is noticeably less laggy on the screen due to superior refresh rate compared to LCD of 25 years ago. But don't trust the video. Even though I have 2 BL Demo carts and turned both on at the same time, I noticed after several minutes one was running demo a few seconds ahead than other, even though both still appeared to be running at the same rate. I don't know if there's timing variations during the manufacture or if there's a few software code variations with different wait time on repeating loops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluemonday Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 I fitted the screen a couple of weeks ago (it looks amazing and has transformed my Lynx gaming) but only got round to fitting the VGA socket tonight.I used a craft knife to gradually scrape off plastic and make the indent bigger, mainly on the top half of the Lynx and also a little bit on the bottom. I left a small gap around the edge of the socket to ensure the edges of the plug had enough room to wrap around it when plugged in.A glue gun was used to fix the socket in place and when I reassembled it saw that, through luck, the edge of the main Lynx PCB was helping secure it too. I need to clean it up a bit - there's a few bits of stray glue, but the attached photo shows it installed. Also - thanks to the user Insert Coin on here who also very kindly supplied me with a replacement plastic screen, after I dropped a blob of hot solder on the old one. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papa Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 (edited) We finally got to it! With six kids to deal with I should be happy it gone done at all!! This old Lynx screen is what this mod was made for!! As you can see, there are lines, ghosting, fading, and missing pixels.. At this angle one can clearly see a wad of mixing pixels in the top left portion of the screen. BLEH!! So I asked my wife (Super Kitty) to help with this! ALL DONE!! Here is the VGA out and some LCD/VGA comparisons.. LCD VGA LCD VGA LCD VGA LCD close ups.. It's hard to take pictures of the first screen.. ..without getting critter butt-ridden and groped. This is the BEST THING you can do to the Lynx!! Are you a Mod or a Rocker? Edited March 19, 2015 by Papa 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clay Cowgill Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 I don't have one of these yet, but I had been working on something similar off and on for ages-- so just a couple datapoints from my tests back in 2011, but the data should still be pretty consistent: With a ~6.1V input from batteries and the Lynx 2 power rail outputting about 4.8V to the system, playing Xenophobe at full volume: (Original hardware) No Backlight = 185mA = 1.13W Backlight ON = 385mA = 2.35W So a little over half the Lynx 2's power budget went straight to the LCD (negligible) and backlight. At that same 4.8V, of the 1.13W operating power 49% of that is accounted for in five components: C302284-001 = 0.065W C301719-001 = 0.264W DRAM (combined) = 0.232W Cart = 0.0016W (average) A modern 3.5" TFT LCD with LED backlight should be around ~425mW give or take and I'd assume that even with regulation losses and the CPLD+SRAMs in the adapter that wouldn't add up to much more than another 100mW? The display swap will likely save half a watt or so-- pretty close to 30% of the battery life. -Clay 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insert Coin Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 I just remembered something, maybe an idea for those of you who are going to install the LCD mod: to insulate the VGA plug screws I used heat shrinking tube instead of hot glue - very easy to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoyx Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 (edited) Post wasn't meant for this thread. Edited March 20, 2015 by Zoyx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emehr Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 I finished my screen mod last night. There are simply not enough letters in "Wow!". My Lynx now feels like a new system. The colors are rich, the ghosting is gone, and the viewing angle is superb. And the one thing I can really rejoice in, as a longtime Lynx owner: the backlight is evenly distributed! I played Steel Talons last night and for the first time my eyes didn't strain at the low contrast colors. It was blissful. If you are on the fence about getting this, let this be an endorsement to get it. This is the screen the Lynx deserves. A big "Thank you!" to McWill for producing this mod and getting it distributed. It's a professional piece of kit that I think every in-service Lynx should have. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaztee Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 Got mine done today & no matter how many times I've read about the difference, or seen the pictures, actually seeing it for yourself -OMG absolutely bloody awesome. Can't wait for this to work with the Lynx 1. This is how EVERY Lynx should be! Make it happen people 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McWill Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 Got mine done today & no matter how many times I've read about the difference, or seen the pictures, actually seeing it for yourself -OMG absolutely bloody awesome. Can't wait for this to work with the Lynx 1. This is how EVERY Lynx should be! Make it happen people Now it works also with the LYNX-I !!! The boards are the same, but the firmware of the CPLD isn't the same! So if you want to order, I have to know your version of LYNX: LYNX-I or LYNX-II At present I am making the quick guide for the LYNX-I mod. Then this mod also will be available begin of April. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+remowilliams Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 Now it works also with the LYNX-I !!! The boards are the same, but the firmware of the CPLD isn't the same! So if you want to order, I have to know your version of LYNX: LYNX-I or LYNX-II At present I am making the quick guide for the LYNX-I mod. Then this mod also will be available begin of April. Woohoo! I think I'm going to have to mod my Lynx-I if I ever intend to have anyone play multiplayer again after they've seen the new LCD... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7800fan Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 All Lynx 1? I remember when reading through Candle's LCD work that a few Lynx 1 had soldered on LCD rather than easy connector which would mean some work to remove the old LCD. I haven't had any Lynx 1 to take apart so I can't be sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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