Ever since buying one of the revised-LCD Gameboy SPs, my older Platinum one has been sitting in a corner doing much of nothing. It being a rainy Saturday, inspiration struck. I initially started this little project with the intention of finding out if the whole "no dead zone" issue on the revised SP's d-pad was a problem with the actual plastic d-pad itself or the spacer below it. Sadly, it's neither, as I still noticed the lack of a dead zone after this switch. Chances are something on the contacts on the PCB itself was changed enough to cause this difference. Still, as a small reward for the time wasted, I now at least have two somewhat unique looking SPs. They both functional perfectly fine and went back together snugly. Like most Nintendo hardware, it's pretty smartly designed outside and in. Anyways, here's how the process went down...
First, I gathered my tools. A small phillips screw driver, a small eyeglasses-type flathead screwdriver (if you don't have the official tri-way screwdriver, these will work if you apply enough pressure without stripping the screw) and, of course, only the finest in imported name-brand sodas.
The SPs in their splendid, naked glory. The revised SP actually has different designations on its ARM processor and came with a 3.8v Li-Ion battery versus the 3.7v one that came with my original SP. Do any of these small differences make a damn? I doubt it.
And here's the result. I think it actually adds a nice two-tone look to my newer SP, but I was surprised at how awesome black face buttons made the old SP look. Now if only its screen was worth a damn compared to the new one.
First, I gathered my tools. A small phillips screw driver, a small eyeglasses-type flathead screwdriver (if you don't have the official tri-way screwdriver, these will work if you apply enough pressure without stripping the screw) and, of course, only the finest in imported name-brand sodas.
The SPs in their splendid, naked glory. The revised SP actually has different designations on its ARM processor and came with a 3.8v Li-Ion battery versus the 3.7v one that came with my original SP. Do any of these small differences make a damn? I doubt it.
And here's the result. I think it actually adds a nice two-tone look to my newer SP, but I was surprised at how awesome black face buttons made the old SP look. Now if only its screen was worth a damn compared to the new one.
