Upgrading Gp2x, Internally...


odiexx

Still Fresh
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Jun 30, 2007
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I realize some emulation currently is not possible due to the fact the GP2X is just not powerful enough. Generally, this is due to the lack of any sort of 3D acceleration. Is there any possible (even feasible) way for someone to internally mod the GP2x and add in a sort of video card (chip), per se, onto the GP2x board itself?
 
Sure, if you have access to a bga rework station, and are prepared to get the modified units to developers so the code can be written to take care of it...

Otherwise, no.
 
odiexx said:
I realize some emulation currently is not possible due to the fact the GP2X is just not powerful enough. Generally, this is due to the lack of any sort of 3D acceleration. Is there any possible (even feasible) way for someone to internally mod the GP2x and add in a sort of video card (chip), per se, onto the GP2x board itself?
Sure :) Here's how:

1- Create daugher board with a 3D accelerator and run all of its control lines to little pads on one side of the PCB
2- Add a connector to this board that matches pinout and connector type that is on GP2X mainboard already
3- Run traces from power pins of LCD connector and 3D accelerator to pads on side of daughter card PCB
4 - Add logic on this PCB that lets you select the chip select line of the 3D accelerator or the USB chip
5- Run traces to pads on edge of board that have USB chip select IN, USB chip select OUT and a GPIO input
6 - solder all address, data, read/write lines onto USB chip pins and connect to corresponding pins on daughter card
7- cut the chip select line to USB chip right before the chip and connect it to USB CS IN on daughter card.
8- connect wire from USB CS OUT on daughter card to CS of USB chip
9 - connect all power/ground pins from daughter card to GP2X mainboard
10 - Find an unused (but accessible) GPIO pin on the GP2X's processor and connect to GPIO IN on daughter card. Now, if there isn't one then you have to pull the CS line high on the USB chip or make a switch so you can choose between having USB or 3D when the power is on.
11 - Connect LCD connector to daughter card.
12- Turn power on, pray to you your God :)
13- If no smoke, start coding ;)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
MWeston said:
odiexx said:
I realize some emulation currently is not possible due to the fact the GP2X is just not powerful enough. Generally, this is due to the lack of any sort of 3D acceleration. Is there any possible (even feasible) way for someone to internally mod the GP2x and add in a sort of video card (chip), per se, onto the GP2x board itself?
Sure :) Here's how:

1- Create daugher board with a 3D accelerator and run all of its control lines to little pads on one side of the PCB
2- Add a connector to this board that matches pinout and connector type that is on GP2X mainboard already
3- Run traces from power pins of LCD connector and 3D accelerator to pads on side of daughter card PCB
4 - Add logic on this PCB that lets you select the chip select line of the 3D accelerator or the USB chip
5- Run traces to pads on edge of board that have USB chip select IN, USB chip select OUT and a GPIO input
6 - solder all address, data, read/write lines onto USB chip pins and connect to corresponding pins on daughter card
7- cut the chip select line to USB chip right before the chip and connect it to USB CS IN on daughter card.
8- connect wire from USB CS OUT on daughter card to CS of USB chip
9 - connect all power/ground pins from daughter card to GP2X mainboard
10 - Find an unused (but accessible) GPIO pin on the GP2X's processor and connect to GPIO IN on daughter card. Now, if there isn't one then you have to pull the CS line high on the USB chip or make a switch so you can choose between having USB or 3D when the power is on.
11 - Connect LCD connector to daughter card.
12- Turn power on, pray to you your God :)
13- If no smoke, start coding ;)


You make it sound so easy, I'm off to hack up my Xbox 360 and solder the GPU into the GP2X :)
 
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Sounds like it's a case of, if the console were sufficiently large to have shops on every high street that not only sold, but also maintained and modded it, then it just might happen.

Since that's not the case, no chance...
 
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