How to Make a Portable Game System

Step 13 Add the Cartridge Connector

What you need:
72 pin 0.1" Spacing Card-Edge Connector
Soldering Iron

If you want to keep the original cartridge connector, you may do so. I decided to use a new one, to make the portable thinner. You need to get a connector that has 72 pins and 0.1" spacing. Here is a suitable connector, and here is one with cheaper shipping.

Take the connector and press the pins close together so that they grip the NES board when you slide it on.

Simply, start soldering. This doesn't take long. Apply iron. Add solder. Repeat.

The soldered connector is very strong, and shouldn't need any support.

Comments

[srioux-1]

My nes says on ebay it comes with a 72 pin cartridge is that what youre relocating or is it something different

[geigue]

Another connector you can use is one you can unsolder from a Game Genie if you want to.

[TheLHP]

Is there an alternative place to buy the pin connector? that site 'electronic surplus' is making me pay $25 for that $5 piece..minimum of $15 and shipping is $10, thats outrageous!

[1up]

Oh, wow. Well, I don't know of any other places at the moment, but you can just search for a 72-pin, 0.1-inch, card-edge connector. Maybe you could find one on Mouser, Jameco, or Digikey.

[TheLHP]

ok i'll look around, thanks :) you didn't have to pay that extra money on their site? or did you already have one?

[1up]

There actually used to be a different site linked here, but they stopped selling them. I got two for $10 including shipping.

[TheLHP]

Wow that's really cheap lol, I found this site if you would like to post it in addition to the other one: http://www.surplussales.com/ComputerAccess/con_edge.html (card connectors with the 72-pin .1 inch page) it's slightly cheaper than the other store

[roostertoo]

I live in a pal region, would this 72 pin connecter in particullar work on my nes?

[1up]

The PAL NES's have 60-pin connectors, don't they? And it's a Famicom, not an NES, correct? So, no, it would not. Try searching on that site for a 60-pin .1-inch spacing connector. Or, you might be able to desolder the connector from your Famicom.

[NoahM]

Europe had the 72-pin NES. Only Japan had the Famicom.
Japan always gets the special stuff, and earlier.

[heythisisbert]

And what technique would I use if I were doing a CD based system, particularly the dreamcast? How do the CD drive relocations work?

[1up]

They're the same, but the connections are much smaller. You need to be a good solderer.

[SjBishop]

What "Technique" would I use if i wanted where you put the cartridge in to be behind the board near the bottom. Ive seen someone use a bunch of wires so that the black thing where you put the games could be moved farther away.

[1up]

It's called a cartridge slot relocation. It's just where you take a whole bunch of wires and "extend" the slot. It takes a long time, but worth it if you're short on room or just want it somewhere else.