During a general cleaning of the apartment, I found the “body” of the legendary console of the 2000s. PSP was once considered the standard of portable consoles and was a desirable gadget when gaming on mobile platforms was just emerging.
I looked into Wikipedia and found out that the console is celebrating its anniversary this year. Instead of resurrecting the old console, Sony is releasing the rather strange PS Portal.
I decided to restore my “piha” and remember my favorite games from 20 years ago.
A Brief History of Sony’s Handheld Consoles
◈ PSP-1000, FAT or “fat girl”, was released at the end of 2004. This is the largest model of the entire line, which also received the most capacious battery – 1800 mAhThe RAM capacity was 32 MB, and the case housed an outdated IR port.
◈ PSP-2000, Slim or “slimka”, went on sale in the fall of 2007. The console became 33% lighter and 19% thinner than its predecessor. The battery in the model was reduced to 1200 mAhbut the RAM capacity has increased to 64 MB. And the IR port has been completely removed from the device.
◈ PSP-3000 was released just a year later – in the fall of 2008. The technical specifications remained almost unchanged, the model received a slightly brighter screen and a built-in microphone.
◈ PSP Go – a complete redesign of the line, which happened in 2009. The console was made in the form of a side slider. The console became smaller, and the screen also decreased from 4.3″ to 3.8″. The model did not gain much popularity due to its controversial design. It also had a weak battery – only 930 mAh.
◈ PSP-E1000or Streetis the latest generation of the console, which was released in 2011. The developers unexpectedly decided to present a budget console, which did not have wireless modules and had only one speaker. But the console returned to its previous size and case format.
The entire line was produced for more than 7 years, but during all this time it worked on the same processors. MIPS R4000 333 MHzand the amount of RAM has not increased since the second version.
Follower of the line PSP became the PS Vita, which was shown at the end of 2011, but that’s a completely different story.
Why We Need PlayStation Vita in 2023
This is what a cool modern portable console looked like during the first generations of the iPhone.
What needs to be replaced in my PSP
I have that same “fat girl” lying around, which will be 20 years old at the end of the year. A quick inspection revealed that the device needs to be restored in the following way:
◈ new batterythe old one has long since swelled and gone to the scrap heap – 854 rub.
◈ memory card slotin the old one the latch broke and the cards did not lock – 67 rub.
◈ microSD adapterso as not to use your own expensive memory cards – 140 rub.
◈ rubber pads for buttonssome keys started to stick – 75 rub.
◈ new buttonsthe original ones have turned yellow from old age, and the bottom panel has even cracked a little – 268 rub.
How did I know all this if the console was without a battery, you ask? Very simple – if there was such a cable The PSP runs on AC power without a battery.
In total, it is enough to restore the old console Total 1500 rub. If your units do not have the entire list of faults listed, repairs will cost less than a thousand. Most often, replacing the battery will be enough.
How to Restore Old PSP
The console was released at a time when everything could be repaired independently. To do this, you do not need to buy a special set of unique screwdriver bits and watch dozens of guides on YouTube. We inspect the console and unscrew all visible screws to remove the top panel. Okay, there are still some small difficulties, several screws are hidden behind stickers in the battery connector.
Just in case, above is a video of the complete disassembly of the console. To replace the specified elements, you will only need the first few minutes of the video.
The sequence of actions is as follows:
1. Turn off the console and remove the battery.
2. We unscrew the screw on the bottom end under the screen, and then two more on the right side of the back cover.
3. We remove the stickers in the connector under the battery and unscrew a couple more screws.
4. Carefully pry up the top part of the case and remove it.
At this stage, you can make most of the simple upgrades: change the buttons, rubber pads, bumpers, or the bottom panel of the keys. Even the top cover can be replaced.
5. To get deeper, you will need to remove the display and dismantle a few more components.
I thought I would have to do the same to resolder the memory card slot. It turned out that a fragment of the old card had gotten stuck in it, which was supporting the lock. Before removing the display, I decided to blow it out and shake the console well, a piece of plastic fell out of it, and the card began to be inserted with a lock.
6. When all the necessary elements have been replaced, we assemble the console in reverse order.
7. Install a new battery and enjoy classic games without ads and donations.
What else can be replaced or improved in PSP
Here are a few more ideas for future upgrades:
◈ Replace the body completely. The old original case has long lost its marketable appearance. It is covered with scratches and small cracks, especially the front cover. You can not only replace it, but also completely change the color of the console or even choose a transparent case. With it, the filling of the device will be visible, which makes this mod even more attractive.
On the other hand, this requires completely disassembling the PSP and reassembling it in a new case. In reviews, buyers often complain about the poor quality of components, not all fasteners are marked correctly, and all this literally has to be finished with a file.
First, I’ll try to thoroughly wipe the old case with alcohol wipes, and then I’ll decide on this improvement. Perhaps I’ll replace only the front panel of the console.
◈ Install IPS screen. But this is a cooler and more necessary upgrade. AliExpress sells screen replacement kits for PSP and this is no longer an outdated TFT matrix, but a newer modern IPS analog. The colors on it look more saturated, and the maximum brightness is much higher than the standard.
When replacing, you need minimal soldering skills; you will only need to short-circuit a couple of contacts on the console board.
◈ Add Type-C connector. Enthusiasts have learned how to install a modern charging port, especially in the first version of the “fat girl”. To do this, you need to free up some space inside and dismantle a few parts. But then it will be easier to charge the console, and the gadget will also be able to work from a PowerBank.
◈ Increase battery capacity. There are several guides on how to remove the UMD drive from the console (games used to be distributed on special disks) and install an additional battery instead.
How the Legendary PSP Was Hacked
The mod is relevant, Chinese analogues of batteries for PSP are of average quality. They give at best 1.5-2 hours of play on one charge. While the original batteries gave autonomy at the level of 5-6 hours. Finding a live original battery is extremely difficult, but installing an additional battery from a smartphone instead of a disk drive is quite possible.
What’s the bottom line?
The seller mixed up the color of the buttons and put pink ones instead of white ones. It turned out to be a girly version of the PSP
I am completely satisfied with the work done. In an hour and a half, I was able to restore my favorite console from my youth. A great way to reminisce and show the kids the games we played 20 years ago. The price of restoration is reasonable, and no skills in working with complex microelectronics are required.
In the future I think I’ll update the case and replace the screen with an IPS one. This will be enough to occasionally play on the old console and enjoy it.
I recommend that anyone who has a similar device lying around take some time and remember the once cool PSP.
Source: www.iphones.ru
