Console 2 of 2 for this order was an original PlayStation, model SCPH 5501. Surprisingly, the entire shell was in very nice shape and no visible yellowing like you see so many with these days! Except for the rear port flap but I had to run a PC Engine through the retro bright box so I just tossed that in on the side easily!
Anyways, first order of business like for any console getting a “Full Service Cleaning” was to completely teardown the PS1 and separate all plastic parts of the shell, buttons etc. and get them soaking.
While that was going on, I got the hot tweezers fired up and ready as well as my FR301 desoldering gun and started pulling old caps off both the PSU and mainboard for the Full Recap Service
Both boards were then dusted and deep cleaned with ISO, and all new caps from Console5 installed!
The biggest undertaking on this order was installation of the X-Station ODE! I started by using my chisel tip iron, heating up each leg and lifting the 8 pins from the CDX2545Q chip. While you can just bend the legs up over the chip I never do that as you are greatly increasing your odds they will snap if someone ever wants to resolder them to the board and return the console to stock. So I typically bend them up about halfway, and although the odds of them ever contacting the board is slim to none, I still clean and apply some kapton tape to the now empty pads below. Takes a few minutes of effort to follow the best practice so that’s how we roll!
Then our attention flips to the board underside where a few vias need to be scraped/exposed and solder the QSB in place. Very easy task, then removing one resistor and soldering a single wire across to the QSB.
Since I was focusing on the underside I figured now was the best time to do the final request, an In-Game Reset mod install! This small board sends reset signals to the system and can restart the current game with a short pulse or back to the X-Station menu with a long pulse command. Very handy and almost essential when using an ODE!
This board is super easy to install, only 7 wires to connect and very short and simple runs, I had not ever installed this particular board but luckily the always great ConsolesUnleashed has a nice visual guide for any IGR mod based off PyroESP’s work.
Once the board was in place I went around and cleaned up unspent flux and did a quick test with multimeter to make sure all points on the board were toning out to the flex connector on the QSB… this saves lots of time disassembling later if there’s an issue
Not too long ago I added a small extra charge where the customer can add an SD Extension kit to their install fee. This covers just the SD Extender itself and my time assembling it with a 3D print. I don’t charge anything for the prints themselves as they are available for free at Printables. Customer wanted black and I had printed this ahead of time so really it was just a matter of attaching the X-Station mainboard onto the top shield, connecting flex, then attaching the extender ribbon and snapping the 3D printed bracket in place. These go a long way to giving you a nice clean finish and make accessing the SD card much easier for later SD additions or changes!
Before screwing top lid back on I hooked everything up and put in the customers SD card they had provided, along with the latest X-Station firmware from GitHub. It booted right away, took the firmware update and I was able to test some of the customers games out, as well as the IGR kit by resetting to main menu and to X-Station menu!
With that testing done, I signed off with a JRG sticker, closed it up and let it run on the bench for a few hours and tested some more games. Another dual order done and headed back to customer 👍