This is a simple page to unite the information on how to do a PSP Consolized, using a PSP 3000 as a base.
First of all, I did not made this project.
This is the modification of the hard work of the Mexican Modder DavidXGames (https://www.youtube.com/@DAVIDXGAMESmx).
He did sometime ago the same thing, a PSP Consolized but using a PSP 2000, link to his video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVIgfFf5pms
What I did was based on his observations, improve a little the project, so, without him, nothing of this was possible.
Here his original project link, you will find some usefull information here: https://xgamesvideojuegos.blogspot.com/2023/06/psp-consolizer.html
This project intend to put a dead PSP in use again. So if you have a PSP that turns on but with the screen busted, or a bad battery, this project is perfect for you. You can always mod a good PSP, but in my understanding, it breaks the purpose of this project.
Do all the software modifications on the PSP, BEFORE consolizing it. Some quality of life homebrews, like ChronoSwitch or even the oficial Sony updater, refuses to run in the PSP Video out. So update anything that you need, install a permanent CFW, before removing the screen. It is possible to use the screen with the case, but it`s a pain, trust me.
I really recomend using the ARK-4 CFW ARK-4 Wiki, and there are some very good guides on the PSP Punk Website : Link
The magic is on the ESP32 module that you will write software on it latter. The ESP32 does the trick of sending the Power On Signal to the PSP and then sending the signal to enable the video out on the PSP. So, whenever you turn on the energy, the ESP32 module is started and takes care of booting the PSP and changing the video output.
Also, the ESP32 module operates like a receiver for popular Bluetooth controllers.
It works translating all the comands of a Bluetooth controller connected to it and sending it to the PSP, so you can control the PSP using a DualShock 4 controller for example. I reccomend using this controller (DualShock 4) , as it has the most simple pairing method (hold the SHARE + PS)
We also have two little boards (Digital Potentiometers) that does the trick of the Analog Stick inputs on the PSP.
You will need:
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01 ESP32-WROOM-32D Module (Buy the one without the pins soldered to the board, you will tank me latter)
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02 Flex Cables, 15 cm, 0,5 mm pitch and 10 Pins (Forward direction)
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01 Flex Cable, 15 cm, 0.5 mm pitch and 14 Pins (Forward direction)
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Some kind of Super Glue
I've put the 3D Printed case on Cults 3D.
PSP Consolized 3D Printable Case
I'm charging about U$ 10,00 for the STL Files.
On the future I plan oppening the model and putting it on Thingverse for free, for now its paywalled, sorry about that!
Gather all the eletronic materials, like the picture bellow :
I can't stress this enough, but ignoring it will give you a lot of headaches disassembling everything. So, flash your custom firmware, edit the Recovery Menu settings BEFORE dissambling the PSP, it's much easyer doing it with the PSP on it's original form factor, you have been warned!
1- For any of this work, you have to flash the ESP32 with the provided firmware here (Folder ESP32 Firmware) this is an essential part of the build.
2- Conect your ESP32 module via USB on your PC, it should apear on the Windows Device Manager like this :
Look for the "Silicon Labs CP210x USB to UART Bridge(COMx)" device, where X is the COM port on your PC. Take note of the COM port number, you will use it later.
3- To Flash the firmware on the ESP32 module, grab the "Flash_download_tool_3.9.2.zip" on this repository, extract it, and open the "flash_download_tool_3.9.2.exe" (sorry but Windows only instructions)
3.1 When openning the "Flash_download_tool_3.9.2" set it like the picture bellow:
3.2 After that, you have to load the firmware .bin files, included here on the folder "ESP32 Firmware" so you can write it on the ESP32 Module, so configure it like this:
And this :
3.3 Set the respective COM port, and hit START, the flashing process will take about 1 minute, and you will be able to see some info on your chip.
3.4 When the "FINISH" message appears, you can close the "Flash_download_tool_3.9.2"
And that's it, you are done, if you want to test if the module is working correctly, keep it connected to your computer USB, and try to pair it with a controller. If everything went right, the controller should pair and give a little vibration feedback. Also, if your ESP32 board has a bluetooth LED, it should light blue, indicating that a controller is connected.
Despite not that dificult and almost risk free for the PSP, you need to have some sort of soldering experience.
There are LOTS of Youtube tutorials on it, on this guide I will only discuss the best aproach on builing that worked for ME!
0 - So in this part, you are going to solder the FPC points to the ESP32 Board.
This part of the soldering, handles all the inputs on the PSP, like turning it on, changing the video out, and the buttons on the controller itself.
This is the basic eletronic diagram of the soldering needed, and the respective pins on the FPC boards and the ESP32 :
1- Place the components on the positions bellow, Attention on the orientation of the circuits, it will make your soldering job easier:
2- For good measure, use some isolation on the back of the components, like this :
I used some Kapton tape, to isolate the botton of the components
3- After that, place some super glue on the positions, don't exagerate on it, this is just to keep the components in place:
4- Wire up the pins of the FPC 3 to the ESP32, like this:
You Should have somenthing like this:
5- Wire up the pins of the FPC 2 to the ESP32, like this:
5- Wire up the pins of the FPC 1 to the ESP32, like this:
6- At the end, everything should look like this:
0 - First of all, grab the analog stick from your PSP, even if it is busted you can use it, grab it and dissambly it carrefully, so in the end you have this little piece:
1- You will need just this piece in the end:
2- Place a little bit of solder on the golden pads, like this :
3- Solder some colored wires with about 15 cm on the pads :
4-
5- Now, you have to solder the wires of the Analog Stick Board on the Digital Potentiometers and the ESP32, like this
6- On the digital potetiometer boards, you have to bridge the GND and CS Points on both boards, like this :
7- Also, you have to bridge the VH on both boards, and the VL Points, like this :
8- At the end, everything in place, have to look like this :
8-And the soldering part is done! Now let's go the finishing touches
0- Now we are on the finish line, we have to put the ribbon cables, and give power to the PSP
1- The diagram of powering up the devices, is like this :
2- Put the ribbon cables on the shell FPC boards, like this :
3 - Now, put the motherboard on place, and conect the Ribon cables from the FPC boards, on their respective connectors :
4- Take an special attention on the FPC 3 Ribbon cable, if you look, you will see that this connector has 11 pins, and the Ribbon cabble only 10 Pins. So you have to put the ribbon cable more to the right side, like the picture bellow, one pin will be out of the connector:
5- Now, put with everything in place, screw the motherboard on the case on the points indicated:
6- The final touch is putting the Analog Stick board on place, put a small double sided tape on the back :
7- And stick it in this position on the PSP Motherboard :
8 - And its done! Everthyng should look like this when finished :
9- Bonus - If you have a Screen working, do a power on test, it should go like this: The screen should turn on like a normal PSP boot, and after some seconds it will go black, meaning that the video out of the PSP was swichted sucessfully to the video out: Be EXTRA CAREFULL IF DOING THIS, the back of the PSP screen is full of metal, and if not carefull, you can fry the PSP
10 - After that, is time to organize the Ribbon cables and close the case, take your time doing this, put the top conver, but DONT SCREW IT YET. Take a few tests with the buttons, assure that the ribbon cables stayed in place, and then proced to close everything up.
11- Congratulations! You now have your PSP Consolized ! Enjoy it !
1- How do I hook it up on my TV?
Use the oficial PSP Component Cable, or the ones that are on AliExpress. If you use a scaller like the OSSC or the Retrotink (5X/4K) the oficial cables are the way to go, they have a good shielding
2- I hooked it up on my Scaller (OSSC/Retrotink) and the image is very small, what should I do?
Go to the Woobling Pixels Channel on YouTube, see one of his video tutorials on how to get the best image of the PSP on TV: OSSC and RetroTink 5x
3- Why the PSP resolution is one on the main menu, and another in Game?
I have no idea, ask Sony and tell me your discovery! Jokes asside, I solved this on my setup simply changing profiles. I start with the Wii profile for Wide, and after the game start, I switch to the optimized profile for PSP, based on the Woobling Pixels channel.
Be warned that the adjustment on for the games, messes up with the menu aspect ratio, the point is, for my understanding, we cant have a single profile that suits the menu resolution and in game resolution
4 - Can you do this for the PSP 2000
No and I don't have any plans on doing it. Use the DavidXGames video that I linked there and have fun.
5 - Why are you charging for the STL Files?
Because I spent a LOT of money on PLA filament to get it right, I've produced more than 30 cases to achieve what you are seeing here. So, for a limited time I'm charging for the STL files, so I can recoup some of the money spent on it. In the near future I plan relasing the Fusion 360 files and the STLs for free.
6 - Why the PSP asks me for the date and time every single boot?
Due to the long age of this devices, the capacitor clock on the motherboard is probably dead. So it will ask you every single time for it, I did not find any workarround on this.
7 - The boot time is somewhat long right?
Yes, it takes about one minute for you to see something on the tv screen, this is because the boot process is handled by the ESP32.
What it does is to send the power on signal to PSP, wait a few seconds and then change to the PSP video out. Essentially what the ESP32 is doing is holding the screen key on the PSP , so it can change to the TV out.
8 - Help ! I Was playing furiosly, and the screen went black
Just hold R3 on your controler, you probably tapped R3 while playing, and this button enables/disables the video out. Also, if you reboot the PSP, you have to hold R3 to bring the screen back again.
9 - The second analog stick is sending commands on the Screen, is this right?
Yes, its a expect behavior of the bluepad project that is running on the ESP32, I can't do anything on it.
1- To DavidXGames to bring this project to everyone on the retro community, without him nothing of this would be possible
2- My Wife for giving me the 3D printer as a gift on Christimas and fuelling my retrogaming dreams.
3- My Kids, they are the most messy and dedicated QA testers that I could have.
4- My fellow friends of the "Recapeiros" WhatsApp Group" those guys gave me the boost to finish this little project
If you want to contact me for anything, you can find my profile on Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/user/vsilvalopes/) or drop me an email on : vsilvalopes at gmail.com