Shinobi Scaler 2 is a reimagined, miniaturized GBS8200 for portablizers. Like the original GBS8200, it can convert 240p and 480i RGBs to 480p/720p/960p/1080p VGA, making it perfect for connecting retro video game consoles to modern LCDs.

Features

• 50 x 47mm 4-layer PCB (designed in KiCAD 8.99)
• Compatible with rama's GBS-Control
• 240p/480i RGBs input; 480p/720p/960p/1080p RGBHV/VGA/YPbPr output
• 0.1" PTHs for power and IO (can be mounted with pin headers on a carrier PCB)
• TV5725 scaler IC and 64Mbit SDRAM from GBS8200
• Integrated ESP8285 with Wi-Fi chip antenna
• Integrated CH343P for programming
• Integrated Si5351A clock generator
• Power from any 2.5V - 5.5V source (including 1S li-ion)
• Draws 1.2W, half the power of Shinobi 1!

Gallery

Shinobi 2 PCB

1Chip SNES RGBs upscaled to 640x480 VGA, displayed on ZJ050NA-08C LCD

Shinobi 2 testing and power measurement

Ordering

Recommended fabrication specs:

• 1mm-thick 4-layer PCB
• ENIG finish
• Solderpaste stencil for top side highly recommended

I maintain a Mouser project with most of the BOM.

You will still need to source a TV5725 and CH343P elsewhere. Cheap GBS8200s are available from AliExpress, eBay, DHGate, and Amazon if you'd like to harvest the TV5725 and SDRAM from one. TV5725s are available from AliExpress. CH343Ps are sold on LCSC and AliExpress.

Assembly

A bom.html file is included to facilitate assembly. Open it in your web browser and enjoy.

For a guide on how to assemble PCBs at home using a solderpaste stencil and hot plate, please see this document from the Thundervolt repo.

Programming

• Install the CH343P driver.
• Plug USB-C into Shinobi 2
• Verify COM port (or your platform's equivalent) is enumerating
• Open GBS-Control release of your choice in Arduino IDE (these steps assume you have already installed requisite libraries, etc.)
• Set up Tools menu as shown, select CH343P port under Port menu, then program

• When programming is complete, unplug Shinobi 2 and power it back up to access GBS-Control Wi-Fi AP
• After setting up your presets, you can edit line 7211 of the Arduino sketch as shown, then recompile & reupload to totally disable Wi-Fi. This saves ~150mW

To-do

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License

Solderpad Hardware License v2.1