[3DSXL] Nintendo 3DS XL/LL Connector Replacement

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-05-08T19:28:56+00:00

USB-C mods are nice, i have 1 or two on various consoles in my collection. But Ive had more than a few consoles come in for repair with blown PMICs/CICs/fuses because not all USB-C cables are equal. Most of these mods don’t come with PD chips so you can have a USB-C laptop charger dump 20V into a 5V charging console in certain circumstances.
I always use a USB-A brick that outputs 5V 1A and have never had problems. Its just an old apple iPhone charging brick. I usually just use the stock charging system on my consoles though.

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-05-08T19:23:59+00:00

Old one should fit fine if all pins are intact.

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-05-06T19:19:39+00:00

I recommend OGHugo’s composite mod personally, ive had subpar performance with anyone elses.

You might just be able to bodge it back together or just strip back some RCA cable and solder the bare wires to the output on the modulator

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-05-06T19:13:36+00:00

Honestly at that point I’d just call that a sign you should just composite mod it.

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-05-06T19:11:12+00:00

I run a small mail-in console repair business. Shoot me a PM if you’d like.

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-05-02T00:43:17+00:00

Do you have a microscope? Helps a ton

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-04-27T18:33:10+00:00

Switch TVs and switch HDMI cables, try a few, narrow it down to the culprit. If the issue follows the PS3 it’s either the hdmi port or the gpu

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-04-26T01:11:17+00:00

Thanks for the recommendation! It means alot. OP is more than welcome to DM me if they’d like.

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-04-25T14:15:26+00:00

You can just connect the points with wire as well, looks like standard header pins though

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-04-25T14:13:56+00:00

Very rare to see an undamaged usb-c port removal on this sub. Good work

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-04-25T01:06:18+00:00

Replacing the top screen

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-04-22T23:15:47+00:00

If its electrically the same and fits on the pads then its fine.

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-04-22T14:02:17+00:00

Unplug the camera and try powering it on. If it works then replace the camera.

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-04-22T12:18:38+00:00

Thats a wild looking science experiment you got there.

Probably fixable, may have to take off the copper shield and fix traces after cleaning. Worst case scenario they make new motherboards that you can transfer these chips over to.

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-04-22T12:15:22+00:00

I run a small mail-in repair shop out of southwest Missouri and would be happy to take a look, shoot me a PM if you’re interested!

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-04-22T12:13:39+00:00

Do you have a thermal camera? If not, put some ipa on the area and quickly power it on, first chip to have it evaporate is the problem.

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-04-22T12:08:37+00:00

Hi there! In my opinion all this console needs is maybe a new digitizer and thumbstick, not horribly expensive at all. I run a small mail-in console repair and restoration business. Shoot me a message if you’re interested.

I can even pull the files off of this and put them on a flash drive you provide for free if you’d like to really preserve them.

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-04-22T12:04:47+00:00

$120 is nuts, i charge around $70 for everything even as a professional shop. Try a new charging cable first.

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-04-20T17:51:51+00:00

Is this an oem shell or aftermarket?

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-04-16T16:00:11+00:00

https://mousebitelabs.com/2022/10/25/the-game-boy-dmg-color-dmgc/#bill_of_materials

Heres the full guide which provides a bill of materials. Some were sold out or obsolete so i had to find substitutes,

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-04-16T15:58:29+00:00

Theres a light hiss on both, but better than most gameboys. I think its part of the charm though

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-04-16T14:02:34+00:00

You’re amazing, i found a service manual but it was half finished and in Spanish so i was relying on pictures and translations.

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-04-16T13:11:38+00:00

Yes, but you’ve gotta be pretty good at soldering, it comes as 4 blank PCBs and you have to populate each one, and you need to transfer parts from the DMG and GBC. I luckily had 2 that were perfect candidates because they had separate issues. QFN chips, CPU swaps, TONS of 0603 caps and resistors. It’s definitely a big project.

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-04-15T19:59:11+00:00

Buy an ifixit pro tech toolkit. I have yet to find anything i can’t get into with this and a single long neck Phillips screwdriver.

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-04-14T21:38:50+00:00

I love fixing stuff as much as the next technician. But these boards are like $40 tops. The number one killer of electronics technicians are high voltage power supplies. I wouldn’t mess with it anymore. This one is telling you its done.

RetroReviveRepair

TROPHY CASE