Tindie
Low Budget
Overall Rating:
All Reviews
Chris | April 18, 2022
A great project that works great!
For NESessity v1.4 Replacement PCB for NES Console
I previously bought the V1.3 of the NESessity, and more recently the 1.4. Both are great, tons of fun to put together, and work reliably. It's nice to know I'll have two NES's with modern parts that will last me for years to come. (assuming the CPU and PPU hold out). I have put the NESRGB mod in both versions, and they both look great. I'm looking forward to getting some more so I can put them together for friends.
Miguel | Dec. 8, 2021
Great product, worked first try
For NESessity v1.4 Replacement PCB for NES Console
I bought this a while ago (v1.3) but I've just put it together last week.
It was pretty easy to build and the instructions were clear.
I had to look for some alternatives in components since some where out of stock but nothing major.
v1.4 shows some nice improvements, like the optional AV board for the NESRGB without cutting the case, but v1.3 included a nice board with a drilling template to properly align the holes for installing the 2 din connectors included in Tim Worthington's NESRGB kit.
I put together the NES with the stock composite video and it looked really good (for composite at least). Later I added the NESRGB. In order for the composite video generated from the NESRGB to work properly, you need to remove the 220uf cap and connect a wire to a specific and well marked point. I was experiencing an issue where I was getting some speckles in the picture, something unexpected since my PPU revision is G, one of the latest revisions and I only noticed with the NESRGB installed (for composite and RGB video). What I did to solve that was to remove the transistor located in the composite video circuit where I removed the cap. After that it works just fine. I got this idea because the Hi Def Nes solution had a similar issue when that transistor were left in circuit.
The only complain I have is the shipping packaging, a plain letter envelop that won't protect the PCB well. I was lucky to get it in one piece.
Overall, I'm very satisfied and I'm planning getting other later just because is so cool.
It was pretty easy to build and the instructions were clear.
I had to look for some alternatives in components since some where out of stock but nothing major.
v1.4 shows some nice improvements, like the optional AV board for the NESRGB without cutting the case, but v1.3 included a nice board with a drilling template to properly align the holes for installing the 2 din connectors included in Tim Worthington's NESRGB kit.
I put together the NES with the stock composite video and it looked really good (for composite at least). Later I added the NESRGB. In order for the composite video generated from the NESRGB to work properly, you need to remove the 220uf cap and connect a wire to a specific and well marked point. I was experiencing an issue where I was getting some speckles in the picture, something unexpected since my PPU revision is G, one of the latest revisions and I only noticed with the NESRGB installed (for composite and RGB video). What I did to solve that was to remove the transistor located in the composite video circuit where I removed the cap. After that it works just fine. I got this idea because the Hi Def Nes solution had a similar issue when that transistor were left in circuit.
The only complain I have is the shipping packaging, a plain letter envelop that won't protect the PCB well. I was lucky to get it in one piece.
Overall, I'm very satisfied and I'm planning getting other later just because is so cool.
Lars | Oct. 29, 2021
Incredibly happy with NESessity
For NESessity v1.4 Replacement PCB for NES Console
Just finished this project and I have to say that NESessity is something I definitely do not regret that I bought. I have built NES motherboards more than once and NESessity was amazing to work with.
NESessity has a couple of extra features I really appreciate, such as when it comes to simple connections, brand new power AV board with "stereo sound" and Famicom friendly things like microphone. Yes, it actually splits audio channels to the left and right speakers, which I think was a fun feature.
Do I recommend this to other enthusiasts out there? Definitely!
If there is one thing I want to point out is that the shipment was not good. I was surprised that it was not broken when I opened the box. The PCB boards were in a box without any protection and they were completely loose. No bags, no nothing, just the cardboard box.
NESessity has a couple of extra features I really appreciate, such as when it comes to simple connections, brand new power AV board with "stereo sound" and Famicom friendly things like microphone. Yes, it actually splits audio channels to the left and right speakers, which I think was a fun feature.
Do I recommend this to other enthusiasts out there? Definitely!
If there is one thing I want to point out is that the shipment was not good. I was surprised that it was not broken when I opened the box. The PCB boards were in a box without any protection and they were completely loose. No bags, no nothing, just the cardboard box.
Steven | Sept. 30, 2021
Very pleased with this product
For NESessity v1.4 Replacement PCB for NES Console
I had seen the video from Long Island Retro on You Tube and immediately I had to do this. Understand I am pretty much a beginner with projects like this. I have modded a few Gameboys but nothing this big.
I went to order and it was out of stock so I joined the waiting list. I was then notified as soon as it was available and I immediately ordered it. Good thing too as I checked an hour later and it was sold out again.
I then took the BOM and ordered everything I could from DigiKey. Unfortunately in this time of a pandemic parts can be hard to come by. I ended up getting everything I needed but 5 parts. 4 of them I was able to find on Ali Express but the last one (Which was a 50k potentiometer) alluded me until DigiKey listed a part I could use instead of the original.
Having eventually received all the parts (The stuff from China took almost a month to get) I spent a week of evenings in my workshop soldering everything together.
Overall it was pretty easy and I am loving the results. This is probably the 1st project I have done that I didn't have a broken solder joint or reversed a capacitor. Everything went in perfect and it worked the 1st time. The display resolution is amazing (I'm using composite although I may mod it for HDMI at some point) and the sound is perfect.
This is a great product and I appreciate you all for coming up with it and selling it at an affordable price.
I went to order and it was out of stock so I joined the waiting list. I was then notified as soon as it was available and I immediately ordered it. Good thing too as I checked an hour later and it was sold out again.
I then took the BOM and ordered everything I could from DigiKey. Unfortunately in this time of a pandemic parts can be hard to come by. I ended up getting everything I needed but 5 parts. 4 of them I was able to find on Ali Express but the last one (Which was a 50k potentiometer) alluded me until DigiKey listed a part I could use instead of the original.
Having eventually received all the parts (The stuff from China took almost a month to get) I spent a week of evenings in my workshop soldering everything together.
Overall it was pretty easy and I am loving the results. This is probably the 1st project I have done that I didn't have a broken solder joint or reversed a capacitor. Everything went in perfect and it worked the 1st time. The display resolution is amazing (I'm using composite although I may mod it for HDMI at some point) and the sound is perfect.
This is a great product and I appreciate you all for coming up with it and selling it at an affordable price.