Introduction:

This guide will walk you through the installation of Funny Playing’s IPS LCD Kit for the GBA SP. Retro Modding urges you to treat this LCD upgrade as if you are replacing the LCD in your mobile phone. We expect you to take great care, and assume liability if something is to become damaged during the installation. We expect you to have pre-existing soldering knowledge, and experience working with fragile electronics. Please kindly note that we can not accept any returns or offer refunds on IPS kits that were damaged in installation.

As well, this mod requires some precise shell trimming. While this guide will show you how to perform the required trimming, we recommend you purchase one of our machine-trimmed SP shells. Please note that we can not accept any returns or offer refunds on IPS kits that were damaged as a result of an improperly trimmed shell.

From left to right: AGS-001, AGS-101, IPS LCD

Required Materials:

• Funny Playing IPS Kit for the SP
• Tri-Wing and Philips head screwdrivers
• Pre-trimmed SP shell for the IPS display (recommended)
• Rotary Tool (Optional: For DIY trimming)
• Double-sided tape (Optional)
• Soldering Iron & Solder (Optional: for brightness controller)
• Game Boy Advance SP

Step 1: Disassembly

The first thing you will be required to do in order to install the LCD is disassemble your SP. If you have never done this before, we will be posting a guide on this at a later date. Be sure to keep all the small pieces, like screws and screw caps, together in a safe place to avoid losing them.

Step 2: Trimming

If you haven’t ordered one of our pre-trimmed shells, you will need to trim your SP shell now. You will need to trim the top portion of the shell in order to allow space for the IPS ribbon cable. Refer to the pictures below to see what needs to be trimmed. Please be cautious with this trimming; as mentioned above, we cannot offer any returns on products damaged by an improperly trimmed shell.

Step 3: Install the LCD

Position the LCD in your trimmed shell. If you trimmed the shell yourself, you may also need to insert the included foam pad in the shell behind the LCD, in order to make the LCD flush with the shell. 

Connect the ribbon cable to the LCD. You can use a small piece of double-sided tape to secure the ribbon cable to the back of the LCD. Be sure to twirl the ribbon cable around the hinge, in order to avoid closing the ribbon cable in the hinge and causing damage. Refer to the photo below to see how the ribbon cable should look. 

Insert the other end of the ribbon cable into the socket on the PCB of your Game Boy, and close each of the side tabs. Be sure that both tabs are closed; the tabs have a tendency to release when the opposite tab is closed.

Step 4: Solder the Brightness Controller (Optional)

Finally, use the included wire to connect the IPS to the brightness controller. Simply solder one end to the soldering point on the IPS ribbon cable, and the other end to the contact on the PCB labeled Q12B. 

Step 5: Reassembly

At this point, your IPS is installed and ready to go! The only thing left to do is reassemble your console, and enjoy your favourite GBA games on your new ISP display.