Pi SNES

I purchased an old non functional SNES and decided to put a Raspberry Pi inside to transform it into a retro-gaming emulator. The project is simple: graft a new heart to an "out-of-order" SNES. In order to modernize the controllers to play with other consoles and minimize the SNES destruction, I 3D-printed a new front panel. This making didn't require many electronic or computer skills. It 's more like a lego building.

I used :

• 1x Raspberry Pi B
• 1x HDMI extension cable
• 1x network extension cable
• 1x microUSB extension cable
• 2x USB extension cables (like this)
• 2x USB male connectors
• 1x mausberry chip (details here)
• 1x 5V sector adaptor (compatible SNES)
• 2x XBOX360 controllers

The first step is to take the SNES apart and to cut all the unnecessary stuff inside in order to make some space.

Then I reproduced a more simple front panel on Sketchup and placed two USB connectors instead of the normal ones. I printed the piece on a friend's 3D-printer, removed the plastic needed to print correctly and fixed the USB connectors.

Finally, I tested the piece in place.

Now that I have the front panel done, I need to work on the back panel and the buttons.

I cut a hole for the Ethernet connector, the HDMI fits well into the old image connector. I kept the power jack and connected a micro USB connector at the other side. I "hot glued" everything in place.

The start button is easy to manage. I unplugged it from the motherboard and reconnected it on the mausberry chip.

To keep the reset button up without the motherboard, I removed the button and placed it on a piece of board at the right place.

To show the life inside, I got the LED back from the controller board and put it back inside with hot glue. With this LED, you can check that the functional mess is working :).

Finally I connected everything, before creating the SD.

I decided to use Lakka as RetroPi distribution. It is a "nothing to do" distribution based on Openelec and the USB controllers are directly recognized. There is a clear tutorial on their website.

To use the mausberry circuit, you need to add some daemon code on the Pi. No problem: a tutorial is available here.

Load some games and have fun ! :)

I hope that you enjoyed reading this instructable and that you will create your own Pi SNES. Sorry if the English was not clear but I’m not a native English speaker.

You can find more DIY projects on our French blog.