PS4 Slim handheld modder shows cut motherboard and internal layout
The Blu-ray controller was moved to a removable update card.
The modder behind the portable PlayStation 4 Slim project has now shown the internals of the system. This follows our report from January (it’s the same project), where the same Reddit user “wewillmakeitnow” presented a working PS4 Slim handheld with a 7-inch 1080p OLED screen and battery-powered operation.
The new Reddit post shows how much work was needed to fit PS4 Slim hardware into a handheld shell. According to the modder, the project took almost one year and was not made only for short demonstrations or photos. The goal was to build a stable handheld PS4 that could run for longer gaming sessions.
How the motherboard was cut
The biggest change is the motherboard itself. The modder says part of the PS4 Slim board had to be cut and redesigned to reduce its size. This is not a normal board swap or enclosure mod, but a much deeper hardware conversion. Needless to say, you need to know exactly where to cut to avoid cutting the important components, but if you get it right, you will have the motherboard just right for the size of a handheld.
Source: wewillmakeitnow/Reddit
There was also one issue with the Blu-ray controller chip. On PS4 hardware this chip normally cannot be removed without causing update problems. To work around this, the modder created a removable module called the “PS4 Portable Update Card,” which can apparently be used when the console needs updates.
Cooling also required custom work. The heatpipe covers the RAM, while airflow is routed across the full board. The modder says the PS4 components outside the APU also generate heat, including VRMs, RAM, SSD and southbridge.
Source: wewillmakeitnow/Reddit
The battery pack is built in a 3S2P layout. In a comment, the modder also gave updated runtime examples, saying the handheld can run Uncharted 4 at 1080p for around 1 hour and 30 minutes, or Rayman Legends at 1080p for around 3 hours. The project is still described as a personal mod and is not for sale.
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