How I restored an old PSP, a miracle console! 20 years have passed, what is good about it now

During a general cleaning of the apartment, I found a “body” of a classic console from the 2000s. PSP was once considered the standard of portable consoles and was a desirable gadget when games on mobile platforms were just emerging.

I looked at Wikipedia and found out that the console is celebrating its anniversary this year. Instead of resurrecting the old console, Sony is releasing the rather strange PS Portal.

I decided to restore my “piha” and remember my favorite games from 20 years ago.

A Brief History of Sony’s Handheld Consoles

◈ PSP-1000, THICK or “fat girl”, was released at the end of 2004. This is the largest model of the entire line, which also received the most capacious battery – 1800 mAhThe RAM capacity was 32 MB, and the case housed an outdated IR port.

◈ PSP-2000, Slim or “slimka”, which went on sale in the fall of 2007. The console became 33% lighter and 19% faster than its predecessor. The models had a reduced battery 1200 mAhbut the RAM capacity has increased to 64 MB. And the IR port has finally been removed from the device.

◈ PSP-3000 came out just a year later – in the fall of 2008. The technical characteristics remained almost unchanged, the model received a slightly more memorable screen and a built-in microphone.

◈ PSP Go – a complete redesign of the line, which took place in 2009. The console was made in the form of a side slider. The console became smaller, and the screen also decreased from 4.3″ to 3.8″. The model did not gain much popularity due to its controversial design. It also had a weak battery – only 930 mAh.

◈ PSP-E1000or Streetis the premiere of the latest generation, presented in 2011. The developers unexpectedly decided to present a budget console, which did not have wireless modules and had only one speaker. To do this, the console returned to its previous size and shape of the case.

The entire line was produced for more than 7 years, but all this time it worked on the same processors. MIPS R4000 333 MHzThe amount of RAM has not increased since the second version.

Length Follower PSP became the PS Vita, which appeared at the end of 2011, but that’s a completely different story.

This is how the iPhone looked like a cool modern portable console during the advanced eras.

What needs to be replaced in my PSP

I have that same “fat girl” lying around, which will be 20 years old at the end of the year. A quick inspection revealed that the device needs to be restored to the following:

◈ new batterythe old one has long since swelled and gone to waste – 854 rubles.

◈ memory card slotin the old condition the latch broke and the card did not lock in place – 67 rubles.

◈ microSD adapterto avoid using the memory of native roads on the map – 140 rubles.

◈ rubber pads for buttonssome keys started to stick – 75 rubles.

◈ new buttonsthe original ones have turned yellow from old age, and the bottom panel has even cracked a little – 268 rubles.

How did I know all this if the console was without a battery, ask you. It’s very simple – with such a cable, the PSP works from an outlet without a battery.

The result of the restoration of previous consoles is quite Total 1500 rub. If your copies do not have all the registered breakdowns, the repair will cost less than a thousand. Most often, it will be enough to replace the battery.

How to Restore Old PSP

The console was released at a time when everything could be repaired independently. To do this, you do not need to buy a special set of unique screwdriver bits and watch dozens of guides on YouTube. We inspect the console and unscrew all visible screws to remove the top panel. Okay, there is still a small difficulty, several screws are attached to the stickers in the battery connector.

Just in case, above is a video of the complete disassembly of the console. To replace the specified elements, it will take only a few minutes of video.

The sequence of actions is below:

1. Turn off the console and remove the battery.

2. We unscrew the screw on the end of the end under the display, and then two more on the right side of the back cover.

3. We remove the sticks into the connector under the battery and unscrew a couple more screws.

4. Carefully lift the upper part of the body and remove it.

At this stage, most of the upgrades can be done: replace buttons, rubber pads, bumpers or rear panel keys. Even the top cover can be replaced.

5. To get deeper, you will need to remove the display and dismantle a few more components.

I thought that the consequences would do the same to re-solder the memory card slot. It turned out that a fragment of the old card got stuck in it, which supported the retainer. Before removing the display, I decided to blow it out and shake the console well, a piece of plastic fell out of it, and the card began to be produced with a fixation.

6. When all the necessary elements have been replaced, we assemble them in reverse order.

7. Install a new battery and enjoy classic games without ads and donations.

What else can be fixed or improved in PSP

Here are a few more ideas for future upgrades:

◈ Replace the body completely. The old original case has long lost its marketable appearance. It is covered with scratches and small cracks, especially on the front cover. You can not only change the replacement, but also completely change the color of the console or even choose clean keys. With it, the filling of the device will be visible, which will make this mod even more attractive.

On the other hand, this requires completely disassembling the PSP and reassembling it in a new case. In reviews, buyers often complained about poor quality parts, but not all fasteners are marked, and all this literally has to be finished with a file.

First, try to thoroughly wipe the old case with alcohol wipes, and then I will decide on this improvement. Perhaps I will replace only the front panel of the console.

◈ Install IPS screen. But this is a cooler and more necessary upgrade. AliExpress sells screen replacement kits for PSP and this is no longer a public TFT matrix, but a newer modern IPS analog. The colors on it look more saturated, and the maximum brightness is much higher than the level.

To replace it, you need minimal soldering skills; you only need to short-circuit a couple of contacts on the console board.

◈ Add Type-C connector. Enthusiasts have learned to store a modern charging port, especially in the first version of the “fat girl”. To do this, you need to reduce a little space inside and dismantle several parts. Then it will be easier to charge the console, and the gadget will still be able to work from a PowerBank.

◈ Increase battery capacity. There are several guides on how to remove the UMD drive from the console (games used to be distributed on special disks) and install an additional battery instead.

A current analogue of Chinese batteries for PSP of average quality. They give at best 1.5-2 hours of play on one charge. While the original batteries provide autonomy at the level of 5-6 hours. It is difficult to find a live original battery, but it is quite possible to install an additional battery from a smartphone instead of a disk.

What’s the bottom line?

The seller mixed up the colored buttons and put pink ones on the white cover. It turned out to be a girly version of the PSP

I am completely satisfied with the work done. In an hour and a half I was able to restore my favorite console from my youth. A great way to reminisce and show the kids the games we played 20 years ago. The price of restoration is reasonable, and no skills in working with crystal microelectronics are required.

In the future, I think I’ll update the case and replace the screen with an IPS one. This will be enough to occasionally play on the old console and enjoy it.

I recommend to everyone who also has a similar device lying around, take some time and remember the once cool PSP.