Game Boy Color Motherboard Replacement

Written By: Alex Wu

Comments: 4

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

30 minutes

Introduction

The Game Boy Color's motherboard contains all the electronics that make it operate. This guide will show you how to remove the circuit board from the Game Boy Color.

Tools

Step 1

Locate the battery compartment on the back of the Game Boy Color.
Push down on the tab and hinge the cover downwards and outwards to remove the battery cover.

Step 2

Remove the batteries from the battery compartment.

Step 3

Using a Y1 screwdriver, remove the six screws on the back of the device as pictured. The bottom two screws are located inside of the battery compartment.

I did this with a Y0 bit. It works if you are careful. I wouldn't recommend it on other consoles but for this tiny thing, it works.

phnome -

The guide says a Y0 is needed. Is it a Y1 or Y0?

Trav -

Step 4

Gently lift and separate the back housing from the rest of the device. Now you've got the back housing out!

Step 5

Push up on the tabs on either side of the ribbon with a spudger.

Step 6

Gently remove the ribbon cable from the port

Step 7

Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver, remove the 3 screws shown in the picture.

It’s not mentioned here, but be sure to unplug the LCD flex cable at the top of the motherboard before removing the motherboard. To do so, gently press the clips on either side of the receptacle toward the top of the Game Boy. When they are both pressed up, the orange cable will slide freely out

Ben Perkins - 30/09/18

Thanks Ben. That's a very good point. Just ripping it out will cost you a couple bucks, not to mention your Gameboy will not work until you replace that ribbon cable.

Chris Pavlik - 07/10/18