GBA Contrast adjustment

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

TobiK - 25 Sep 2003 16:56 GMT

Hi !

I found out that the Gameboy Advance has a screw for adjusting the display
contrast.

Does anyone have experiences with adjusting the contrast using this screw ?
I heared that it's easy to destroy the GBA with this adjustment.

But i saw many GBA's with an afterburner backlight that have very weak
contrast and i think about correcting it.

Greetings

Tobias

Reply to this Message

John Salerno - 25 Sep 2003 18:43 GMT

i've heard you should *never* do this, because the screw is not there for
contrast adjustment...this may be a side effect, but it will probably ruin
your screen....

> Hi !
>
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> Tobias

Reply to this Message

TobiK - 25 Sep 2003 19:08 GMT

Hi !

You are right but when the gameboy with afterburner has a bad screen anyway,
i only can try to sell it.

The best idea would be to get a gameboy that is nearly broken (for example a
display with a big damage) and try it. When it smokes, it was a bad idea :-)

Greetings

Tobias

> i've heard you should *never* do this, because the screw is not there for
> contrast adjustment...this may be a side effect, but it will probably ruin
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> >
> > Tobias

Reply to this Message

Mr. Bogus - 25 Sep 2003 20:31 GMT

> i've heard you should *never* do this, because the screw is not there for
> contrast adjustment...this may be a side effect, but it will probably ruin
> your screen....

Yes, apparently tightening this screw is basically squeezing the screen and
the plastic case closer together, which decreases the life span of (if not
damages/breaks) the lcd screen.

--
From Mr. Bogus (aka Paul) - hiding place reality.

Reply to this Message

DeepThought - 25 Sep 2003 20:42 GMT

TobiK whipped out his/her/its Personal Electronic Thing, summoned a
BellBot to bkv399$gm1$05$1@news.t-online.com , leaving his/her/its
contact info (tommek@fantasymail.de) with the deskbot, and proceeded to
say:

> Hi !
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> But i saw many GBA's with an afterburner backlight that have very weak
> contrast and i think about correcting it.

Did you actually read my reply to your post? And it's "heard". Like a herd
of cows.

Here is a repost of what I said a few days ago:

TobiK whipped out his/her/its Personal Electronic Thing, summoned a
BellBot to bkhuv1$euc$06$1@news.t-online.com , leaving his/her/its
contact info (tommek@fantasymail.de) with the deskbot, and proceeded to
say:

> Hi !
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> I think you should ask some shops that install Afterburner-Backlight
> (or console modifications) about this contrast-screw.

NO! WHATEVER THE f.ck YOU DO, DON'T DO THAT!

There *is* no "contrast screw"... it will DAMAGE YOUR GBA.

http://pocket.ign.com/articles/095/095982p1.html

Nintendo:

"A positive and negative voltage controls Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs).
The "contrast control" that you are referring to is actually a flicker
control. The adjustment is used to synchronize the positive and negative
voltages. If these voltages are out of adjustment then the LCD will no
longer respond correctly. The result will be an excess charge built up in
the liquid crystal and permanently damage the LCD. The excessive charge
gives the appearance of a brighter screen because the liquid crystal is not
reacting properly to the voltages applied. When the adjustment of the
voltages is correct the changing polarities will not allow a charge to build
up, which prolongs the LCD life.

This adjustment is set by the manufacturer or must be performed by a
qualified Nintendo Technician using proper equipment (Proper lighting,
special tools, test equipment and software). Adjusting the flicker without
the proper tools and lighting will put the voltages out of sync and may
cause damage to the unit."

Signature

-----------
Deep Thought
-----------
Erase the Earth
to e-mail me.

Reply to this Message

Wanderer - 26 Sep 2003 04:26 GMT

>Hi !
>
>I found out that the Gameboy Advance has a screw for adjusting the display
>contrast.

BBBBBBZZZZZZZZZZZZZTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!

*WRONG!!!*

There is no "contrast adjustment" screw on the GBA. There is however
a way to adjust the voltage going to the LCD. If you really want to
f.ck up your GBA, go ahead and mess with it dumbass.

Reply to this Message

TobiK - 26 Sep 2003 12:44 GMT

Hi !

Thanks for your answers. I learned something new about the GBA.

I see that it's danegrous for the GBA to use this screw. But there is still
something i don't understand. For what purpose is this screw installed ? Who
would need to change the voltage delivered to the screen ?

Greetings

Tobias

> Hi !
>
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> Tobias

Reply to this Message