**A PSOne in the Palm of Your Hand**
The iconic PlayStation, Sony's original console that revolutionized gaming in the 90s, has been shrunk down to fit in the palm of your hand. This isn't just a re-release or a minor redesign – we're talking about a full-on miniature build that's a marvel of engineering and ingenuity.
Meet [Secret Hobbyist], a master craftsman who has taken on the challenge of creating a tiny, fully functional PlayStation One (PSOne) from scratch. You may have seen the teaser video that went viral online, but now he's diving deeper into his project with a series of detailed videos showing exactly how he designed and built this miniature masterpiece.
The starting point was an original late-revision PSOne mainboard, which proved to be a blessing in disguise. With its two-layer PCB layout, [Hobbyist] found it relatively easy to reverse-engineer the circuitry using a microscope and some meticulous tracing of copper lines on the board. He even went as far as creating a digital schematic of the original design using KiCAD, making it easier to draft a smaller PCB with multiple layers.
One of the most impressive aspects of this build is the ability to shrink down the mainboard while retaining its functionality. By using a four-layer PCB and repurposing some of the donor board's components, [Hobbyist] was able to get rid of one of the ICs, which he called the "sub-CPU." Instead, he created a new PSIO (PlayStation Interface) board that replaces the original optical drive. The PSIO is an interesting choice – it's a commercial product designed for larger PlayStations, but [Hobbyist] managed to hack it into working on his miniature build.
Not only does this project showcase impressive engineering skills, but also [Hobbyist]'s resourcefulness and willingness to experiment. He even added a new DAC (digital-to-analog converter) for VGA output, ensuring that the tiny PSOne can still display its classic games in high definition. Despite using all original SONY silicon, the result is a remarkably compact device that's sure to delight retro gaming enthusiasts.
This is just the first installment of [Secret Hobbyist]'s series on this build, so be sure to subscribe to his YouTube channel for more updates and insights into the design and construction process. With each new video, we're treated to a behind-the-scenes look at the creative problem-solving and innovative thinking that went into creating this incredible miniature PSOne.