The Game Boy family needs no introduction at this point, but what really surprises us is the number of mods and hacks available for every model. From backlights and replacement screens to brand-new PCBs that let you build a console from scratch, today it's possible to repair and transform any Game Boy completely. However, Elliot from the channel The Retro Future decided to share a very unique mod: upgrading the processor in a Game Boy console. The question is… upgrade to what?
If you have a Game Boy with damage or a specific fault, don't worry: you can likely get spare parts (whether from another console or modern reproductions) with relative ease. Meanwhile, the Game Boy family offers a fantastic opportunity for anyone who wants to dip their toes into the waters of modding. From metallic shells to high-definition replacements for the LCD screen, building the Game Boy of your dreams is not impossible.
Now, what about speed? On the web there are many guides for overclocking a Game Boy, which is quite useful if you consider that the grind in certain games is eternal (good luck finding that shiny in Pokémon), but Elliot from the channel The Retro Future decided to play with the processor differently: replacing it with an upgrade.
Upgrading the processor of a Game Boy console
The first question is: where does the upgraded processor come from? Its donor is none other than a Super Game Boy, an adapter that hit shelves in June 1994. Basically, it's a Game Boy in cartridge format for the Super Nintendo, letting users enjoy Game Boy games on the TV with SNES controls and additional color palettes.
A quick eBay search confirms the Super Game Boy isn't a rare device. On the other hand, the original model has the feature (sometimes desired, sometimes not) of speeding up Game Boy games by 2.41 percent, due to the frequency divider used by the SNES. The version 2 of the Super Game Boy corrects that detail, as does the Game Boy Player for GameCube.
The good news is that the chip installation is drop-in, so it doesn't require any modification. The bad news is that you need hot air to remove and reinstall both chips without causing damage. A normal station like the one Elliot bought is more than enough. The rest is a matter of practicing a bit, having patience, and not despairing.
What are the advantages of upgrading the processor in a Game Boy? On a standard Game Boy console, games take 5.7 seconds to load, combining initialization and the Nintendo animation. After the mod, games load instantly… and that's all. The frequency is still governed by the console's internal clock, and there are no general speed changes. Some might think it's a joke, but it's good to know that the processor in a Game Boy can be replaced this way.
