We recently explored the modding potential of the Nintendo GameCube with a Mini version created by the Bringus Studios channel. However, there is still some room for optimization in the original design, and many commenters insist on recommending the Wii as a more compact alternative. Thanks to a change in cooling and the removal/replacement of the ports, the version 2 of the GameCube Mini is so small that it borders on portability.
One of the most important features of the original Nintendo Wii is its backwards compatibility with GameCube games. It is just a matter of opening a couple of side flaps, connecting a gamepad and a memory card, and inserting the disc. But Nintendo is... Nintendo, and when it came time to launch its second version, GameCube support was removed. What did the community do? Restore it through projects like Nintendont.
That is why commenters on the first video of the GameCube Mini built by Bringus Studios automatically pointed to the Wii as a much simpler, more compact, and more economical option. Bringus's response? Optimize the console's design, and make it even smaller than the Wii itself.
GameCube Mini, Version 2.0
Instead of repeating the process of cutting ports, Bringus decided to take a bit more time and desolder everything that is not needed on this new motherboard, which features digital A/V output and a converter on a separate PCB. However, this time he borrowed something from the Nintendo Wii: the bracket with its GameCube ports. This solution allows an even lower profile than standard ports, and since they come ready to use, no major surgery is required.
The next challenge was cooling. At first he tried using the heatsink from a Radeon graphics card, but that block does not have contact with the memory of the console. Going back to the original heatsink, Bringus opted for a laptop fan, with far higher power than expected. Some adjustments to its design allowed him to create channels for air exhaust and block points that negatively affect airflow.
The SD card reader became internal, while the Raspberry Pi Pico did not receive any changes. The last detail is a 3D printed case with a copper-colored filament that looks fabulous. What's the final result? The GameCube Mini V2 is 18 percent "shorter" or "lower" than a Nintendo Wii, and he didn't even go to the extreme of cutting the PCB or making a custom heatsink. Will it continue...?
