GBA SP AGS-101 advice...

[Megamixer]

So, my minty copy of Wave Race on the GB turned up today and then I remembered that I only had my old Gameboy Colour to play it on. Ideally I need something backlit to play GB/GBC games on so I was thinking of the GBA SP AGS-101. I already have a DS Lite for playing GBA games and I had considered a GB Light before I remembered that a) they are rare and expensive and b) they won't play GBC-specific games.

Had a look at the SP's on ebay but as usual, just a selection of scratched-up tribal models with loose FIFA carts (a slight exaggeration but you understand what I mean) or a few very expensive Ltd Edition front-lit models.

So...

How easy/difficult is it to get hold of the AGS-101 and how much max should I look to pay? The box would be a bonus but in all honesty I'm fine with loose hardware these days so if it's cheaper without the packaging then so be it.

I know there are a few AGS-101 owners here so I thought it would be the ideal place to seek advice

Cheers in advance.

[noobish hat]

Dunno about 101s (still a pipe dream for me), but modding a GBC with a regular SP light is relatively simple, and you get to play on the original hardware!

[Megamixer]

Dunno about 101s (still a pipe dream for me), but modding a GBC with a regular SP light is relatively simple, and you get to play on the original hardware!

This sounds interesting . What level of expertise is needed for the soldering (never opened a GBC up so I have no idea what the insides look like)? Also, can you buy the SP backlights or would I have to be a meanie and canibalise a working model just to get at the light?

[noobish hat]

Actually I'm not sure about buying the frontlights separately. It may be possible. Personally, I just use scratched up SPs I find at carboots (usually for about £2... suckers!) You can put the SP back together and it will still work without the light, but you kind of need to wreck the rubber screw covers around the screen.

It's pretty simple to do, only a couple of points need soldering, adding one capacitor and a ground, and I think that's about it. There are a couple of good guides online.

[Megamixer]

Actually I'm not sure about buying the frontlights separately. It may be possible. Personally, I just use scratched up SPs I find at carboots (usually for about £2... suckers!) You can put the SP back together and it will still work without the light, but you kind of need to wreck the rubber screw covers around the screen.

It's pretty simple to do, only a couple of points need soldering, adding one capacitor and a ground, and I think that's about it. There are a couple of good guides online.

Cool thanks. I'll keep it in mind as an alternative in case an AGS-101 turns out to be stupidly hard to locate or ridiculously expensive.

It's nice to have a back-up plan

[nokgod]

I imported my mint boxed one from America for around the $115 mark including customs. It was about £70 when i bought it...closer to £75 now (i've just checked) Was better than looking around Europe ebays...they're ridiculously ott on price. The US seemed to have more different designs and they're more plentiful too.

Was worth getting, its a wonderful thing.

I still have the ebay pic....



EDIT: I was talking bollocks as usual I just went and checked the auction in my ebay archive...it was $78 i paid ....not pounds! This was mid 2011.
It was from this seller (he still has a couple for sale) so i can vouch for his quality of service:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/coolhandcl/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

Oh, he does accept offers, i got about 10% off iirc.

[GameOver]

I bought one recently for less than £40+£6 P&P (no box, just gameboy, from a US seller). There are currently 3 on eBay around that price as buy-it-now's. You can get a quality replacement case, including tools, for under a fiver and it's really easy to swap the bits over. Took me about half an hour. You end up with a brand new looking AGS-101 and they are worth every penny.

[nakamura]

Buy the 101.

I paid £60 for a complete one from UK ebay and I haven't looked back since. it is simply sublime and no front lit screen will ever match it.

[adippm82]

I got a boxed one off ebay last year, a lovely granite colour one, the box is slightly tatty, but otherwise fine, got it for £64.

Such a massive improvement over the original front lit one.