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Review on Enhance Your Gaming Experience with Timorn Full Parts Housing Shell Pack Replacement for GBA SP Gameboy Advance SP (Purple Pack) by Andy Baker

Revainrating 4 out of 5

Nice upgrade for the old SP

Just put this case on last night and it looks great! However, I would like to leave a few thoughts here: 1. If possible, use the knobs and screws from your original case. It's just a good idea in general when dealing with non-genuine parts. I've read many reviews of several different cases (although they were probably all made in the same 1-2 factories) where people had to remove screws on them. My screws were still in good condition from the original shell so I used them. If your screws are covered with rust/dirt you can use the screws provided. If you do this, just be careful and feel the tension on the screw as you turn it in. Don't force anything. If you feel it doesn't fit, either stop and return the case or use a small drill/file to trim the screw hole. The knobs that came with the kit seem fine, but it was obvious my knobs had plenty of life left, so I'm keeping the ones from the kit as spares. I had to clean the rubber pads as they had some dirt on them.2. Be very careful with loops when pulling out from the original case. You will find this advice in many reviews and videos, but this is no joke. Pull the hinges out to a spot where they're easy to find on the floor. I had to work so hard to get the hinges out that they shot through the room like a bullet. Luckily they weren't hurt. I used a combination of tweezers (to cover the plastic flanges as much as possible) and a small Phillips screwdriver to pry them out. Also, when installing into a new case, be prepared for the little plastic bumpers on the ends to come loose every time you try to attach them. I finally managed to get them in by pressing down on the mouse pad and applying pressure down and in the opposite direction from the plastic slot on the hinge. This prevented the bumper from popping out and finally gave the "click" I was looking for. As others have said there may be flaws in the shell. They don't have the same level of quality control that Nintendo has on the originals. While mine is in better condition than the one I've described, I can confirm that if you look closely you will notice some differences from the factory case. Mine didn't have any noticeable surface scratches from what I've heard from a few, but a few speaker holes didn't seem to match in size and hadn't been fully reamed or machined. It doesn't bother me much, but I want to mention it.4. Comes with a replacement screen lens. Don't attempt it unless you are 100% sure you can do it and it is 100% necessary. For some silly reason, I figured the original's screen lens would lift off smoothly from the front of the screen. after being removed from the case. Instead, it sticks to the front of the screen with an adhesive force of 1000 peels. There's a reason there isn't much information out there on how to replace these lenses. I've seen a few videos where people risk ruining the screen with a heat gun and sawing it off with a fishing line :o If you have a bad screen just don't try it unless you have a spare. I abandoned this process as the original has only superficial traces. It will probably take you a lot longer than the people on Youtube. Especially if you have big hands. I have BIG hands which means working with these SMALL details was very difficult. Everyone said it took me about 2 hours to install a new shell. I was driving very slowly and had to stop and take a few deep breaths to avoid breaking anything (I'm checking out Loops from Hell!). However, I feel like the scrambling and over-caution paid off as I got it right the first time and didn't have to open it again. I wore nitrile gloves during operation to avoid leaving additional fingerprints or dirt on the screen or other sensitive areas. Someone on Revain mentioned that the screwdrivers were slippery, they are absolutely right. Aside from the fact that the heads of the screwdrivers are actually a bit big for the screws, turning them while wearing gloves felt like trying to turn a stick of warm oil. If you already have a small cross section and a tricuspid driver, use these. Mine was original and a little swollen. I'm replacing it with a CMD battery so little Chernobyl doesn't ruin my hard work. If you're considering an IPS screen upgrade, I understand these shells will work if you cut off the small strip of plastic that runs along the left side of the screen on the case. As many have said, the serial number sticker is not included. It doesn't bother me, but it might put some people off if they find it important.

Pros
  • Quality construction
Cons
  • Requires socket