Nintendo Gamecube Regional Modification Selector Switch Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          15 - 25 minutes

Sections

Top Case
2 steps
Front and Back Panel
3 steps
Remove Nintendo GameCube Optical Drive Assembly
4 steps
Motherboard
3 steps
Nintendo GameCube Regional Modification Selector Switch
6 steps

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In Progress

This guide is a work in progress. Reload periodically to see the latest changes!

Member-Contributed Guide

An awesome member of our community made this guide. It is not managed by iFixit staff.

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Top Case

Turn over the Gamecube so that the bottom side is facing up.
Use the 4.5 mm Gamebit screwdriver to remove all four screws.

Turn over the Gamecube so that the bottom side is facing up.

Use the 4.5 mm Gamebit screwdriver to remove all four screws.

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Step 2

With the bottom side of the GameCube facing upward and the screws removed, carefully pull the outer shell of the unit away from the top half.
Move the GameCube so that the inside is facing upwards.

With the bottom side of the GameCube facing upward and the screws removed, carefully pull the outer shell of the unit away from the top half.

Move the GameCube so that the inside is facing upwards.

Step 3

              Removing the back panel

Gently press down on the clips located on either side of the back panel.
Carefully remove the back panel from the GameCube.

Gently press down on the clips located on either side of the back panel.

Carefully remove the back panel from the GameCube.

Step 4

Unclip the controller ports at the front of the unit.
A ribbon cable (outlined in orange) is still attached to the unit. Do Not Disconnect This Cable.
Controller ports are where the controllers plug into the game console, and are a half circular shape.

Unclip the controller ports at the front of the unit.

A ribbon cable (outlined in orange) is still attached to the unit. Do Not Disconnect This Cable.

Controller ports are where the controllers plug into the game console, and are a half circular shape.

Step 5

              Separate the casing

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two screws on the back of the control port.
Carefully separate the gray outer casing of the control port and the circuit board.

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two screws on the back of the control port.

Carefully separate the gray outer casing of the control port and the circuit board.

Step 6

              Remove Nintendo GameCube Optical Drive Assembly

The left side of the unit contains the cooling fan and its housing.
Carefully remove the two screws attaching the cooling fan housing to the unit.
Do not detach the red and black cooling fan wire from the main unit. Boxed in orange.

The left side of the unit contains the cooling fan and its housing.

Carefully remove the two screws attaching the cooling fan housing to the unit.

Do not detach the red and black cooling fan wire from the main unit. Boxed in orange.

Step 7

Remove the four Phillips #1 screws retaining the ground springs.
Carefully remove the ground springs from the main unit.

Remove the four Phillips #1 screws retaining the ground springs.

Carefully remove the ground springs from the main unit.

Step 8

The optical drive is secured to a metal plate.
Using a Phillips #2 screwdriver, unscrew the twelve screws that are around the outer edge of the optical drive.

The optical drive is secured to a metal plate.

Using a Phillips #2 screwdriver, unscrew the twelve screws that are around the outer edge of the optical drive.

Step 9

              Remove the assembly

Carefully separate the optical drive assembly from the rest of the GameCube unit.
The optical drive assembly is secured to the motherboard underneath by a slot; some force may be required to carefully free the assembly.
The metal plate and the actual optical drive will remain attached.

Carefully separate the optical drive assembly from the rest of the GameCube unit.

The optical drive assembly is secured to the motherboard underneath by a slot; some force may be required to carefully free the assembly.

The metal plate and the actual optical drive will remain attached.

Step 10

              Motherboard

With the Optical Drive Assembly removed, your GameCube should now look like this.
Remove the 6 screws (circled in orange) on the heat sink using a #1 Phillips screwdriver.

With the Optical Drive Assembly removed, your GameCube should now look like this.

Remove the 6 screws (circled in orange) on the heat sink using a #1 Phillips screwdriver.

Step 11

Gently lift the motherboard from base (as shown in second picture).

Gently lift the motherboard from base (as shown in second picture).

Step 12

Carefully disconnect the ribbon cable connecting the motherboard with the front panel.
At this point you can replace the old motherboard with a new one and enjoy your now-functional GameCube!

Carefully disconnect the ribbon cable connecting the motherboard with the front panel.

At this point you can replace the old motherboard with a new one and enjoy your now-functional GameCube!

Step 13

              Teardown completed

Locate the R5 and R6 pads.
They are situated to the right of where the heat sink’s back middle screw was. If you are working with an American system (like me), the R5 pads will be empty. On a Japanese console, R6 will be empty.

Locate the R5 and R6 pads.

They are situated to the right of where the heat sink’s back middle screw was. If you are working with an American system (like me), the R5 pads will be empty. On a Japanese console, R6 will be empty.

Step 14

              Make connections

Solder the wires to either side of the empty pad (R5 for American consoles, R6 for Japanese).
US products are NTSC-U format, while Japanese NTSC-J. European models are PAL and are not addressed in this guide.

Solder the wires to either side of the empty pad (R5 for American consoles, R6 for Japanese).

US products are NTSC-U format, while Japanese NTSC-J. European models are PAL and are not addressed in this guide.

Step 15

              Quality control

Make sure that the wires are not soldered to each other. If they are, this will become a permanent change.
When reinstalling the heat sink, I used a bit of electrical tape to avoid shorting the R5 connections.

Make sure that the wires are not soldered to each other. If they are, this will become a permanent change.

When reinstalling the heat sink, I used a bit of electrical tape to avoid shorting the R5 connections.

Step 16

              Install the switch

Insert the switch. In this example, a slot was removed from the vent to allow a larger switch. Make sure your switch is firmly attached and that its position will allow it to fit into the system.

Insert the switch. In this example, a slot was removed from the vent to allow a larger switch. Make sure your switch is firmly attached and that its position will allow it to fit into the system.

Step 17

              Making connections

Solder the two sides from the R pads to your switch. Attach one to either middle terminal and attach the other wire to the terminal above or below the other.
Use a two pole double throw switch if you want to add an indicator light.

Solder the two sides from the R pads to your switch. Attach one to either middle terminal and attach the other wire to the terminal above or below the other.

Use a two pole double throw switch if you want to add an indicator light.

Step 18

              Get it together

Reassemble. Route the new wires so that they won’t be pinched during reassembly and be sure they can’t get pulled.
Make sure you reverse the directions exactly or you’ll find yourself doing steps over.

Reassemble. Route the new wires so that they won’t be pinched during reassembly and be sure they can’t get pulled.

Make sure you reverse the directions exactly or you’ll find yourself doing steps over.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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                                                                                      7 other people completed this guide.

Author

                                      with 6 other contributors

                    Grandmaster Xiffle

Member since: 01/20/2015

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Thomas - Jun 3, 2018

great instructions, it really works but now how do i translate the japanese game (Muscle Champion KINNIKUZIMA NO Kessen

Sandi Lorenz - Sep 24, 2018

There is no way to translate the game itself unless there’s an English option in the game somewhere.

Owen Helm - Nov 27, 2018

Hello, is there any way to switch my gamecube’s region from Japan to US without Soldering? I want to keep my Gamecube in US mode and have no intention of switching between the two.

Grandmaster Xiffle - Nov 27, 2018

Without soldering? Not really, but you don’t need to install a switch to make a permanent jump to NTSC-U (US mode). See the red text note on step 15 about how to avoid making a permanent connection. Hope this helps!

gatchi - Dec 1, 2018

What did you use for thermal paste replacement? Does it matter what kind?

In Progress#

Member-Contributed Guide#

Introduction#

What you need#

In Progress

Member-Contributed Guide

Introduction

What you need