Nintendo is a company that doesn’t like us tinkering around with their systems. However, with the Wii mini, big-N decided to use plain-ol’ philips-head screws. Of course, we saw these and had to take the thing apart.
It’s interesting when we saw the insides just how much space is actually left that could have made the Wii mini even… uh, mini-er. As you’ll see in the pictures, all the input-output (except the power button, if you count that) is on the main motherboard, while the optical reader sits atop it, much like the GameCube internal layout. However, there is a ton of space at the front of the console that is almost entirely unused. This could be for heat dispersion, but there are no vents up front for either intake or exhaust, so that probably isn’t the reason.
Making an even smaller console (the Wii mini isn’t really that mini at all) wouldn’t have cost anything more since the motherboard and components are so small to begin with, so we’re not sure why Nintendo didn’t go super-mini with this, but either way we’re happy. Take a look, and if you feel like tinkering, grab a tiny philips-head screwdriver and get at it! Everything is pretty easy to open up, and there are only about 26 screws holding everything together, all with the same size head.
Or, you know, take a look at our pictures if you’re too lazy or scared to do it yourself!
It’s pretty simple to crack this thing open. There are four screws on the bottom, and then the lid just pops right off.
The disc drive and power button assembly.
The motherboard once the disc drive and plastic cover has been removed. It’s remarkably small and makes the case of the Wii mini look decidedly un-mini.
The ports on the back of the Wii mini. All the usual suspects: power, AV out, Sensor Bar, and a single USB port.
The size of the motherboard (complete with little baby heatsinks) and the external casing. Why not more mini Nintendo? Why?
‘Very Interesting yet basic insides here, I think Nintendo went the cheapo route, just to push as many of these out to see what demand they get out of it.
Still wondering what that USB port can even be used for. It’s COMPLETELY USELESS without online functionality.
Some Wii applications, including homebrew, utilize the USB port for all kinds of reasons, namely USB keyboard and external hard drives for booting games. Although if the Mini doesn’t have online functionality, at all, and IM not sure where you get that, would a lan adapter not theoretically work?
They had to put the usb port there for something, maybe thats like a usb service port or something like that.
The use of the usb port is for charging the batter for the controller via usb port chargers…