A DIY upgrade is turning the budget “Cheap Yellow Display” (CYD) into a more capable retro gaming station. By adding boosted PSRAM and tuning parts for audio, developer [DynaMite] built a mini TV setup that can run Retro-Go—supporting not just classic 8-bit sy
The CYD—short for “Cheap Yellow Display”—was already a familiar sight in DIY electronics circles. It’s cheap, it comes with a screen, and it’s built around an ESP32 microcontroller. The catch is memory: out of the box, it doesn’t ship with a lot of RAM.
For [DynaMite]’s retro project, that limitation mattered. The problem wasn’t that the board lacked a display or a processor—it was that it couldn’t comfortably run the kind of software that goes beyond the simplest emulation. So the solution was blunt and very practical: solder on more PSRAM and give the CYD the extra room it needed to act like a mini TV for retrogaming.
The payoff depends on what you plan to play. [DynaMite] wanted Retro-Go, and that changes the equation fast. Retro-Go supports far more than the standard NES emulator many people can run on an unmodified CYD. With the PSRAM upgrade in place. it opens the door to 16-bit systems such as the SNES and Sega Genesis/MegaDrive. and even DOOM.
Adding the memory isn’t described as effortless, but it is presented as achievable. The method involves placing the PSRAM chip onto an unpopulated footprint on the board, cutting some traces, and adding a bodge wire. It’s not nothing—but it’s also not beyond a determined home tinkerer.
While the soldering iron was out, [DynaMite] also adjusted the CYD’s audio. Stock sound is described as “not great,” and the fix starts with swapping some resistors. For really good sound. the project notes that you’d want to break out I2S—but for a tiny game system. the resistor changes are positioned as a worthwhile step.
All of this hardware work ends up in a finished build: a retro TV case that takes its design cues from The Simpsons. The case design is available as a STEP file as well as STLs via the linked resources. Inside the setup. the project uses a vibe-coded video player application—basically a VCR-like interface—and a launcher that can switch between the emulator. the video player. and other applications stored as .bin files on an SD-card.
A full experience, the project reminds, isn’t just about emulating games—it’s also about emulating broadcast-style viewing. That includes a preview channel.
You can see the whole build in action through a demo video.
CYD Cheap Yellow Display ESP32 PSRAM Retro-Go retro gaming SNES emulation Sega Genesis emulation DOOM DIY electronics retro TV case The Simpsons I2S SD-card
So they made a TV for retro games… cool I guess.
Wait is this like those cheap “yellow display” boards people used for like screensaver stuff? If it can really do SNES/Genesis that’s wild, but I feel like the audio mod part is gonna be the hardest. Also DOOM on a tiny ESP32??? seems fake.
Retro-Go supports 16-bit stuff with PSRAM right? But like… why cut traces? Can’t they just download more memory or something? I’m confused, because cutting stuff sounds like it would break the whole board instantly.
The Simpsons TV case is the best part tbh. But I don’t get the “vibe-coded video player” thing… is that just a launcher? And all this for $ cheap display + soldering bodge wires + resistor swaps, meanwhile half the time these projects don’t even run right after you move the SD card. Still, if it actually plays Doom, then sure, I might try it and then blame the PSRAM if it fails.