Materials Used:

32GB Micro SD Card (Class 10)

Micro SD Adapter

Tools Required:

Instructions:



5.1 Install RetroPie Image & Add ROMs

Using the Micro SD USB Adapter format the SD card using SD Formatter and then burn the RetroPie image onto the SD card using Win32DiskImager. Once complete, insert the SD card into the slot on the Raspberry Pi and power on the unit to begin the installation process. Follow this tutorial HERE. Note: Use the keyboard for the controller configuration since the N64 controllers will not work yet.

5.2 Install GPIO Controller Support

Unfortunately RetroPie does not come with controller support through the GPIO pins by default and therefore must be loaded. Follow THIS tutorial to install the gamecon_gpio_rpi driver for reading in data from the original N64 controller. The easiest way to install the drivers is via RetroPie-Setup script by selecting Manage Packages, then Manage Driver Packages, then gamecondriver. For compatibility with N64 controllers, use option 6 for the file and add `options gamecon_gpio_rpi=6,6,6,6,6,6` to the file /etc/modprobe.d/gamecon.conf to enable the controller support. Reboot the system so that you are in the RetroPie splash screen, and enter the options to add a controller configuration. Now you can map the N64 controller.

5.3 Calibrate the N64 Controller

I found that when mapping the N64 controller that it didn't work exactly as I had hoped which required some manual turning in the calibration file since some buttons didn't register and the joy stick was too sensitive. Enter the command from the RetroPie splash screen by hitting F4 (CTRL + F4 or Windows + F4) and run the joystick test to print a live readout from your controllers to determine the index of each button.

$ jstest /dev/input/js0 # repeat for js0, js1, ..., js5

Open /opt/retropie/configs/n64/InputAutoCfg.ini and update the configuration file for the N64 controller to match the configuration file attached (N64_config.txt) and save. Now your N64 controller should work as expected!

5.3 Adjusting the Emulator

Now you should have the RetroPie installed with working N64 controllers, but you may notice that some games don't play all that well. When starting a ROM a screen pops up asking if you want to adjust the settings, tap ENTER/RETURN to enter this menu. There are several different emulators to pick from so play around with these to determine which one works best for each ROM that you want to play.

5.4 Overclock the Pi

By default Raspberry Pi runs at 800MHz and the Raspi-Config menu does not allow the option to overclock so you have to do it manually. Follow this link HERE to edit /boot/config.txt to speed up the system. My system is running at 1300MHz and plays the majority of the N64 ROMs pretty smoothly.

Sources: