Hardware & platform
Core8Bit is an open-build DIY handheld. Everything you need to build one is here, free for your own build. Want to sell consoles you build? Read the rules.
Start with the Quick build: one page, what goes where and what connects to what. The pages below are the reference for when you need the details.
| Page | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Quick build | The short version: print, place, wire, power on (wired build or mainboard) |
| Hardware | MCU, clocks, memories, display, audio, input, Wi-Fi, USB — the full specification |
| Pinout | Every STM32 and ESP32 pin, board-to-board wiring tables, free pins |
| Memory map | Memory regions, plugin slot and Lua heap |
| Power | Battery, the switched 5 V rail, measurement and the BIOS power policy |
| Parts list | The modules a build needs and what each must provide |
| Full build guide | Every step in detail: module setup, wiring, first flash, first boot, troubleshooting |
| Mainboard | The PCB that replaces the base plate and the wires (in development) |
| Telemetry | The anonymous usage numbers the console and emulators send, and how to turn them off |
Where a hardware choice is still open, the page marks it TBD.