Project: Wii PC

[Ebio Amisi]

As some of you may know, someone has recently created the world's first Wii PC. Here is a link to the video of it, which also has a handy list of its current specs:

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/261605.html?playlist=popular

Well all props to the guy who managed to do it but to be quite honest... it's not as good as it could have been. First of all, there was no DVD drive in the original. I mean seriously, what kind of self respecting PC doesn't have a disk drive of some kind? I figured there must be a way of getting one in there, but more on that in a minute. There was also a rather ugly wireless network ariel sticking out of the top. Finally... i hate to say it but it was LOUD. You can hear it in the video. So in all in all a good mod, but room for improvement.

So on one of my more bored days I decided I was going to do better. So I set about working out what it would take.

I started off in sketchup to see if it would actually fit with what i had in mind. This is what i came up with (very basic i know):

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/9092/wiipcmv1.jpg

So as you can see, i could actually fit everything in. And yes, i realise some of you are like "but the DVD slot is on the other side!" yes i know, but if it fits one way, it will fit the other! Im not redrawing it! So anyway, having found a DVD drive that will fit in it, I thought i might aswell run up a components list:

Case: Nintendo Wii
Motherboard: VIA EPIA-N5000EG Nano-ITX
PSU: picoPSU-120
RAM: 1Gb DDR SODIMM
HDD: 80GB 2.5" Seagate
DVD Drive: Optiarc AD-7633A Slimline Slot Load

So by going with the slot load, i had just enough space to fit it all in, along with an 80Gb HDD and 1Gb of RAM, not bad for almost no space at all! Would just like to say thanks to Mach for the reassurances on the PSU :) I should also be able to run Win Xp with Sp3 aswell...

Any thoughts/comments would be muchly appreciated!!! And i will update some more when i finally get my hands on a faulty Wii from Ebay :P

[Eclecticos]

So. . your intention is to use the Nintendo Wii enclosure as a case?
I think, it would be more impressive if it still functioned as a gaming console.

Regardless. . I would like to have a Wii PC myself even if it doesn't play the games.
There are rumors of a HomeBrew operating system for
the Wii, you may want to check into.

Here is Disassembly Video.
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[FuzzyPlushroom]

I was hoping this would go the other way, with the Wii wedged into a 5.25" bay enclosure.

[Ebio Amisi]

Thanks for the vid Eclecticos, i was thinking about putting some emulators onto it actually, like the N64 Emu, although i don't think there is a wii emu out yet that i know of... was also thinking of making the mouse a wii controller, so ill look into that. As for it running games... i think it might be able to run a few basic ones, nothing recent at least, it was more about doing it because no one else had.... plus its a wii :D

[Ebio Amisi]

And to answer fuzzy's question, no you coudln't fit a wii in facing forwards into a 5.25" bay... but you could face it sideways... which adds some interesting though.... would take some major cable management and a custom case with a side slot for the wii... but would be quite fun i guess! not gonna try that right now though :P

[nevermind1534]

This looks interesting +sub

[Ebio Amisi]

Quick update, the case just arrived, i settled with getting just a case, rather than getting a busted Wii, as it was a lot cheaper. Ill put some picks up as soon as iv had a chance to take some :)

[Luke122]

Excellent! I look forward to this mod. +Sub+Rep

[Ebio Amisi]

Unfortunatly due to a lack of funding, this project has been put on hold until i can offord to buy the motherboard. Keep your eyes open, this isn't finished yet! In the mean time, im working on a NES PC, see here:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?p=205309#post205309

Go have a look and let me know what you think people, thanks!