An old idea held to a higher standard

[jrandomuser]

I have seen several examples of the NES HTPC case mod. I have always really liked the idea but as a purist I was never happy with the execution. In most examples I have seen the modder will invariably cut up the case.

As a sort of purist I would like to execute this idea without cutting up the case. The system needs to have Wifi/BT and HDMI out, also as many have done I will connect the Controller ports to USB on the motherboard. I believe I have identified all the necessary pieces and it is my intention to photograph and document the process.

The purpose of this post is to gather input from you, who are more experienced and as such might be able to point out any potential missteps. And I admit I have a side question idea I have been entertaining.

The side scenario I was entertaining was the ability to put hard drives or media drives within nintendo cartridges. The cartridge slot could then be used to "plug n play" drives etc. I'm not really sure its feasible, and to be usable I would have to be able to put a dvd drive in a cartridge so that it could be used. As I said it may not really be possible but I thought I'd mention it.

The parts I am about to order are the following:

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813500022

Processor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115056

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148216

Hard Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136314

PSU: http://www.mini-box.com/picoPSU-150-XT-102-power-kit?sc=8&category=1097

Media Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118028

On the NES it just so happens the spot where the AC adapter fits is the right size for the HDMI Output. This would keep me from having to cut a spot out of the case. The "T" channel on the bottom of the case has a spot large enough for a case fan or two to help with air flow.

Is there anything I am missing? I am worried about heat and the size of the heat sink / fan on the CPU. Does anyone know of a lower profile CPU cooling solution? Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[nevermind1534]

To help with the heat, I would suggest that you get an ION motherboard (onboard dual-core Intel Atom CPU and Nvidia 9300 GPU). In mine, I'm thinking usint the "T" channel for extra cables. Trust me, the Atom CPU produces almost no heat; it's even passively cooled.

[slaveofconvention]

I don't know if this'll work, the problems would probably be down to size but here we go. The only way to make the plug and play simple would be using USB - you can get hot-swappable sata drives/controllers but I think they're a little more hassle to configure - hopefully someone with more experience of them will correct me if I'm wrong.

If you added a USB converter to each of the cartridges (expensive I'm sure) and then used some kind of easy-release connector to connect the cartridge to a usb cable inside the NES, there's no reason it wouldnt work. You'd be able to hot swap anything that'll work via USB - hard disks, memory cards, sticks, optical drives, floppies etc etc I've never had my hands on either a NES or a cartridge so I can't comment on size but it should be doable.

As for this....


the Atom CPU produces almost no heat; it's even passively cooled.

Again, based on my reading, not my personal experience - you're definitey OK cooling a single core atom passively but I've heard you may be pushing your luck trying to passively cool a Dual core like the 330

[jrandomuser]

I had looked at the Atom Processor line but I wasn't sure that it would be powerful enough. Has anyone here had any experience with them performance wise? There were some nice processor integrated boards with these that actually bring down the price.

[slaveofconvention]

It depends on what you're going to be using the system for. I have 2 Atom powered netbooks in the house, and for everyday use, 2d, web and non-HD video playback, they're absolutely fine. I upgraded both of them, from 512MB to 2gb and 1.5GB ram but that's just a case of me preferring as much RAM as possible - I actually upgraded them both before they'd even been turned on. I've heard the ION platform with dual core Atom is also HD-Video capable and basic 3D is there too - I don't imagine anyone playing Crysis on a 22" screen at high settings but again, it all depends on your planned use for the system.

The only negative I can come up with is the single PCI slot which will hamper your tuner capacity although there are decent twin and triple tuner options out there now which would be enough for most people. I'd strongly suggest a "good" tuner which does as much of the work as possible - the real cheap ones tend to farm out a lot more to software and therefore the CPU.

If and when you do get this started, please post a worklog in our works in progress section - it'll be interesting to see, as you go, where you change from the existing NESPC's out there and it's a good way to get step by step comments and advice which may take you in different directions you'd never have considered - there's a lot of ability in these forums, you might as well take advantage of it :D

[jrandomuser]

I got to thinking. I said HTPC but I wasn't actually considering running my cable through it. Though now that you mention it I will revisit and see if it makes since. I may grab a blu-ray player / dvd drive if the price makes sense. My original plan for the machine was to connect to my receiver via HDMI.
I would like to use the PC to watch Netflix / Hulu etc online. Additionally I have already converted my library of DVD's to file format. There are a lot of "PC Remote" products out there, currently I have a nice one for my IPod that I have been using.

It occurred to me a few months ago as I was looking through the TV Guide channel. I'm tired of being limited to whats on at that moment. If I want to watch 3 episodes of M.A.S.H or South Park back to back then so be it. I want to choose whats on and when its on. I know I'm probably preaching to the choir here but I thought I would mention it since its the driving factor behind all of this.

All in all I think your right, I don't see myself trying to play to many games on it. It will need to be able to handle HD video pretty well though.
-Edit-
Actually playing video online isn't that intensive is it? Is it processor intensive to play DVDs or Blu-Ray discs? Maybe I've been thinking about this wrong, if its just web browsing and media playback perhaps I don't need that good of a processor. If I understand correctly most of the media playback stuff goes through the GPU these days doesn't it?

[slaveofconvention]

If I understand correctly most of the media playback stuff goes through the GPU these days doesn't it?

Exactly correct - this is why the ION system has been suggested IF you're going to go with an Atom processor for size/temperatures. The onboard video you get with non-ION systems just can't cope with the strain of Blu-ray - the Nvidia 9300 (I think) which is built into the ION can do the job nicely.

DVD isn't particularly strenuous - it's the decoding of the Blu-ray which makes it a lot harder work for the PC, as well as the much higher resolution output the blu-ray provides. As for preaching to the converted, yup lol - I have a file server with most of 5.7TB used for mainly that very purpose.

[jrandomuser]

Ok, so I am looking at this Motherboard as an alternative the MB & Processor mentioned above.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813500030

The only issues I have read have to do with Flash and streaming video. Apparently flash is very CPU intensive and there was some concern with the processor not being able to play streaming video that well. Of course I can find just as many other people who say it works without a problem.

Has anyone here had any issues with the Atom Processors and Flash?

[nevermind1534]

Ok, so I am looking at this Motherboard as an alternative the MB & Processor mentioned above.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813500030

The only issues I have read have to do with Flash and streaming video. Apparently flash is very CPU intensive and there was some concern with the processor not being able to play streaming video that well. Of course I can find just as many other people who say it works without a problem.

Has anyone here had any issues with the Atom Processors and Flash?

Flash worked fine with my single-core atom, probably mainly because I have, I think, 2GB RAM. I've also heard that flash is getting GPU acceleration with the next release.

[apbrit2009]

the one problem with the ion platform is that you won't be able to put this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814187061 in there
imagine playing crysis on your NES