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Omega
05-16-2006, 07:02 PM
Alright. This isn't my project at all (although i was asked for assistance with it). This is actually a friend's project. Here's the story...


I was at his house, digging through his room when i saw a NES. it was dirty, and unloved. But still in working condition. Soon, my friend proposed putting a computer in it. Genious! So now i have a NES case on my desk, empty, and i have the switch assembly.

The plan is to try to make it look as close to an original NES as possible. So far, we came up with the idea to hide the CD drive behind the little door thing on the top of the NES, and to get a relatively small HD (10-20gb). he also wants upgradeability, but with the size of the case, i don't think he's going to get it. The perferred motherboard should be micro ATX with onboard everything, or mini-ITX.


Also, if anybody can show me a link of previous mods like this (if any), please do.


-Omega

EDIT: He's also on a very tight budget. And this is a tight place. Any and all help appreciated.

Aero
05-16-2006, 07:12 PM
you might want to find an old Laptop HDD for the space issue. They sell adapters for about $3 on newegg. But sounds like Mini-ITX or microATX is the way to go like you said.

Here are some links to other NES PC's:

http://www.lofi-gaming.org.uk/nespc/index.php
http://www.redhotscott.co.uk/nespc.html
http://www.extremetech.com/slideshow/0,1206,l=&s=26633&a=134030,00.asp

just google "NES PC mod" and you'll get tons of results.

Omega
05-16-2006, 07:18 PM
I also took a gaze over at my optical drive, and it's quite large, too. Footprint isn't a big deal, but rather height is. Not to mention it's dirty as hell (i am working on cleaning it right now)

Omega
05-16-2006, 07:55 PM
Man, this NES cleaned up real well. It looks alsmot as good as the day it rolled onto the showroom floor (Which is in 1985, btw).


Aside from the occasional scratch, this case is marvelous.



Now, onto the dilemna:

I don't have any parts for it. Well, i have an optical drive for mockup and a dead HD for mockup as well, but nothing i can put in and secure. Also, cooling will most definately be an issue in this small and poorly ventilated case. The solution? Probably an 80mm fan or two, the quietest ones i can find (as this is going to be a steathy rig for lan parties).


Also, if anybody would like to send parts/money/hot sexings, PM me for my address.

Omega
05-16-2006, 09:11 PM
Semi-update: Dremeld out where i figured the HD would go. Pretty good fit, aside from the giant T-groove that protrudes into the bottom of the tray. I'll have to call up my friend and see if he's okay with me dremeling that off (as it is his NES =p)

Omega
05-16-2006, 09:36 PM
Okay, you guys are GOING to have to help me out here. After searching the site for an hour, i can't find that thread on where to cut and solder the NES swithc assembly to make it work as a PC switch assembly. Although i remember how to make the power switch momentary (and already did).

Please help me x.x

(btw, might even change the color LED that's on there.... maybe.)

Shikimaru
05-17-2006, 03:07 AM
WANT PICS (can't breathe)

tybrenis
05-17-2006, 07:14 AM
Okay, you guys are GOING to have to help me out here. After searching the site for an hour, i can't find that thread on where to cut and solder the NES swithc assembly to make it work as a PC switch assembly. Although i remember how to make the power switch momentary (and already did).

Please help me x.x

(btw, might even change the color LED that's on there.... maybe.)

http://thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2682

xmastree
05-17-2006, 07:23 AM
http://thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2682
Damn, you beat me to it... :p

tybrenis
05-17-2006, 07:28 AM
Lol, it took me like three seconds to find. That sucks for Omega, who spent like an hour on it... :]

Rankenphile
05-17-2006, 11:31 AM
One thing you may like to know is that a laptop HDD will fit almost perfectly inside of an original NES cartridge. There was a mod floating around the net a while ago where a guy built a USB external HDD using the gold Legend of Zelda NES cartridge with the guts from an external enclosure and a laptop HDD. It may make a nice way to add a little extra detail to your mod.

Looking forward to this, this is one of my personal favorite "been done" mods.

Omega
05-17-2006, 05:23 PM
One thing you may like to know is that a laptop HDD will fit almost perfectly inside of an original NES cartridge. There was a mod floating around the net a while ago where a guy built a USB external HDD using the gold Legend of Zelda NES cartridge with the guts from an external enclosure and a laptop HDD. It may make a nice way to add a little extra detail to your mod.

Looking forward to this, this is one of my personal favorite "been done" mods.


I actually found the NES cartridge mod thing, and i also know that motherboards give you the option to boot from USB =D

However, i'm not so sure how that would work out.



And i would love to give you all pics, but, i can't find the damned camera and i also don't know where the USB cable is x.x

EDIT: Yeah, this is one of my favourite mods too. Hence why i suggested it.


What we'll probably end up doing is dremeling off the T-groove on the bottom of the NES, then putting a layer of plasitc on the inside, and bondo the bottom, then get color matched paint to cover it up.

d_stilgar
05-17-2006, 08:20 PM
Here is mine posted right on this site, haha.

NES PC (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1730)

A good but dated tutorial is at http://www.oldschoolsystems.com/portal.php

To find a Mobo you want go here (http://www.epiacenter.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=39).

To buy easily solderable switches go here (http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=700&item=ISW-4&type=store).

For a PSU you could either use this (http://www.mini-box.com/s.nl/sc.8/category.13/it.A/id.417/.f) or this (http://www.mini-box.com/s.nl/sc.8/category.13/it.A/id.300/.f).

I'm selling my old Zelda DVD drive. Tell me if you are interested. You can also ask me any other questions you have.

d_stilgar
05-17-2006, 08:28 PM
I should also add that I am rebuilding mine for better airflow and jsut to look nicer. My new version will have no new holes in the case. I am rewiring everything inside to go to standard TV ports. It will look completely stock front and back.

Here is another good link if you want to play ROMs with NES controllers.
http://www.retrousb.com/nintendo.html

You can buy the kit and solder it inside the NES so that you do not have to mod your old controllers.

I will be doing a worklog as soon as the last of my parts come in the mail. It should be pretty short and sweet considering it is not a labor intensive mod.

Omega
05-18-2006, 01:00 AM
Update (with pics soon):

Hacked off the T-groove I've been talking about, and also sanded down all the unneeded post-things.

d_: We're actually going to go with one of the EPIA mobos (probably the 8000) from Mini-ITX.

Omega
05-18-2006, 01:19 AM
Uncut T-groove...
http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/thumbs/4628PICT0001.JPG (http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/4628PICT0001.JPG)

BAM! started cutting.
http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/thumbs/2842PICT0002.JPG (http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/2842PICT0002.JPG)

Finished cutting and sanding.
http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/thumbs/5204PICT0003.JPG (http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/5204PICT0003.JPG)

And here is the funding for the project... All out of said freind's closet. This totals up to 151USD.
http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/thumbs/2041PICT0005.JPG

d_stilgar
05-18-2006, 02:11 AM
You should stil go to oldschoolsystems.com. The community there is nice and the traffic has been a little slow lately.

d_stilgar
05-18-2006, 07:11 PM
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/d_stilgar/Swtichtop.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/d_stilgar/Switchbottom.jpg

Here are some pics on how I soldered mine.