Osborne 1 - Resurrection

[Brunhold]

Hello to all casemodders out there!

After my last project, the BRUBCAT (http://thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2245), I have decided to start a different casemod. I bought an empty case of a busted Osborne 1 from 1983. "Different" casemod, because I wanted to keep the original look, which means no holes for fans and no lights, but inside modern hardware.

The comparison:

1981:
year of constr.: 1983 (release of first model 1981)
quantities: about 125.000 (1982)
processor: Zilog Z80A, 8-bit
frequency: 4 MHz
RAM: 64 KByte
ROM: 4 KByte
OS: CP/M 2.2
monitor: 5"-Monochrome (black/green)
textmode: 52 x 24; 80 x 25; 128 x 24
keyboard: QWERTZ, number pad, 69 keys
drives: 2 x 5,25" for 102 KByte-disks
interfaces: 1 x IEEE-488, 1 x RS232C, 1 x Centronics, 1 x Modem, 1 x Video, 1 x Battery/Accu-adapter
size/weight: 51(W) x 32,5(D) x 22,5(H) cm / 10,2 Kg

2006:
processor: AMD Sempron 2600+, 32-bit
frequency: 1833 MHz
RAM: 512 MByte
HDD: 160 GB, Samsung
OS: Microsoft Windows XP Professional
monitor: 5"-TFT
resolution: 320 x 234 pixel
grafix: MSI Geforce Ti4200, 8xAGP, 64 MB RAM
keyboard: QWERTZ, number pad, 104 keys
optical drive: DVD-ROM, Pioneer DVD 104s, slot-in, 5,25"
interfaces: 3 x USB, 1 x S-Video, 1 x VGA-Out, 1 x Audio-Out und 1 x Mic-In, 1 x 10/100 Mbit-network
size/weight: 51(W) x 32,5(D) x 22,5(H) cm / 11,5 Kg

The story has its ups and downs, sometimes I have been close to to defenestrate the case, but I finished the mod finally after 6 months.
If my english is incomprehensible, please let me know.

Step 1: The cleaning
I had no chance against over 20 years of smoke and sun, the case has been yellowed on some areas. But the result is alright though.
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/Reinigung.jpg

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/Reinigung2.jpg

Step 2: The keyboard-mod
The osborne keyboard has 69 keys, the new one 104, that means work.
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/TastaturOrig.jpg

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/Tastenvergleich.jpg

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/Tastatur1.jpg

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/Tastatur2.jpg

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/Tastatur3.jpg

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/Tastatur4.jpg

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/TastaturLackiert.jpg

I did not like the red color of the mouse.
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/Maus.jpg

First problem: The controller needs more space than available.
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/Tastaturcontrollerpasstnet.jpg

Now everything fits.
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/Tastaturrueckdeckel.jpg

The original backplate, which held the old keyboard can be used to hold the new one, too.
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/Tastaturrueckdeckeloriginalhalteplatte.jpg

Detail:
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/Tastaturkasten2.jpg

Step 3: Teevee
The old 5 inch CRT has been replaced by a TFT.
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/OsborneCRT.jpg

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/LCD.jpg

CRTs have a curved front, TFTs are flat, that is why the frame of the Osborne-front has to be modified.
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/LCDAusschnitt0.jpg

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/LCDAusschnitt1.jpg

I did not want do dismantle the TFT. It is hard to find a LCD like that and I have bad memories, because I have killed a LCD long time ago.
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/LCDAusschnitt2.jpg

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/LCDAusschnitt3.jpg

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/LCDAusschnitt4.jpg

Test
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/LCDTest.jpg

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/LCDTest2.jpg

[Brunhold]

Come on! Let us proceed, there is still a lot of work to do, and a lot of pictures left!

Step 4: The underground
The Osborne 1 has two floors, and I have put the power supply unit and the hard drive in the lower one .
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/UntenFestplatte.jpg

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/UntenNetzteil.jpg

Step 5: The upper level
A small mainboard is found, because space is narrow.
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/ObenMainboard.jpg

The fan, which blows the air out:
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/ObenFrontluefter.jpg

This is close-fitting:
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/ObenMBMonitor.jpg

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/ObenMBDVD.jpg

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/ObenGesamt.jpg

Step 6: Modding the front
The front-fan needs a grill, silver inside, black painted outside.
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/FrontLWlinks.jpg

The DVD-cover is made of black cardboard. Sorry, but I have not had something better at that time. It was very important to build in a slot-in drive, because the 5 inch disk drives of the 80ies have not had a drawer like optical drives nowadays.
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/FrontLWrechts.jpg

The DVD-drive-busy-LED needs a new position:
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/FrontLWreLED.jpg

On/off switch...:
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/FrontAus.jpg

...and the connector to the mainboard.
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/FrontAusMB.jpg

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/Front.jpg

[Brunhold]

Step 7: Modding the front interfaces
The front is removable and it would be perfect to mount the interfaces on a batten (right expression?), which is fixed inside. But because of space problems, the batten is screwed on the front.
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/AnschlussLeisteLinks1.jpg

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/AnschlussLeisteRechts1.jpg

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/AnschlussLeisteLinks2.jpg

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/AnschlussLeisteRechts2.jpg

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/AnschlussLeisteVorne.jpg

Elongation of VGA-cable...
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/AnschlussVGA-Kabel-Verl.jpg

...and audio. Almost every connection from the mainboard is repositioned to the front.
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/AnschlussStereo.jpg

Features: 3 USB, 1 VGA-out, audio-out, mic-in, TV-out

Step 8: Assembly
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/GesamtInnen.jpg

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/Kabelwusthinten.JPG

Test before installing Windows:
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/ObenTest.jpg

Everything finished:
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/Gewicht.JPG

After three hours of program installations the PC ran silent and everything looked fine. I slept like a log in that night. The next day I started the osborne again, but ... what was that? Klickklack ... klickklack ... klickklack ... klickklack ...

[Airbozo]

Sweeet work, great comparison of old vs new parts.

I am a big fan of making old systems work with new parts, great work so far! Check Tesco Offers (https://www.offerstw.com/tesco/) and Lidl Offers (https://www.offerstw.com/lidl/).

Welcome to the boards and btw, your english is about 1000 times better than my German! Keep it up!

[Brunhold]

Many thanks, I appreciate that! :up:

But I have to go on with my story, which is long, very long. I hope you have the endurance to hang on.

Back to klickklack.
This is a 80 GB exhibit:
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/Plattedefekt.jpg

But why did it die? :think:
The heat is bearing the blame! This is the result after measuring the tempertures: PSU - 60 degrees Celsius, the hard disk - 56 degrees, CPU - about 50 degrees. This is definitely to much! :eek:

Step 9: Improvement
After buying a new hard drive, I inserted a few more fans. Two 4cm-fans sucking hot air away from the hdd and one 6cm-fan blowing fresh air inside, nearby the PSU. I misused the two boxes in the front. Usually you can store your 5inch-disks there (it is still possible), but now they are air ducts.
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/Lueftung2Platte.JPG

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/LueftungzuPlatte.JPG

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/Lueftung2Netzteil.JPG

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/LueftungzuNetzteil.JPG

Argh, the tests have not shown much better temperatures than before. This is one of those moments ... :dead:

Step 10: Improvement #2
I reversed the airflow direction and inserted more fans! Instead of two 4cm-fans blows one 8cm-fan, which is only 15mm thick, fresh air directly on to the hard drive. The remaining holes have been covered. On the other side are now two 6cm-fans, which suck worm air from the PSU to outside.
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/NeueLueftung.jpg

No air holdup anymore, this is the key fan:
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/Netzteilluefter.jpg

The same reversion on the upper floor! Front fan blowing fresh air over graphics card, the grill has been modified and in the upper cap are two 6cm-fans blowing warm air outside.
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/Frontluefter1.jpg

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/Frontluefter2.jpg

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/DeckelLueftung1.jpg

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/DeckelLueftung2.jpg

Thinner CPU-fan leads to more space to the cap.
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/Lueftervergleich.jpg

[vidas7de7jesus7]

Excellent job. In addition, if you install Vista, you could rig up that tft for sideshow. Snazzy. Let's see some fully finished multi-angle glamor shots.

whoops, thought you were done. nm

[Brunhold]

Step 10: Final test
Temperatures: PSU - 35 degrees, HDD - room temperature, CPU - about 44 degrees. Perfect! Ready for continuous duty. Ok, the PC is explicit hearable, but it is cheaper not to buy a hard disk every week.

We have picture on 28"-TV and on the 5"-TFT:
http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Worklog/Bildtest.jpg


Thank you very much for your attention! 8)



http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Fertigbilder/OsborneCorpLogo.jpg

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Fertigbilder/Stehend1.jpg

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Fertigbilder/Stehend2.jpg

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Fertigbilder/Gesamtoffen.jpg

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Fertigbilder/Gesamtgeschlossen.jpg

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Fertigbilder/Liegendhinten.jpg

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Fertigbilder/Stromanschluss.jpg

http://der-bruno.de/Osborne1/Fertigbilder/Deckelluefter.jpg

[Canadian Eh?]

i like how you tried to keep everthing original +rep.

[.Maleficus.]

Very cool man, very cool. +rep.

[Rodrigo Vicentini]

dude, this was a beautiful work, it was perfect, and it didn't lose old Osborne's characteristics. congratulations :up:

[agnat]

Wow! That turned out great. Very impressive job!

Agnat

[Lairy Fiquid]

Very nice mod, nice mix of old school and technology :p
Great work :up:

[Drew]

Superb.

Never been a fan of old stuff like that, but I may be converted.

Retro laptop...

[UK-Blade]

Lets have a BIIIG round of appalause for a top notch mod.

SUPERB!!!

Keep up the good work. :up:

[Brunhold]

Many thanks for the responses and lauds! This is a part of computer history, which I do not know, and this is how I honour it. :)

http://www.coleconation.com/0511/11.gif

The Osborne 1 is like Xbox or Playstation, it is nice to play with it.

[TheGreatSatan]

What kind of adapter allows for your video card to lay like that?

[Brunhold]

I used an adapter, like on the picture below, to split the TV-out signal for the LCD and the TV.
http://www.reichelt.de/bilder//web/haustechnik/I210/AVK105.jpg

[Luke122]

I think he means the riser card... plugs into slot on mobo, and turns the vid card to a right angle, allowing it to lay parallel to the mobo. :)

[Brunhold]

Oh, ok. I have used an AGP Riser and an AGP Extender or Protector.
http://store.compute-aid.com/images/gold/full/RC1UAGP-CW.jpg
http://store.compute-aid.com/images/gold/full/AGPEXTENDER.jpg

[moon111]

Great work. I can see where it could of been very tempting to start hacking things up further, but you stayed on course. There's a few people I know who would be floored by this mod. Thumbs up.

[DaveW]

Excellent work that man, +Rep.

-Dave