Project : Ata-tendo

[DocNitrous]

Hey its me again !

The wait for a pump had me start another side project.

This one is a more long term oriented project, working on it mostly when i feel so.

The goal of this project is to use my old Atari and Nintendo case to make a computer dedicated to Emulator. A kind of a multi-console.

Not having a micro MB i have the use parts from my junk pile to make a computer...

So after some testing i found a working MB with integrated video and a working Pentium 667 mhz CPU. Teamed with a stick of 256MB SDRAM, i have a working core of what is more than strong enough to run any emulator available.

I also have a 2.5 GB Laptop HD. Just enough for win XP, the emulators and ROMs.

At first it seemed clear that everything wont fit an Atari case or Nintendo. so there came the Idea. The MB and HD will be in the Atari and the PSU in the NES. Connected together it will give the impression that they are "linked" proccesing 8 bit powerhouse! :alien: :p

So the first step was to fit a not so small MB in an Atari ...

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/docnitrous/Compute/water002.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/docnitrous/Compute/water001.jpg



Here how the MB gonna fit, in fact its the only way i could figure out without intensive modification of the case.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/docnitrous/Compute/water004.jpg

The whole thing gonne be cooled with a 120mm fan

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/docnitrous/Compute/water005.jpg


The fan will blow fresh air directly to the CPU heatsink and two (one?) small exhaust fans will blow hot air from the cartridge hole.


Thats it for today.

For those wondering what i did with the original internals, i plan another weird project. the contrary of this one, placing all my old console in one computer tower... But this is far from being an actual project. Finishing X3O2 first then moving on to something else...

[Bucko]

If you are using the cartridge slot for the exhaust fan, why not strip out an old cartridge and have a vent in it, so it looks like you have a game in the machine.

[DocNitrous]

Seriously i wanted already to do it, i was trying to keep some surprise... :p

But thanks. :up:

[DocNitrous]

This thread is back from the dead.

I was tired of seeing this project collect dust on a shelf so i spend some time on it, Having all i need to complete the project, I will try to make it a priority in my few spare times.



The Mobo "tray" is done. Its weird how what seemed as a complex problem finish as a simple solution.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/docnitrous/atatendo007.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/docnitrous/atatendo005.jpg

All i needed was standard mobo mounting nuts screwed togther to form 4 pillar of the appropriate length mounted directly in the bottom of the case.




here are some others pics i took tonight.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/docnitrous/atatendo002.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/docnitrous/atatendo003.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/docnitrous/atatendo004.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/docnitrous/atatendo010.jpg





The Ata part will connect to the Tendo one by three wires.

Two connecting the controllers ports from each console together and one additional Parallel port type DB25 connector.

The DB25 will be for the power transportatioin, while the controllers ports for control signals ( power switch, led, fan speed controller) with enough spare pins for futur improvement or idea.


An IDE connection will be available to connect the CD drive for occasional purpose (initial setup and programs installation) on the back.

[nevermind1534]

Looks good. You can get a miniITX motherboard with a 1.6GHZ Intel Atom processor for $69 from newegg.

[Drum Thumper]

I've very curious regarding the ATA connector--/subscribed and +rep

[Dane Bramage]

what a whacked out idea... gut two old consoles to build a computer in them to run old console games! i love it :up:

+rep/sub

[nevermind1534]

I'd like to see this completed. This is only the second Atari mod that I've ever seen.

[DocNitrous]

Thanks for the good comments folks! :glasses:


About the miniITX, i know its not very expensive, but this project is really a "no" budget one..

I did it to find purpose for one of my old computers, there are 3 other waiting inline to become official project. Its purely a recycling project. Used fans, otherwise useless old computers, old parts, drives, PSU... everything.

My main rig (AKULA) deserve my money, he IS the one who get the budget and the new parts, not my secondary projects, like this one...

about Akula, i plan on doing an update soon, as i finally got a pump and my two zalmann 8800GTS water block from my friend who finally bought his 3 9800GTX and a bigger pump. but ill keep the details about this one for his own worklog, here its all about a 8bit hybrid powerhouse 8)

be back later, maybe with some new pics for your eyes only...

:up:

[nevermind1534]

I got a small microatx motherboard with a celeron 2.5GHz cpu a few years ago, but it dodn't fit. Luckily, my grandparent's emachines broke right after I got it, so I was still able to find a use for it. Mine just missed, so I'm sure you could find a way to disguise that little bit of board, or just let it hang out the back a few centimeters, if you need to.

[DocNitrous]

The MB im using now fit perfectly the Atari case.


Last week end i filled the "rough" holes with fiberglass. Still have to sand it down and apply finishing putty.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/docnitrous/250608012.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/docnitrous/250608013.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/docnitrous/250608016.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/docnitrous/250608017.jpg


You probably wonder how im gonna fill the fan hole, what grill i would use. Simply a standard mesh grill that gonna cover most of the bottom of the Atari. Notice the quare hole i left under the HD, to make sur heat aint a problem...

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/docnitrous/250608015.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/docnitrous/250608018.jpg




The grill goes past the corner and up a bit on the lower portion of the front and back panel.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/docnitrous/250608022.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/docnitrous/250608021.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/docnitrous/250608020.jpg

The two round holes are for securing the upper portion with the bottom. I will make it "hood pin" style.


On the Tendo side, I trimmed down the "plastic screw pillar" from the lower portion to make place for the power supply.

An Antec 400W PSU is more than enough for any future need of power for any upgrade or accessory to the Ata-Tendo.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/docnitrous/250608023.jpg

Height wise, the PSU fit without any leftover space between the heatsinks and the top of the case, BUT IT FIT....

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/docnitrous/250608024.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/docnitrous/250608025.jpg







About the Ide connector on the back between the two controller.

It will be used for the CDROM.

A permanent CDrom drive is not yet planned (in fact yes i have a plan about this but its not for the near future)

I was also thinking that a monstrous hybrid 8bit calculating supercomputer would definitly NEED a robotic operating buddy... 8)

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/docnitrous/250608032.jpg

I present you R.O.B. , those of you old enough might have already meet or own one when he was young, for the others its just a forgotten legend or a myth...

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/docnitrous/250608030.jpg



http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/docnitrous/250608033.jpg



The base would be perfect to fit a laptop slot load CD ou DVD drive. :think:







http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/docnitrous/250608029.jpg






Hey what is this photo is doing here??

:devious:

I present you the Core of my next side project : (i have 3 waiting in line up on the shelfs :bunny:)

Skynet

A gaming/home server/router/modem based on a dual Xeon 1.7 Ghz HP X4000 MB I got for some peanuts... (those workstation was THA BOMB back in their time)

(please dont track me and burn my house down, i will make sur this "Skynet" wont take over the world by infecting internet, taking over military defense and destroy humanity...)

You saw the "brain" but didnt see the body yet... :devious:

A vintage WANG Computer i "found" in my garage (from a previous lot of old computers i was given a long time ago...)

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/docnitrous/Wang021.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/docnitrous/Wang022.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/docnitrous/Wang019.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/docnitrous/Wang009.jpg

This treasure was buried underneath a dozen of other 386-486 worthless cases. When i first saw it I didnt even realized how "rare" and "old" it was. After some research with my friend Google, I told myself I HAVE to do something with this beauty...

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/docnitrous/Wang015.jpg

[Luke122]

+rep for the WANG. :D

[M4v3rick]

I love modding of such "ancient" hardware :D
keep it up

[nevermind1534]

I see what you're doing, now, i think. So a motherboard only goes in the Atari. That's a pretty good idea. At this point, a lot of people know about R.O.B., since he appeared as a playable character in SSB Brawl. How is the fiberglass? Is it hard to work with?

[DocNitrous]

I didnt knew ROB was a back, i never player SSB brawl :)

good to know hes back again :up:

Nevermind1534, you got it right, the atari will host the MB, and the nintendo the power supply.

Im currently looking for a cheap Tandy TRS-80 (i had one but cant find it, maybe in my dad's place... :think:) to make an assorted keyboard.

Fiberglass is really easy to work with, other than the horrible smell and the itch on the skin if your not well protected.

I used to do molded fiberglass subwoofer enclosure, so its not my first time working fiberglass.