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Thread: Hardware advice for retro gaming rig

  1. #11
    Will YOU be ready when the zombies rise? x88x's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hardware advice for retro gaming rig

    Especially one that old, the connection will be pretty simple. Most likely just a straight flat ribbon cable from each to the MBB. You can definitely extend them, though it will probably involve some delicate soldering because of the cables they use. I have seen it done though, and you'll have a fair bit of cable length to learn on (at least a few inches). I would cut it in the middle and extend it with some old IDE cable scrap. That way you don't have to worry about the connectors on either end.

    For the keyboard, I had a thought. What about putting it on a motorized or spring-loaded panel that slides out the front? That would keep it out of the way when you're not using it and not disrupt the design on the top when you are. ...plus, it would just look awesome.
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  2. #12
    Overclocked Munty's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hardware advice for retro gaming rig

    Thanks dude nice idea HAving the keyboard come out the front is definitely one possibility, most likely an easy one too! I'm kind of at a loose end now while I wait for it to arrive as until it does I have zero dimension info on the hardware involved. Not sure how much of the case will be empty which will obviously affect internal space needed in the new design. Also what I'm able to do with the keyboard will depend largely on how it looks when it comes out and what sort of shape, size and connection it is.

    As soon as it arrives I'll get the software sorted as it seems that it should have 98 already installed and I have 95 upstairs so I can make maybe 3 partitions straight away (1x95, 1x98 and 1xdata storage) then create the fourth for 2000 once I get hold of a copy of the OS. 2000 is probably the least important anyway as most software that runs on that can be bodged into XP with fairly little fuss in my experience.

    Anyway as soon as I know the software will do what I want it too I'll be onto dismantling and then I can try a few mockups of where the various bits can go before I decide a final layout and start planning the final look. I'll most likely do all of that before I start a build thread as you never know what I may come across to stop me dead but if I get that far then it should be a fairly simple matter to build up the case around the hardware. The majority of it needs no precision as it'll essentially be a sort of battlefield diorama but I'm having trouble finding the specialist mini's I'll need at the moment.

    The screen will definitely be more difficult as I'm working from a template and very anally too! I want it to be just right but it shouldn't be too hard, just a few features I'm not sure about.

    I think the whole thing will involve a fair deal of wire-extending as I want to move the power and charging LEDs, power on button, and of course the keyboard and screen too! I certainly have spare cables though so if I can get my hands on a soldering iron and such it shouldn't be a huge problem.

    Looking forward to getting the delivery now as the more I think about what I can do the more the idea evolves so it'll be nice to get a sense of scale soon. I'll be taking some pics of the early process then uploading them all when I start a build thread but it's all in my head for now! I made a sketchup of the screen idea years ago but lost it on an infected harddrive

    Question but probably best to go to the source with it. I've seen a few neat builds with some sort of construction card that's seemed pretty stable to me. I'm wondering if it might make a good base for my screen surround as it'll be lightweight and easy to work with. I think it was Frenkie for his Wall-E DVD drive and the GDI construction yard case-mod too. I'll go and track him down today but does anyone know any more about what that stuff was and where to find it?

  3. #13
    Overclocked Munty's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hardware advice for retro gaming rig

    5 days after purchase and I only got the email yesterday to tell me this lappy was in the post :s Oh well at least it's given me time to get prepared so I have the majority of other bits that I'll need for this build now anyway! Hopefully have it with me tomorrow or next day at very latest so will get started on it then and start a worklog!

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