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mrjelloman
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Post subject: Re: NES Retro Gaming Computer - Stealth Edition  Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:38 am |
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Joined: Thu Aug 28, 2008 6:50 pm
Posts: 11
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Well I called Intel back with the AA number from the board (E26314-401) and they are telling me this is an OEM board from a Dell system, so they will not exchange it. I hope micro-box didn't sell you a system pull, and I am remaining open-minded about this.
If I need to mail the board back to you to have you process any exchanges let me know.
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DavGerm4
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Post subject: Re: NES Retro Gaming Computer - Stealth Edition Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 7:45 pm |
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Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2008 1:28 am
Posts: 17
Location: Providence, UT
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cbutters
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Post subject: Re: NES Retro Gaming Computer - Stealth Edition Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 8:16 pm |
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Joined: Sat Apr 21, 2007 1:32 pm
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mrjelloman wrote: Well I called Intel back with the AA number from the board (E26314-401) and they are telling me this is an OEM board from a Dell system, so they will not exchange it. I hope micro-box didn't sell you a system pull, and I am remaining open-minded about this.
If I need to mail the board back to you to have you process any exchanges let me know. Well mine didn't come in an intel box, it came just in a normal box with accessories so that is probably true. What did you find out is exactly wrong with the board? is it just the s-video out or is it the entire board that wont boot? Once I have that info, I can send mini-box an email and see if they will exchange it. Depending on the info you give me and what I hear back from mini-box; then I can just have you send it in to them from your address and when I get the new board ship it out to you.
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cbutters
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Post subject: Re: NES Retro Gaming Computer - Stealth Edition Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 8:19 pm |
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Joined: Sat Apr 21, 2007 1:32 pm
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DavGerm4 wrote: cbutters got a question for ya!
So I've got it all working with the Controller Ports and everything, but I wanted to know how you got GameEx working so well? Like when I go into selecting a Game for the NES to play, it will go to load, and it will say "Unknown Error, Press OK to Continue". So it doesn't automatically go into the Game. After I click OK, it then says the file cannot be found. So I have to manually go to File->Open Rom. This is all with the Emulator NEStopia. I've tried it with VirtuNES, but it's just horrible. Is this because I don't have the registered version you think?
Also, How did you set it up so you can press Start+Select to get back to the GameEx Menu?
Thanks! For selecting NES, it sounds like your advanced configuration is calling the Roms incorrectly, you want to check your advanced configuration for NES, I can't tell you my values since I don't have my NES computer anymore; but I used NEStopia and it seemed to work fine. The Start Select buttons to return to menu is also in the advanced configuration setting, it basically involves editing a particular config file that you set values for the buttons. It basically has up left right down select start B A and you can set 'TRUE' for the buttons you want to close the program, I set my start and select to true only and that calls the exit command.
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mrjelloman
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Post subject: Re: NES Retro Gaming Computer - Stealth Edition Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 9:58 pm |
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Joined: Thu Aug 28, 2008 6:50 pm
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Things I have found wrong:
- No POST or video
- A tall capacitor is missing next to the CPU heatsink/fan, if you look at the pictures I linked earlier, it will be the one closest to the edge of the board, furthest from the fan connector. No loose capacitor was found in the box.
- When the system is connected to a CRT via SVideo (direct connection from motherboard or through the video port on the NES), the screen is black, but there is a white flickering band.
I have tried a different power supply with no luck and same results. Just let me know what you need me to do. I hope they do have a replacement, otherwise I have found one place in stock for $63.18 + tax + SH.
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COMMODORE64
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Post subject: Re: NES Retro Gaming Computer - Stealth Edition Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 10:40 am |
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Joined: Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:30 pm
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cbutters wrote: COMMODORE64 wrote: cbutters, I would like to congulate you on your first Nes Mod. However, there's few thing that I'm not very fond of. - USB to Nes controller board ( you need to explain in greater detail on how to break it open and to install it inside the case, enabling the original NES controllers to work without the extension or any tomfoolery that can be seen outside of NES case. ) - A/V plug - This should be able to be built on a board, wired, which it could be hooked to graphic card and audio card if you can WITHOUT the case modification or any matters. If you can, please, please do explain on how to do this. - WiFi Wireless card should be able to be installed internally, using the PCI riser. Or you can just use the USB WiFi card. Or any M-ITX with integrated PCMIA controller. - Cooling - You should be able to add the 40, 60MM fan on bottom of the case, which it could be grilled, and hidden out of slight. Top of the case have some air opening to flow in and out, so i'm sure the incoming cooling air from bottom will be blown outside of the top, or any place where exhaust would be. I really like the idea of micro-ITX, which it works really good for anything, even if you are running on VIA C7. **After a while of researching over the google, and i found it could be MUCH EASIER if you just mount the burner and hard drive on the top-inside of case, leaving some cooling space for entire of ITX, and more of wire works. **Also, I found that you could throw in Firewire and 2 extra USB port in front of black plastic, once you installed the swinging door for it. Both of the tips indicated as ** is found on this link. http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1 ... 952,00.aspTo take closer look at pictures of the mod, click here. http://www.extremetech.com/slideshow/0, ... 030,00.aspI certainly hope this suggestion helps a lot, and looking foward for your second edition of NESPC. Lucan Im not sure what to make of your post. You say you arent very fond of a few things about the mod, and then describe how it should be, and basically describe my NES mod how it already is, Usb to NES controller board, you said that it should work without being able to see anything outside the case. That is how mine is, A/V Plug, You say it should be connected to the video card without the case modification? I didn't mod the case, I wired up an s-video out and audio out to the original controller board. Wifi card, you say it should be installed internall through USB, that is what I did. cooling, you say to add a fan, which doesnt make sense because it doesnt get hot enough to warrant adding a fan, especially if you are concerned about modifying and having tom-foolery on the board. You say to add USB ports to the front, but why would I do that when I already have a USB hub underneath? And what would I use firewire for? do you want to do video editing on your nintendo? I do use a mini-itx board, but it is NOT a VIA C7, it is a INTEL Celeron 220, which is actually a conroe-L (core 2 technology) and is very fast. I appreciate the post, but I'm not sure what to make of it and I'm not sure you actually read how my NESPC works or saw my video. I apologize for such purplexing post. I have some handful suggestion for you. On some boards, it should have the video-out plugs on the board that you actually convert it to video out plug, which it replaces the white video-out. Such as SPDIF or S-Video = http://www.frontx.com/cpx107_2.html or http://www.frontx.com/cpx106_2.htmlSame with front panel audio connection = http://www.frontx.com/cpx111_2.htmlI got some funny questions... -How comes you don't want to cut out the hole for I\O shield, so you can plug in and uses it as computer, and uses emulator at the same time? - You didn't show us what kind of power brick and the PSU box you uses? - You didn't tell us what optical drive you uses? - You didn't even bother to build a new circuit box out of the breadboard to install the new video, and audio? - You didn't even bother to build some 1MM plastic plates to holds your components in places? Hope I helped.
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mrjelloman
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Post subject: Re: NES Retro Gaming Computer - Stealth Edition Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:26 pm |
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Joined: Thu Aug 28, 2008 6:50 pm
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Quote: -How comes you don't want to cut out the hole for I\O shield, so you can plug in and uses it as computer, and uses emulator at the same time? To each their own apparently. As he stated, it was for the intention of making it look like an original NES all around. If you want a PC with external ports to play emulators, go buy a Shuttle. Modding is about aesthetics, and personal preference, and personally, that's why I like it, and so does everyone else I have shown it to so far (even though I still haven't replaced the board  ). Quote: - You didn't show us what kind of power brick and the PSU box you uses? He uses the PicoPSU 90w, I'm assuming this is the kit he purchased that includes the power brick: http://www.mini-box.com/picoPSU-90-powe ... ategory=13He cut off the plug on the power brick and soldered on the actual NES plug, so that the original power port on the NES is used, then it is wired from the power port into the PicoPSU. Quote: - You didn't tell us what optical drive you uses? He doesn't use one, that's why it's not mentioned. You can transfer files via networking (wireless), or for the initial transfer, a USB hard drive since he does provide a USB hub. Quote: - You didn't even bother to build a new circuit box out of the breadboard to install the new video, and audio? He didn't install new video and audio, he modified the existing board to connect to the rear ports on the logic board. The audio wiring is really thin, so I might change that up; the audio and video cabling you linked may do the trick, though I would use the existing NES ports still in the spirit of the mod. A circuit box is not needed since it is not exposed to the outside. Quote: - You didn't even bother to build some 1MM plastic plates to holds your components in places? I was concerned about this, especially for shipping (and it appears my fears were not unfounded). I need to check and see how others have mounted their board so once I get my replacement, I can secure it in place. The hard drive is not going anywhere with the way it is secured, so that's fine.
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DavGerm4
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Post subject: Re: NES Retro Gaming Computer - Stealth Edition Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 1:54 am |
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Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2008 1:28 am
Posts: 17
Location: Providence, UT
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mrjelloman
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Post subject: Re: NES Retro Gaming Computer - Stealth Edition Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 3:41 pm |
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Joined: Thu Aug 28, 2008 6:50 pm
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Did you put the little fabric washers between the screws that you used to mount the motherboard? Sometimes that does it.
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DavGerm4
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Post subject: Re: NES Retro Gaming Computer - Stealth Edition Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 3:53 pm |
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Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2008 1:28 am
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Location: Providence, UT
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mrjelloman
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Post subject: Re: NES Retro Gaming Computer - Stealth Edition Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 10:43 am |
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Joined: Thu Aug 28, 2008 6:50 pm
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Basically you want to make sure the motherboard is not coming into contact with anything metal. Something is causing the short, so double-check your motherboard placement and make sure it is not touching something. By past experience, I usually found that it was the mounting screws that caused the short, but sometimes it could be exposed wiring, if something got pinched.
Good luck!
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cbutters
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Post subject: Re: NES Retro Gaming Computer - Stealth Edition Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 4:37 pm |
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Joined: Sat Apr 21, 2007 1:32 pm
Posts: 82
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carlaxx wrote: What field in the video game industry requires no programming, is not complex, and has rewarding pay?
I'm hoping to get into the video game industry and right now i'm stuck between choosing whether to became a level designer or character animator but my main problem is that i have no artistic skills...what career path should i take that would allow me to continue to work with computers without having to learn programming or needing advanced artistic skills? If programming isn't your thing at all, and you aren't very artistic, you could learn some networking skills and work in the network department. However, I would suggest learning programming, especially if you aren't very artistic and are still young when you can absorb a lot of information and new programming languages. nobody is going to hire you if you don't have any skills at all. The best you could hope for otherwise is maybe being a game tester. Other than that, you absolutely need to have some skills in order to create and not just play video games. ( you could also clean the floors at the game studio too.)
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coreybedford
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Post subject: Re: NES Retro Gaming Computer - Stealth Edition Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 5:42 pm |
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Joined: Thu May 21, 2009 5:19 pm
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Hey cbutters
This mod is excellent.. I'm working on my own version of this.. more of a 95% stealth instead of 100% but still not a Frankenstein machine exactly. I had a question if it's cool?
I bought a kit at retrozone planning on turning my original controller ports to be used by USB inside the case as you did. But instead of buying the USB to NES port that you did.. I bought the kit in which you trade out your NES controllers cord and replace it with a USB cord.. since it's the same board in both kits and the board in this version comes uncovered and pre-soldered to the USB cord...my thinking was this would require less effort to crack the case open and risk damaging the board inside (kinda clumsy with small things and sharp tools) but the wired diagrams for soldering only point out 5 wires instead of the 7 that are inside the console case.(which I didn't know at the time that the NES controller uses two less than the NES ports do)
Can you help me out with where to solder the two extra wires to the retrozone chip? (blue and purple)
Thanks
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File comment: FROM RETROZONE SITE
neskit.jpg [ 24.53 KiB | Viewed 940 times ]
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cbutters
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Post subject: Re: NES Retro Gaming Computer - Stealth Edition Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 3:24 pm |
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Joined: Sat Apr 21, 2007 1:32 pm
Posts: 82
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coreybedford wrote: Hey cbutters
This mod is excellent.. I'm working on my own version of this.. more of a 95% stealth instead of 100% but still not a Frankenstein machine exactly. I had a question if it's cool?
I bought a kit at retrozone planning on turning my original controller ports to be used by USB inside the case as you did. But instead of buying the USB to NES port that you did.. I bought the kit in which you trade out your NES controllers cord and replace it with a USB cord.. since it's the same board in both kits and the board in this version comes uncovered and pre-soldered to the USB cord...my thinking was this would require less effort to crack the case open and risk damaging the board inside (kinda clumsy with small things and sharp tools) but the wired diagrams for soldering only point out 5 wires instead of the 7 that are inside the console case.(which I didn't know at the time that the NES controller uses two less than the NES ports do)
Can you help me out with where to solder the two extra wires to the retrozone chip? (blue and purple)
Thanks Hmm, I have since sold my NES project, but I may have some pictures that show where I soldered those..... Let me look around, I will post something If I can find the answer.
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coreybedford
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Post subject: Re: NES Retro Gaming Computer - Stealth Edition Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 6:30 pm |
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Joined: Thu May 21, 2009 5:19 pm
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Hey that would be great if you do have some pics of that.. if not I appreciate the effort anyway
Thanks alot
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