Via Pico ITX kit plus old GameCube shell equals GCNpicoITX - UPDATE: Progress made

Kaimaka · September 2008

I saw the coolest thing ever in the Desktop thread. A miniature computer in a GameCube shell by kouri1977. I must have one. I am not alone it seems as a few other people took interest and at least one other is planing on building one.

About the Via Pico ITX motherboards:
http://www.via.com.tw/en/initiatives/spearhead/pico-itx/

VIA EPIA PX10000G is a 7.2cm x 10cm motherboard with integrated 1 GHz processor and a slot for up to 1 gigabyte of DDR2 RAM. Also in the kit a bunch of cables with all the bits you want like monitor outputs audio outputs, ps/2 mouse and keyboard ports and to USB ports. For storage and optical drives you have SATAand IDE connections. Oh and Ethernet jack. These boards are designed for use where ever small form low power-required PCs might be useful, robots, cars, subtle media boxes for TV rooms and file servers maybe. Cool stuff anyway. This / these set are said to be able to run with out conventional cooling for days.

Back to building a GCNpicoITX
I plan on following the project log of the PA forum member kouri1977 who introduced us to this project.
http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=151882
I fully intend to make my own additions and implement my own ideas as I go along while also having ago at ideas previously mentioned that didn't make it to the final (as of currently anyway) product

To see the first progress made in 9 months jump to post #50 http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showpost.php?p=10633244&postcount=50

Kaimaka · September 2008

kouri1977 wrote: »

A CD drive is possible. In m project, it fit in the case and all, just the thing overheated. As someone said, optical drives aren't essential nowadays anyway. My next thought was to use a GBA player, and I think that would be the way to go for anyone trying this. It would give you a nice bit of extra space.

The controller ports are too small for USB but the memory card slots would work. I abandoned that plan. So there again there is room for anyone to best my effort.

It really doesn't take a great deal of skill. I did it.

Don't Do What Kaimaka Done Did

I was impatient or enthusiastic about building my home made Solid State drive that I attempted it with the shaky hands (tired, sugared up from Lemon & Paeroa)
Exhibit A

and the rest

I'm still waiting on my GameBit to arrive so I cannot open anything up yet. Here is me trying to make use of teh existing hollow left by the absence of a network device in the 'Serial Port 1' bay. I should be able to get my homebrew SSD in there.

GrimReaper · September 2008

I actually intend to build a mini-itx machine myself at some point, to be used purely as a music system. Get it put into the smallest case. I can use something like optical out or spdif (using analog is probably a bad idea, i'm guessing with those electronic components scrunched together they'll be some noise) for the audio output and get myself some decent 2.1 speakers.

My intention is to have it hidden somewhere running some Linux distro (probably centos) and mpd. Then I can control it using mpod on my ipod touch or iphone and have a shared directory on the network (using samba) so I can simply drag and drop music.

maximumzero · September 2008

Too bad you couldn't retain the little mini-cd drive and have it be functional.

GrimReaper · September 2008

http://www.mini-itx.com/ is also a good site to get this kind of hardware.

maximumzero · September 2008

I do have an old fat PS2 that has DRE issues. I wonder if I could cram this mobo into that. Hmm.

Daedalus · September 2008

maximumzero wrote: »

Too bad you couldn't retain the little mini-cd drive and have it be functional.

On the other hand, cramming USB ports where the controller ports used to be would probably be possible.

Kaimaka · September 2008

maximumzero wrote: »

I do have an old fat PS2 that has DRE issues. I wonder if I could cram this mobo into that. Hmm.

Some ITX kits are designed for being a computer inside a computer and as such take up no more room than a 5.1/4 inch (?) drive bay. The original PS2 had a contraband cellar that was a big empty space intended for a hdd. I don't have the measurements of anything involved but if the sizes were exagertated, huge ps2 - tiny ITX deal you could almost buy a compute and just of it in and call it a day.

Of course that would be no fun at all

contraband · September 2008

Kaimaka wrote: »

maximumzero wrote: »

I do have an old fat PS2 that has DRE issues. I wonder if I could cram this mobo into that. Hmm.

Some ITX kits are designed for being a computer inside a computer and as such take up no more room than a 5.1/4 inch (?) drive bay. The original PS2 had a contraband cellar that was a big empty space intended for a hdd. I don't have the measurements of anything involved but if the sizes were exagertated, huge ps2 - tiny ITX deal you could almost buy a compute and just of it in and call it a day.

Of course that would be no fun at all

Once someone does that, the next step would be to put a computer inide the original Xbox.

Oh wait.

Kaimaka · September 2008

Daedalus wrote: »

maximumzero wrote: »

Too bad you couldn't retain the little mini-cd drive and have it be functional.

On the other hand, cramming USB ports where the controller ports used to be would probably be possible.

Is everyone stuck on the space issue? Not enough room for all the gear without overheating and such?
Its a computer. We need more space -> there is no space -> external enclosure -> but for gamecube.

GB Player is an existing GCN external enclosure with a GBA in is obviously

Lork · September 2008

Somebody should take 2 Gamecube shells, duct tape them together and put the insides of a Wii in it.

Silvoculous · September 2008

Lork wrote: »

Somebody should take 2 Gamecube shells, duct tape them together and put the insides of a Wii in it.

Game Informer said this a couple of years ago, oddly.

I'll definitely be following this project. I have a GameCube sitting around, even though I know I lack the skills/tools to get something like this done. Getting the GC case open to begin with takes a Nintendo-proprietary screwdriver as it is.

JustinSane07 · September 2008

[QUOTE=Silvoculous;7064257I'll definitely be following this project. I have a GameCube sitting around, even though I know I lack the skills/tools to get something like this done. Getting the GC case open to begin with takes a Nintendo-proprietary screwdriver as it is.[/QUOTE]

What? No it doesn't. Did you not watch the YouTube on dissasembly?

Silvoculous · September 2008

takeitapart.net's video was packing a 5/32 socket screwdriver. The other videos I'd watched in the past had (mistakenly it seems) said that a special Nintendo bit is required.

Maybe I can get on this then.

JustinSane07 · September 2008

Well a socket screwdriver fits around the outside of the screw and twists it that way. The special Nintendo bit fits inside the screw normally and twists it that way.

Also, I think this project might be futile. I don't see where you could possibly fit an optical drive.

wasted pixels · September 2008

Dremeling a slot and adding a laptop DVD-ROM drive should be doable, there has to be room for that somewhere. Failing that, you could always just use an external drive -- optical media is really just used for installing stuff anymore.

exoplasm · September 2008

JustinSane07 wrote: »

Well a socket screwdriver fits around the outside of the screw and twists it that way. The special Nintendo bit fits inside the screw normally and twists it that way.

Also, I think this project might be futile. I don't see where you could possibly fit an optical drive.

Who says you need an optical drive?

You could probably use a slim notebook dvd drive, though.

Silvoculous · September 2008

I could see myself booting a lightweight Linux distro from USB and installing it to the hard drive using a script.

Anyone who successfully completes this project will more than likely look to this method, as you can't boot from a USB external CD-ROM drive.

Kaimaka · September 2008

Oh good a Linux type matter. I like working with linux sometimes
Yeah booting of a USB drive is my idea. Puppy or something like Feather light (old abandoned so crap before you seek out current repos) Linux Mint - no permission hassle in that. Which is dumb because the default install sets up a root/super user/human account thing which mean if you break it is broken.

So many ISOs of small form Linux distros you can boot on a machine with and optical reader then choose a option to install on flash media. Which is best? Discuss. I have used a Compact Flash card as a IDE hard drive so I was really happy to see in Puppy an option for installing a base system on a CF card connect by IDE.

It didn't work but that hardly the point. Someone has thought of it which I thought was cool. I just installed it as if I had a mechanical IDE drive like every other OS was treating it.

Unknown · September 2008

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Kaimaka · September 2008

dig deeper
http://www.logicsupply.com/products/px_tc
http://www.logicsupply.com/products/pxfpio

There are sound and video add on options just like a big boy computer only ther are modular Buy/use/install what you want and need. I use the term motherboard for thw main bit so much for this reason

Unknown · September 2008

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Recoil42 · September 2008

Unknown · September 2008

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kouri1977 · September 2008

A CD drive is possible. In m project, it fit in the case and all, just the thing overheated. As someone said, optical drives aren't essential nowadays anyway. My next thought was to use a GBA player, and I think that would be the way to go for anyone trying this. It would give you a nice bit of extra space.

The controller ports are too small for USB but the memory card slots would work. I abandoned that plan. So there again there is room for anyone to best my effort.

It really doesn't take a great deal of skill. I did it.

Kaimaka · September 2008

mcdermott wrote: »

Oh, and I totally didn't mean to jump in with a dose of negative or anything, sorry if it comes off that way. This project is pretty awesome, which is why I started looking at the tech specs in the first place (because I was thinking about building one).

I think I might have to go with a NES mod now. Probably not until sometime next semester, when I have some spare cash. But I think the NES case offers enough space that I can be a bit more flexible with what I put in there.

No worries. Your view, a philosophical one; was well formed and communicated. Whether I see things your way is immaterial as it gave me another way to look at the same concept which is always good. I like Robots right, these boards can be heavily use to make Robots like Lego Mindstorms but on a higher level ove control, customization and all that. If you are making a deaf and dumb robot you can use the base system if you are making a robot band you can use more specialized stuff (which I know nothing of I'm not an audiophile)

This is exactly what I had hoped for this thread. Different stroke for different folks
If I ever need to know about audio matter I am going to go back and read you post closely

Silvoculous · September 2008

So uh, what's the quickest and least painful way to get from this:

to this:

That's gonna be the fun part. What tools would I need?

Unknown · September 2008

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kouri1977 · September 2008

And goggles. It is a very messy process.

JustinSane07 · September 2008

The picture shows a file to smooth everything out with.

Kaimaka · September 2008

Use a robot from the future to do to manual task of cutting out the shape

http://www.ferret.com.au/odin/images/159105/Robocut-laser-cutting-robot-159105.jpg

I really want to see the day this professional grade equipment scales down in price and widens in use down to Joe Blow consumer like me

<frame src="/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ferret.com.au/odin/images/159105/Robocut-laser-cutting-robot-159105.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ferret.com.au/c/Laser-Resources/Robocut-laser-cutting-robot-n665873&h=1171&w=894&sz=125&tbnid=uie9qnKV-yWPPM:&tbnh=150&tbnw=115&hl=en&um=1&prev=/images%3Fq=laser+cutting+tool&start=21&ndsp=21&um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=com.ubuntu:en-US:unofficial&sa=N&frame=small" scrolling=no marginwidth=0 marginheight=0 onload="var d = frames[0].document;var l = d.links[0];if (d.getElementById &&d.getElementById('logo')) {l = d.getElementById('logo');}l.target='_top';"><frame src="http://www.ferret.com.au/c/Laser-Resources/Robocut-laser-cutting-robot-n665873">

Man what? When i was 13 I had a geocities pages I wrote in html cos my computer choked on 'wysiwyg' prorgrams. In the decade the i haven't since I last payed attention to web page writing; it had gone and got silly complex. Some one show my how to fix this cos Im lazy right now

Edited to rehost hot-linked photo on my own phot bucket. from the source in the above text

Kaimaka · September 2008

I set up some of the components of my project with the intention of trying to get it to boot Puppy from my usb stick

For some reason no matter what I did I couldn't get it to turn on. It was connected to a power supply and I had scavenged a power switch and reset button from and old computer and placed them on the pins indicated in the manual pdf. No dice no, worky. What am I missing / doing wrong?

How is this setup so different to mine?

amateurhour · September 2008

I'm glad some other people are getting into this.

Everyone already linked to the mini-itx stuff.

From mini itx.com there's a link to logicsupply who deals in mini, pico, and nano parts and supplies, like CFlash and power adapters.

Also, epiacenter has a decent little forum for modding.

Finally, if you're new to it, and want something a little easier, the nintendo fits the mini-itx box perfectly (some of the screw holes even line up for mounting the mobo!) and the new intel atom mini itx boards will have a little more kick if you're looking for an actual full desktop replacement.

just my .02

Dratatoo · September 2008

maximumzero wrote: »

Too bad you couldn't retain the little mini-cd drive and have it be functional.

I thought about building a Gamecube mini PC. But instead of using the original shell, I would use a replacement shell like this one: Linky, link

This case is meant for using "backups" :v:, but it would come in handy for adding a regular top loading drive. You won't find a top loading drive which goes into a regular PC bay, that would be silly - but many slim USB cd drives are top loading and quite small. I'll try to disassemble one from Plextor. Advantage, you can simply use a usb slot already provided by the micro PC.

Kaimaka · September 2008

Dratatoo wrote: »

maximumzero wrote: »

Too bad you couldn't retain the little mini-cd drive and have it be functional.

I thought about building a Gamecube mini PC. But instead of using the original shell, I would use a replacement shell like this one: Linky, link

This case is meant for using "backups" :v:, but it would come in handy for adding a regular top loading drive. You won't find a top loading drive which goes into a regular PC bay, that would be silly - but many slim USB cd drives are top loading and quite small. I'll try to disassemble one from Plextor. Advantage, you can simply use a usb slot already provided by the micro PC.

Good plan. My platinum cube only (no cables, power controls) cost less than half of a new retail game back in the day (or a wii game now) I have plans to find use for the GCN internals for future projects. I bought my cube and GB Player from the local awesome auction site. My cube would be about 30 Euro if i bothered to convert i think

Edit:
Whats with the 25 pin port on the back there?

Dratatoo · September 2008

I think its an additional serial port (of a modified logic board) that allows to stream files and data from the Gamecube's drive. The usage should be obvious :P
It can also be used to enable debug and communication if you are running home-brew or a Linux distro and don't have the broadband adaptor.

kouri1977 · September 2008

To be honest, I'm not missing the drive. I can rip CDs to USB if I want to and if I need to install a distro then I can just connect it up to the drive I have.

*Update*
The box is running Gnome with full 3D effects (using a kernel patch from VIA) and is totally usable but I feel like I'm pushing the little guy to his limits. I'm mulling over installing a lighter distro when I have time. A gig of RAM doesn' leave you with much wiggling room.

Kaimaka · September 2008

Dratatoo wrote: »

I think its an additional serial port (of a modified logic board) that allows to stream files and data from the Gamecube's drive. The usage should be obvious :P
It can also be used to enable debug and communication if you are running home-brew or a Linux distro and don't have the broadband adaptor.

I figured as much, I was just had not encountered one before. Looks like and old LPT port for playing Serial games of Duke3D and printing off things

Which is what you just said I know

Jandaru · September 2008

Kaimaka wrote: »

Looks like and old LPT port for playing Serial games of Duke3D and printing off things

I don't think you'd get very far trying to play a serial game through a parallel port...

Kaimaka · September 2008

Jandaru wrote: »

Kaimaka wrote: »

Looks like and old LPT port for playing Serial games of Duke3D and printing off things

I don't think you'd get very far trying to play a serial game through a parallel port...

You could play Duke3D by serial or parallel port or a mixture of both. Forgive me for confusing two connections that I haven't really need to use or think about since the nineties. Duke Nukem 3D was fun, I may have to get it and Shadow Warrior running in Dosbox or FreeDos seen if I can make a Build engine playing GameCube. We used to create really fun levels really quickly with Build.

Good Times

Daedalus · September 2008

It's a parellel port used to update the firmware of the modchip you'd presumably have installed in that case.

You could probably put that space to better use if you crammed a couple of USB ports in there.

Penny Arcade

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Via Pico ITX kit plus old GameCube shell equals GCNpicoITX - UPDATE: Progress made

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