Mini Mini Mini Mame

[koolmoecraig]

http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS2154184680.html

[Kaytrim]

I have always been impressed by Via's boards but this takes the cake.  3.9 x 2.8 inches in size and a 1mhz processor.    All you would need is a 2GB flash RAM card, IDE to Flash connector, 1MB of RAM and you are set for really tiny DOS based PC for MAME.  This thing even has pin connectors for 4 USB 2.0, 1 COM, 1 PS2, 1 LVDS/DVI, TV/out, audio line-out/line-in, mic-in, optical-in, and 7.1 channel output.  Along with standard connectors for VGA and LAN.

[Hurray Banana]

This would be great for a cocktail, it would leave lots of space for airflow. Drives could be added through USB

[Kaytrim]

No need for USB drives, this thing has IDE and SATA connections.  I was thinking more like an portable CP that will connect to a TV.

[fixedpigs]

yeah...that'd be perfect for an arcade in a box control panel...-=)

[SirPeale]

...1mhz...

Just wanted to correct this...1 GHz, not MHz.

[yalborap]

...1mhz...

Just wanted to correct this...1 GHz, not MHz.

Yeah. The friggin' Atari 2600 was at around 1 MHz(Closer to 1.2 according to wikipedia). And we all know how pac-man turned out on that...

But anyways, this is highly impressive. When I get more money and this thing is available(is it, or no?), I might use these as a basis for mini-HTPCs that play mainly streaming content.

[Kremmit]

I believe you could build this think inside a keyboard.  Commodore 64, anyone?

[ark_ader]

Forget about Pico stuff, a DreamCast would be enough for a mini Mame.  You will want a proper joystick and buttons for your mini Mame right?  And the display?  We have Mame for mobiles already that plays all the classics.  You think this Pico will run all the Mame catalogue?

What about all those old laptops going on Ebay with nice bright TFTs.  And that Ipod Mame.  Man, that is real small.

No Pico ITX would be great for a specialist hobby like auto-compo designs but not arcade games IMHO.   $350 for the pleasure? 

No thanks.

[Grasshopper]

Forget about Pico stuff, a DreamCast would be enough for a mini Mame.  You will want a proper joystick and buttons for your mini Mame right?  And the display?  We have Mame for mobiles already that plays all the classics.  You think this Pico will run all the Mame catalogue?

I don't know about that. It'll certainly work but it's not ideal. IIRC the Dreamcast's processor is only about 200mhz. Even allowing for the fact that it's probably more efficient that an Intel processor running at the same speed, that is borderline for running many of the later classics. Also, having to swap disks is a pain.

Now an Xbox is a different matter. I'm really kicking myself for missing out on the Argos deal.

[ark_ader]

I thought about that too as I didn't get the xbox.  But there are tons of them around going less and old versions too.  The DC is quite decent for the classics, and if you are handy with tools, you can make the DC a breeze to swap discs right under the CP.  MAME4ALL is the ticket.

[danny_galaga]

how big is the power supply though?

[RandyT]

how big is the power supply though?

That's always a problem with small boards.  Sure, you can shrink the PC board down, but what about every other thing that connects to it?  I think there comes a point of diminishing returns when this, and the added costs are considered.  Some applications can benefit greatly from a tiny MB and externalized power / peripherals (like a Laptop uses), But if you can physically fit a mini-ITX into your project and it's cheaper and it has better performance, and., and, and then one would be silly not to go the more practical, albeit larger, route. 

Tiny PC boards almost always equal higher cost, lower performance, and often times less practicality.  And forget adding special video cards or other non-USB compatible upgrades.

I'll be interested when they cost < $150 each and include the external power supply.  Of course this will probably not happen as, regardless of what VIA states about gearing toward consumers, this is an industrial geared product  That market is always willing to pay more for less as long as the footprint is small and the markets drive the pricing.

Still, the "geeky gadget" appeal is undeniable

RandyT

[MikeQ]

I have a 600mhz mini-itx board that I've run mame on.  It run's asteroids, pacman, donky kong okay but that is about it.  If you try to run something like stun-runner or anything that updates every pixel on the screen every frame it is crippled.  It has crappy S3 integrated graphics on board which is the problem.

It is destined now to be the controller in an air hockey table that runs sound, LED's etc...  I'm going to be running with no display instant boot via CF running Windows CE.

You can find some good prices on these boards at www.logicsupply.com

[Kaytrim]

If you want to see what some crazy people put these little boards into head over to http://www.mini-itx.com/.  In the right panel on the site is a list of projects.  My favorites are the BubaComp and the Humidor series.  For you Futurama fans there is a Bender and Leela PC.  Guys have put these little boards in anything from a gas can to a toaster and from a C64 to a Dreamcast as well as everything and anything in between.

[Hurray Banana]

If you want to see what some crazy people put these little boards into head over to http://www.mini-itx.com/.  In the right panel on the site is a list of projects.  My favorites are the BubaComp and the Humidor series.  For you Futurama fans there is a Bender and Leela PC.  Guys have put these little boards in anything from a gas can to a toaster and from a C64 to a Dreamcast as well as everything and anything in between.

I love the BBC Model B one, just awesome. I loved the Beeb keyboard.

[Kremmit]

how big is the power supply though?

That's always a problem with small boards.  Sure, you can shrink the PC board down, but what about every other thing that connects to it?

Guess you guys haven't seen this:

http://www.mini-box.com/s.nl/it.A/id.417/.f?sc=8&category=13

This:

http://www.logicsupply.com/product_info.php/cPath/44/products_id/399

or this:

http://www.logicsupply.com/product_info.php/cPath/27/products_id/673

 

[ArcadEd]

yeah...that'd be perfect for an arcade in a box control panel...-=)

I've used older Via boards for testing, and unfortunatly the processors they use are not that great at doing a lot of processing power oriented stuff, like emulation. 

I have an older 500mhz version of one of their earlier boards and I can't even get it to run Snes Emulation smooth.  It runs my cnc router now, does fine for that .

Maybe their new C7 processor is better, I'm not sure.   I just wanted to send out a warning to anyone thinking of picking this up for MAME.  It might not work out so well. 

[vrf]

I've used older Via boards for testing, and unfortunatly the processors they use are not that great at doing a lot of processing power oriented stuff, like emulation. 

yeah, you'd have to use an earlier version of MAME and only run classics on this little guy. For the best performance in a compact size, you have to go with mini-itx. They have Pentium M and Core Duo boards in that size.

Still, very interesting...

Assuming the power were there, what would you guys use for a display and controls on a cab that could be 6-8 inches tall?

[Jess--]

on a cab that small you could use one of the old PSone screens (the via voard has svid out which with a little work will feed straight into the composite in)

[Lilwolf]

Ok, a few things many people aren't getting about these board.  The power supply CAN be a little board that plugs into 12v DC.  These are for car computers.  Great right... if your in a car... but how would this effect us??

Well, you can buy cheap 12v rechargable battery packs.  For instance, they sell them for extending the life in many portable DVD players.  I'm sure you could buy them from other locations also.

Next, these run both VGA and TV output.  So you can get yourself a little 7" touchscreen for a few hundred.

Next... hack yourself a very small keyboard and build up a ben heck(cant remember rest of page) and you have yourself a portable computer / mame computer.

I was going to do this with my mini-ATX, but ended up using the computer for something else.

But the prices

250 - CPU - motherboard
200 - 7" monitor
50-90 - power supply (ebay / purchase form stores... prices may have come down)
70 - battery
10 - IDE - SD card (or others)

lots of time cutting small small cables and building a small hand held case (I was going to hack it to one of those kids hand held learning computers initially.  Thought I could build around it.

you have yourself a full hand held touch screen origami computer that you built...

Add a vontage usb phone hacked (guessing its easy) or a microphone and speaker and you have an apple phone.

Add a gps usb port - you have yourself a hand held gps system

Don't forget the 802.11 card somewhere...

And hack in one of those sweet ass virtual keyboards for 180 bucks....

ok, now it will probably get pretty big adding all the parts... but still cool.

I

[vrf]

oooo... and this might work for a joystick:



http://www.arcadeshop.de/product_info.php?cPath=73&products_id=397

[daywane]

I think the nintendo joystick is smaller.
I have 8 of them. Still the smallest joystick I have run into

[vrf]

I think the nintendo joystick is smaller.
I have 8 of them. Still the smallest joystick I have run into

Which Nintendo stick? The Playchoice cab, the bartop or the NES Advantage stick?