I'm going to turn this old laptop:
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=159740.0;attach=387276;image)
into this:
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=159740.0;attach=387277;image)
It will play only Nintendo NES, SNES and N64 games with really simple on-off power up and menu selection. Controllers will be wireless Nintendo SNES style. No cartridges, just ROM images.
Extract the motherboard from the laptop and remove unwanted minor boards and parts. Then add USB hub and controller dongles. Fashion and attach a plate heat-sink for fan-less cooling. The entire base plate of the enclosure becomes the heat-sink.
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=159740.0;attach=387278;image)
Make the case from MDF:
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=159740.0;attach=387279;image)
Route out and chisel space for the motherboard and PS.
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=159740.0;attach=387280;image)
Cut out display window and power switch openings. Give it a coat or two of primer.
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=159740.0;attach=387281;image)
Fashion a back plate with connector access/ PS socket mount.
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=159740.0;attach=387282;image)
Print out logo on transparency sheet. I will be using more than copy, mounted back to back, to ensure a nice opaque defined logo (to be back lit on red acrylic).
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=159740.0;attach=387283;image)
Next, choice of emulator, front-end and menu artwork....
Nice to see some early interest in this, thanks fellas! :D
So to specific questions,
@ bobbyb13 - I don't sleep well at all, my head is too full of crazy schemes and things I want to build, sometimes I do wake up with the answers to problems. I guess I like to have a bunch of things on the go so I don't get bored with any one thing.
@ danny_galaga - This project has been on and off for the last few months. All up, the time spent is probably a week or so of actual build effort. I got restless whilst ill the last few days, so I gathered up pics and posted it. :cheers:
@ javeryh - by the time this project is all done, you will know how to take an old laptop and use it for a console. I'll look at the software side of it in detail in future posts but here are a few things to get started with.
I try and steer away from Windows as much as possible these days. It's so heavily bloated and encumbered with Microsoft update mechanisms it's just not a good fit for what we are trying to achieve in this hobby especially on older hardware. Luckily there are some great dedicated Linux based systems out there which focus on a minimal OS and more on the applications (as a complete package).
This console project runs Lakka which features a nice menu front end sitting on top of RetroArch. You can learn about it here: http://www.lakka.tv/ It boots fast, straight to the menu and also shuts down fast at the push of the one red button. 8)
Lakka comes with menus ready to use but I have created a fully customized one for my use. Here's a sneak peek at my start-up menu page.
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=159740.0;attach=387285;image)
Lakka adds the game system menu choices to the top of that page, more on that to come...