"High Definition Graphics" SEGA Genesis / CD HTPC

[atomikbohm]

Hello all,

After reworking my personal budget recently I'm disgusted with the amount of money we've been paying for cable television.  So ... I  convinced my wife that I needed to under take a new project.  HTPC Time!!!!

I found inspiration in these projects:
Vigo's SNES project http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=107220.0
BurgerKingDiamond's NES Project http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=105479.0

among others.


My system requirements are:

Able to handle streaming HD video (Hulu Desktop, NetFlix & whatever else is out there)
Able to handle some of the more accurate console emulators out there (Bsnes for one)
Low power usage / low heat components.  (being concerned with heat management is a 1st for me but a critical concern in a small case project)
As Quiet as possible.  I want to hear the movies not the PC

After doing some research on "recommended system requirements" and components I came up with this.

CPU - AMD Phenom II x2 550 (3.1Ghz)
Motherboard - ASUS M4A88T-I Deluxe
Heatsink - Scythe SCSK-1100 100mm SHURIKEN Rev.B
Memory - Crucial 4GB DDR3 1333MHz SODIMM
PS - SilenX IXM-40-14 400W mATX Power Supply
HDD - Seagate Momentus 5400RPM 250GB (2.5")

I initially wanted to use a SNES case like in Vigo's Project. But, I realized early on that I wasn't going to be able to use a passive cooled MoBo and get the performance I needed, so the SNES case wasn't going to work.  Then I came up with the idea of using a Sega Genesis with a model 1 SEGA CD underneath it. The SEGA CD added a lot of needed height for the heatsink and airflow.  As I have lots of fond memories of playing Genesis with friends back in my college days I had found my case.

After a couple of weeks of hunting I found a reasonably priced Sega Genesis (with the original "High Definition Graphics" printed top) and a Sega CD case.  

Enter the rotary tool.  A bunch of cut off disks later I'm almost there.  

I'll try to post some pics after I get home tonight along with some more details.

[Donkbaca]

Is the sega CD drive going to be a functional blu-ray player?

[atomikbohm]

That was in my original plan but, there is no way to get clearance for the heatsink and have an optical drive match up with the original bay.   

Though I'm still working on it.

[atomikbohm]

<response to spam post deleted>

[BurgerKingDiamond]

That was in my original plan but, there is no way to get clearance for the heatsink and have an optical drive match up with the original bay.   

Though I'm still working on it.

Nice. At first I was wondering how you could possibly fit a computer in a Genesis, but then I saw that you're using a Sega CD underneath. Just tell me that you bought broken units. It's a shame to destroy working hardware.

[BlasterMaster]

Cool project, if you have room when you are done, you should check out this site www.retrode.org if he makes another run of units, and had the room you could add it to the Sega Genesis and have a functional unit.

[atomikbohm]

Sorry for not getting the pics up yet my, son was using the memory card for his mp3 player and it's gone MIA.  Looks like another trip to best buy...  I'll try to get something up this weekend.

Nice. At first I was wondering how you could possibly fit a computer in a Genesis, but then I saw that you're using a Sega CD underneath. Just tell me that you bought broken units. It's a shame to destroy working hardware.

No way I was going to destroy working consoles for my little 64 Bit wolf in 16 bit sheep's clothing.  I made sure they were broke before buying.

Cool project, if you have room when you are done, you should check out this site www.retrode.org if he makes another run of units, and had the room you could add it to the Sega Genesis and have a functional unit.

I've seen those before, really cool little units.  But, I just don't have room in the case for anything else.  I have just enough room to get the power supply on edge next to my Mobo.  I'm not quite sure where I'm going to put the 2.5" HDD so it dosn't block airflow.   You'll see in the pics, believe it or not it's already quite tight in there.

[Nephasth]

That was in my original plan but, there is no way to get clearance for the heatsink and have an optical drive match up with the original bay.  

Though I'm still working on it.

I don't know how far along you are with this, but... To utilize the original optical drive bay door, could you mount the mobo upside down to the top of the case? Also, to give you more room inside, have you thought about using an external power supply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817129006&cm_re=1080IP-_-17-129-006-_-Product ? Nowhere near your 400W, but it is used in some HTPC applications.

My system requirements are:

Able to handle streaming HD video (Hulu Desktop, NetFlix & whatever else is out there)
Able to handle some of the more accurate console emulators out there (Bsnes for one)
Low power usage / low heat components.  (being concerned with heat management is a 1st for me but a critical concern in a small case project)
As Quiet as possible.  I want to hear the movies not the PC

...and for low power usage being a requirement, 400w seems like a bit of overkill...

[BurgerKingDiamond]

That was in my original plan but, there is no way to get clearance for the heatsink and have an optical drive match up with the original bay.  

Though I'm still working on it.

I don't know how far along you are with this, but... To utilize the original optical drive bay door, could you mount the mobo upside down to the top of the case? Also, to give you more room inside, have you thought about using an external power supply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817129006&cm_re=1080IP-_-17-129-006-_-Product ? Nowhere near your 400W, but it is used in some HTPC applications.

My system requirements are:

Able to handle streaming HD video (Hulu Desktop, NetFlix & whatever else is out there)
Able to handle some of the more accurate console emulators out there (Bsnes for one)
Low power usage / low heat components.  (being concerned with heat management is a 1st for me but a critical concern in a small case project)
As Quiet as possible.  I want to hear the movies not the PC

...and for low power usage being a requirement, 400w seems like a bit of overkill...

Yeah man, I say try and get creative so that you can get that disc drive to come out of the Sega CD. That would be awesome.

[Vigo]

Just saw your project, atomikbohm. This sounds awesome! A Sega CD is an attention grabber, so I think it will make a very cool case! 

Any plans on utilizing the existing power/ reset switches and the sega controller ports? You could probably also convert the controller ports to a USB panel so you could use whatever you wanted for controllers. No matter what, I am excited to see your idea shape out. 

[Nephasth]

Any progress?

[kalars123]

useing the parts your selected and some very sofisticated math "aka" http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp you only need about a 50w P/S. So you should look into a external P/S http://www.mini-box.com/picoPSU-160-XT will be more than enough for a basic streaming PC and it would free up a ton of space

[atomikbohm]

Hi Guys,

Sorry for the long lapse in the project and updates.  Had a series of personal emergencies that took presedence over my toys.  I'm about to get back on track with this project in the next month ... + or - ....

useing the parts your selected and some very sofisticated math "aka" http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp you only need about a 50w P/S. So you should look into a external P/S http://www.mini-box.com/picoPSU-160-XT will be more than enough for a basic streaming PC and it would free up a ton of space

...and for low power usage being a requirement, 400w seems like a bit of overkill...

Nephasth & Kalars123 - I think that the estimations of 50w are a bit off.  My processor (AMD Phenom II x2 550) can pull up to 80w by itself. (figure 90% usage as a base = 72w) and that doesn't count the motherboard, hard Drive, case and heatsink fans, USB controllers ect).  The external PS's that I was able to find weren't up to that kind of power and I enough clearance to be able to unlock an additional CPU core or 2 if needed further down the road.

The reasons I decided on a 400w
1) I was able to find a small form factor 400w PS that is virtually silent and fits in my case ... just barely
2) The higher percentage of a PS's capacity you use the more heat it puts out.  Using the Power Supply Calculator page listed below, my system at 90% capacity requires a 188w PS.  400w > usage multiplied by 2.  With such low usage the PS fans can really help pull heat off the motherboard and cool my case. 
3) I've read that the higher percentage of a PS capacity you use the more likely you will experience power fluctuations which can lead to system component damage/failure. ... in theory. As I'm less than supremely confident in the quality of the PS (Not familiar with the brand) I'd like to have some extra watts floating around.

Vigo - Thanks.  I hope my project comes out to be half as good as yours.  Great Work BTW

BurgerKingDiamond & Nephasth - I've not given up on the idea of getting a working BlueRay in there yet.  I did look at hanging the MoBo upside down and it looked like it might work but I'm worried about hanging that kind of weight from the top of the case.  I've had to do quite a bit of cutting and am a little worried about stability.  Though I did end up with a spare Genesis and Sega CD model 1 ...  I think I'll be hearing the dremel tool in my near future...

Thanks for the suggestions, please keep them coming and I'll post my progress as it happens.

[Nephasth]

Ever finish this one up?