iCade PC mod

[retrogamedude]

Taking a break from working on my bartop I forgot I had this for my iPad and never use it.  Decided to mod it up a bit and make a mini-itx fit along with a 10.1" screen.  Havent really taken pics along the way as I just work on it here and there but its not too bad for just having spare parts laying around after I upgraded my HTPC. 

Specs:
iCade
10.1" HDMI LCD with controller board
Asus Z97I-plus mini itx
Intel Pentium G3258 unlocked processor
8 GB ram soon to be 16GB
256 M550 SSD
1 TB 2.5" HDD
450 W SFX power supply.
I-pac controller

Added a few admin buttons near the screen since I didnt really know where else to put them, its a fight to get everything to fit thus far.  Had to make grooves in the sides just to get the monitor to fit, had to get a tiny PSU and basically play tetris to get it all to fit without much work.  It even has WIFI   Added a bezel and painted it black as well as cut the piece of wood for the bottom of the marquee that is normally not on an iCade. 

To do list:
Make back panel
Finish Marquee
Start on artwork for sides
Install Speakers

It will run Hyperspin and boots up in under 6 seconds from complete off, its quite a nice PC just to not use somewhere.  Will update more pics as I complete more.

[yotsuya]

Excellent use of an Icade! 

[emphatic]

Excellent use of an Icade! 

+1!

[birchyman]

Thats cool mate. Got a link to the screen?

[DeLuSioNal29]

I modded my iCade's controls by installing a Sanwa JLW and Seitmitsu buttons.  It's a night and day difference.  Are you planning on doing the same with this?  (I can snap pics when I get home of the updated controls).

DeLuSioNaL29

[retrogamedude]

I modded my iCade's controls by installing a Sanwa JLW and Seitmitsu buttons.  It's a night and day difference.  Are you planning on doing the same with this?  (I can snap pics when I get home of the updated controls).

DeLuSioNaL29

I thought about changing them out since they are crazy loud, if you wouldn't mind showing me how you did yours as I read you have to make the holes bigger.  Do you have a link to the buttons you bought?

[grippie]

This is a great little machine. Super portable for those days when you can't be without your classic games. 

[retrogamedude]

Finally got around to doing some work on the iCade, got new buttons and joystick in and all wired.  Put in buttons on the side for pinball games.  Got the back of the unit on along with speakers and the marquee lighting.  ran all my cables including 2 usb ports in the back and 2 usb 3.0 ports hidden in the front.  Covered the control panel with Carbon fiber vinyl.  Now all that is left is to transfer over my hyperspin setup i have been working on.  Any questions just ask away!!

[DeLuSioNal29]

Wow,

I completely forgot about this thread.   

I've attached a pic of mine below.  It's no where near as nice as yours.  I'm only using the stock iPad 2 and MAME4ALL (Gridlee app).  Mine has a Sanwa joystick installed with a 4-way restrictor, Seimitsu buttons and I drilled pinball buttons for the sides to use with the pinball apps.  I also have button silencers on the buttons so they are less clicky.  I have it sitting on my desk at work.  It was more of an experiment than anything else to see how the Seimitsu buttons were.  I prefer Sanwa buttons actually which have more of a curve to them.

Nice work!  Now you need to post a video!

Del

[SpaceHedgehog]

Nice going with this (although I prefer the non-vinyl CP) 

[vwalbridge]

It was only a matter of time before someone converted an iCade. Nice work! 

Hard to tell from the pictures but I'm curious how well the carbon fiber vinyl to sticks around those rounded control panel corners?

[retrogamedude]

It was only a matter of time before someone converted an iCade. Nice work! 

Hard to tell from the pictures but I'm curious how well the carbon fiber vinyl to sticks around those rounded control panel corners?

It sticks really well, i used a heat gun to heat it up and stretch it and tuck it underneath and screwed everything together to keep it there.

Nice going with this (although I prefer the non-vinyl CP) 

I would have as well but in the top right of the CP there is a raised ION lettering and i took that off since I will also be changing the side artwork and needed to cover it with something. 

[TheDude]

Awesome use of an iCade. The internals are crowded but everything looks neat ! Impressive. I also like the CP !