N64 PC

[mp4-25]

I am planning on building a budget sff PC. I have seen a SNES PC online and thought the idea was good. I chose an N64 as it was my first ever games console. Is this doable? I am prepared to do some major mods to the chassis and have the PSU outboard.

[mooommo]

Ya, but you would need to go micro itx and have a graphics card in parallel with the motherboard.

[nsyedhasan]

Yes, but it will take modding and alot of time. Also after building upgrading will be hard and adding new cards in will be impossible.

[orangecat]

You will prob be better off modding a normal system first. This is going to be a very hard project.

[JDGaulin]

Make sure you make a build log if you do this. Sounds awesome! Goodluck! 

[legopc]

you could be able to do it but IF you do you ddo it right 

[mp4-25]

Ya, but you would need to go micro itx and have a graphics card in parallel with the motherboard.

 

I was planning to use an APU to eliminate the need for a GPU.

Does anyone know how the controller ports can be wired as USBs?

[mooommo]

I was planning to use an APU to eliminate the need for a GPU.

Does anyone know how the controller ports can be wired as USBs?

just make some plastic covers and use usb extensions i think would be the most elegant.

[JDGaulin]

I was planning to use an APU to eliminate the need for a GPU.

Does anyone know how the controller ports can be wired as USBs?

That's one of the many things you are going to have to mod... 

[mp4-25]

That's one of the many things you are going to have to mod... 

How can I find out how the ports are configured, are there 2 data or 2 power?

[JDGaulin]

I wouldn't plan on re-wiring the existing ports to work with usb. I would probably just replace all the controller ports with usb ports. 

[mp4-25]

I want to keep it looking stock and also want to be able to plug in an N64 controler

 

I wouldn't plan on re-wiring the existing ports to work with usb. I would probably just replace all the controller ports with usb ports. 

[TymmVonD]

N64 is tiny. Good luck. Please post pics.

[slasher0161]

 

I am planning on building a budget sff PC. I have seen a SNES PC online and thought the idea was good. I chose an N64 as it was my first ever games console. Is this doable? I am prepared to do some major mods to the chassis and have the PSU outboard.

 

 

I just happen to have my N64 sitting on my desk so I can open it up and give you some measurements and idea's however this won't be a cheap project no matter how you try and spin it. Few quick questions though man.

 

Are you confident with de soldering and re soldering motherboards / psu's?

Can you make custom cable runs?

How much noise are you willing to deal with?

Expected output from this system?

Storage setup? (boot drive with NAS storage or full internal storage?)

Ethernet or wifi for networking?

What tools do you have access to?

Budget?

 

I'll get to opening mine up and let you know what I think you can do with it (I have a project with an Xbox case at the moment which looks like it should get a solid setup inside however that has a much larger volume [ballpark guess twice as much volume, close to 2.5 times as much usable volume]).

 

Alright without even cracking it open you will need to do some serious modding (especially if you want to try keep the aesthetic identical to the original) from the widest point at the back to the very front you have 180mm ignoring the original power plug space, a mini itx board is 170mm² you have about 45mm height clearance (for mobo width + cpu + heatsinks + rear i/o...) honestly bro you are biting off more than you can chew here to do it on the cheap. It can most certainly be done it is just going to be a pain in the rear, if you want to do this my personal recommendation is make a mould and scale the mould up and make that (around 15/10 or 14/10) then build in that. However that won't be cheap in the slightest.

 

Basically this is out of reach without some extensive modding ability and access to an autobody workshop with knowledge of how to use fibre glass fairly extensively, or really deep pockets.

[Matacks]

awesome idea!  

[Mooshi]

I wouldn't butcher Nintendo's greatest console unless it was already dead. Other wise, you are defacing history.

 

I think a NES would be easier since it's boxy, the N64 chassis would be difficult to work with.

 

edit: Wow..I hope this wasn't a working model that was converted, but it's a beauty!

 

 

I think they should have taken the extra step to add usb connectors instead of the standard N64 controller ports, but oh well. If those ports are actually functional (as in it's like a built in adapter so you can use actually controllers for emulators)..oman.

[mp4-25]

I wouldn't butcher Nintendo's greatest console unless it was already dead. Other wise, you are defacing history.

 

I think a NES would be easier since it's boxy, the N64 chassis would be difficult to work with.

 

edit: Wow..I hope this wasn't a working model that was converted, but it's a beauty!

 

 

I think they should have taken the extra step to add usb connectors instead of the standard N64 controller ports, but oh well. If those ports are actually functional (as in it's like a built in adapter so you can use actually controllers for emulators)..oman.

Very similar to what I was planning to do.

[mp4-25]

 

 

 

 

I just happen to have my N64 sitting on my desk so I can open it up and give you some measurements and idea's however this won't be a cheap project no matter how you try and spin it. Few quick questions though man.

 

Are you confident with de soldering and re soldering motherboards / psu's?

Can you make custom cable runs?

How much noise are you willing to deal with?

Expected output from this system?

Storage setup? (boot drive with NAS storage or full internal storage?)

Ethernet or wifi for networking?

What tools do you have access to?

Budget?

 

I'll get to opening mine up and let you know what I think you can do with it (I have a project with an Xbox case at the moment which looks like it should get a solid setup inside however that has a much larger volume [ballpark guess twice as much volume, close to 2.5 times as much usable volume]).

 

Alright without even cracking it open you will need to do some serious modding (especially if you want to try keep the aesthetic identical to the original) from the widest point at the back to the very front you have 180mm ignoring the original power plug space, a mini itx board is 170mm² you have about 45mm height clearance (for mobo width + cpu + heatsinks + rear i/o...) honestly bro you are biting off more than you can chew here to do it on the cheap. It can most certainly be done it is just going to be a pain in the rear, if you want to do this my personal recommendation is make a mould and scale the mould up and make that (around 15/10 or 14/10) then build in that. However that won't be cheap in the slightest.

 

Basically this is out of reach without some extensive modding ability and access to an autobody workshop with knowledge of how to use fibre glass fairly extensively, or really deep pockets.

 

All of the specs are on a diffrent page in the propoesd builds section.

https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/65883-apu-pc/page-2#entry900447

I will be useing an offboard ODD and HDD with a pico psu to save alot of space.

[mp4-25]

Any colour suggestions would be greatly appricated as I dont want to keep it the stock colour.

[PewPew122]

Hi guys, new to the forums. I was reading this thread and found the N64 PC idea interesting. I saw the question with the N64 controller ports to USB and pulled out one of my controllers to look at it. It only had 3 pins which is a problem since USB(2.0) uses 4 pins to work. I found a solution that might work for you but you'll have to do  some extra modding.

http://www.amazon.com/May-Flash-Controller-Adapter-Nintendo-64/dp/tags-on-product/B002B9FIUU

 

Try using a N64 to PC adapter like that and just solder your existing N64 ports to the adapters board and some how integrate that inside your build. Since it connects directly to USB I think you can just use 2 adapters (1 per 2 ports) and splice the ends into a regular USB 2.0 header connector and plug  it to the motherboard. Then you'll have regular N64 ports at the front for your N64 pads and your rear usb for keyboards, mice and other peripherals.

 

 

EDIT:  Found this adapter also, so no need to splice the ends of your USB connectors to plug it in the USB headers just in case.
http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-Motherboard-4-Pin-Header-USBMBADAPT/dp/B000IV6S9S

[slasher0161]

Hi guys, new to the forums. I was reading this thread and found the N64 PC idea interesting. I saw the question with the N64 controller ports to USB and pulled out one of my controllers to look at it. It only had 3 pins which is a problem since USB(2.0) uses 4 pins to work. I found a solution that might work for you but you'll have to do  some extra modding.

http://www.amazon.com/May-Flash-Controller-Adapter-Nintendo-64/dp/tags-on-product/B002B9FIUU

 

Try using a N64 to PC adapter like that and just solder your existing N64 ports to the adapters board and some how integrate that inside your build. Since it connects directly to USB I think you can just use 2 adapters (1 per 2 ports) and splice the ends into a regular USB 2.0 header connector and plug  it to the motherboard. Then you'll have regular N64 ports at the front for your N64 pads and your rear usb for keyboards, mice and other peripherals.

 

 

EDIT:  Found this adapter also, so no need to splice the ends of your USB connectors to plug it in the USB headers just in case.

http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-Motherboard-4-Pin-Header-USBMBADAPT/dp/B000IV6S9S

 

 

It is possible to do but the problem is the OP wanted to do it on the cheap. Realistically you could mod the front connectors and have the actual contacts for the USB hidden on the underside then fasion together a bunch of connectors that look much like the Xbox controller connectors that could plug into it with a usable USB port attached to the end which you could plug your devices into. However the underpinning issue here (I also detailed things in the build planning thread the OP linked) was budget, modding simply costs money and even clean first run work can be fairly costly, let alone a project like this for a first time modder.

 

I really think a larger form factor would be a far better option for a first time modder or the resignation that the cost could skyrocket.

[PewPew122]

It is possible to do but the problem is the OP wanted to do it on the cheap. Realistically you could mod the front connectors and have the actual contacts for the USB hidden on the underside then fasion together a bunch of connectors that look much like the Xbox controller connectors that could plug into it with a usable USB port attached to the end which you could plug your devices into. However the underpinning issue here (I also detailed things in the build planning thread the OP linked) was budget, modding simply costs money and even clean first run work can be fairly costly, let alone a project like this for a first time modder.

 

I really think a larger form factor would be a far better option for a first time modder or the resignation that the cost could skyrocket.

 

Yes you are right, having a bigger "box" to work with it is much easier to mod on since you don't have to chop things up in other for them to fit inside the case. Since you mentioned Xbox controller on my reply, I think the Xbox (original) would be a super easy console to mod for a beginner or a PS2 (Fat). Bigger space to work with, controllers have more than enough pins to convert them into working USB custom ports... etc etc. Not as impressive as a "N64 PC", but a good mod project anyways.

On regards of the N64 topic..... Have you (mp4-25) considered or tried using something like a Intel NUC or a Gigabyte Brix and just stuffing it inside the N64 case? I'd say use those motherboards as reference since they are so small. Measure and see how much space you would need to fit it inside the N64 casing and go from there. They use external psu so no need to worry about saving room for the psu inside or making up a pico psu thing.