Customized Dreamcast Enclosure (Day 1)
 

Alright in my other post I mentioned I was thinking of doing a custom DC enclosure and I'm doing it right now. I have completely stripped down a Hewlett-Packard Pavillion case. The best case to use in my mind, for this purpose only, due to the front USB and serial port, remove it and the joystick connector fits perfectly there.

Right now the case is just an empty shell, it's going to take a lot of work. Lucky thing is the mainboard, even with modem attached is just about the length of a standard I/O shield (That plate at the back of your computer where you connect your keyboard and mouse into). So just pretty much cut that to spec and cut the back of the HP and the mainboard will fit perfectly. The way the power board sits, allows me to put REAL heatsinks and fans on the H4 RISC processor and NEC PowerVR chip.

Probably the largest stumbling block will be the GD-ROM. It's been limited to one option:

1) There is a place on the top of the case where you can store CDs, it even has a lid. I am considering cutting out the bottom of CD storage area and mounting the GD-ROM housing through the top of the case. Then the CDs would be top loading, like the current Dreamcast, though the lid on this one has a tinted black cover, very sleek.

I had another option, but that would require a motherboard and a seperate power supply, just to power the modified CD-ROM. This will be a seperate project, hopefully making it so we can do straight GD-to-CD copying.

Beyond that and trying to find where I can get or have some of this ribbon cable made and a specialized cable connector from the main board to the GD-ROM unit. I also have to slightly cut the front panel where the controllers are supposed to go, since it is ever so slighty curved there, that it cuts off controllers A & D. I will also have to cut the I/O shield to match the power and A/V and modem connectors. I will also have to cut these raised bumps on the motherboard tray inside the case.

Outside of all of that, it will work great.

~The Masked M0M0~

Great man! I'll send you $1 to support your project!

You've got way too much time on your hands :) though keep us informed with your progress !!

Hehe, update.

Day 2 & 3, funds ran out. Got to wait until next paycheck (Like 1 or 2 weeks from now) to go buy a dremel to precisely cut the metal of the case.

As for the PC GD-ROM project, anyone know if it's possible just to switch the laser out (As in replacing a standard CD-ROM laser for the GD-ROM one). Since they both use the same styled mounting design. Or is the GD-ROM board required as well?

~TMM~

Hey TheMaskedm0m0 send me an e-mail. I use RoadRunner too. Got some ?'s about its news-server(I don't think I can ask all of them on the forum)... U can reach me at Y314K**********com