Title: Genesis / Megadrive PC
Post by: rush6432 on October 04, 2012, 10:52:10 AM
Post by: rush6432 on October 04, 2012, 10:52:10 AM
Soooo.... ive been wanting to do this for a while now and i had seen a few recent posts around on the internet about people making NES PC's and whatnot.
I had an old tiny pc sitting around and its literally PERFECT for the genesis model 1 console, and since the genesis was my favorite as a kid, i figured, what a perfect project.
So i got to work and in short time i was able to have a running prototype up and running. I apologize in advance for the crappy cell phone picture but its all ive got until i can find my camera charging cable.
Anyhow, the specs on the box are a 1.0 ghz processor, 512mb of ram, 1gb flash storage (no giant hd or heat). The most unique thing about it is that it has no fans for the processors, just giant heatsinks. The motherboard was designed this way as it was a fanless thin client pc originally (very compact and silent without the heat). This comes at an expense of speed but, you dont need much to run genesis/32x/sega cd games...
Anyhow, so far i've replaced the genesis controller ports with standard db9 connectors that wire into the motherboard usb ports with converter chips (retrousb.com). This means you can plug in any original genesis controller (minus the menacer). This so far is my only gripe with the project is that the ports are silver and i had to use screws to hold them in place through the casing which doesnt look horrible, but its definately not black and hidden like the oem genesis ports.
Currently working on implementing a menu system right now that windows XPE boots right into and allows you to select multiplayer netplay games or standard local play with the genesis controller. For internet games, the motherboard will have a thumb usb receiver for a wireless keyboard and mouse combo for chatting/setting up netgames.
Best part is when this box boots, you see ZERO windows logos and it boots lightning fast into the menu system.
Ive still got more work to do with the switches for power and whatnot but this is fairly easy on to do on this one. Also working on wiring up a breadboard with ethernet jack with traffic lights to put where the EXT port was on the back of the genesis.
Also need to add the VGA to HDMI converter inside the shell too.
When its done it should have a 12v dc power plug, ethernet, hdmi connections and thats all...
Oh yeah might add a hacked sonic cart in place in the cart slot for visual appeal or another title instead.
I had an old tiny pc sitting around and its literally PERFECT for the genesis model 1 console, and since the genesis was my favorite as a kid, i figured, what a perfect project.
So i got to work and in short time i was able to have a running prototype up and running. I apologize in advance for the crappy cell phone picture but its all ive got until i can find my camera charging cable.
Anyhow, the specs on the box are a 1.0 ghz processor, 512mb of ram, 1gb flash storage (no giant hd or heat). The most unique thing about it is that it has no fans for the processors, just giant heatsinks. The motherboard was designed this way as it was a fanless thin client pc originally (very compact and silent without the heat). This comes at an expense of speed but, you dont need much to run genesis/32x/sega cd games...
Anyhow, so far i've replaced the genesis controller ports with standard db9 connectors that wire into the motherboard usb ports with converter chips (retrousb.com). This means you can plug in any original genesis controller (minus the menacer). This so far is my only gripe with the project is that the ports are silver and i had to use screws to hold them in place through the casing which doesnt look horrible, but its definately not black and hidden like the oem genesis ports.
Currently working on implementing a menu system right now that windows XPE boots right into and allows you to select multiplayer netplay games or standard local play with the genesis controller. For internet games, the motherboard will have a thumb usb receiver for a wireless keyboard and mouse combo for chatting/setting up netgames.
Best part is when this box boots, you see ZERO windows logos and it boots lightning fast into the menu system.
Ive still got more work to do with the switches for power and whatnot but this is fairly easy on to do on this one. Also working on wiring up a breadboard with ethernet jack with traffic lights to put where the EXT port was on the back of the genesis.
Also need to add the VGA to HDMI converter inside the shell too.
When its done it should have a 12v dc power plug, ethernet, hdmi connections and thats all...
Oh yeah might add a hacked sonic cart in place in the cart slot for visual appeal or another title instead.
Title: Re: Genesis / Megadrive PC
Post by: TL on October 04, 2012, 14:34:04 PM
Post by: TL on October 04, 2012, 14:34:04 PM
Look forward to seeing how this turns out!
Title: Re: Genesis / Megadrive PC
Post by: Carlos on October 04, 2012, 15:14:48 PM
Post by: Carlos on October 04, 2012, 15:14:48 PM
me too 
Title: Re: Genesis / Megadrive PC
Post by: dougtitchmarsh on October 04, 2012, 19:02:13 PM
Post by: dougtitchmarsh on October 04, 2012, 19:02:13 PM
Add another to that list of wannasees.
Title: Re: Genesis / Megadrive PC
Post by: rush6432 on October 10, 2012, 13:20:03 PM
Post by: rush6432 on October 10, 2012, 13:20:03 PM
Still working on this in my spare time, been a bit busy lately but its still coming along.
Ive ditched the hdmi option in favor of keeping it somewhat retro-ish but with composite.
Was alot easier to do this and i had the vga to composite converter sitting around here which was of no use to me anymore.
At this time the console has just a dc jack (in stock location) and composite video/audio along with an ethernet cable coming out of the back. All fits in the case nicely, just waiting for my 1gb flash module to arrive so i have some room to store stuff on the emulator and load other things like directx 9.0c and .net framework to the unit to run a few programs. (Menu loader and communication programs)
Also working on a way to spit out your ip address on the desktop of the pc when booting up so you can give this to a friend to play netgames. Toyed with the idea of pre-installing a p2p voip program as well and making the headphones jack in the genesis be a microphone input for chatting but... not too sure just yet.
Ive ditched the hdmi option in favor of keeping it somewhat retro-ish but with composite.
Was alot easier to do this and i had the vga to composite converter sitting around here which was of no use to me anymore.
At this time the console has just a dc jack (in stock location) and composite video/audio along with an ethernet cable coming out of the back. All fits in the case nicely, just waiting for my 1gb flash module to arrive so i have some room to store stuff on the emulator and load other things like directx 9.0c and .net framework to the unit to run a few programs. (Menu loader and communication programs)
Also working on a way to spit out your ip address on the desktop of the pc when booting up so you can give this to a friend to play netgames. Toyed with the idea of pre-installing a p2p voip program as well and making the headphones jack in the genesis be a microphone input for chatting but... not too sure just yet.