Commodore 128T going back under the knife - PICS

[redrumloa]

The 2nd 1571 is installed and operational! The uIEC is also installed and operational!

http://redsretro.com/128t-may09/128Tmay09g.JPG

http://redsretro.com/128t-may09/128Tmay09h.JPG

http://redsretro.com/128t-may09/128Tmay09i.JPG

http://redsretro.com/128t-may09/128Tmay09j.JPG

I am going to button her up, enough work on the inside for now. Once buttoned up I will take a few more pics and maybe even a video for Youtube.

I am not completely finsihed with this project, I have more plans :-) At the very least, the blank faceplate is going to become a major switch panel. Fun fun fun :-D

[redrumloa]

Well, I think I am going to wait until I finish staining the computer bench before making a Youtube video. The nasty, dirty Kraft paper covering it right now doesn't look too nice. I did button her up and took a few pics, here is the one that came out best.

http://redsretro.com/128t-may09/128Tmay09k.JPG

If you have a pic request, let me know! Otherwise, that may be it for a little bit until I either get the bench finished or find some time to put a little more work into it.

[redrumloa]

the best project I have ever seen, really excellent!

Thanks!! That's a hell of a compliment :-D

[redrumloa]

@ red

What tower are you using?

I am almost certain this is it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ATX-AT-9-BAY-FULL-TOWER-ATX-SERVER-PC-CASE-NEW-COMPUTER_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ80166QQihZ022QQitemZ350105353314QQsalenotsupported

This is a standard ATX case that I obviously have to do crazy heavy modifications to.

[redrumloa]

All that just to play Bruce Lee?!    I kid you of course.  Turned out really nice Red.

Yup! That and some Tower Toppler and Potty Pidgeon ;-)

But seriously, thanks. Have you seen this system (before towering) playing Metal Dust on youtube, a SuperCPU specific game?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie79hicxteg

[redrumloa]

Now I rember the good old times :-D
Must... dig... out... A500!!!

I have a C128, but no super cpu and no such games.. I mostly used it for a little programing

I am still an Amiga classic fan myself (obviously), but I have found I far enjoy using Commodore 8 bit computers. I guess it really comes down to nostalgia to a point. That said, the Commodore 8bit platform is probably healthier than the Amiga (classic) platform. If you have the room, you may want to set up that 128 to play with some of the goodies out there.

[redrumloa]

I decided to take advantage of the gallery feature.

http://www.amiga.org/gallery/index.php?n=2993

[redrumloa]

WOW RED That IS ONE NICE 128T Love the MOD I am sooooooooo JEALOUS mate.. GRATS

Thanks dude! I would suggest not to get jealous, join the club! Make your own! :-D

[redrumloa]

@Retro_71

Brain Innovations will be selling legal JiffyDOS soon and possibly more. Individual Computers / Red's Retro will be selling the Cameleon (64 only) soon, one of the features is an accelerator.

I did my mod with a C128D motherboard as it is closer to the dimensions of an old school full AT motherboard and already has a built in 1571 controller. Even still it was too big and the case required modification. Get the biggest tower case you can find, especially in depth. Ton of work, the number of hours you will put in will be massive if you take this route. It was a must for me as I had to have 128 mode. If you go with just a C64 the task will be much easier, but no 128 mode.

Addons? Depends on what you want to accomplish. If doing a tower at minimum you will want a uIEC. The uIEC is astounding and dirt cheap. I will also be adding a 64nic+ (stand alone ethernet adapter) to the 128T, I have already pre-ordered one.

Any other questions, let me know. As you can probably tell, I love this project and love talking about it :-D

[redrumloa]

Hi Jim,

Congratulations on your project - that's one really nice 8-bit system you've there! (Looks awesome in the tower too. :-) Looking forward to see it all running, especially with the NIC/uIEC goodies installed. Well done!


Cheers Valentin

PS: You had to modify a FULL TOWER CASE to make it fit, is this right..? D*mn that's a big mainboard :-D

Thanks!

Yes, I had to seriously modify the case!

http://redsretro.com/128t-may09/128Tmay09l.JPG

Yikes!!! ;-)

[redrumloa]

Jim,
  Did I look right at this, and not see it? How did you handle RAM expansion - through the accelerator?

You mean the 16MB?

http://redsretro.com/128t-may09/128Tmay09d.JPG

That is RAM on the SuperCPU 128. At the moment I do not have a traditional REU such as 1750. I am considering adding one just in case. I will have a cart slot expander plugged into the Super CPU 128 passthrough.

http://redsretro.com/128t/current2.JPG

[redrumloa]

Looks like a damn good reason to never to use "GoDaddy.com" to me.

I'm sorry guys, I killed my last hosting when I started shutting down operations. I switched to Godaddy a registrar just to hold the domain name. When I finally get this stuff moved (I am lazier than I thought), I will make a new site with that domain name. It will be a simple, ugly site with basic info since I have just barely over zero web skills ;-)

I should mention the 128T is doing quite well. I have not done anything else to it yet, but I have put it into service for gaming. Last weekend you could find me playing Law of the West, of all things...