Commodore 128 tower project started!

[redrumloa]

A few people here expressed interest in my 128 tower conversion project, so I figured I'd give a little heads up that I have officially started! I expect this to be a fairly difficult mod, even more difficult than first expected!

HERE is a comp.sys.cbm post explaining one of the first hurdle. HERE and HERE are the first pictures. My first problem is the motherboard size  :-o Wow is it a beast! I may have to cut about 1/2 total off the motherboard to make it fit without destroying the backplate.

If there is interest I will update here as I go, as Amiga.org is my favorite site :-D

-Edit-

Flat 128 motherboard idea scrapped, currently using 128D motherboard.

[Darrin]

Good luck.  Please keep us updated.  It looks like a real pain of a project.   :-)

[Drummerboy]

Intersting..

Kept us updating about this project..

regards

[spihunter]

Wow man! Thats hardcore!

I'm doing a rackmount A1200 project myself at the moment. I might post pictures as well.

[LoadWB]

What's with the multi-color wire clips?

[redrumloa]

LoadWB wrote:
What's with the multi-color wire clips?

Goes to the MMU adapter, required for the SuperCPU 128.

[adolescent]

What about running the motherboard with the back towards the back of the tower?  Looks like you'd have to modify at least one rail of the power supply, and probably the drive cage, but it'd give you more breathing room front to back.

[adolescent]

BTW, did you ever see Jope's C64T?  http://jope.fi/c64t/

[redrumloa]

adolescent wrote:
What about running the motherboard with the back towards the back of the tower?  Looks like you'd have to modify at least one rail of the power supply, and probably the drive cage, but it'd give you more breathing room front to back.

Yeah, that was/is a consideration. I just don't think it would work. I think cutting that away will harm the integrity of the case. Also I have the superCPU, RamLink and 1750 to consider. They have to be relocated but an expansion port expansion cable length can;t be too long.

I've seen Jope's C64 tower, nice job. The c64 motherboard is much shorter though, lucky guy..

[redrumloa]

After much consideration I think I am going to scrap the idea of a flat 128 motherboard and use a 128D motherboard. While taller, the 128D mb is not as wide. It should fit in the case a lot cleaner than the flat 128 and has the added benefit of having a 1571 controller built in!

Stay tuned..

[LoadWB]

Funny, I was wondering at first, "Why not a 128D?"  But I really like my 128D case.  Tower-ize it by standing it on its end.  Done!  :lol:

The keyboard will be a treat, though.  I guess just as much as the original 128.  Unless there exists (and I have no doubt that one does) a PC to Commodore keyboard adapter.

Maybe one day I'll get hold of one of those SuperCPUs.

[EDIT] And I see one DOES exist at the C64T page.  :crazy:

[tokyoracer]

Is it possible to fit a HD to the 128 mobo? If so, are there any OS's?

[gdanko]

What? No neon?
Nice project.. I am not sure why.. But I think sometimes "just because" works!

[redrumloa]

tokyoracer wrote:
Is it possible to fit a HD to the 128 mobo? If so, are there any OS's?

I have a RamLink, which is essentially a 16MB hard drive in RAM. The speed is insane! I also have a SBC(single board computer) which I am going to install inside the case as a slave for 64HDD, which is a DOS program that essentially turns a PC into a hard drive for the Commodore.

OSes? There are Wheels(Geos 3.0), Wings, Lunix, CP/M and others.

[adolescent]

Probably a better idea with the 128D, that way the keyboard is essentially done, and like you said there isn't a seperate floppy controller board to deal with.

I just got my 1541-III (ordered a pre-made one from Jusi so I can play until I build one for myself).  You can control it without an LCD so that may be a nice option as a device 9 (or 10 or 11) in a tower.