I had an idea a few months ago to put a PC inside a PlayStation 1 (The original one). i figured that you could do a little bit more than just put some components in it and turn it on. My ideas are: -Make the On/Off switch fully functioning -Make the Reset switch work -Have a fully working DVD/RW drive where the original CD-R drive was -Use original game controllers when gaming. I thought about going down the line of Mini ITX, but i thought the advantages of using it were were not good as using other forms. So what im going to use is the Motherboard from a ACER Aspire ZG5, it is a 8.9" netbook, having an Atom N270 in it. Admittedly, it inst going to be an SR-2 with capabilities of restarting planets, but it will be sufficient for the HTPC that i plan. Using the ZG5 Motherboard does have its advantages, for instance, the power supply is external so that saves space, it can be run on its battery which can last up to 9 hours! and the motherboard itself isn't a big unit, so it will happily fit inside this blast from the past. Anyway, on with the Mod. I had originally planned for one of my friends to give me his one, but that had 'vanished' into thin air. So i jumped onto eBay and bought one, and it came this morning! I jumped into disassembling it, and here is the pictures.. The original PlayStation 1, haven't you all missed it? Underneath view: Top case off: Metal sheet and CD-R drive off: Motherboard out and everything laid out: Close up of bottom case: Controller block out: A lot of pictures, one of the many advantages of loving photography Ill post back when i recieve something else, but its going well so far.
Nice, that is a cool idea. Hope you do it, as best as you can. I still don't quite understand the reasons to go for a netbook MB, instead of an MiniITX, though. Perhaps the size is the primary concern? And this: "-Use original game controllers when gaming." seem to me as the hardest part of the plan. I can't wait to see what happens next. Mod on!
I agree, it's a great idea! I still have mine in a closet somewhere... Wanna make one for me while you're at it?
I think ill clean the case in a bit, it did look pretty awful.. Although i seem to remember that when i was younger i had another one which had a drink spilt on it! Ill build this one, and get it running, i might build a couple of others if people asked really nicely Oh, and 'Sutura', you can get an adaptor for the PS1 controllers to go to usb, so it isnt as difficult as once seemed! I think the first game ill play is Gran Turismo, god i used to love that game! Ill post back with a couple of pictures once i have cleaned it
Okay, here is the pictures from the cleaning endeavours.. I think it came up really well, Anyway, what we all want to see! Pictures! Here is the inside of it, nice and sparkly.. This is the outside of the case, that was a bit dirty as well, - Note, i forgot to put the controller block back in.. The underneath of the top part of the case, this wasn't really dirty, but i didn't take a picture of it last time! This is the other side of top half, with the CD lid open, nice and clean! Not too sure what ill get next, maybe the Motherboard? Talk to you all in a bit-----
Bit more of an update on how im going to use the PS1 controllers, and a couple of other things.. I thought id pull apart the back PCB and see what was behind it and see how much modding is needed! After removing it, (And nearly slicing my thumb off with a screwdriver) it looked like this: So, what ive bought is an adaptor from PS1 to USB and i am going to take it apart and put the pins in the holes above.. Doing this would mean that the controller block will be unchanged from the front and would plug right in. I thought then, what about the Memory Card slot.. MAYBE USB'S! So when i get round to buying my dremel, ill cut holes in the back of the controller block and put some USB's in it. i think that would look good and be functional! I want to keep the original door in, so the USB slot's will be set fairly far back in the block. Its a bit of a tight fit for them to go in, so i think i might have to sand the bottom down a little to accommodate them. Here's a view with the usb's in when the case is together.. Ill post back when i recieve the USB hub and the adaptor.
Okay, so a little update.. The Motherboard is bought, and im in the process of buying my Dremel multi tool. The usb hub came today aswell, so here is a picture of it for no reason! Ill post back when i recieve the Motherboard, with a few pictures! I think ill maybe do an ITX version once i have finished this, so im seeking sponsorship
Well, We have a big update! The Motherboard is here, and much smaller than i originally thought.. Here's a view with it inside the PlayStation, just as a size comparison.. its surprising how close the actual motherboard is to the size of the board that was originally in the PlayStation! But hold on, whats this?! Yup. the Dremel came! Anyway, i got to grips with it and went to my tool bench and removed all of the plastic bits and bobs that were holding the old boards in, and it came out like this.. Not a perfect job, but its fairly smooth. Here's the motherboard in it after removing all the stuff inside, i think i want it to sit like this.. Something else came today, the PS1 to USB adaptor, so all i have to do now is work out how to remove its plastic casing! I sense the dremel may have something to do with it, i think ill wait until later and wake everyone up in the house Anyway, im not too sure what will appear next in the wonderful british royal mail (sarcasm). God the're rubbish! D: