Scratch Build – In Progress Mr. Kholl's NanoTribute - Testing the VFD...

Hello All,

This is a project which I started last year, but due time problems, I had to stop, but now, I'm ready to go on again. It calls 'NanoTribute', it's a kind of 'Thank you VIA' to make such little x86 based pc.

I would like to thank VIA and specially VIA Latin America to send me two of these babies: VIA Epia N and VIA Epia NL.

It will be a simple case, from scratch, and the plan is to create the front panels in a way which you could change between skins easily.

I made some photoshop previews just to show the look:

The default skin:


The I/O door:


Inside the case:


Some skins (thumbnails):






I took some pics of the EPIA's:



Epia N:



1Ghz Luke CoreFusion™ CPU:



VIA VT8237R-series South Bridge:



RCA connector for SPDIF or Video Out (by jumper), S-Video, VGA, 5.1 audio or Mic/LineIn/LineOut (by Software), RJ-45 and USB:



SODIMM DDR-400, up to 1GB:



Mini-pci slot at the bottom:



We can't live without it!:



Oh yes, SATA!




Epia NL:

RJ-45, vga, ps/2 and usb by cable:





The NL comes with an additional FAN input:




Big heatsinks:

 

The gear...

It's time to test the kid...

Setup:



2) 2,5" Seagate Momentus HDD (80gb):



Normal HDD vs. 2,5" HDD (space is good):



3) 120w PicoPSU:




4) 128x32 dot matrix Noritake's VFD:




5) 110v-12v AC/DC (5a):




6) Sunon's 40mm Fan (really silent):




7) IDE 44 to 40 pins Adapter:




8 ) Optic filters for VFD (Thanks PSC from Denmark to send these samples):


It really change the VFD colors. I will show the effects later.


9) Card reader :




10 ) I/O Panel


I left this idea, too big, i will put the audio and usb front ins in another way


11 ) Standard IDE cable



12 ) Silicon keyboard:



Really compact:



Time to test:



Still very small even with the parts:



Ready to go:




The picoPSU show two status (smd leds): (Green: Standby and Red: Working):


The original 40mm Fan which comes with the heatsink is pettry quiet, almost the same noise level of the Sunon.

The Windows (XP pro) was very easy, no surprises.

Some screenshots for whom love specs, infos, etc...

(800x600 thumbs):
























Well, next step will be the VFD wiring and test, I will post it later!

Hope you like this little project! any suggestions will be very very welcome

See you soon,
Kholl.

 

ouuu itx mods, love em but how are you going to achive the controller on the fan center?

 

this is looking like a very amazing ambitious mod, i cant wait to see this done...
i've always wanted a epia nl, but never felt like spending the $$$

 

Very cool mod.
Subscribed

 

Thanks AJB2K3, 500mph and Supra55!

My original plan was use that Sunbeans's function panel, but, the pcb is too big, so I will make a custom fan controller, using my old volt regulator circuit, but in a small version.

 

Friend Kholl,
Good luck in its new project

Silver Dragon By Ulysses Cazuquel

 

Via Nano mod... Cool!

 

WOW! Nice idea and nice planes, Also Nice hardware, Can't wait to see it done, This will be awsome!

Good luck.

 

got to follow this one...Looks like it's gonna be very promising....Good work mate...

 

My bro ulysses, Evenge, Cyberbob and Computerking: Thank you guys for your posts!

A little update (all images are thumbnails (1024x768)):

VFD wiring and some tests.



Soldering the pin headers for serial interface:



Done:




Creating cable and connectors (temporary cable only for test):



VCC and Ground (note that in the final version i will use the molex of the psu to provide it, instead this switching psu that I'm using for test the VFD):



Little mod in the connector case and it's done:



Female for power suply:



Done:



Time to test:



Some shots:

PS: Unfortunately, The camera doesn't capture the real image of the display. The real image are very clear, soft, amazing contrast and bright and filters works perfectly.



Original green (without filter):



Blue filter:






Amber filter:




White filters (really didn't see any differences between 727 and 742):




Using another white balance of the cam to capture:

 

nice work on the display!