Starting my ultra-portable PC project (PCp?) update Nov 26th

tom61 · Post by **tom61** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 9:55 pm

There would be difficulties with Windows 98 as well. Still have to set it up to use 15kHz refresh, using PowerStrip, which is just as much a task as setting up X11. Then, have to use utilities to lock it into one resolution and refresh rate, so games don't muck up the settings. Then there may be issues of using video acceleration (YUV overlays, etc.) with an interlaced display.

teraflop122 · Post by **teraflop122** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 11:27 pm

I merely wish to point out that you would have access to many more possible software solutions with Windows 98

W000t!!!1 Go W1ndows!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11one

Unidentified Assilant · Sun Dec 04, 2005 4:03 am

Good job, I think this is the first on the board... I'm more into the software side than hardware, and I'm actually working on a PC game now lol, I can't code, so RPG Maker XP is my best friend.

Once again, nice job

cennar · Post by **cennar** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 3:22 pm

FDSMAN wrote:sure, price estiment in USD, lease

no you guys got every thing on the web in usd you wont get this one, hide the price man or convert it to like russian or canadian

soundwave · Post by **soundwave** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 4:09 pm

Convert it to monopoly money.

Example: "I just bought some gum today, and it cost me a mere 2 million Monopoly dollars!"

tom61 · Post by **tom61** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 9:04 pm

Awesome. I've got the PCI flexible riser and 2 128MB sodimms ordered, should be here next week. A really cool thing is that IBM has posted a howto on using a PSOne screen and a touchscreen with Linux. After next week, I'll finally have some free time to work on my uPC.

tom61 · Post by **tom61** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 2:24 pm

Got the sticks of RAM today, having 256MB makes it a fair bit faster. I forgot my camera at home, so no new pics. The new RAM sticks are nearly twice as large than old ones. The second SODIMM barely fits in the second slot, if it wasn't for the fact that SODIMMs tilt into position, it wouldn't have fit at all. We're talking about 2mm from the tip of the second module to the bottom contacts of the first module holder.

I played with video playback some last night, it almost works well enough. If I could get the C3 working at a full 800MHz, I think it'd be no trouble, but I can't get it over 614MHz without crashing. The video chip doesn't seem to able to handle a 41MHz PCI bus. So, I may have to swap it with a Celeron 733MHz I have laying around. Not looking forward to extra power draw, though.

I'll have to play more later, as I have to study for final exams. I have the guide from IBM on getting a PSOne screen working for Linux printed out, should make that fairly easy.

MaDnEsS · Post by **MaDnEsS** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 6:03 pm

is the screen gonna work i thought pcs used vga

soundwave · Post by **soundwave** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 6:05 pm

The psone screen can take VGA, it just has to be like 640x480 (?) at 15Hz.

tom61 · Post by **tom61** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 6:35 pm

Status update:
The flexible riser is being a PITA. If I flip the USB 2.0 card on top of the CPU heatsink (which is OK to do, since it's squirell-cage fan on top), the lid can't close. Also, it can't quite fold down underneath the board, and it uses non-standard cable connectors, so I can't replace the cables with longer ones easily.

I'll look into making a cable to go to the USB 1.1 headers on the board, which would make the USB2.0 card not as needed. Not wanting to go that route, as USB2.0 is handy.

In case you wanted to know what the bottom looks like with new SODIMMS (they are really close together), as well as every component and label as well, here's a nice pic (128Kbps warning):
http://tom61.arcadecontrols.com/pics/bo ... odimms.jpg

Harshboy · Post by **Harshboy** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 7:13 pm

i can't remember, what board is that again?

tom61 · Post by **tom61** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 8:14 pm

Advantech PCM-9574 is the board.

USB in general is now being a PITA. Besides the USB 2.0 card not fitting with a riser, I find out the USB cables I'd tried previously, are actually wired correctly, at least according to the diagrams I have. If you remember back that far, plugging in a USB device using that cable halts the system for some unknown reason (it resumes when you unplug the USB device).

tom61 · Post by **tom61** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 1:23 am

I hate/love ebay. I just dropped $176 on a new board for this. 3.5" formfactor 1GHz Eden USB 2.0, dual lans, takes DDR SODIMMs, etc. Should be simular to this:
http://www.bcmcom.com/bcm_product_ebc3266.htm

paul4990 · Post by **paul4990** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 6:48 am

how many boards do you have!?

Nonsense Man · Post by **Nonsense Man** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 7:48 am

if someone hasn't mentioned this yet you could have like a slide out keyboard