Pocket Marines!

MrTroy · Post by **MrTroy** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 5:50 pm

That's currently the name of my PCp(Personal Computer Portable) that I'm working on.( As mentioned here. ) Marines is the nickname we had for Quake II in college (what we played in college instead of doing actual work)

What I'm going for in the long run is a machine for me to play Quake II on while I go to and from work. I hope to post some pictures of it over the next couple of days.

(My First WIP shots)
First sign that the PC was working
Hardware Picture

I still need to purchase a lot more parts. I ran into a little snag. Since I bought the board used, it didn't have some of the most important wires with it. So I'm gonna have to build those from the ground up.

I'm not happy about that AT ALL. But I guess it's the nature of the beast.

My original plan for 4 hours has been cut down to 1.5 hours. I don't mind that much of a lost considering it takes me 45 minutes to get to work. I can just run the charge out and recharge it before I leave to go home everyday.

I've currently got Windows 98 installed. I don't care much for sound, I've hooked a keyboard up (I don't have the Y cable to use as mouse as well yet) and I've also installed Quake II. Both work off of the 1gig CF I've got in there.

I don't really need the keyboard, and it's only going to be in there until I find a way to build my own USB interface into it. So I'll leave myself an extra USB connector in case at a later date I decide to use it I won't have to kill myself over it.

There's also another set of pins that I figured I could use an IDE ribbon cable for, I was WRONG(:() I have to find a way to build a cable to use with that, because my audio is on there, and I don't need it yet but I'd like to use it one day.

As this is my first major project along these lines, I've started trying to think of what I'm going to do to the next version when after I've finished.

Retromaster · Post by **Retromaster** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 5:56 pm

looks awesome. it'll probably work soon.
Don't ask me for help though 'cause i've never dealt with computer electronics, just game systems.
ALRIGHT! FIRST TO POST!

dman762000 · Post by **dman762000** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 6:17 pm

do you have a link to the SBC that you are using I would like to see what its specs are also would you like to help with porta-game any advice you have would help

MrTroy · Post by **MrTroy** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 6:25 pm

Evalue Tech ECM 3610

667Mhz version. Hopefully when I finish this one they'll have released their other next board which is promising to be lower powered.

Evalue Tech ETM-LX800 but until I get the final specs on that one I can't get but so excited.

------- UPDATE ------
So I won't end up double posting. I just posted my update under here.

Last night I managed to squeeze in a few more minutes of work on this thing. I'm still waiting on a lot of material. (Since I'm going to have to build my own board for a few things like the USB game pad) I'm so terrified of having to desolder the PS2 and VGA connectors just to save a little space. But that's part of rewiring.

I picked up one of hailrazer's Ebay Car Screens as well. That's going to be the hardest part of this entire project. Going from VGA to composite. I can't use that PSOne screen, it's too big, and the "handheld" is big enough as is. What I ultimately want is something like this

But of course not as thin.

I also decided to add a few keyboard keys to the thing. I need an esc key in case I want to install more than just Quake II (Which runs perfectly on it

) on it.

I also started cutting up a connector for the USB controller. Here's a word of advice for you all. Even if you're wearing gloves be careful when dealing with a razor. I placed a nice couple of tiny tiny cuts on my finger still.

*No good picture for that*

MrTroy · Post by **MrTroy** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:27 am

I'm still working on this. It didn't just go away. I ran into yet another snag. There's no way I'm ordering a PCB while I'm just experimenting, so I'm attempting to make it myself. So I ordered a laser printer and ended up not getting the printer cable. My funds are low again so I'm pushing things off.

In the mean while, I'm still working on my front end for it. I've found the USB cables I need (So I can hook my gamepad up to it.)And hopefully by next Friday I'll have video to post of it working not in a case though.

I haven't figured out what I'm going to do about Audio yet though.

gamer2 · Post by **gamer2** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:51 am

That is awesome what you did with a PSP. You put it in a GB color casing. Thats awesome.

MrTroy · Post by **MrTroy** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 10:13 am

I didn't do that... I saw that picture and said that's what I want my case to look like. :-\

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 10:44 am

MrTroy wrote:I didn't do that... I saw that picture and said that's what I want my case to look like. :-\

Where did you see it? It looks awesome.

MrTroy · Post by **MrTroy** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 10:49 am

I saw it on joystiq. It's faked of course, someone I think was trying to start a rumor that Sony was making a smaller PSP. Or something. Of course my PCp will be no where NEAR that small. I'm having trouble getting it under 7 inches long. I want it to be as close to the Original Huge Gameboy's size.

I'm also trying to find a way to put shoulder buttons on it. It's hard when trying to make a verticle unit as opposed to horizontal.

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 11:03 am

MrTroy wrote:I'm also trying to find a way to put shoulder buttons on it. It's hard when trying to make a vertical unit as opposed to horizontal.

You could go the route of the SP, and have the case move up at the shoulder buttons (hard to explain, pretty much design the back like an SP without the hinge).

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rusko · Post by **rusko** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 4:26 pm

That image was Photoshoped, i remember read it some were, i think maxconsoles.

Rellizate · Post by **Rellizate** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 4:37 pm

So what if it was photoshopped? It still looks great. And it is an idea for us as well.
:p

MrTroy · Post by **MrTroy** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 3:56 pm

vskid... you've got a great point. I'm gonna shoot for that. Hopefully with this lopsided motherboard I'll able to pull it off. To help people understand a little bit better what I want it to look like... I want something like this.

(Image to actual scale)

Jongamer · Post by **Jongamer** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 4:02 pm

Did you already go through Basic Training?
If you havnt Keep an eye or ear out for my cousin.
Ramzi Khamari (I think thats how its spelled)

rusko · Post by **rusko** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 4:24 pm

Rellizate wrote:So what if it was photoshopped? It still looks great. And it is an idea for us as well.
:p

i said it because i didn't want someone thinking some else made it