Re: Tiny Vortex86-based DOS gaming PC - weeCee

Posted on 2022-12-14, 03:20

by

by NachtRave

in Marvin \ System Specs

in Marvin \ System Specs

@Nachtrave What were the bodge wires being used for in the earlier revision? Reset/power LED, and battery. Just means I don't have to do those anymore, I can just use a standard connector. Well, mostly, the plastic tab thingie puts it a little higher than it can go, but remove that and it fits. …

---

Re: Tiny Vortex86-based DOS gaming PC - weeCee

Posted on 2022-12-13, 20:42

by

by NachtRave

in Marvin \ System Specs

in Marvin \ System Specs

If we don't mind something bigger, some Vortex86 single board computers seems to have a PC/104+ connector (same as PC/104 / ISA but for PCI) where we can solder pins. I don't know if it's functional. If it is, then it's the same story again, like as making a PCI adapter to plug any existing PCI …

---

Re: Tiny Vortex86-based DOS gaming PC - weeCee

Posted on 2022-12-13, 17:09

by

by NachtRave

in Marvin \ System Specs

in Marvin \ System Specs

At least it has a PCI bus, I don't know if it can be exposed to plug a Voodoo. Not without custom building the SOM. The ISA bus alone takes up a side and a half of the SOM, so it's either/or situation. There is another SOM that does have only the PCI bus exposed, but the right way would be to put …

---

Re: Tiny Vortex86-based DOS gaming PC - weeCee

Posted on 2022-12-12, 20:35

by

by NachtRave

in Marvin \ System Specs

in Marvin \ System Specs

Thanks for replying - I forwarded that info. Also got SN16 up today.

---

Re: Tiny Vortex86-based DOS gaming PC - weeCee

Posted on 2022-12-11, 18:37

by

by NachtRave

in Marvin \ System Specs

in Marvin \ System Specs

So, before I forget, I had some issues come up with some folk who reached out to me and figured to post here for asking the community for help. 1) Win 3.11 Video Drivers -> It would appear we don't have any and we're stuck in 256 color mode. Not exactly sure what could be done here, maybe there is a …

---

Re: Tiny Vortex86-based DOS gaming PC - weeCee

Posted on 2022-12-11, 17:46

by

by NachtRave

in Marvin \ System Specs

in Marvin \ System Specs

The first of the third production run, SN15, is complete and will go live today on eBay at noon. This one is probably one of the best ones I’ve built. Exceptionally well made. Sometimes I impress myself. Will be starting on SN16 today. Last v0.3 board I believe.

---

Re: Tiny Vortex86-based DOS gaming PC - weeCee

Posted on 2022-12-10, 20:52

by

by NachtRave

in Marvin \ System Specs

in Marvin \ System Specs

I think you're giving it away very cheaply. I've been buying these parts from places similar to yours. Vortex86 cost me 220USD + 100USD shipping + VAT on customs. I was buying 5 of them to make it worthwhile. Experience and technique for soldering. One spends a lot of time on this project. That's …

---

Re: Tiny Vortex86-based DOS gaming PC - weeCee

Posted on 2022-12-09, 23:56

by

by NachtRave

in Marvin \ System Specs

in Marvin \ System Specs

I'm from Europe but you got some dumping prices. You don't have to pay duty and VAT? Not sure actually how that works through eBay marketplace - I'll ship it anywhere as long as I can print a label for it. I believe that eBay also forces some extra stuff, like signature delivery, due to high cost …

---

Re: Tiny Vortex86-based DOS gaming PC - weeCee

Posted on 2022-12-09, 17:19

by

by NachtRave

in Marvin \ System Specs

in Marvin \ System Specs

Hey everyone, I put together a full cost breakdown on manufacturing one of the weeCee's, similiar to how I do mine, and the results are in: weeCee Cost Breakdown Google Spreadsheet Excluding costs of things like solder/flux, equipment, education/knowledge/skill, the raw material costs of building a …

---

Re: Tiny Vortex86-based DOS gaming PC - weeCee

Posted on 2022-12-07, 21:51

by

by NachtRave

in Marvin \ System Specs

in Marvin \ System Specs

Hello guys, my first message here. Thanks for the author and everyone involved in this awesome project. I can’t wait to build my weeCee too. First I have to say that the weeCee ticks many of the boxes of what I see as the perfect retro gaming board. I understand that this forum is mainly about …

---

Re: Tiny Vortex86-based DOS gaming PC - weeCee

Posted on 2022-12-07, 20:56

by

by NachtRave

in Marvin \ System Specs

in Marvin \ System Specs

So we finally fixed SN11! It turns out it was a bridged pin on a completely different part of the SOM header, not even related to the ISA bus. You could just barely see it but as we were tilting it at an extreme angle we were able to spot it. Once fixed, the Crystal chip programmed fine -- leading …

---

Re: Tiny Vortex86-based DOS gaming PC - weeCee

Posted on 2022-11-07, 21:54

by

by NachtRave

in Marvin \ System Specs

in Marvin \ System Specs

Nothing like a big Mouser box full of weeCee parts waiting to be assembled. :3

---

Re: Tiny Vortex86-based DOS gaming PC - weeCee

Posted on 2022-11-05, 22:00

by

by NachtRave

in Marvin \ System Specs

in Marvin \ System Specs

1 - Where do I buy a SOM for cheap? Here in the US direct from icop-shop it's 200 - ish bucks, and that doesn't include shipping. Shipping is more than 80 bucks, and you can pay 375 for first class! I'm not spending 350 bucks on just the SOM. 2 - Does the SOM come with that metal thing, and is that …

---

Re: Tiny Vortex86-based DOS gaming PC - weeCee

Posted on 2022-11-03, 18:13

by

by NachtRave

in Marvin \ System Specs

in Marvin \ System Specs

A lot of stuff from the unofficial service packs seem to conflict with the weeCee, so my advice with it is to tread carefully. I found that they typically made things worse, at least on the weeCee. I haven’t tried that exact DMA thing, but I suspect it to cause instability. Anyways, you all are …

---

Re: Tiny Vortex86-based DOS gaming PC - weeCee

Posted on 2022-10-25, 09:57

by

by NachtRave

in Marvin \ System Specs

in Marvin \ System Specs

2) Added a serial port for connecting other misc things using 3.5mm jack (tx/rx/gnd): IMG_6015.JPEG That looks really great! I'm glad you were able to customize it like that - there is definitely a lot of potential space right above the SD card port. Do you remember what size hole did you wind up …

---

Re: Tiny Vortex86-based DOS gaming PC - weeCee

Posted on 2022-10-25, 05:38

by

by NachtRave

in Marvin \ System Specs

in Marvin \ System Specs

@Nachtrave How goes SN11? Still giving you trouble? Also, did you get the money I sent for a potential SN12? Update: SN11 was fixed. And I did receive it and everything - everything I need has been ordered and just waiting on it getting here now. :) I reached out to necroware thinking he might have …

---

Re: Tiny Vortex86-based DOS gaming PC - weeCee

Posted on 2022-10-23, 02:05

by

by NachtRave

in Marvin \ System Specs

in Marvin \ System Specs

I'll test the new drivers tomorrow hopefully. @Nachtrave I can't really give you many specific things to look for on the board. Start by checking voltages. Make sure all the analog and digital VCC pins (17, 45, 54, 65, 81, 98) on the crystal chip are at 5v. BTW I'm happy to take a look at the board …

---

Re: Tiny Vortex86-based DOS gaming PC - weeCee

Posted on 2022-10-23, 02:03

by

by NachtRave

in Marvin \ System Specs

in Marvin \ System Specs

Duffman wrote on 2022-10-23, 01:26: @Nachtrave […] Show full quote @Nachtrave I'm a bit worried SN11 is a dud. Can I ask that you start over with a new board? parts and all? I'd like to mitigate the risk of receiving a problematic WeeCee. Update: No risk, board working perfectly now.

---

Re: Tiny Vortex86-based DOS gaming PC - weeCee

Posted on 2022-10-23, 00:38

by

by NachtRave

in Marvin \ System Specs

in Marvin \ System Specs

I'm by no means an expert on the CS4237B like e.g. 640K!enough, but on my cards, at least on the first programming of the eeprom, I had to always force the port setting for the control connection in the utility, otherwise it wouldn't detect it. If that's what you're already doing, then please …

---

Re: Tiny Vortex86-based DOS gaming PC - weeCee

Posted on 2022-10-21, 11:27

by

by NachtRave

in Marvin \ System Specs

in Marvin \ System Specs

Hate to have to rehash old posts in this thread - but on SN11 I'm making for Duffman here, I cannot for the life of me get this Audio chip to initialize. I've already replaced the crystal chip (twice now) as well as the EEPROM. I've tried everything I can, but I just cannot establish CONTROL …

---