VOGONS


List of open-source PC hardware projects

Topic actions

First post, by adalbert

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

Here is a list of some open-source hardware projects (with schematics, PCB files, firmware, etc. so you can build them or modify them by yourself)

I will try to update that list with new projects linked in this thread.

Sound cards thread: The comprehensive list of all modern reproductions of vintage sound cards

SD card to LPT: MicroProject - MicroSD to LPT Printer Port

Sergey's Projects http://www.malinov.com/Home/sergeys-projects

PS/2 to serial adapter PS/2 to Microsoft Serialmouse Adapter Converter / Updated First Post / Firmware Update added
https://github.com/matze79/PS2-Adapter/

MicroATX Turbo XT Motherboard NuXT - MicroATX Turbo XT Motherboard - 9.55MHz, UMBs, XT-CF, SVGA, HD Floppy, Serial
https://github.com/monotech/NuXT

Parallel Port Headphone DAC Replicas of Covox Speech Thing, FTL Sound Adapter and SiliconSoft SoundJr
https://github.com/roybaer/parallel_port_headphone_dac

Turbo display Re: Fabricating a New Turbo Display

PS/2 to RS-232 Serial mouse protocol converter by sklawz with PIC16F628a microcontroller: PS/2 to Serial Mouse protocol converter
site: https://wiki.kewl.org/dokuwiki/projects:pcpointer

Alexandru Groza's website:

---
PC Chips M919 Cache Module Clone: PC CHIPS M919 Cache Module Clones
site: https://easyeda.com/jerryt74332/m919-cache-completed_copy

Throwback Operator - OPL3 hardware VGM player (sort-of PC hardware): https://github.com/AidanHockey5/Throwback_Operator

WavePi - Raspberry Pi MIDI synth: WavePi: Use Raspberry pi (2/3/4) as a AIO MIDI synth
site: https://github.com/t9999clint/WavePi

MT32-Pi MIDI Hat: https://github.com/chris-jh/mt32-pi-midi-hat
UpLateGeek's 30-pin 4MB SIMMs: https://github.com/UpLateGeek/Let-s-Make-Some-Memories

HardMPU HardMPU, anyone?

Amiga/C64/8-bit Stuff:

wiretap's projects:

Various projects listed by RayeR: http://rayer.g6.cz/hardware/retrohw.htm (also includes some non-open projects)

MDA/CGA/EGA to VGA https://sites.google.com/site/tandycocoloco/m … -cga-ega-to-vga

Rasteri's 'weecee' computer with integrated CS4237B-KQ sound chip and waveblaster header based on the Vortex86DX SoC: https://circuitmaker.com/Projects/Details/rasteri/weeCee

Mu0n's fork of 'weecee' computer with some modifications: https://circuitmaker.com/Projects/Details/Mic … eCee-Mjuneau-v3

Last edited by adalbert on 2021-07-25, 16:41. Edited 22 times in total.

Repair/electronic stuff videos: https://www.youtube.com/c/adalbertfix
ISA Wi-fi + USB in T3200SXC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WX30t3lYezs
GUI programming for Windows 3.11 (the easy way): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6L272OApVg

Reply 1 of 122, by adalbert

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

reserved

Last edited by adalbert on 2021-04-03, 19:39. Edited 1 time in total.

Repair/electronic stuff videos: https://www.youtube.com/c/adalbertfix
ISA Wi-fi + USB in T3200SXC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WX30t3lYezs
GUI programming for Windows 3.11 (the easy way): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6L272OApVg

Reply 3 of 122, by Thermalwrong

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

PS/2 to RS-232 Serial mouse protocol converter by sklawz with PIC16F628a microcontroller: PS/2 to Serial Mouse protocol converter
site: https://wiki.kewl.org/dokuwiki/projects:pcpointer

Alexandru Groza's website: The gerber files aren't currently shared but schematics are there and the write-ups on his experiences with each project are a great read:

PC Chips M919 Cache Module Clone: PC CHIPS M919 Cache Module Clones
site: https://easyeda.com/jerryt74332/m919-cache-completed_copy

HardMPU is an excellent example, I was able to build my own working HardMPU boards from ab0tj's schematic.

Throwback Operator - OPL3 hardware VGM player (sort-of PC hardware): https://github.com/AidanHockey5/Throwback_Operator

WavePi - Raspberry Pi MIDI synth: WavePi: Use Raspberry pi (2/3/4) as a AIO MIDI synth
There's a schematic and working code, there are examples of it working. It seems to have gone a bit quiet though.
site: https://github.com/t9999clint/WavePi

Reply 4 of 122, by ALEKS

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

I wasn't aware that my projects present such interest.
I updated the web pages and included the Gerber files for the designs that I tested and deemed as working.

PS: You might want to modify the links as I moved some pages. Also I think the audio interface card is missing from the list above.

Thanks,

TX486DLC / 40 MHz | 32 Mb RAM | 16-bit ISA Backplane | Tseng Labs ET4000/W32i 2 Mb | I/O Interface | Audio Interface | PC Speaker Driver | Signal View Interface
3.5" & 5.25" FDD | 4 x 512 Mb CF | HP 82341D Interface | Intel EtherExpress 16

Reply 5 of 122, by weedeewee

User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t
ALEKS wrote on 2021-03-16, 07:28:
I wasn't aware that my projects present such interest. I updated the web pages and included the Gerber files for the designs tha […]
Show full quote

I wasn't aware that my projects present such interest.
I updated the web pages and included the Gerber files for the designs that I tested and deemed as working.

PS: You might want to modify the links as I moved some pages. Also I think the audio interface card is missing from the list above.

Thanks,

Looking through the pages on your website... it seems you also have some incorrect links from moving the pages around 😀

Very interesting works you're doing there !

Also, from reading your ISA I/O interface page. Was the problem of it not working on a pentium cpu with cache enabled solely due to a bad chip or chip incompatibility, kinda confused on that.

Right to repair is fundamental. You own it, you're allowed to fix it.
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
Do not ask Why !
https://www.vogonswiki.com/index.php/Serial_port

Reply 6 of 122, by ALEKS

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

Thanks for the broken links hint. I corrected them already.

Regarding why the floppy disk drive controller does not work whith my test system with a P233MMX CPU, I don't know the root cause, yet.
Debugging this kind of issues is very time consuming. I do have access to the test equippment required for observing the timing diagrams at a hardware level but I don't see myself doing that in the close future since I have lots of other priorities already. I am keeping this kind of investigation project for one of those cold winter days...

Good thing is that the floppy controller works with slower CPUs (286/386). I haven't tested with 486 since I don't have one around.
Also good to know is that all the other functions of the I/O interface work as expected. I am using 4 CF cards (primary: 2 Gb / 512 Mb; secondary: 4 Gb / 256 Mb) with Windows 98 with this controller and I can get sustained write rates of 1.2 MB/sec. Onboard ROM BIOS is disabled and Windows takes over with its own software INT 13h implementation for the secondary controller. I'd say this controller exceeded my initial expectations.

Cheers,

TX486DLC / 40 MHz | 32 Mb RAM | 16-bit ISA Backplane | Tseng Labs ET4000/W32i 2 Mb | I/O Interface | Audio Interface | PC Speaker Driver | Signal View Interface
3.5" & 5.25" FDD | 4 x 512 Mb CF | HP 82341D Interface | Intel EtherExpress 16

Reply 7 of 122, by wiretap

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

Here's a few small projects I made:

Ninjamicro FreeSpeed AMD Goldfinger Clone:
Re: Making an AMD "goldfinger" clone ?

2-digit Turbo MHz Display:
Re: Fabricating a New Turbo Display

EGA Feature Connector 120-column and 132-column Adapters:
[Super EGA-120] PC Magazine Volume 5 Number 15 Project

Asus P2B-DS Rev 1.06 FSB Modification Adapter:
Asus P2B-DS Rev 1.06 FSB Modification

Not a PCB project, but rather how to easily convert a Pentium Pro Shuttle HOT-613 Single CPU to Dual CPU:
WORKING Shuttle HOT-613 (Single to Dual - Pentium Pro)

AWE64 SIMMconn files I converted from the original, with BOM/JEDECs:
Re: Simmconn AWE64 Adapter

Last edited by wiretap on 2021-03-16, 11:35. Edited 1 time in total.

My Github
Circuit Board Repair Manuals

Reply 9 of 122, by wiretap

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

Need to make this thread a sticky.

MT32-Pi MIDI Hat: https://github.com/chris-jh/mt32-pi-midi-hat
UpLateGeek's 30-pin 4MB SIMMs: https://github.com/UpLateGeek/Let-s-Make-Some-Memories

Amiga/C64/8-bit Stuff:
Hoglet's RGB2HDMI: https://github.com/hoglet67/RGBtoHDMI
Bloodmosher's Amiga 2000 RGB2HDMI: https://github.com/Bloodmosher/Amiga-VideoSlot-RGBtoHDMI
Claude's Pi-Storm Amiga Accelerator: https://github.com/captain-amygdala/pistorm (latest Altium source, gerbers & BOM is in the Discord, or group buy there for about $12)
LIV2's 2MB Chip RAM for Amiga 500/2000: https://github.com/LIV2/A500-2Meg-Chip-ram
LIV2's 8MB Fast RAM for Amiga 500/2000: https://github.com/LIV2/GottaGoFastRAM
Floppie209's Amiga 2000 PCB Remake: https://github.com/Floppie209/Amiga2000-remake
Chucky's ReAmiga 1200 PCB: http://www.reamiga.info/?page_id=38
Chucky's ReAmiga 3000 PCB: http://www.reamiga.info/?page_id=40
Chucky's Amiga 4000 Replica PCB: https://github.com/ChuckyGang/A4000RevB

Last edited by wiretap on 2021-03-21, 12:59. Edited 2 times in total.

My Github
Circuit Board Repair Manuals

Reply 10 of 122, by Tiido

User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t

My SIMMs are not open-source, or at least I have not knowingly made any resources publicly available 🤣

I do think it is a good idea to make this thread a sticky ~

T-04YBSC, a new YMF71x based sound card & Official VOGONS thread about it
Newly made 4MB 60ns 30pin SIMMs ~
mida sa loed ? nagunii aru ei saa 😜

Reply 12 of 122, by Stiletto

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++
wiretap wrote on 2021-03-21, 12:33:

Need to make this thread a sticky.

Tiido wrote on 2021-03-21, 12:55:

I do think it is a good idea to make this thread a sticky ~

Okay, done - just remember that VOGONS (including Marvin) is so full of quality threads that it would be very easy to fill Marvin -> General Old Hardware's first page with stickies - and then some 😉

"I see a little silhouette-o of a man, Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you
do the Fandango!" - Queen

Stiletto

Reply 14 of 122, by RayeR

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

Interesting, I was asking mods for such thread last year because there are various interesting community HW projects but they are shattered over the forum and outside on author's webises and nobody replied me. So I put my personal list of interesting projects I have found (mostly for me and friends)
http://rayer.g6.cz/hardware/retrohw.htm

It would be good if adalbert can collect this thread links and will keep them updated in top post as it will grow to multiple pages...

Gigabyte GA-P67-DS3-B3, Core i7-2600K @4,5GHz, 8GB DDR3, 128GB SSD, GTX970(GF7900GT), SB Audigy + YMF724F + DreamBlaster combo + LPC2ISA

Reply 15 of 122, by adalbert

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie
RayeR wrote on 2021-04-03, 16:50:

It would be good if adalbert can collect this thread links and will keep them updated in top post as it will grow to multiple pages...

I collected all of the links in the first post, I will try to improve the list a bit later (maybe make some categories, etc). I also included a link to your website: http://rayer.g6.cz/hardware/retrohw.htm, though not all of the projects seem to be open-source. I would like to mostly include projects that allow everyone to contribute, make improvements and modifications etc. But maybe another category for "non-open" community projects would also be OK.

Repair/electronic stuff videos: https://www.youtube.com/c/adalbertfix
ISA Wi-fi + USB in T3200SXC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WX30t3lYezs
GUI programming for Windows 3.11 (the easy way): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6L272OApVg

Reply 16 of 122, by hyoenmadan

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

https://twitter.com/Toble_Miner/status/1341029666254180352

Isn't retro per se... But this may interest people who would want a bit more reliable and faster storage than using standard SDcards. I've also read these are more resistant to write wearing, but don't know... eMMC on board driven nettops seem to die fast because storage kicking.

Reply 17 of 122, by wiretap

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie
hyoenmadan wrote on 2021-04-05, 22:26:

https://twitter.com/Toble_Miner/status/1341029666254180352

Isn't retro per se... But this may interest people who would want a bit more reliable and faster storage than using standard SDcards. I've also read these are more resistant to write wearing, but don't know... eMMC on board driven nettops seem to die fast because storage kicking.

I don't see a source anywhere for that. Is it a closed project or can the gerber files be downloaded somewhere?

My Github
Circuit Board Repair Manuals

Reply 18 of 122, by RayeR

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

eMMCs are mostly used as internal storage of mobile phones. Similar to SD cards theirs quality depens widely on manufacturer but generally should be better...

Gigabyte GA-P67-DS3-B3, Core i7-2600K @4,5GHz, 8GB DDR3, 128GB SSD, GTX970(GF7900GT), SB Audigy + YMF724F + DreamBlaster combo + LPC2ISA