I'm actually working on a related side project to make a drop in replacement for the DM9368N HEX decoders. I posted that over on VCFED... Cuz I want to complicate my life... 😅

https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/dm9 … design.1251311/

Tevian wrote on 2025-01-14, 01:23:

I'm actually working on a related side project to make a drop in replacement for the DM9368N HEX decoders. I posted that over on VCFED... Cuz I want to complicate my life... 😅

The attachment 1736575534873.jpeg is no longer available

https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/dm9 … design.1251311/

I've always been a big fan of 45 degree mounted components - especially when it's for the sake of even having room for them! 😎

myne wrote on 2025-01-12, 04:24:

Any updates on this? […]
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Any updates on this?

BTW what takes the most time with assembly?
If it's hand soldering every pin, a pre-heater plate and solder paste might do the job if it can get hot enough.

I made the attached too - which is probably too late to be useful to you, but you might wish it already existed before you started!

I see you posted some kind of script file. Although I appreciate your efforts, I don't know what it does or what software it goes to so I'm not inclined to run such code on my machine blindly.

H3nrik V! wrote on 2025-01-14, 07:16:

Tevian wrote on 2025-01-14, 01:23:

I'm actually working on a related side project to make a drop in replacement for the DM9368N HEX decoders. I posted that over on VCFED... Cuz I want to complicate my life... 😅

The attachment 1736575534873.jpeg is no longer available

https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/dm9 … design.1251311/

I've always been a big fan of 45 degree mounted components - especially when it's for the sake of even having room for them! 😎

I'm still hammering out the best way to fit everything, which is outside of the scope of this post. For "reasons" I had to route a larger PIC and in doing so, I actually needed to go back to standard mounting orientations. The device will probably look something like this. I'll continue updating the VCFED forum post for this one.

I got the preliminary V1.0 boards in the mail today! I should find time to build one this weekend. 😎

I feel good about the changes. And, unless someone points out a "MUST HAVE" feature, this will be the final revision. I will have to schedule the time, but now I will focus on the schematics and description for the GitHub page.

And... Here is a timelapse of the assembly of a V0.5 board. As I mentioned, my process isn't optimized and the total time is about 4 hours.

Go ahead and point out my clumsy mistakes, just remember this is a hobby of mine and not what I do for a living! 😶😁

(the hairy-armed guy doing PCB assembly) 🫣😂---> https://youtu.be/yVl_P7OsK4I

Probably silly thought, but how hard would it be to make it fully reversible?
Ie, slots on the current back, or front.
I figure all the slots would remain correct since they'd all flip 180*, but the sound and other chips would be backwards, so would need second footprints.

After all... It is project backwards ;p

myne wrote on 2025-01-15, 15:02:

Probably silly thought, but how hard would it be to make it fully reversible? Ie, slots on the current back, or front. I figure […]
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Probably silly thought, but how hard would it be to make it fully reversible?
Ie, slots on the current back, or front.
I figure all the slots would remain correct since they'd all flip 180*, but the sound and other chips would be backwards, so would need second footprints.

After all... It is project backwards ;p

I assume this is a poor attempt at humor. 😅 🤣

While the physical connectors would fit on the reverse side, along with the ATX power connector for that matter, that would invert all the routed connections! Absolutely meltdown! Reversing the connectors would require a complete rewire of the board which is not something I'm interested in downing! 🫣🫣

Wow! See, your comment short circuited my brain and I was only a few minutes out of bed...

The ISA connector could physically be reversed, but still melt down. The EISA and PCI wouldn't physically be reversible because of the pin alignment. Duh! 🤣

Fair enough. I was thinking a bit too much like all slots were just one pin to one pin, so flipping wouldn't change that, but I obviously forgot about power.

The time has come! I'm happy to say that Project Backwards has reached V1.0!! 🥳🥳🎆

The latest V1.0 boards are all working. The ONLY thing not working is the anti-pop circuit, but I'm not going to freak out. The system has a pop during power up, but it's no worse than my other ESS sound card. Once I exhaust the V1.0 boards, I might consider a V1.1 to fix that very small issue.

All related information will be on the GitHub. https://github.com/MagicPhase/Backwards-DIY-Backplane

If you're interested in owning one, feel free to PM me. 😉

Thanks for putting up with my nonsense!

Good to see it in a case.
Is that atx or eatx?
Looks like you've got the 7th slot available still

It's a crappy 7 slot ATX bench platform. The big issue is the card slots aren't notched at the top making it impossible to install an SBC due to the VGA ports extending from the edge. I had to cut this one to make it work. I know I was saying "left-most" slot, but It's really only second from the left-most slot. There really isn't a mounting option for the left most slot unless I make the board larger again. I like the size as is.

Besides, the issue of both powering and access to the connections is an issue. Having an open slot or two will be needed for something like a custom slot shim that has things like sound output, joystick port, and possibly a 12V in for one of those Pico ATX power supplies. Loading a case with two power supplies isn't unheard of, but a setup like this will be a challenge to make work in a system already populated with a modern ITX board and its accessories.

Fair enough.

Okay... I was honestly confused when I added the second ATX mounting position to the backplane and I finally realized why it didn't mesh with what I said earlier.

It's simple and obvious but I only realized once I looked back at my main case over the ATX bench chassis. The backplane does in fact mount to the left-most slot on a 7-slot case! The confusion is that my cheapo bench chassis has... 8 slots! 🤣

So I was right initially, but there might be larger cases with an 8th slot out there. Either way, things turned out great and now I can sleep! 😂

Lol
So it was eatx