When you’re into retro gaming, then I’ve some actually thrilling information for you. Eivind Bohler has put collectively a contemporary ITX board utilizing a Vortex X86 System on Module processor package deal that has been designed to verify off each field you may probably must play old skool video games.
- Adjustable processor velocity for every little thing from Wing Commander to Quake 3.
- Cache could be disabled.
- Velocity could be set between 100 to 500 MHz
- Makes use of the Vortex86EX System on Module
- The SOM supplies efficiency equivalence as much as a Pentium 233MHz MMX
- 128MB of RAM on the Vortex module.
- AGP Slot excellent for a 3DFX Voodoo3
- SD to IDE card adapter on the board for quick storage full with arduous drive click on simulator that may be disabled.
- Crystal sound chip with each a small sized WAV header or 40-pin Rasberry PI based mostly MIDI playback.
- The crystal chip supplies SB Professional 2, Adlib and WSS options
- Optionally available true Yamaha OPL3 module.
- Full Ethernet assist.
- Hayes appropriate modem emulator that works over Wi-Fi
- Each trendy and interval correct rear ports.
- DOS and Home windows 98 Suitable.
Bohler goes by means of all the options on this video:
Moreover, he has a devoted thread on Vogons discussion board. CLICK HERE for that thread.
A bunch purchase curiosity kind is up on the Llama Board Discord. https://discord.gg/YN3XkycAXG
This board is just about the holy grail of those that have endeavored to construct an ITX sized retro PC; myself included. Up till now, you would want to search for industrial boards that have been by no means supposed for video games. When you may discover one that may work, it was nonetheless lacking sufficient slots that full audio assist was questionable, and none had AGP assist. Nonetheless, the Llama ITX fixes all of those points.
…now if I can discover an AGP riser cable appropriate with trendy sandwich circumstances I can have my dream retro PC.
I’m already planning on ordering one or two of those boards. As with all small batch orders there may be at all times a threat of value creep and delays. SFFN regulars needs to be aware of this.
My deliberate construct for that is:
- Densium 4 Case
- OPL3 Module
- DreamBlaster X2GS WAV module
- Voodoo3 3500 AGP
I have already got a number of classic CRT screens I can use for show. When you don’t although, a RetroTink 4K may very well be the reply for scaling these.
The perfect half is that early pricing signifies that the ITX-Llama board will solely be about $300. The Vortex SOM will likely be about $70, and the OPL3 board will likely be about $30.
I traded Discord messages with DesertPanther, who’s at present constructing an official retailer web page. He offered a brief Q and A for potential patrons.
1. Are planning at hand solder the CS4237B and D1 ESP8266?
– Sure, the plan is to purchase these individually, ship them to JLCPCB and allow them to solder them by means of their “consignment” course of.
2. Is there an FAQ web page people can go to to study extra concerning the group purchase?
– Not but, I’m going to arrange a Shopify web site tonight and can embody that.
3. How a lot are you desiring to cost per board?
– I’m making an attempt to get the worth all the way down to round $300.
4. When are you planning to shut the group purchase and/or order the boards?
– The curiosity gathering kind will likely be closed at a while tomorrow, and I’ll announce the subsequent part which is putting the deposits. Individuals will nonetheless be capable to purchase till we place the order in both early or mid-November.
5. When do you anticipate transport the boards to group purchase contributors?
– I intend to get the boards shipped to patrons in early December to allow them to take pleasure in taking part in with the board in the course of the Christmas season!
6. What about deposits?
– A bit concerning the deposits: these will likely be non-refundable to bind the contributors into truly shopping for the boards, it can additionally cowl a “testing” part the place we’ll purchase just a few boards as samples or prototypes to make sure that every little thing is okay.
7. How a lot will the OPL3 module value?
– The OPL3 module will likely be round $30
8. How a lot will the Vortex SOM value?
– The SOM will likely be round $70
You’ll be able to try two movies by James Mackenzie who constructed up an ITX-Llama construct with the hyperlinks beneath.
and…
