Got your collapse computing right here!

Would like to put this GPU in the Mac Pro, but haven't been able to figure out the OpenCore/EnableGOP flashing of the card ROM to get a boot screen. :( So I figured I'll have to live with two desktop machines for at least a while, and dragged this one down into the basement.

But the case really needed some side panels if it's going to live under the workbench here. At first I was thinking plywood, but didn't have any pieces large enough, so turned to that other wonder of the modern world: cardboard.

#salvage #pcbuilding #cardboard #upcycling #diy #solarpunk #salvagepunk

Installing windows from the couch!

Got that VR headset working, poorly, by taking the GPU (RX580) from my workstation (Mac Pro 5,1) and putting it in an eGPU enclosure and hooking it up to an old laptop. Chugga-chugga, but enough for playing around in Google Earth VR for a few hours and confirming that it works.

So I ended up building a separate machine for VR, and maybe couch gaming since I guess it might spend time around the living room? Still taking a very low-budget approach, mind -- the Haswell-era mobo+cpu+ram+cooler was 40 bucks, 25 for an SSD. PSU swapped out from another PC, and the case I dumpstered one night last year from what appears like some sort of unlicensed scrapyard a few streets over. It's missing the side panels, but otherwise okay.

The GPU is the same RX580. Workstation is down to a GTX680 for now. Would be okay for the most part, though I did some stuff in UE last week, which was pretty painful. If I end up with a decently-portable gaming PC I might try to sell the eGPU box though, and invest in some better parts for this.

Arcade cab update: working on the control panel.

Replaced the Happ-style convex buttons and weirdo industrial-feeling joysticks with Japanese style balltop sticks and domed buttons, which I prefer.

Sanwa JLW joysticks fit the existing mounts almost perfectly and just needed mounting plate holes enlarged by 0.5 mm.

For OBSF-30 buttons, the original holes needed enlarging 28 -> 30mm. The original buttons had non-equidistant spacing -- P1 buttons 1+2 were much closer to each other than 2+3. P2 buttons the same but less extreme. Not a manufacturing mistake, all AR1100 cabs I've seen are like this.

Anyway, enlarging the holes offered opportunity to try to offset them, so I 3D printed a little guide to mark the new diameters before grinding. Ended up making my (quite worn) test buttons too loose, but the spacing looks nice now. We'll see how brand new ones fit. Still not 100% sure on final balltop/button color.

#arcade #arcadegames #retrogaming #retrogames #videogames #diy #joystick