Technabob » pico itx http://technabob.com/blog Cool Gadgets, Gizmos, Games and Geek Stuff Sun, 27 May 2012 20:00:08 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Sinclair Zx81 Turned Into Pc [Retro Casemod] http://technabob.com/blog/2008/12/02/sinclair-zx81-turned-into-pc-retro-casemod/ http://technabob.com/blog/2008/12/02/sinclair-zx81-turned-into-pc-retro-casemod/#comments Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:58:49 +0000 Technabob http://technabob.com/blog/?p=5814 Remember the old Sinclair ZX81 computer? You know, the tiny, little 8-bit machine with a huge following, and a horrible flat keyboard?

sinclair zx81 casemod

Thanks to miracle of modern miniaturization, you can now fit a fully-functional Windows or Linux PC inside of one of these. It’s pretty amazing when you think about it – as the ZX81 only measures in at about 6.6″ wide x 6.9″ deep x 1.6″ tall.

sinclair zx81 casemod 2

Modder Unravelled managed to cram the entire system – including a tiny hard drive – inside the diminutive ZX81 case by using a newfangled VIA EPIA Pico-ITX motherboard. (As small as the Pico-ITX is, I defy anyone to cram a complete system into the even smaller ZX Spectrum).

sinclair zx81 casemod 3

Pretty impressive, eh? Now all Unravelled needs to do is install a copy of EightyOne or XTender on there to play original ZX81 applications inside of a modern OS, and he’ll be all set.

]]> http://technabob.com/blog/2008/12/02/sinclair-zx81-turned-into-pc-retro-casemod/feed/ 10 Pico-Itx Mobos: Computers to Get Even Smaller http://technabob.com/blog/2007/04/30/pico-itx-mobos-computers-to-get-even-smaller/ http://technabob.com/blog/2007/04/30/pico-itx-mobos-computers-to-get-even-smaller/#comments Mon, 30 Apr 2007 17:53:30 +0000 Technabob http://technabob.com/blog/2007/04/30/pico-itx-mobos-computers-to-get-even-smaller/ Just when you thought desktop PCs couldn’t get any smaller, VIA comes along and introduces an insanely tiny new x86 motherboard platform.

pico itx

VIA’s ultra-mini Pico-ITX mainboards measure in at just under 3″ x 4″ – about 75% smaller than the Mini-ITX format. Initial models feature a unified VX700 chip which combines graphics processing, memory and device controllers on a single chip. The boards have VGA, Ethernet, SATA and ATA interfaces onboard, and support up to 4GB of DDR400/333 RAM. An optional daugtercard adds DVI, PS/2, USB and audio connectors.

The first boards built on the Pico-ITX platform cost around $300 each, and have started to ship this week.

[via Impress]

]]> http://technabob.com/blog/2007/04/30/pico-itx-mobos-computers-to-get-even-smaller/feed/ 0