PC companies should make mini versions of their old PC's for retrogaming, like how it's been done for consoles like the Nintendo NES/Famicom and the SEGA Mega Drive/Genesis. I just think it'd be really cool to be on a train and bust out your tiny IBM XT or Macintosh for some good ol' microsoft entertainment pack games.
Thank you loads for the 3D printer designs and the inspiration! I've now done my own conversion, but using an ipad3 9.7 inch 2048x1536 LCD, ipad to HDMI converter and an Intel NUC inside. It looks fantastic and running Basilisk II, it's a super fast 68k Mac :)
Friend of mine has a project going on which involves exactly the same thing, nice that someone already made an adapter and everything for the display :) Thanks!
You could also use very strong velcro to attach the Mac mini to the structure. Some of the latest velcro products are very very strong and hold lots of weight. Cool project!
This is a very impressive project, well done; I may probably have to do this as well someday! Given the value of the Mac Mini, I'd also have probably used the 3D-printer to create a specially-fit bracket for just the Mac Mini, so as to epoxy said bracket to the metal frame, instead of directly on the Mac Mini; this would have us the option to remove the Mac Mini free of tear and cosmetic damage, for when needed.
this is a fun project and props for doing so. I believe too much epoxy was used as the mac mini will be glued permanently to the chassis. thanks for the video!
This is genius! breathing life to old Mac boxes with modern kickass Mac Minis. The best part is getting the original mac software to be emulated for the retro experience simply awesome! Now if only we can get the old eWorld interface working again I'll be in Mac heaven! 🥰
Wanna check out our 3D printed designs? Go here and have a look: www.thingiverse.com/thing:3551263 The original monitor used in this video is no longer available, but we have confirmation that this one here: amzn.to/3P7LGW0 will work just as well! Special thank you to @ead0601 for the find! Wanna run a classic MacOS on your modern PC? Learn how here; sheepshaver.cebix.net/
Just did mine, used your 3D printed bezel, however for my floppy slot, I put a USB/SDCARD front facing module, had to shave it down to fit, but now it looks like it is naturally part of the machine.
Believe me, I had MASSIVE plans to restore this system! I was heartbroken when I found that the CMOS battery had leaked and ate through the traces on the PCB. The damage to the mainboard and the massive rust to the supporting metal structure inside made it impossible to recover from.
@@2GuysTek another soldier lost to the crappy batteries. If you ever want a working Mac classic, get the Mac Classic 2 as it doesn’t have all the problems the classic 1 does.
Great job man! Have you considered moulding an acrylic sheet using the old CRT to get the curvature right and put it in front of the LCD? Can you share the tweaks to make it 4:3 on a wide screen?
That’s a fantastic idea! Regarding the 4:3, it was much easier than you might expect. The LCD doesn’t stretch low resolutions across the full screen, so just setting the resolution to 1024x768 creates the perfect 4:3 to fit! Thanks for watching!
@@2GuysTek Not sure what I'm doing wrong, or if the linked monitor has changed from the one you purchased, but when I switch to 1024x768 (hooking up HDMI direct to MacMini) it goes past both sides.
@@2GuysTek 1280x800, but as I was typing that I realized that I was setting the resolution to 1024x640. The displayed Display Resolutions were only 1280x800 and 1024x640. Forgot all about showing all possible resolutions... and there it is, 1024x768! Thanks for jogging my memory 😉
So cool and thanks for the links. I have an original 1984 that I had gutted and stupidly wanted to turn into an aquarium. I was thinking of doing what you just did and your video will be most helpful. 👍😄
It may have been missing from the video, sorry for that! We actually pass it through the opening in the back where the power cord plugged into the Mac. I had originally intended to create a barrel connector coupler in the back but ran out of time! Thanks for watching!
very nicely done! I usually don't support cutting holes into classic macs, but since this one a) isn't that rare and b) was already toasted, I feel like this is the best thing that could have happened to it
GREAT JOB! Although I've never been a MAC user, I always wished Apple still made machines like the Classic/Plus,/SE...they still take up a smaller footprint than most Notebooks/Laptops
Would love to give the plans and materials list, and if you would provide the 3-D printing for the bezel adapter? This has been the same plan I have had for an old Mac SE that I have. Thank you.
@2GuysTek - fantastic video! I actually have an old Macintosh Color Classic, and I've commissioned someone to pull out the old innards and place a Mac mini inside with a 8" LCD, it was working flawless, but due to the poor job of the person I hired to complete this project, everything came apart. But watching your video gave me new ideas to do the project myself. And thanks for the tip on "Sheepskin" I can't wait to use this in 2022 in the mist of M1 Macs and 4k monitors. Retro tech is cool and some of the best innovations was the retro tech, at least in my opinion. I'll find a way to secure my Mac mini but I will not glue it because I would like to swap it out for a M1 Mac mini, so eventually my Mac will me a "Macintosh M1 Mac".
The display is a Toguard WR952, if you set the video resolution to 4k you can zoom in and see the model number. It's no longer listed on Amazon, but it appears Toguard sells it through their site. There are other screens on Amazon that appear virtually identical. There is an Eyoyo screen with a connector panel on the back that looks identical to the Toguard except it doesn't have a USB port, though the other connectors are in the same location. It's also a 10.1", 1280x800 resolution. A lot of identical electronics seem to get rebranded and sold under different names.
I am also doing a similar project. Was looking for the LCD on Amazon but link was not working. Given that the Classic 9" 4:3 is about 7.2"x5.4" : a 10" 16:10 would be 8.5"x5.3". The 16:9 would have a height of 4.9", so I think the 16:10 would be best. Given that the height will be the rate limiting factor, since the width will compensate with bars in 1024x768 4:3 mode to fit to the ratio. I am looking at cutting my old tube instead of using a 3D printed insert. Thanks for the video
Glad you liked it! When I was building the whole project I was reminiscing about all old software and I knew I had to find flying toasters! Afterdark was the best!
I really like how this is done, in my case I'm taking a 1993 Apple IIe platinum and throwing a Raspberry Pi in it complete with USB, Ethernet, HDMI,Wifi, Bluetooth, (and just for the hell of it) Parallel and Serial along with a Game/Midi port.
@@2GuysTek Will do. as for the OS of choice it's going to be ApplePIOS. an Apple IIe brought into the 21st century. and I may have to build an adaptor for the DB15 serial port that Apple used for their 5.25 Floppy drives.
@@2GuysTek so an update for you guys, I've made some progress on the project so far and I've factored in that I'm going to need some front cooling so I decided to grab a couple of cooler master fans (5 volts since that what the pi would need) as they would sit underneath the USB keyboard that I have taped ontop of the case I've also thought about throwing in some Thunderbolt 2 since I figured Apple use to use that before using I think Thunderbolt 3. as far as compatibility goes, I already got a M0100 mouse to USB which is going to sit in the same spot that it would back in the day, I'm also going to install a USB sound card for mic and line out. and wire up the internal speaker as well. as far as the 5 1/4 drives go well I'd have to build an adapter going from the DB19 (Yeah for some reason that's what Apple used) to the more useful DB9 (which is what you'd find on PC's now a days). for a second drive I'm going with Compact flash in case the micro SD card isn't big enough.
@@davidpackham7459 Apple abandoned their entire Motorola/IBM product line entirely after the G5 fiasco that almost cost them their powerbook market? The G5 processor ran far to hot and used far to much power to ever be adapted for laptop use. Back then and even now their powerbook sales far outstrip their desktop sales market by a significant margin. It was adopt the defacto intel industry standard or die. Simples!
Brilliant Mod…. I was thinking to do the same with a SE30? Do yo sell on the screen bezel and stand-off pillars? Also did you try to put a usb CD drive? Chris in Ireland
Thanks for the comment! I don't see the bezel, but I give the STL (the 3D-printable file) away for free! You can send the file off to any number of 3D-printing service sites on the 'Net and get it that way. And I'm guessing you're talking about the floppy drive, that'd have been a great idea! Shoulda done that!
Love this! Do you have the adapter model? I'd love to have one printed and repeat this project (with an older mac mini though!). Update - dumbass here forgot to view you 3D model library. Never mind! Great work though.
The LCD display was 16:9, 1080p. The trick to making it work is that the monitor does not scale lower resolutions, so we set the resolution to 1024x768 (4:3) and the display crops the image leaving black bars on the sides and fits perfectly through the CRT opening.
Although today's laptops by apple are more powerful and probably more convenient cause you can lug them around everywhere, Apple should give serious consideration to reviving the Mac Classic's aesthetically pleasing ,space-saving, compact, unibody design but just put ultra modern guts inside the thing. I bet you there would be a lot of people that would buy one. Apple's desktop computers have kept on taking up more space and now the time is about right for a counter-reaction in terms of trying to get it to shrink. Of course the mac mini is the ultimate spacesaver, but it's not truly an all-in-one solution as you still have to buy everything for it--monitor, keyboard, mouse etc.
Great work. Very fun watch. May have been the first Mac I ever used. Circa 1992 with OS 6. With the capacity and capabilities of 3D printing would it be easier to build a 3D model of what would work for the Mac Mini, display (OLED in the future?) and leave classic Mac as they are? It all works, just wondering. Great work, look forward to more
Yes! However, you'd likely struggle to have a home 3D printer be large enough to produce the big parts of the case - course that's a solvable. I really wished I could have kept the classic as a _real_ classic, but that leaking battery and time had different plans. Thanks for the comment!
I wonder if it's possible to do this same type of build with the original CRT and more compact internals, like if I put a Raspberry Pi or the internals from something like an Intel NUC into this.
As long as you have a means of converting the digital interface of the Pi or a NUC to something that can drive an old tube, why not? It'd be hard, but not impossible!
How did you make the 10inch render in 4:3, let alone not get cut off by the edges of the screen. I keep having this problem and Have to resort to a smaller LCD.
The LCD we chose was a 16:9, but when the resolution was set to 1024x768, it didn't stretch the 4:3 over the 16:9, so it was perfect for the Classic Mac's opening.
@@2GuysTek Do you have a specific make and model number? I'm looking for one with auto sleep mode since I Cant have the LCD controller board blocking the DVD rom slot I made.
Thanks for reaching out! I did a quick search on Amazon to see if I could find something that is similar to that original display we used and I came across this: amzn.to/3zow5I6 This looks very similar to the one we used in the video - just in a different package, but I can’t guarantee anything. It’s likely you’ll have to do some improvising to make it work, but it should work. I hope that helps and best of luck! If you do end up building one send us some photos, we’d love to see your creation!
@@2GuysTek Ironically, I actually have one of these screens lying around at my home! The same as the one you use. So that fixes that issue. I for sure, once I have this thing up and running I will let you know. I am using an SE, and it has been a dream of mine to make a little retro powerhouse, that can also be used as a Mac, will let you know how it goes :) and thanks for responding too!
Too much epoxy going on here, you could make adapters to better fit components so if you ever feel like working on it again in the future, like upgrading it, you could do so without thrashing it worse.
That's for the question! The LCD front panel of our display has a cable lead that connected it to the controller board for the display. The buttons for controlling the display were on a separate board we relocated to the open slot that used to house the floppy disk drive. Power for the display was just rerouted through an opening in the back and connected directly to the display's controller board using the existing barrel connector. Hope this helps! Best of luck!
Could it be that the monitor you guys used is not available on Amazon anymore? The one in the video looks slightly different from the one on Amazon? I am replicating your project and need the display.
Hi! Nice work! But why do you choose an 10.1 instead a 9 inch LCD? What resolution do you use? I am planning this project with a Raspberry Pi (RetroPie). There is no need th place so much stuff inside ;-) Keep going!
Thanks for question! The simple reason was I couldn't find a 9" LCD for the project! The smallest display I could find (and was affordable) was the 10.1 and unfortunately was widescreen and not 4:3, which would have been the best fit. We used 1024x786 which is a 4:3 aspect ratio and fit edge-to-edge of the opening of the mac. Thanks for watching!
@@2GuysTek PiMoroni has an 8" LCD in 4:3 which I used in my Classic conversion for my Pi. The last step was finding someone who created the bezel adapter, and you GUYS ROCK. I cannot wait to try this out. Here's the link to the screen: shop.pimoroni.com/products/hdmi-8-lcd-screen-kit-1024x768
I am so jealous you guys have to be the luckiest to have a piece of a classic with todays modern power and still old time flare. nothing beats a classic!! Great job (Oh and if I see this on ebay, i’m buying straight to cart) 🎉🏆🎯📺🔋💻💾
With a ruler and a caliper to get as close to exact measurements as possible. For the full heigh of the curve that was more complicated. We attempted at first to use the caliper to get as close to the peak of the arch as possible and then test printed a few times to get it exact. It took a few test prints to get the exact height.
Two things here! Retrobrite that puppy and place some C section trim around that crudely hacked out i/o backplate or at the very least file and sand it until its perfectly symetrical otherwise its all good!
Figured you'd take the glass from the monitor, clean it up inside and out ,and mount that so you have a shield for the monitor. Also.... you just plopped the aluminum case in no modding no nothing. Still a neat thing you did but 'huh i can see touches where it could be better? Maybe? If I'm not wholly wrong.'
I debated doing something with the CRT, but in the end I decided against it because it’s a vacuum-sealed glass tube and the risk of that shattering wasn’t worth it.
@@2GuysTek Fair. Maybe make a mold of it and do somethign there? Either way. Interesting. I take it you had to futz with the monitor's resolutions to have it display something that wouldn't go over the edges of theviewable area?
Hey there! Really like this project! I love how you used an actual Mac Mini and not a Windows PC. If you ever do another cool project like this, try to see if you can try and keep the CRT display and not an LCD.
I would loved to have kept the CRT! Unfortunately it takes up SO MUCH SPACE inside of the case that it would have been much harder to get it, and the PSU, and another PC inside. Thanks for watching!
Hi, the project is just awesome and I'm doing it right now, we had the same idea haha. Just how did you go about changing the screen resolution? in any case bravo to you
Thank you! We just set the resolution to 1024x768 on our Mac Mini and the LCD display we chose doesn't stretch the display leaving the necessary black bars on the left and right! Best of luck! We wanna see what you come up with!
Yeah, that was what I didn't like on this project. Way too much epoxying parts in. If he could dismantle the monitor, he could have dismantled the Mac mini as well, and made proper stand offs for the system board.
@@2GuysTek thanks! I’m working on my build atm! I’m retrobriting it first but I’m gonna mount a M2 Mac Mini with a 3D printed scaffolding on the side cause I have a Macintosh Classic II and it has the side port features on the right side of the back of the case where I can fit the mini!
very cool!! I tried to do the same thing with my mac classic but i couldnt work out how to fix the screen res. a fair bit of the display was hidden behind the housing. did you have the same issue with this screen? if so id love to know how you got around it.
