The MSTR Case

Showcase builds, discuss cases, embedding MiSTer into existing computer cases.
Milspex
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Re: The MSTR Case

Unread post by Milspex »

So if I understand correctly, the player cartridges are different modules you can insert, like a module with snes controller ports, or one with 4 db15s, or genesis ports and such?
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akicus
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Re: The MSTR Case

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Milspex wrote: Sun Jan 24, 2021 3:46 pm So if I understand correctly, the player cartridges are different modules you can insert, like a module with snes controller ports, or one with 4 db15s, or genesis ports and such?
Correct.
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akicus
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Re: The MSTR Case

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Bits n Stuff wrote: Fri Jan 29, 2021 4:51 pm What time of power connector does this use?
I can see some sort of barrel connector on the back of the PCB, is it the same setup as the DE10-Nano? I currently use a splitter on mine to also power the USB board, I'd assume due to this being a customised setup that it will only need a single input with everything else being taken care of by whatever custom power management is happening inside?
Not that I've minded using a splitter but obviously being able to just plug in a single power lead and flick the power switch is an improvement in my mind.
There is a JST connector in the picture below that will allow us to route a cable inside the case and UNDER the pcbs so it won't look too bad. How it all connects will be presented with more pictures of the real hardware (pcbs) that should show up next month so please wait for that.
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Milspex
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Re: The MSTR Case

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looking good
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akicus
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Re: The MSTR Case

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Bits n Stuff wrote: Sat Jan 30, 2021 9:25 pm Thanks @akicus.
It'll be interesting to see actual PCB hardware. If I'm being honest, whatever happens on the inside of the box is something that I'm just happy to think of as magic and leave to you. :)
My question was more from me as a user and just wondering if I'd be able to use the same power adapter that I'm currently using on MiSTer. Not that it really matters either way, I wa just wondering.
You can use the same power supply, yes. If you want to use all USB ports at the same time you may need to use a little beefier power supply (we have many ports in total on the MSTR).
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akicus
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Re: The MSTR Case

Unread post by akicus »

Thanks for all the messages over e-mail and here, it shows that there is some real interest for this.
One question that keeps popping up is "what will the case look like on the back, will you just cnc out all the holes for the ports"?
We thought about this and since MiSTer is very modular you never know what might pop up in the future (different type of addon board) we thought it would be best to cnc out a little bit bigger hole on the back and use something similar to a I/O shield on a computer motherboard (a higher quality one).
This way the MSTR case can potentially take different pcbs.
Thoughts?
Milspex
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Re: The MSTR Case

Unread post by Milspex »

Smart! There will be different addon boards produced so futureproofing the case is a great idea.

Also, how big is the case exactly? Can you fit like a small external 2.5 drive in there too? It reminds me of the Nacon Daija arcade stick I have

ps4ofarcadestick_3.png
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akicus
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Re: The MSTR Case

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Milspex wrote: Wed Feb 03, 2021 3:04 pm Smart! There will be different addon boards produced so futureproofing the case is a great idea.

Also, how big is the case exactly? Can you fit like a small external 2.5 drive in there too? It reminds me of the Nacon Daija arcade stick I have
Thanks for your input.

Yes, we designed it so it will fit 2.5" drive as well, it will most likely be mounted on top of the player cassette hole (on the inside) and hooked up to one of the USB ports that are mounted vertical.
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Re: The MSTR Case

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keeps getting better and better
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Re: The MSTR Case

Unread post by Bennehana »

Would you be able to use multiple diffrent attatchments for the controller. Like 1 snes, 1 nes, 1 Megadrive etc...at once?
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Re: The MSTR Case

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They'd have to make way too many custom options to do that I think

I'm guessing they will do the modules on a per system basis. Like one with snes ports, one with megadrive ports etc etc.

Come to think of it, a single player module with all different ports does make a little bit of sense though.
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Re: The MSTR Case

Unread post by Bennehana »

Yeah i mean i often play solo and when i do got company i have usb options.

For me it would be neat anyways.
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akicus
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Re: The MSTR Case

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Bennehana wrote: Thu Feb 04, 2021 2:32 pm Would you be able to use multiple diffrent attatchments for the controller. Like 1 snes, 1 nes, 1 Megadrive etc...at once?
I thought about this personally and if it works it could save money for the "solo" player for sure. One cassette with:
NES, SNES, DIN8, DB9, DB15.

That would cover many consoles:
NES, SNES, Master System, Mega Drive, PC Engine, NeoGeo and some other systems.

Maybe we should sell it with this cassette as standard, we will see.

There could also be 2 x NES and 2 x SNES for example, it just depends on how much hassle it is to do so many variations.
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Re: The MSTR Case

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PSX and Saturn incoming though....

How many ports can fit on one module? because the use case scenario is gonna be different for everyone and all of a sudden you have soooo many options..
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Re: The MSTR Case

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you cant do custom cartridges on a per customer basis obviously, so there has to be some kind of middleground solutions.

I would sell it standard with a placeholder cartridge with nothing in it for people that wont be using it anyway and do a "Add Optional Cartridge"
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Re: The MSTR Case

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Whatever you decide it will be awesome. Cant wait for this case to be ready.
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akicus
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Re: The MSTR Case

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Milspex wrote: Thu Feb 04, 2021 3:52 pm you cant do custom cartridges on a per customer basis obviously, so there has to be some kind of middleground solutions.

I would sell it standard with a placeholder cartridge with nothing in it for people that wont be using it anyway and do a "Add Optional Cartridge"
PSX and Saturn also yes, I was mostly thinking of supported cores right now. PSX core will most likely take a long time and a Saturn core got a possible future for the MiSTer if we should believe the recent developments. Using those controllers regardless of core is of course also possible, I was mostly thinking of "legacy support" for supported cores.

The cassette will fit 4 x DB15 so you can do the calculation based on that.

Selling it "empty" is also an option and just let the customer decide.
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Re: The MSTR Case

Unread post by Lightwave »

You know what you really need to do...

Make the cassette customizable with 4 separate slots ;)
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akicus
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Re: The MSTR Case

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Lightwave wrote: Fri Feb 05, 2021 4:09 am You know what you really need to do...

Make the cassette customizable with 4 separate slots ;)
That is an interesting idea, I will think about it.
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Ryuoken
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Re: The MSTR Case

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What a nice project!

Will there be space for an internal HDD?
Milspex
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Re: The MSTR Case

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yes, see one page earlier.

2.5" above the player cartridges
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akicus
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Re: The MSTR Case

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Ryuoken wrote: Fri Feb 05, 2021 9:34 am What a nice project!

Will there be space for an internal HDD?
As Milspex said there will be space for that.
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Re: The MSTR Case

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I'm sorry I missed it.

Thank you! :-)
repente
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Re: The MSTR Case

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Hello!
First of all, congratulations for the work, it looks excellent.
Cnc premium aluminium finish it's perfect!

As I see that you pay a lot of attention to feedback, here's mine :)

Regarding the controls, very important part, I love the idea of interchangeable fronts, brilliant idea, BUT....

I don't doubt that everything by usb polling goes very well (in fact I have ordered two boards from Mike :) but when we talk about original controllers I think that you should not use converters that do polling or at least leave the option to switch to Snac, BUT....

Snac is perfection in its concept, but it has many limitations, so my advice is to adopt its extension fork, which respects Snac and also adds:
- Compatibility with more than 100 cores.
- With db9 and db15 handle the OSD and play with those more than 100 cores, a versatility similar to Blisster, (you are not forced to use the megadrive controller with its core but with almost all but with zero lag, no usb polling)
- possibility to extend to several simultaneous ports by serialization

Please, take a look at the project, I think it is open source.
If I am not mistaken it only uses one more pin from the Nano.
It would be great if you can take it and reimagine / rework it for use it with your pcb with your great cartridge system.

https://github.com/antoniovillena/MiSTer_DB9
https://github.com/MiSTer-DB9?tab=repositories

If I could use my db15 remotes natively without usb polling, you'd have my money on day 1 ;) ;)
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akicus
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Re: The MSTR Case

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repente wrote: Sat Feb 06, 2021 8:47 am Hello!
First of all, congratulations for the work, it looks excellent.
Cnc premium aluminium finish it's perfect!

As I see that you pay a lot of attention to feedback, here's mine :)

Regarding the controls, very important part, I love the idea of interchangeable fronts, brilliant idea, BUT....

I don't doubt that everything by usb polling goes very well (in fact I have ordered two boards from Mike :) but when we talk about original controllers I think that you should not use converters that do polling or at least leave the option to switch to Snac, BUT....

Snac is perfection in its concept, but it has many limitations, so my advice is to adopt its extension fork, which respects Snac and also adds:
- Compatibility with more than 100 cores.
- With db9 and db15 handle the OSD and play with those more than 100 cores, a versatility similar to Blisster, (you are not forced to use the megadrive controller with its core but with almost all but with zero lag, no usb polling)
- possibility to extend to several simultaneous ports by serialization

Please, take a look at the project, I think it is open source.
If I am not mistaken it only uses one more pin from the Nano.
It would be great if you can take it and reimagine / rework it for use it with your pcb with your great cartridge system.

https://github.com/antoniovillena/MiSTer_DB9
https://github.com/MiSTer-DB9?tab=repositories

If I could use my db15 remotes natively without usb polling, you'd have my money on day 1 ;) ;)
We wrote this some time ago in August I think:

Player Mode
The third LED on the MSTR will tell you which mode you are in (USB is blue, SNAC is red and Extra is green). It will always start in ”USB-Mode” after powering the MiSTer on.
”Extra” will be discussed at a later date.


That "Extra" mode is indeed what you are talking about, I just forgot about bringing it up again.

Thanks for your input though ;).
repente
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Re: The MSTR Case

Unread post by repente »

akicus wrote: Sat Feb 06, 2021 11:34 am We wrote this some time ago in August I think:

Player Mode
The third LED on the MSTR will tell you which mode you are in (USB is blue, SNAC is red and Extra is green). It will always start in ”USB-Mode” after powering the MiSTer on.
”Extra” will be discussed at a later date.


That "Extra" mode is indeed what you are talking about, I just forgot about bringing it up again.

Thanks for your input though ;).
Then you've got me :)
Subscribed and waiting to see the developments and buy one, I hope everything goes well and can be this year.
In fact I was already collecting some parts and planning everything to make me a premade aluminium box with panel mount components and everything rewired inside, but with this that you have in your hands I totally rule it out and I'm going for yours without a doubt :)
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akicus
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Re: The MSTR Case

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repente wrote: Sat Feb 06, 2021 8:04 pm
Then you've got me :)
Subscribed and waiting to see the developments and buy one, I hope everything goes well and can be this year.
In fact I was already collecting some parts and planning everything to make me a premade aluminium box with panel mount components and everything rewired inside, but with this that you have in your hands I totally rule it out and I'm going for yours without a doubt :)
Yeah let's hope for the best. We should have the pcbs later this month so we can test everything out. To get community support we have to send out pcb setups to some people in the community as well so we know it has official support and does indeed work as we claim.

After that we begin with the case prototype production.
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akicus
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Re: The MSTR Case

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Finally got some pcbs now, components will be added during the week with a follow up of course.

OT: Final pcbs will most likely use ENIG or hard gold plating.

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Milspex
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Re: The MSTR Case

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Day one!
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Ryuoken
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Re: The MSTR Case

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Are you guys considering implementing the mt32-pi to the MSTR case?
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