Hardware My Goal for 2016: Building a modern NES PC.

[Jayro]

I am gearing up to build a modest gaming PC in an NES shell. These are the parts I'm thinking of using, with an i5 4690k CPU, a Samsung m.2 850 EVO SSD, 32GB of G.Skill DDR3, and a low profile GTX 750ti 2GB on a riser card. It will have an external power supply. Would a 750 Watt do fine?

 

[TotalInsanity4]

750 Watt will be MORE than enough. If I were you I'd consider using a 450w sfx power supply

P.S. Sewper jealous of you right now

 

[Monty Kensicle]

I am gearing up to build a modest gaming PC in an NES shell. These are the parts I'm thinking of using, with an i5 4690k CPU, a Samsung m.2 850 EVO SSD, 32GB of G.Skill DDR3, and a low profile GTX 750ti 2GB on a riser card. It will have an external power supply. Would a 750 Watt do fine?

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What kind of profile on that PSU? I would think most would be too big.

 

[Jayro]

750 Watt will be MORE than enough. If I were you I'd consider using a 450w sfx power supply

That's a really good suggestion, thanks!

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What kind of profile on that PSU? I would think most would be too big.

Well if I went external, size wouldn't matter, but if I can internalize one while keeping the outside looking as stock as possible, that'd be great.

 

[Joe88]

32GB is way overkill, just get 8GB for that build

 

[Jayro]

32GB is way overkill, just get 8GB for that build

It's not overkill, I utilize virtual machines and ramdisks. If I could go 64GB, I would.

 

[TotalInsanity4]

Oh, another thing, are you wanting to have a DVD drive inside the cartridge flap? And would you want to replace the controller ports with USB 3.0 ports?

Edit: Why a 4690K? You're not going to have much room for a big cooler for overclocking, and the stock cooler isn't going to let you get very far above the stock clock

 

[FireEmblemGuy]

I kind of have to agree; unless you're really going to need to squeeze out an extra 2-400Mhz, tops, there's no real reason to go with an unlocked processor vs the locked 4690. If it supported hyperthreading or extra virtualization tech, it'd be different, but it doesn't have any benefit for you otherwise.

 

[Jayro]

I kind of have to agree; unless you're really going to need to squeeze out an extra 2-400Mhz, tops, there's no real reason to go with an unlocked processor vs the locked 4690. If it supported hyperthreading or extra virtualization tech, it'd be different, but it doesn't have any benefit for you otherwise.

Okay, so just a regular 4690, good to know. Saves a few bucks there, thanks. I won't need a DVD drive in it, I have a iodd ODD emulator that mounts ISO files from an SSD via USB 3.0 already. And I'm going to connect the controller ports to USB 3 headers inside the unit, again to keep it looking stock. Even keeping the same power LED. I'll just have to swap out the power button for a momentary contact switch, just like the reset button uses; Unless I can somehow cut out the locking mechanism and save some money.

 

[TotalInsanity4]

I won't need a DVD drive in it

Whatcha planning on doing with that big empty flap, then?

I'm going to connect the controller ports to USB 3 headers inside the unit, again to keep it looking stock.

Could you explain what you're thinking to me? There might be a better way to go about it while still keeping a mostly stock look

 

[pastaconsumer]

You should make a tutorial when it's all said and done. I'm interested in doing this now!

 

[TotalInsanity4]

You should make a tutorial when it's all said and done. I'm interested in doing this now!

Or just kind of keep a build log in this thread, but yeah, it'd be cool to see you do this as time passes

 

[The Real Jdbye]

I am gearing up to build a modest gaming PC in an NES shell. These are the parts I'm thinking of using, with an i5 4690k CPU, a Samsung m.2 850 EVO SSD, 32GB of G.Skill DDR3, and a low profile GTX 750ti 2GB on a riser card. It will have an external power supply. Would a 750 Watt do fine?

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A Raspberry Pi would do the job nicely for emulation, I think you'd have a hard time fitting a complete PC in there though it would be nice.
Whatever you end up using, I would suggest adding a Retrode. It makes the ROM and save file accessible to emulators as an ordinary USB drive plus controllers are supported as well, so you could make use of all the ports and keep the NES looking the same on the outside, and so you can play carts just like on a real console (though with longer boot times)

 

[Jayro]

Whatcha planning on doing with that big empty flap, then?

Could you explain what you're thinking to me? There might be a better way to go about it while still keeping a mostly stock look

Reference pic of the USB headers to NES controller ports:

I want to do the same thing as this guy did with the controller ports.

 

[TotalInsanity4]

Reference pic of the USB headers to NES controller ports:

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I want to do the same thing as this guy did with the controller ports.

Oh... erm... interesting. Are you only ever planning on using NES controllers with it?

 

[Jayro]

Oh... erm... interesting. Are you only ever planning on using NES controllers with it?

Yeah, but there's plenty of USB 3.0 ports on the motherboard i plan on using in the back, and I plan on ticking a USB 3.0 hub under the cartridge flap with at least 4 ports.

 

[TotalInsanity4]

Yeah, but there's plenty of USB 3.0 ports on the motherboard i plan on using in the back, and I plan on ticking a USB 3.0 hub under the cartridge flap with at least 4 ports.

There we go, that's what I was looking for

Maybe consider this? It has 2 3.0 ports plus a headphone and microphone jack, but there's also a model with four 3.0 ports: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Q6XFAFU/ref=psdc_281413_t2_B007L5K14W

Note that you could probably cut down a bunch of material off of it to save space

 

[Jayro]

Wow, I do like the one with audio jacks, that's sweet. And yeah, 2 ports is probably enough up front.

 

[TotalInsanity4]

Also, one more tip before I go to bed: order your motherboard and graphics card before you order literally anything else, including the riser card. This build has VERY limited space and you're going to want to carefully plan it out accordingly.

 

[Jayro]

Also, one more tip before I go to bed: order your motherboard and graphics card before you order literally anything else, including the riser card. This build has VERY limited space and you're going to want to carefully plan it out accordingly.

Thanks, I'm well-aware. That's why I went with the riser card, to keep stuff fitting nice. Same with the m.2 SSD vs a Sata one.