Worlds FIRST Vintage Sharp X68000 Mod

X

X68K

n00b
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Jan 12, 2009
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For those of you who are not familiar with the Sharp X68000, here is a wiki article to bring you up to speed: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharp_X68000

I aquired this case from an ebay auction, normally these units complete sell for around a GRAND, fortunately I was able to find someone selling the case only, and won it for about $50!!!

My goal is to keep the exterior of the case as original as possible and work around it, as not to detract from its Vintage and RARE design.

My secondary goal is to keep it fully upgradable, top of the line, and QUIET! Ultimately this means I need to water cool, include a dual-core CPU, video card, and to finish it all off: dual slot-loading optical drives (to take advantage of the original 5.25" slots for the dual floppy drives.

Here are some pics:

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I still need to create an I/O and power supply back-cover. Install a 120MM vent (to allow the 120MM RAD fan to exhaust out the side of the case. And install a low-profile video card bracket, video card and GPU waterblock. Also, need to install the 3.5" HD and dual slim slot-load optical drives. Lastly, need to find a power button...

Let me know your thought and comments!

Nick
 
Awesome looking but I still don't see how you'll be able to fit a modern day video card (even with a water block) due to it's width.
 
This is going to be awesome! Are you going to use the low profile 9600GT or wait for the 9800GT?
 
The X68000 has some fantastic games. A little weird you could even obtain a case at that price.
 
Will be using a SLIM Koolance GPU waterblock (only 6mm think) along with a Low Profile 9600GT! Also, using a flexible PCI-Express adapter, so I can mount the card parallel to the motherboard.

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Also, using the following 120MM Rad Grill:

Radgrillz120BK_Stripes_01.jpg
 
about 80% complete!

The 300W PSU is working like a champ with the E6600 CPU and 9600GT!

Still need to mount the HD and laptop slot-load optical drives. Fabricate the I/O covers (backplates) and install the Exhaust grill for the 120MM fan.

Water cooling COMPLETE (CPU and GPU), 90 degree PCI-E bracket installed, low-profile 9600GT fits like a glove!

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Here is the Mic-IN, Headphone and power button (Installing a WiFI antenna and USB port in the empty Phones and Joystick ports):

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This thread looks to be more of a worklog, not a gallery.

But the mod looks great so far!
 
I have been battling how to properly cool the power supply circuitry, and finally implemented a solution!

My original hope was to ONLY liquid cool it using a mosfet waterblock, except that no commercial solution would fit in the tiny space available. Therefore, I constructed a makeshift waterblock out of a 90-degree compression elbow. This seemed to cool down the mosfet's pretty decent, but the chokes and transformers were still heating up to pretty dangerous levels (200F).

I knew I needed to install some type of fan at this point... A 60x60x11mm fan fit, but there was no practical way to mount it, I ended up using some thermal adhesive (left over from mounting the mosfet waterblock) and it is holding up perfectly!

I also, installed power and hdd leds (white and low intensity).

Anyway, thnx so much for all the comments!!!! I am nearing completion and will continue to post pictures and progress =)

Here are the temps so far:

Ambient: 33C (not room temp, this is reported from speedfan)

Idle: CPU 41C, GPU 41C

Load: CPU 47C, GPU 43C

Here are some pics:

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Very sharp looking... Japan gets all the cool stuff. It would be even better if you could cram a slot-loading optical drive in there.
 
Installed the wireless card (USB dongle attached via internal motherboard headers) and mounted the external antenna on the front of the case.

Installed a 120MM Grill (matching the Radiator/Fan exhaust Grill) to allow a view of the CPU and PSU waterblocks, as well as to provide ventilation to the PSU fan.

Let me know your thoughts, and thanks for the wonderful comments!!

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I found some USB to laptop optical drive (IDE) adapters on ebay, I will soon attempt to install the slot-loading optical drives (I am really running out of internal room though, will be able to install 1 drive, but really hoping for dual drives).
 
I know it's been WAY too long, but I am still working on this MOD.

I have installed 3x30GB OCZ vertex SSDs in RAID 0 for my boot drive!

Also, I have hand made a micro reservoir, it was ALOT of work (had to custom order 45/64" bit, 11.8mm bit, and a G1/4 tap).

Also, drilling a hole that large into a SMALL plastic top/bottom cover plate is NEAR impossible. I NEED a laser cutter asap!

The dimensions of the micro reservoir are approx 1" diameter and 3.5" in length. The fitting on the bottom is 1/4" compression, and has a fill port on the top.

Below are the photos:

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My specs of the system are as follows:

Q9550 CPU OC'D 2.8ghz to 3.02ghz
Micro-ATX MSI G45M
4GB DDR2 1066mhz
320GB 7200RPM 2.5"
3x30GB OCZ Vertex RAID 0
Low Profile 9600GT Video card (GPU OC'D 600mhz to 760mhz, MEM OC'D 900mhz to 1ghz)

Power consumption at the wall outlet: 100watts idle, 205watts 100% CPU & GPU load.
 
this came out really nice, impressed with how much you could squeeze into that little case, and with great temps too!
 
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