Pi 500 Maker Build: Raspberry Pi 5 Keyboard Computer

[@JeffGeerling]

I set my clock by EC videos! I would love to see the Pi 500 have an integrated M.2 NVMe slot... and full size HDMI. Having a more sturdy frame would be nice but probably impossible for cost reasons :(

[@Praxibetel-Ix]

I have an alarm set on my phone for one minute before a new video drops 🤭 Worth it!

[@neatodd]

Maybe design a case and get it 3D printed by a company like PCBWay?

[@danielpicassomunoz2752]

Hopefully they hear you at the foundation

[@anthonyrussano]

he said it did have a full size hdmi

[@JeffGeerling]

@@anthonyrussano - I mean when Raspberry Pi makes a new model, fingers crossed!

[@langam7017]

Love the beige colour. Really went for the retro aesthetic. If you hadn't shown the build process, I wouldn't believe it's not an off the shelf case.

[@wktodd]

'80s beige , matches the hair-cut ;-)

[@willmatthews878]

I thought it was, too. I looked at the thumbnail for the video, and my first thought was "Where did he get that?". Personally, I think it should run RISC OS on it, as it looks a bit Acorn computers...

[@johnm2012]

​@@willmatthews878RISC OS runs brilliantly on any model of Raspberry Pi, even the original single core one with "only" 256 MB of RAM. There's no need to use a Pi 5 for it.

[@lorenztor1990]

same

[@hankhulator5007]

This is not beige, this is egg color. (beige is a very light brown).

[@nicklukens7569]

I appreciated seeing a non-3D printed construction method. The pillars for the bottom mount screws were a great solution!

[@anon_y_mousse]

Part of what I really love about these projects that you keep doing is that you don't need a 3D printer to follow along. So many people these days will just say "and here's the model files to print off" or something along those lines, but you keep proving that sheet stock is faster and easier.

[@brick6347]

It kind of looks like the love child of a BBC Micro and a spectrum! Love it

[@robertfletcher3421]

This has been one of the best EC episodes. I hope this will encourage more versions of Pi500 and to upload the finished results. You did so well, Chris.

[@IanHodgetts]

The colours are spot on and don't need altering at all. To me, it looks like the lovechild of an Amiga A500 and a BBC Micro.

[@michaelcloutier2225]

The colour he chose make me think it needs Retrobrighting. That is some inception level of retro nastalga, at least in my mind. Love this build. It is very well done like all his projects!

[@abzhuofficial]

You sound like the 8 Bit Guy hahahahahahaha 😜

[@sprint955st]

No he doesn’t or it would be like some weird mish-mash of an old VIC20 that will never sell. Perhaps there should be a paint shade called ‘80s Benson & Hedges lung tar’ after the shade that cigarette smoke turned everything…

[@ff1077]

Imagine if it was a mechanical keyboard instead of a chiclet keyboard. Put in some pretty loud and heavy mechanical switches that get a bit closer to the buckling spring keyboards and it will give it an extra vintage feel and sound. I would love to make it once I can get my hands on a Pi5.

[@gregclare]

Awesome! What I really liked was the truely Retro case build! When everyone else would 3D design and print a 3D printed case these days, Chris surprised me by building a case just like we had to, back in the day. Nicely done, and very professional result! Hopefully an official Pi500 isn’t too far away.

[@catriona_drummond]

Chris you have outdone yourself. This was such an eye opener. No 3D printing shenanigans, just good craftsmanship. you have indeed ben incredibly inspiring. Yesterday I cleaned the old grubby workbench in my shop and NOW I know what to do with it!

[@MaxGoof]

What a fun and unexpected video! I hope Raspberry Pi Foundation sees this and and makes your improvements official, such as the full size HDMI port and m.2 support. I can understand they don't necessarily want people to be opening up the case for a finished product, but they could always make a panel for the m.2. Thanks again for a fantastic video! Also, good job Stanley!

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks for this. And I agree -- a cover over an M.2 slot on the base of the final official product would be an excellent idea.

[@RoboNuggie]

Absolutely fantastic, its like a mini Acorn Atom - you should make a deal with a manufacturer to have these available for sale on the various Pi outlets.... This is a quality job..... please do more on this.....

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks for this. I do wonder if any manufacturers will respond to this. A generic case that could take any SBC would not be that hard to make . . . As a channel member you will see "more on this" in the next member's only video. :)

[@RoboNuggie]

@@ExplainingComputers Thank you!

[@TheDarkelvenangel]

That's a wonderful build. I never thought about using plastic card for a build like this. Very impressive how it turned out.

[@sid_gm1949]

It's an exciting project indeed. Good to see Stanley the knife 🔪 helping you in this amazing project. And greetings on exiting Sunday !

[@Randrew]

I appreciate your construction techniques. Watching this reminded me of my father who was an architect and industrial designer. For many projects, like buildings, houses, cars and industrial vehicles, he would build very detailed scale models. His base material was usually dense, thin cardboard, but much of his finishing materials and methods were very much like yours here. Thanks for showing this to us - the end result is very nice!

[@klaxoncow]

Haha. Love it. I was one of those people asking if there was going to be a Raspberry Pi 500, and you've delivered us the dream, Chris. Top notch work. Seriously, if Raspberry Pi do make a 500, then I doubt it'll be as fully featured - with M.2 and full-size HDMI - as your home-brew 500.

[@ExplainingComputers]

It would be great if they could be nudged in the full-size HDMI direction . . .

[@Pumpkinhead77]

I wonder how many people even use 2 monitors with a Raspberry Pi. I doubt I ever will.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Agreed. A lot of people I think prefer a Pi with one full size HDMI compared with two micro.

[@psihozefir]

It would be nice to have two built in speakers above the keyboard and replace the GPIO connector with L-shaped pins to have it be accessible on the back panel of the computer, just like in the old 8-bit era. And perhaps a power button and a serial debug port on the side, if I'm not asking too much. 🙂 Really nice project and build, tho!

[@dcc1165]

What a great build! What I like the most about it is you are completely transparent with your "I don't know yet how I will do that" comments throughout. Most videos show only the "successful" footage of build(s) (especially the woodworking ones). They don't tell you about the trial-and-error process it took to get the final product . I'm sure you have some footage that ended up on the cutting room floor, but the final video takes us along on your "noodling through the process" journey. EXCELLENT!! (as usual, of course :).

[@t.v.9696]

Well, I'm pretty sure this is one of the best, if not THE best, DIY builds out there. Well done, Chris 😉👍! A few extra things I"d prefer in this computer: ✅a faster storage connection (no USB adapter) ✅some audio circuit and a couple of little speakers on the sides of the case ✅a crimson stripe on top to show there's a "Raspberry" inside 😁

[@kote315]

Oh wow. Looks even better than many Soviet ZX Spectrum clones.

[@cdl0]

This is the best episode from Explaining Computers for a long while. I love the 1980s aesthetic. The only thing it lacks is a built-in floppy drive; the pair of external USB sockets count as cartridge slots and expansion ports, I suppose. 🙂

[@ExplainingComputers]

Adding a FDD would be a very interesting challenge!

[@bertblankenstein3738]

Just use a USB based fdd. You can fit it in the case (if required) with some more arts and crafts.

[@catriona_drummond]

Using a keyboard with a numpad, thus making the case wider, one might get the needed space. Might need some internal extra support pillars but still workable I think. I mean, formfactorwise this is more a Pi 600, not a 500. ;)

[@cdl0]

@@catriona_drummond It would be a Pi 5010, of course. ;-)

[@moogik1892]

refreshing to be able to make this without having access to a 3D printer. Thanks Christopher.

[@ExplainingComputers]

No problem 👍

[@Tabletop_Epics]

That's fantastic! I miss the wonderful old beige days of personal computing.

[@donaldduck5731]

brilliant, and without 3D printing. Does need a "Explaining Computers" logo on it.

[@dylanwilsonYT]

What an incredible result Chris, the keyboard looks great. Must be really satisfying!

[@ericfielding668]

I wonder how much time (hours) it took for you to design / make / redesign ... such a wonderful project. Your passion for these projects shows and is fun to watch.

[@ExplainingComputers]

I would guess there were 30 to 40 hours invested in this case (plus various thinking lying in the bath after I came up with the idea!). However, had to keep stopping to film things.

[@Kwales66]

Nice one sir

[@feliksszyszka]

Absolutely amazing project, Chris! Please do make more project videos like this one...

[@surfhark3230]

​@@neenernoodleThanks for refraining from those cheap jokes in the future. Totally unnecessary.

[@fredneedle123]

​@@ExplainingComputers eurika moments always happen in the bath. Allegedly. 🙂

[@dstinnettmusic]

Pi and other single board PCs are about to give us a new era of “all in one - display” computers.

[@PenryMMJ]

That looks fantastic. If it was me, I'd keep the case beige but try to find a black Keyboard. Then it will look like a modernised Acorn Atom, the first computer from the company that ultimately became ARM. 😁

[@johnr625]

Excellent project Chris. I am truly impressed by your skills and knowledge and your presentation and the way you explain things on E.C. is first class....nobody out there comes close. Keep up the good work.

[@panickedmechanic7536]

I love the build! I saw the finished product in the intro and assumed it was going to be your largest 3d print ever. When you went right into the plastic sheets I loved it even more. You're not spending day in CAD when you could just get right to work. Awesome build, sir. Well done.

[@paulkelly5035]

Glad to see Stanley flexing his creative chops. He is usually limited to defeating packaging despite his many skills.

[@ExplainingComputers]

So true! This was something to get his blade into.

[@DumahBrazorf]

Great build, and done without a 3d printer is a rarity nowadays.

[@sprint955st]

And without a £1000 Chinese CO2 laser which coincidentally some vendor ‘hooked him up with’

[@feliksszyszka]

😂 as with most videos nowadays

[@zebrasprite]

Awesome work, Chris. Retro style SBC builds are my favourite uses for the little board. This now takes the cake as one of my favourite videos from the channel!

[@KarenNakamura1]

BRAVO! I thought it was a premade case and was amazed when you made it. True old-school hacking and bodging to the finest degree! KUDOS!

[@richardthunderbay8364]

I have to say, I was expecting that you were going to assemble some pre-existing kit, not do something as homemade as you did in this video. You're a lot more handy at this sort of thing than I'd be.😊

[@GoIdenApple]

Cruising towards a well deserved 1 million subs Chris, congratulations, hope you are going to celebrate. Still enjoying my raspberry pi 4 build which has streaming the internet to my TV for two years now without missing a beat so thanks for that as I built one just like our 4 with the Curley USB connector to strap the ssd underneath the board

[@jimcabezola3051]

That computer is modern and retro at the same time. I couldn't ask for anything more than this (except...perhaps...for stuffing in some more Raspberry Pi 2 boards for a Kubernetes cluster, lol). Excellent build. It's much better than anything I could think of. Cheers!

[@hoagy_ytfc]

What's modern? Nothing in the last 20 years would have a keyboard at that angle, and that thick off the desk (especially at the back).

[@jimcabezola3051]

@@hoagy_ytfc Indeed, you're right. The keyboard angle IS the retro part. It reminds me of my VIC-20. The shape and colour, too, are retro. The modern part is the Raspberry Pi 5 from ...this year. Not to mention the cute li'l keyboard. The whole thing makes me tingle...in a good way.

[@michaelbecker7093]

Haven't even gotten my PI 5 yet and here you are building a complete system. EPIC!

[@raspberrypi]

Christopher, you are amazing. This is definitely going on the blog.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks. :)

[@m8hackr60]

Here we see creativity and innovation come together in a beautifully crafted retro-looking build. Fantastic work Chris!

[@danielpicassomunoz2752]

Woooow, this could be coupled with the mechanical keyboard stuff to make ultimate, customizable raspberrypi pc

[@ExplainingComputers]

It could indeed . . .

[@fram1111]

I love your design, I can almost hear the gears moving as you were describing it. I like it.

[@ExplainingComputers]

:)

[@Colin_Ames]

Great work! I must admit I would never have considered using ABS sheet for such a project, but now that I’ve seen this video it will be a definite contender.

[@BaumInventions]

The colour is nice. Looks a little bit yellowed like real retro computers :D Reminds me a little bit of a Apple IIc+. The "clearly not Apple" Apple keyboard helps with that too :D EDIT: You need a "EC" case badge.

[@mlongval]

Wow Chris! Another great video! This is the kind of thing that I love to see. Simple tools and materials, a little elbow grease and some imagination and voilà you have yourself a one-of-a-kind creation (no expensive/finicky/fire-hazard-prone 3D printer or laser cutter required). This is what great educators like you do; the project is interesting and cool yet accessible to all who are determined enough, even if you don't have access to fancy tools. MORE MORE MORE!!!!! Cheers from Canada!

[@MrHyde911]

This channel is underrated

[@trevorford8332]

It reminds me when I was a kid, just to see how things work. Weirdly they didn't work after, I wonder why. Nice DIY kit by the way.

[@rickster2317]

Hey Chris. Love the video! It really reminds me of the old Commodore 64 I had, and had made many modifications to back in the day. Although your Pi 500 runs circles around the old Commodore, it still has that Retro look and nostalgic feel to it. Thanks for another great Video!

[@joeblow229]

This is really cool! The only additional thing I could see it needing, besides an on-board chunky power switch like the Commodore 64 with indicator light would be an extension for the GPIO header so those could be accessible from the back like the Pi400 has :)

[@jwbowen]

I like the beige color to bring back warm computing memories :)

[@peterthepanda]

Looks like one of those retro Keyboards minus the keycaps. Very nice.

[@joeldawsey]

Awesome build Chris! Not just explaining computers, but also building them. 😊

[@Grant_S_M]

Chris, yours is the best techie channel on the internet. I'm inspired!

[@JediBuddhist]

Beautiful and true to the craft. & thanks for the Sunday Lols.. Thats how real Tec enthusiasts behave Linus.

[@justinsheppherd1806]

Lovely work, Chris. I like the colour choice. Almost looks like it's in need of some RetroBright work ;-)

[@SG-br9vj]

Very impressive Chris, well done 👍And already looks like it needs some retrobright 😉 The shape reminds me good old Atari 800XE!

[@SG-br9vj]

Atari 800XL of course 😅

[@gilliebrand]

Blue Peter meets Explaining Computers...excellent job! Thanks for sharing 👍

[@ahmad-murery]

That's amazing, I cannot add anything more than what others said in the comments. but as soon as I saw it, I directly linked it to the Amiga, the shape and the color, we only need a beige monitor. Thanks Chris!

[@gedgicat2063]

A great video, reminds me of a BBC/Electron Computer, your build shows what can be done without 3D printing whichbis a nice change. Really good to see how it goes together and the process involved. I'm off to buy some ABS sheet for a Christmas lights project. 👏

[@cashmoney2493]

Very cool! I love the whole build process you used! It's definitely my style! Very well done! Cheers!

[@korchevatel]

Methinks the color is perfect, goes well with the Spectrum-style form factor. What it does need though is the power button since Pi5 now has one. And also getting rid of the Windows logo on the keyboard. THIS takes priority.

[@MINKIN2]

Love this build! We do often forget how sophisticated Pi builds can be, and it's nice to go back to "basics".

[@DLiberator78]

This is an amazing build Chris, I love it. I was hoping you would build a Pi5 case like this and you have certainly built a beauty. It does remind me of the Amiga 500. Great video as always.

[@idowebwork]

What a way to start the day. Pi500 build, yes!🎉

[@klepow]

I like the retro beige color. It's a form factor from that era. It just seems right.

[@iandron7119]

Brilliant project Christopher. Nice to see Stanley the Knife getting a good workout and being joined by Penny the Pliers.

[@rutkowskir]

Hi Chris. This is a wonderful project! You need to do more maker videos. The next improvement would be to maybe think about connecting the monitor to the case and have it fold down like a laptop. But the options are endless to this build. Maybe you can also get a Raspberry Pi sticker to cover the Windows key😀 In any event, your version looks great! My Raspberry Pi 5 is finally on its way! YAY! Thanks again for some great ideas! Stay well! Rich

[@ajslim79]

so that is what manual 3D printing looks like :D

[@TinySmall69]

The beige gives it the touch of a retro computer, and its now a sleeper retro single case computer 😍

[@TrollingAround]

love the 80's vibe, thank you.

[@johnhunt1725]

Only thing missing is a GPIO port.

[@ExplainingComputers]

I almost added one using an old IDE ribbon cable. :) It would be an easy addition to the back panel.

[@mxg75]

Nice build. I might consider using an L connector to expose the GPIO pins on the back of the case, but if you don’t plan on using them for anything, probably best not to have +5 V pins hanging out the back.

[@dossaer]

A thing of beauty. So glad that Stanley got some serious work to do! 🔪 ❤️ 😊

[@ExplainingComputers]

He even had two changes of blade!

[@quarteratom]

Good job showing off a case made out of plastic sheets. Most of us don't have access to 3D printers, and this helps a lot planning cases. The final product looks awesome.

[@Chris.Brisson]

If you include MIDI IN and MIDI OUT ports, you could put the Atari ST out of business,

[@ExplainingComputers]

Ah . . . nice thinking!

[@SomeKidFromBritain]

No intake fan?

[@waynefong5960]

At least the pi has its own heatsink and fan

[@ExplainingComputers]

One could be added behind the grill.

[@SomeKidFromBritain]

@@waynefong5960 Yeah, Pi are unusable without heatsinks imo.

[@RetroJack]

I love the finish as it is - it actually reminds me of certain Acorn computers.

[@asmirarapovic2809]

Well, perhaps this is one of my favorite videos. I love this type-I think it's perfect. I wouldn't change anything. Hi from Bosnia.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Greetings from the UK! :)

[@mjs28s]

I bet the people that grew up with free 3D CAD tools and 3D printers are saying, "Why is he building that by hand?" Skill and talent my young ones. Skill and talent. Nice to see an old-school build! I even grew up doing hand builds and prototypes and today I would have defaulted to CAD and a SLA or FDM type build. I forgot about how I used to have to do things. Technology spoils us all too quickly. Loved it!

[@TarisRedwing]

impressive, I didn't expect you to have hand made the case.

[@Praxibetel-Ix]

"Is it perfect? Absolutely not." No, that's a lie! Sure, it may need a little fan and a power indicator light but hey! The homemade Pi 500 sure looks perfect to me. You've done a lovely job putting it together. This project was well worth the wait! And of course, it's always good to see Stanley involved. 😄

[@ExplainingComputers]

Stanley did a lot of work. He even had two changes of blade.

[@Praxibetel-Ix]

@@ExplainingComputers What a hard-working knife! He did a good job in helping you this week. :)

[@alanthornton3530]

I agree

[@Praxibetel-Ix]

Apologies for the third comment but congratulations on getting featured on the Raspberry Pi blog! 🎉🎉🎉

[@RegisMichelLeclerc]

I really enjoyed it. I would have gone for an Apple 2c look, but I like this one too. Showing projects you make instead of yet another SBC benchmark is possibly something to explore...

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks for this, useful feedback.

[@SpikeBlighty]

You sir, are an ABS plastic magician. Great job.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks 👍

[@gaptastic]

Great thinking, I wouldn't have thought of this design with materials used. Thanks for sharing!

[@johnbeer4963]

Hurrah! Stanley The Knife! This almost brought a tear of joy to My evening.

[@mtbevins]

Nice Job. The current color takes me back to the PC cases I used to build in the 90s.

[@TheOleHermit]

Nice build, Chris. This summer, I went through nearly the exact same process for my DIY CM4/NVMe carrier & desktop touchscreen project, using exactly the same cables to extend the ports to case cutouts and wished there had been chassis mounted versions. But, alas those were not available on Amazon. The only significant difference between yours and mine is that my 10" touchscreen is mounted into the case and I'm using a wireless keyboard & mouse, instead. I also use a tablesaw to make clean cuts in the 3mm sheets of plastic. But since it creates a mess of electrostatic plastic dust everywhere, that would never do inside your lovely studio with video cameras and what not. So, I always take the tablesaw outdoors, well isolated from my maker area, as well. Different strokes for different folks (for different reasons), I always say. Full disclosure, just in case your wonderful viewers may be wondering (or not), my 10" touchscreen prefers to be positioned horizontally on the desk for me to easily control the size, position, & color of laser imagery, via Touch OSC GUI. Isn't that considerateof him, her, or it? Perhaps I should ask which gender M? Touch prefers to identify as. I always find those matters so confusing.🤗

[@ExplainingComputers]

I did find some chassis/panel mount connectors, but they are incredibly expensive (as made for heavy duty industrial application). So a non-starter here.

[@voneschenbachmusic]

Love the beige retro look - best RPi ever!

[@joseph_donovan]

"A thing of beauty is a joy forever." Beautiful. Makes my ear lobes tingle with delight just looking at the Pi 500. Love the little baby! Bravo!

[@WoollyMittens]

I really appreciate the arts and crafts instead of 3D printing. Although it makes it a lot harder to replicate.

[@Geekzmo]

AMAZING! you level up with this one! It is missing 1 thing thou.... a Pi500 custom label 😄👍👍

[@MacNewton]

Great project Chris. As a long time 3D Printer user I would have thought you would have printed something out. But of course not everyone has access to one. This prototyping process is easy enough for almost anyone to build what they need. See you next Sunday …

[@MinstrelKrampf]

A couple of years ago, I found an old Atari 600XL case, and immediately had plans to turn it into the Atari 600XL that many of us wished Atari made. I installed a Raspberry Pi 4, and thanks to Tinmouth Software in the UK, got an Atari Joystick and Keyboard adapter, so that they could be plugged into the USB ports on the Raspberry Pi. There was an emulator available that nearly perfectly emulates all the different Atari 8-bit computers. But after finishing the project, I grew bored, and decided that I wanted to emulate... Well EVERYTHING! So I downloaded retropie and started filling the SD card with emulators and software for Atari, Commodore, TRS-80, Sinclair Spectrum, and other 8-bit computers. When I saw this video, I was impressed that Chris made many of the same choices -- like routing all of the Raspberry Pi's ports via patch cables, to the back of the case, and using a full-size HDMI jack, instead of relying on the tiny and more fragile micro-HDMI connectors. Many of the choices I made were dictated by the desire to preserve the Atari 600 case, so that I could reverse what I've done, just in case I find an Atari 600 board without a case or something. I mounted a USB hub in the spot where the Atari Parallel bus was. No cutting required -- the hub I got fit perfectly. I did not trim or cut anything from the case, but rather used plastic to make port covers, onto which I mounted the Raspberry Pi's HDMI, USB-C, and ethernet ports. When the Raspberry Pi 5 came out, I wasted no time in getting one, and I upgraded my little Atari 600XL with it, and added a new keyboard and an M.2 SSD. I needed a real modern keyboard, because each of the emulators for the different systems used PC keyboard function keys to bring up menus and change settings. I did relent and had to cue the case top a tiny bit, because the keyboard was just a little larger than the hole for the original keyboard. Currently, i have Ubuntu 23.10 on the SSD, and as Chris has already demonstrated, it's very responsive and zippy! You can see the original build here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fl7RoYmLiKeYiNk OMG -- I made this 3 years ago! How time flies! I'm soon going to build a retro case for a Mini-ITX motherboard. It will look like a retro-80's all-in-one system, but be a 4 Ghz gaming rig -- sideways mounted GPU, Flex ATX PSU, and so on. I've wanted to do that longer than I've wanted to do the Atari 600XL project, until I saw the tools Chris used, and now I have a better idea about getting better results from cutting and bending plastic, especially the tools that I hadn't seen before.

[@JohnnyJTav]

Very Nice... Got my RP5 with 27v brick and active cooler the other day.

[@allluckyseven]

Congrats for being featured on Tom's Hardware!

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks. :)

[@1983Chriso]

Thats a really nice and neat package good job Chris it looks really good. i love the finished colour an it was good to see Mr Scraper helping out!

[@BillyDickson]

Love it, reminds me of the BBC Micro's we had at school (many years ago). Thank you. 👍

[@SirTodd]

wow, very cool! I love it! also, quite a surprising change in content that works beautifully. I love the maker scene and miss the golden age, circa ~2010-2012.