SE30 Compact Desktop

Revealing the secret project the CayMac Vintage Team has been working on for the last 6+ months. Please let us know what you think about this. Note that this is still a work in progress project, and the final version will have differences to what is shown here.
One item I failed to mention, this pcb is ideal and a must have tool for bench repairs and testing. To be able to power up and get video from your logic board to your modern hdmi monitor is perfect. No need to drag a fully populated chassis to your bench.

[@tedgrenfell2394]

Looks very exciting :)

[@RudysRetroIntel]

Excellent video and work!! Very cool ideas!! Thanks for sharing

[@CayMacVintage]

Thank you. We like to tinker around and create ideas for us all to enjoy.

[@CralexKokiri]

Really nice! I'd still like to get a complete unit someday, but there's no denying that this is a masterful application of modern tech that'll make for a streamlined experience.

[@CayMacVintage]

Thanks for the great comment. We do like to use modern tech to enhance and extend the life of the vintage items. We have done nice ideas for the future.

[@jackrubin]

Glad to see you made it through Beryl and looking forward to meeting the Caymac team at VCF-MW. I'm not sure I'm ready to give up my CRT just yet but I'd sure like one of these boards for diagnostic work! To that end, please consider adding plated-through breakout holes to the J12 connection, similar to what Ron did on his J12 breakout board. SE repair folks will thank you!

[@CayMacVintage]

We are looking at a method to add this card inside the original case and to have both the CRT and HDMI available. Yes, the new version that I will be ordering next has the test points on it as you suggested. Thanks for that input.

[@jackrubin]

@@CayMacVintage Sign me up!

[@WelcomeToMarkintosh]

Will, that is COOL! You guys have put a lot of effort into this! It's basically a Modern Day SE/30-just connect your own flat panel monitor! With the built-in amp, will the sound control panel still have effect? That note you had in the description is a GREAT SELLING POINT! Use the board you guys created as a bench testing tool! Brilliant! Every SE-SE/30 tinkerer should have one for THAT reason alone! This is very cool. Finally a STEREO, COLOR SE/30!

[@CayMacVintage]

It’s a great little pcb to have in many ways.

[@PatboxCatbox]

Looks great. I'm sure you probably thought about implementing a slot / trapdoor for PDS cards (Riser, accelerators, or ethernet card). Was there a technical reason why you havent implemented it yet (too much power draw on the pico? Or possibly erganomic reasons, or just plane ol' looks cooler this way reasons. 😂 The cards 29:04 make a great test bench tool for working on the boards. Easy to store, and you wouldn't have to strip you main machine down everytime you want to work on a board and need power and video. Great work ya'll

[@CayMacVintage]

Thanks for the feedback. On this first case version, we skipped the expansion usage part to get the concept out and have a slim line desktop style case. The next case (mini tower) will have a daughter card that will cards to be used. Have great ideas for the mini tower case. About the PicoATX power, there are larger capacity units that can be used that will be more then adequate for any power consumption needs. I am running a 12v DC 250W pico ATX on it for testing. Both myself and Joakim in Sweden use this card and setup on our bench for testing boards and its so nice not having the large case on the bench to use. Thanks for the great input.

[@shepherdosterompton]

This is such a rad project! Are you gonna be at VCF Midwest again this year?

[@spencercox2971]

Fantastic, I can't wait! Would this work with an SE? Or only SE30?

[@CayMacVintage]

Works with SE also and the case is the same if you are wanting the full case. The board alone is great as a bench testing tool if you are a repair person.

[@spencercox2971]

@@CayMacVintage Awesome! I look forward to having both!

[@EricRangell]

Is it possible to route the audio output to an 1/8 inch stereo jack on the back of the case, where it duplicates the mono output on both the left and right channel?

[@EricRangell]

I forgot about the built-in audio jack. Do you know if that gives you stereo output?

[@EricRangell]

Is the output of the built-in audio jack amplified? If not, it would make sense to route the output of your amp to the back of the case.

[@jockelill]

Output is actually 2xmono, and yes, it’s unamplified, basically it’s the level of a head phone Jack.