The Blog

New Purchases: 28 April 2012

Nix McRetro // 28th April 2012 // IBM PC, News, Sega

I have picked up a Sega TeraDrive Model 2 and it is on the way to me from Japan. It should still be a few weeks before it arrives. Sega offered three TeraDrive configurations. The Model 2 sits in the middle of the range with 1 MB of RAM and... Continue reading

Sega Saturn External PSU DC-DC Converter Test

Nix McRetro // 23rd April 2012 // Hacks, Repairs, Sega

Finally received the DC-DC step-down converters for the Saturn. Gave them a quick bench test and confirmed that each converter produced an output. That established basic operation, but did not yet verify load regulation, ripple, current capacity or thermal behaviour under an actual Saturn load. I’ll be able to wire... Continue reading

New Camera - Canon EOS 600D

Nix McRetro // 22nd April 2012 // IBM PC, News, Sega

I’ve just ordered a Canon EOS 600D DSLR online. It should arrive in the next week or two. Using this I’ll be able to take decent quality photos of all the items I have purchased. In other news, I am trying to win the bidding on an Amstrad Joystick for... Continue reading

Amstrad Sega Mega PC, Athlon 500 MHz Rebuild and picoPSU

Nix McRetro // 21st April 2012 // IBM PC, Repairs, Sega

Amstrad Sega Mega PC, Athlon 500 MHz Rebuild and picoPSU

After loading Windows 95 onto the Amstrad Mega PC, it became quite clear that leaving it running like a broken-down horse-drawn buggy was not the best idea. Poking around the internet, Windows 3.11 looks like a much better fit. Lightweight, but still capable of being dressed up to behave more... Continue reading

Amstrad Sega Mega PC Running Windows 95 OSR 2.5

Nix McRetro // 20th April 2012 // IBM PC, Repairs, Sega

Now I see why minimum requirements are called minimum requirements. Microsoft’s published Windows 95 minimum called for a 386DX or higher, and my Mega PC started with a 386SX, although I had been experimenting with the 486SLC board by this point. This thing runs like a beast on Windows 95.... Continue reading