VIC-20 motherboard...now what?

[cbmeeks]

I literally bought the last VIC-20 motherboard the 8-Bit Guy had to sell (I couldn't resist)

I'm looking to buy a case/keyboard for it (in another thread) but I was also wondering if there was something else "cool" I could do with it.

Some ideas I had:

1) Use as spare parts for my other three VIC's.

2) Use as a test bed for some hardware I want to design (RAM expansion, sound card, etc.).

3) Something lame like making it a tower PC.

4) Frame it and hang it on the wall.

5) Mod it for things like the video hack that has more colors/resolution (can't remember where I read it but it was a pretty awesome hack).

2 and 5 are speaking to me...

Suggestions appreciated!

Thanks

[jjh76]

I just bought one of these too and I was wondering, would the board fit inside one of those new c64c cases if I were to dremel out the back for the cartridge slot?

[cbmeeks]

I just bought one of these too

Both the keyboard I bought and the VIC-20 motherboard arrived and was packed very well. My only complaint is that the 8-bit Guy wrapped the VIC-20 motherboard in bubble wrap. Which is a major no-no in electronics. Especially vintage NMOS electronics. Granted, it appears to work (I didn't test everything...just video and cartridge).

I was wondering, would the board fit inside one of those new c64c cases if I were to dremel out the back for the cartridge slot?

I've wondered about that myself. I have a real C64C computer. While I would never cut into it, maybe I could at least dry-fit it to see how things would line up.

Unless someone already knows the answer.

A repro C64C case in black or red would make a cool VIC-20 case.

[lance.ewing]

I just bought one of these too and I was wondering, would the board fit inside one of those new c64c cases if I were to dremel out the back for the cartridge slot?

That's kind of what I did with one of mine, except that it was an original C64C case:

http://sleepingelephant.com/ipw-web/bul ... 2&start=15

[jjh76]

Eh, bubble wrap, didn't even think of that, but I hooked mine up to the keyboard from my backup c64 and it seems to be fine so far, don't have any carts to test yet though.

That's kind of what I did with one of mine, except that it was an original C64C case:

http://sleepingelephant.com/ipw-web/bul ... 2&start=15

Except that board was cut off at one end so it can't really be used to see how well an intact board will fit. I did try to fit mine into one of my breadbins, but although it did go in, it was really tight. It might fit if I take off the grounding plate, but then the screw holes wouldn't line up. And of course, there's no way that I'd ever cut up an original case.