68kMLA Classic Interface

This is a version of the 68kMLA forums for viewing on your favorite old mac. Visitors on modern platforms may prefer the main site.

Click here to select a new forum.
Quadra 650 ATX/MicroMac Conversion
Posted by: IlikeTech on 2017-08-25 13:28:05
Hello, I figured I would start a topic for my custom case/ATX conversion of my Quadra 650! I got the logic board from just.in.time for $5 dollars, in untested condition. I actually found the matching connector for the power connector on Mouser! I ordered that, and I used clip leads for a first test, set up for hard power. I connected a speaker, and applied power. The board chimed, and it booted to the question mark. Yay! The board was good. Then, I connected an external scsi hard drive, which was read and it booted.

Now, I'm going to assemble the proper cable so I don't have to use clip leads. I'll post some pictures of it after it is assembled, and then I will work on the soft power circuit.

After I convert it to ATX, I will design a case and cut it on my laser cutter.

Posted by: Floofies on 2017-08-25 14:28:08
If you need any help cobbling together the power circuit, I'd be happy to assist you!

Posted by: IlikeTech on 2017-08-25 14:40:02
Cool 🙂 I have decent knowlege of eletronics, so I don't think it should be a huge problem.

Unfortunately, the CPU was downgraded to an 68LC040.  Does anyone have a 68040 they could trade me for it?

Posted by: IlikeTech on 2017-08-27 06:44:04
Just measured the wattage of the board with a hard drive, and it is like 50 watts. I'm going switch to a PicoPSU!

EDIT: Nevermind, I can't. It draws too much power on the 5 and -12 volt rails 🙁

Posted by: nglevin on 2017-08-27 14:00:43
Unfortunately, the CPU was downgraded to an 68LC040.  Does anyone have a 68040 they could trade me for it?
Send me a PM re: 68040. I've got a 33 Mhz in storage plugged into a Nubus card, it'll be a week or two before it's unearthed.

Posted by: Trash80toHP_Mini on 2017-08-27 16:09:28
It may be a Centris 650 board if the 68LC040 was stock. How'd it come up in "About this Mac" or a utility like TattleTech?

Posted by: IlikeTech on 2017-08-27 16:20:50
I bought it from just in time. He had it because he pinched the full 040. It shows up as a centris

Posted by: IlikeTech on 2017-08-27 17:02:06
Annnnnnnnd, success! I had the proper cable built, and I added an inverter with a 10k pull down on he PFW line, and soft power now works! Next step is to start on the case.

Posted by: just.in.time on 2017-08-27 20:53:16
Sounds like good progress 🙂

Trash: When I got the board from MacMemories it was labeled as Quadra 650, and I swapped its CPU into an LC 575, putting the 68LC040 from the LC 575 back onto the board. Processor worked fine, but one game I wanted to play required the FPU (Space Cadet Pinball).

Posted by: Compgeke on 2017-08-28 11:42:59
You can actually make an inverter board without needing the resistors. Using a 74HCT04 instead of a 74HC04 will work fine. Here's a very shitty board I whipped up a while ago. It works, but it's on my "Remake this thing prettier" some day list.

On the front half I screwed up and soldered a 3 pin connector in instead of the needed 4. 



On the back side I started trying to make solder bridges instead of using wire (looks cooler) but gave up part way after fighting to make them actually connect. I need more practice with that.



Posted by: IlikeTech on 2017-08-28 13:46:04
Ghaaaa! I installed System 7.5, and now it no longer shuts down. Help!

Posted by: Floofies on 2017-08-28 14:13:27
You'll need a load resistor to #PS_ON as well to bring that line high when /PFW goes low, otherwise it won't be high enough to flip the inverter back around.

I never had any luck with the 74HCT04 and no load resistors. I only ever saw it in-use for an iMac. I'm guessing there are minor differences in how the power control IC changes it's logical voltages; stuff like duration, swing time, etc... Worst case scenario is you can pop open the stock PSU and see how Apple set up their load resistors, which seem to vary between models.

Posted by: IlikeTech on 2017-08-28 14:26:24
I don't have the stock PSU, so that isn't an option. Also, it worked fine with just a single 10k resistor before I installed System 7.5.3. Oddly enough, the power button on the back starts up and shuts down the system fine.

Just ran a check, and the PFW line does nothing if I tell it to shut down. Let's try this again..

Posted by: Compgeke on 2017-08-28 14:49:02
You'll need a load resistor to #PS_ON as well to bring that line high when /PFW goes low, otherwise it won't be high enough to flip the inverter back around.

I never had any luck with the 74HCT04 and no load resistors. I only ever saw it in-use for an iMac. I'm guessing there are minor differences in how the power control IC changes it's logical voltages; stuff like duration, swing time, etc... Worst case scenario is you can pop open the stock PSU and see how Apple set up their load resistors, which seem to vary between models.
I'll have to try this on a Q650 board some day. I originally read about this working on a 9600 board and I'm using it on a Powermac 8100 board. Haven't got the right connector for a IIcx-Q650 board to hack up a PSU, been on my to-do list for a while.

Posted by: IlikeTech on 2017-08-28 15:09:32
Mouser part number for the connector is 538-15-24-7100

Also, this seems to be a weird software issue for me.

Posted by: IlikeTech on 2017-08-28 15:29:47
Ok, there seems to be a bug in system 7.5.3 that keeps quadra 650s from shutting down

Posted by: Trash80toHP_Mini on 2017-08-28 19:44:13
Trash: When I got the board from MacMemories it was labeled as Quadra 650, and I swapped its CPU into an LC 575, putting the 68LC040 from the LC 575 back onto the board. Processor worked fine, but one game I wanted to play required the FPU (Space Cadet Pinball).
Nothing implied, I was just curious about these particular whack-doodle boards. They can be so many mac models in so many configurations. :🙂

Posted by: IlikeTech on 2017-09-03 16:19:56
I just ran Clockometer, and it said that my CPU was running at 25Mhz.  It is a 33 Mhz part. 

I started working on the laser cut case parts.  I have a laser at home so there is no cost in cutting parts.  I will do a test shot on cardboard before I cut with the expensive acrylic.  I also need to pick up a scsi2sd.

Posted by: Trash80toHP_Mini on 2017-09-03 21:31:28
Can you cut sheet metal chassis parts? I know aluminum and lasers don't get on well together. That's water jet fodder.

1 >