What to do with my spare Raspberry Pi's

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rubber_jonnie
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Re: What to do with my spare Raspberry Pi's

Post by rubber_jonnie »

PhilC wrote: 13 Jan 2026 17:07
rubber_jonnie wrote: 13 Jan 2026 15:29

Of course I need to test it out further and make sure the midi and sound output works, but it's a good start.
I'm just happy that it seems to install without issues :lol:

In other news, I'm putting one of my Pi4s into my 500+ with a Pistorm and Frame Thrower. I'll have to remove the Ethernet socket and two of the USB sockets first on the Pi4 though.
Yes, it seems to. Until I realised there was config to be changed and ROMs to be added I though it wasn't working, but it's just a matter of going through the config and adjusting for the hardware you have.

I used a 4 in my a1200 but downscaled for the A500 and went to a Zero 2 W. I was going to de-solder the sockets from a Pi 3B (That's now the MT32) but decided against it in the end.
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800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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Re: What to do with my spare Raspberry Pi's

Post by PhilC »

Well I've got the Pistorm and Frame Thrower working, although it's in a small window on the centre of the screen but hey, it's a start.

Now I know what to do I'll repartition the SD card and then install Workbench.

The Frame Thrower was reasonably easy to set up once id got the firmware updated.
If it ain't broke, test it to Destruction.
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Re: What to do with my spare Raspberry Pi's

Post by rubber_jonnie »

PhilC wrote: 13 Jan 2026 21:16 Well I've got the Pistorm and Frame Thrower working, although it's in a small window on the centre of the screen but hey, it's a start.

Now I know what to do I'll repartition the SD card and then install Workbench.

The Frame Thrower was reasonably easy to set up once id got the firmware updated.
What are you running on your PiStorm? Musashi or Emu68? I'm running Emu68 and Caffeine O/S. Caffeine comes with a lot already preconfigured including WHDLoad and it looks way nicer than Workbench.

Also since I also have RGB2HDMI in my A500 I do get a very nice HDMI out on that and using the Pi.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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Re: What to do with my spare Raspberry Pi's

Post by PhilC »

@rubber_jonnie I've set it up with Emu68 so far. I'll have a look at caffeine os and may give that a go as setting up Workbench from scratch is a pain in the bum.
If it ain't broke, test it to Destruction.
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Re: What to do with my spare Raspberry Pi's

Post by rubber_jonnie »

PhilC wrote: 13 Jan 2026 21:45 @rubber_jonnie I've set it up with Emu68 so far. I'll have a look at caffeine os and may give that a go as setting up Workbench from scratch is a pain in the bum.
Let me know if you're struggling.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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Re: What to do with my spare Raspberry Pi's

Post by PhilC »

Well one Pi is now a PiMT-32 and one of my Pi4s is now being used as a Pistorm in my Amiga 500 Plus.

I went to install Caffeine O/S but don't have an SD card big enough, so that will have to wait till tomorrow now.

I've even got plans for my Pi Zeros as well. They are being turned in to RGB2HDMI interfaces for various computers, so far I have one for a BBC model B and am building the board for an Acorn Atom version. I even have enough bits to install one in my v6 Amiga 500. I really should sell that as it never gets used.
If it ain't broke, test it to Destruction.
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Re: What to do with my spare Raspberry Pi's

Post by rubber_jonnie »

PhilC wrote: 15 Jan 2026 14:48 Well one Pi is now a PiMT-32 and one of my Pi4s is now being used as a Pistorm in my Amiga 500 Plus.
I don't know how it'll fare in the A500 with that Pi4, but in my A1200 I had to have extra cooling for my Pi4, it was getting 'ouch I just burned my finger and it wasn't even on a soldering iron' hot.

I had to install a small fan on the Pi/PiStorm combo and I connected a 12v laptop fan to 5v to get a bit of extra air through and keep it quiet enough.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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Re: What to do with my spare Raspberry Pi's

Post by PhilC »

rubber_jonnie wrote: 15 Jan 2026 15:38
PhilC wrote: 15 Jan 2026 14:48 Well one Pi is now a PiMT-32 and one of my Pi4s is now being used as a Pistorm in my Amiga 500 Plus.
I don't know how it'll fare in the A500 with that Pi4, but in my A1200 I had to have extra cooling for my Pi4, it was getting 'ouch I just burned my finger and it wasn't even on a soldering iron' hot.

I had to install a small fan on the Pi/PiStorm combo and I connected a 12v laptop fan to 5v to get a bit of extra air through and keep it quiet enough.
I'll see how it goes once I've got it up and running, got plenty of small fans here that should do the job :)
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Re: What to do with my spare Raspberry Pi's

Post by PhilC »

Well setting up Caffeine O/S was actually very simple. In fact it took me longer to find out how to enable the Frame Thrower than it did to get it to boot in the first place.

The latest version does come with Frame Thrower support built in, it just needs enabling by using the Caffeine Command line tool editor.
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Re: What to do with my spare Raspberry Pi's

Post by rubber_jonnie »

PhilC wrote: 19 Jan 2026 14:33 Well setting up Caffeine O/S was actually very simple. In fact it took me longer to find out how to enable the Frame Thrower than it did to get it to boot in the first place.

The latest version does come with Frame Thrower support built in, it just needs enabling by using the Caffeine Command line tool editor.
I'd be interested to see the FrameThrower setup if you have pics.

My A1200 just outputs direct to DVI/HDMI via an Indivision adapter and I have a 2nd display via the RPi. A500 already had RGB2HDMI installed so I just use that and the RPi HDMI out.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...

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