After many months of waiting, the new aluminum cases are finally here! The electronics world has gotten worse since the last round of case in July so I've adjusted prices to account for added expenses.
Sales Methodology:
I'm also prioritizing bundles over cases. I will list cases individually and am ready to start the next round of production but I have to save as many cases for kits as possible.
I generally sell cases in 3 phases. This helps me not oversell, catch issues along the way, etc. Stay tuned and follow me on Twitter for future phases of sales.
Please read this thoroughly and check my post on Twitter for answers to questions. For the best chance of success, log in to your account, have desired accessories in your cart, and use have payment method ready.
PLEASE AVOID USING SAFARI AND IOS. There may still be a shopify bug causing case variant to change before checkout, causing a headache for both of us.
Shipping:
I FINALLY submitted my UK VAT application. In the mean time, I'm setting aside some cases (and maybe kits) for the UK on my eBay store for future sale.
I'm switching back from UPS to DHL for international shipping. You are responsible for import fees as I don't have a way to collect those in advance or preview them.
NONE OF THESE KITS ARE ASSEMBLED AT THE MOMENT. I’ll start assembling kits after Christmas. If round 3 is anything like round 2, it will take several weeks to build and test all of the kits. Please be patient and resist the urge to ask about your order unless something needs to be adjusted.
Colors:
Gray is finally dark gray (yay)! This is meant to model Apple's Space Gray finish.
Purple case buttons and digital rear panels turned out closer to magenta (standard IO panels are ok). I'm working with the manufacturer to get new buttons and rear digital panels made but no guarantees this will be resolved anytime soon, nor for free. If you love purple as much as I do, consider these to be magenta accents :)
Variants:
There are now 3 variants of kits: Standard IO, Digital IO 1x SDRAM, and Digital IO 2x SDRAM.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT NO CORE CURRENTLY USES DUAL SDRAM. I CAN NOT GUARANTEE FUTURE HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS SO BUY THIS VARIANT AT YOUR OWN RISK/SPECULATION.
If, in the future, you want to add dual SDRAM to your digital IO kit, simply remove 4 screws, the top plate, plug in the second SDRAM module, and reinstall the top.
Accessories:
All required parts are included in the kits and the cases. Extra buttons will be available once they ship if you want to accent your case color.
New-ish to the store: silicone port covers and plugs. They complement the case nicely by hiding unused ports. You can grab them HERE.
Assembly Instructions:
The instructions haven't changed since the original aluminum cases other than:
NYLON WASHERS ARE NO LONGER NEEDED
THE CASE SCREWS ARE ALL IN THE BAG - DO NOT USE THE PRE-INSTALLED SCREWS
To remove your heatsink: turn on the MiSTer and let it idle for 10 minutes
Option 1: use a plastic toothpick and gently pry up from the corner while pulling the heatsink with the other hand.
Option 2: gently twist the heatsink back and forth, taking care of nearby components which can be knocked off by aggressive twisting. I've only seen this happen twice so it should be ok.
The guide page will be updated soon with the video and these tips. The QR code on the box will direct you to that page.
Disclaimer:
These cases are really good, but not every one will be perfect.
There may be VERY minor imperfections in the silkscreen and anodizing. All of the cases have already been looked over and the rejects were set aside. I really care about my customers because without you, I am nothing. If there is a major oversight, please let me know and we'll amicably work something out.
The VGA port opening is still too tight for VGA connectors so continue using screw anchors to secure your video cable.