A Commodore SX-64 for the Rest of Us
Taking inspiration from the Commodore SX-64, Ominous Industries built a portable hacking computer from an old desktop and a radio jammer.
First released in 1983, the Commodore SX-64 was one of the earliest portable personal computers on the commercial market. The hardware inside these computers was very similar to what was found in the more popular Commodore 64 desktop computer. However, the built-in 5-inch display and 1541 floppy disk drive, in conjunction with the unique form factor that made it possible to pick up the entire system like a suitcase and carry it around, made the SX-64 very desirable.
Nevertheless, they did not sell especially well, in large part due to their high cost. An SX-64 cost about three times more than a standard Commodore 64. As a result, the Commodore SX-64 was only on the market a bit over two years, whereas the Commodore 64 hung on for twelve. For this reason, there are not a lot of these computers available today on secondary markets. Vintage computing aficionados that want to pick one up today have to be ready to shell out a lot of hard-earned cash if they want to do their retro gaming on the go.
YouTuber Ominous Industries wanted a Commodore SX-64, but was more interested in the aesthetic than actually having an authentic system. So rather than tracking down the real deal, Ominous Industries decided to build a modern recreation of this classic computer.
The hardware is all modern-ish. A motherboard was scavenged from an old Lenovo desktop, with an Intel Core i7-7700 processor and 16GB of RAM. This was fitted into a custom, 3D-printed case shaped like a square, which was nearly one foot long on each side. In a break from the original design, the print was done in black and neon green to give it what Ominous Industries calls a “hacker” theme.
A five-inch LCD display was chosen in place of the original CRT display, but it was installed with a front plate that caused it to be recessed and have a somewhat more authentic appearance. In line with the hacker theme, an FM radio jammer — powered by an Arduino — was also installed in the system. A character LCD, potentiometer, and a button were included to control the jammer, and an antenna extends through the roof of the case.
A detachable keyboard, which can be used to cover the front panel of the computer when not in use, was also custom-made for the build. A kit that contained the circuit board was used, and Cherry MX mechanical switches and neon green keycaps were added to it. Some RGB lighting was included because — well, because it looks cool. A 3D-printed casing rounded out the keyboard, before magnets were installed to attach it to the front plate.
The finished product even has some secrets like a hidden compartment that stores a travel-sized mouse. But the fact that the case had to be printed in multiple segments does mean that some fairly obvious seams are visible. That might give this machine a little bit too much of a DIY look for some, but overall, it looks pretty spectacular.
The video is not quite a step-by-step guide, but if you are proficient with a 3D printer and able to improvise a bit, you might get some good ideas for your own retro-inspired portable computer.