RetroModder's GameCubePC Kit Turns an Old Nintendo GameCube Chassis Into a Sleeper PC Build
If you've a suitable mSTX motherboard, this kit of parts will pack it into a GameCube chassis — complete with working controller ports.
Pseudonymous maker and vintage gaming enthusiast "RetroModder" has put together a kit designed to convert the housing of a broken Nintendo GameCube as a compact and easily-portable desktop PC, while retaining the console's controller ports though custom-designed adapter boards.
"This project's intent was to refine the design of using a GameCube shell as the enclosure for an emulation PC," RetroModder explains. "Inside is a Windows 10 based computer and is, at the minimum, capable of running Wii, GameCube, N64, and more systems at their native resolutions and frame rates. This nostalgia-fueled PC is just as durable as it is portable, and packs a lot of utility inside its small case."
Putting off-the-shelf PC hardware into a chassis designed for a custom-built games console isn't exactly straightforward, though, which is where the GameCubePC kit comes in. A 3D-printed plinth extends the case vertically, providing room for a mini-STX (mSTX) form factor PC motherboard and front-mounted USB ports; 50mm intake and exhaust fans keep everything cool; and a new front-panel assembly adapts the GameCube's controller ports for use over USB, as well as allowing the original power button, reset button, and power LED to work with the new innards.
"The original memory card slots are now used to access to a two-port USB hub (based on the FE1.1s USB controller) and a toggle switch to change the USB adapter's controller mode," RetroModder explains. "The entire front panel assembly only requires one internal USB 2.0 header (2-port) to function."
After a few rounds of revisions to the design, RetroModder has begun selling the parts as a kit — though it's bring-your-own GameCube shell and PC hardware. On that front, the maker has confirmed compatibility with just two older models of motherboard — the ASRock DeskMini 110 and Gigabyte GA-H110MSTX-HD3 — though offers a selection of newer alternatives which "appear to be compatible."
The kit is now available to purchase on RetroModder's Tindie store at $249.95, with assembly instructions available on Google Docs. "This project is recommended for hobbyist computer builders," RetroModder warns, "that have the knowledge and skills required to properly handle and assemble sensitive electronic components."
