Draco1962's Atari VCS Build

[Draco1962]

I purchased my Atari VCS Onyx Edition All In Bundle as one of the Indigogo Backers. In addition to running the native OS and game software, I want to leverage the PC mode to run Windows 10 and GameEx Arcade Edition with MAME primarily.

This page will be updated with hardware and software as  purchased or acquired.

ATARI VCS ALL IN BUNDLE: 8GB RAM with Classic and Modern Controller

 

Install Windows 10 information:
Atari VCS PC Mode | Creating a Windows Bootable Flash Drive

Upgrades:

 WD Blue 1TB M.2

WD My Passport External 4TB HDD 

Corsair Memory Kit 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 2400MHz SODIMM Memory, (2 x 8GB)

Logitech K400 Plus Wireless Touch TV Keyboard With Easy Media Control and Built-in Touchpad

 

[Draco1962]

I received my Samsung 128gb USB Drive For Windows 10 today. I've decided to try this out incrementally, starting with Windows 10 on USB instead of an M2 drive so that if I desire to boot and play via the Atari OS, I can simply pop the USB drive out of the port before boot.

 I've got an external HDD which I will copy my GameEx media and ROMs. I am anticipating that 8GB of RAM will be a limiter. Stay tuned...

Well, got Win 10 Pro installed without any issues. Note that If you go the Win10Pro route, you will have to pay about $30USD for the Win2USB as it is only free for Win10Home. A minor financial blip but good to know.

I am hoping that they will develop an option with a pre-menu to launch either the Atari OS or the PC sandbox at startup. 

Next on my list is to get connected via wireless dongle to Windows with keyboard and mouse due to the limited amount of USB ports. While there is a link for a  Wireless Media Keyboard With Touch Pad: https://amzn.to/3iilMg2 I  have one spare from Logitech that I will probably leverage with a separate mouse. Touchpads are good in a pinch but I still prefer the mouse but will probably convert once I am through with configurations.

Another next is to create a GameEx Arcade theme that is Atari or arcade retro centric. I am more likely to keep things on the VCS simple and limited to just arcade (MAME, DAPHNE, Taito Type X, etc.).

[Draco1962]

My Logitech K520 keyboard & mouse combo work flawlessly, but since I am booting directly into Windows, it is as expected. Unfortunately it is an older combo kit (from around 2016) so no longer in production and likely replaced by the similarly named and same exact looking  MK520 for $54.99 on Amazon. 

EDIT: Just for gits and shiggles, I ordered an  original Xbox controller to USB adapter so I could connect a collecting dust Pelican PL-950 Universal Arcade Stick for potential use with GameEx Arcade Edition using an almost actual joystick for the games that support it. So far, Windows detects it and it shows as a gaming controller!

Let the tinkering continue!

[Draco1962]

I think I may have found my menu background video for AE. 

 

[Draco1962]

Finally sprung for the WD Blue 1TB M.2.

Disassembly was straightforward. I did not have an appropriate screw to secure it in place and the kit I purchased was too small. Since I will likely increase the RAM, I decided to insert it and leave as-is.

Before I reassembled, I recalled that the prototype for the Onyx version had a red Atari "Fuji" logo. I took a red Sharpie and colored the defuser.

 

SSD-Installation-Guide.pdf

[Draco1962]

@hansolo77 I haven't formatted the M.2 as I am trying to find out how to format it to partitions of the Atari OS and Windows 10 (not for booting, just storage), but no documentation to be found anywhere so far. Any suggestions?

[Draco1962]

Well I have discovered that the m.2  has to be formatted by the Windows OS. I may attempt to partition the 1TB drive via Windows with 900GB partition for Windows and the difference for the VCS. If it doesn't work out, then all of it will be for Windows.

[Draco1962]

All for Windows it is! I attempted to allocate 80% of the M.2 to Windows and left the remaining 20% for the VCS.

I then entered the Storage menu section and it showed the drive as unallocated with no size info. When I clicked format, it formatted the drive but still showed unallocated. I popped into PC Mode, looked for the drive in File Explorer and no longer there. So back into Disk Manager and allocated the entire space.

[Draco1962]

Still trying to find documentation for partitioning the M.2 drive into two partitions - one NTFS for Windows and one Ext4 for AtariOS.

I will continue to use Windows on the USB 3.1 thumb drive as it doesn't appear that there will be a pre-load solution to select VCS vs PC Mode and hitting ESC key on the Logitech wireless keyboard does not work.

Any help or suggestions appreciated!

[Draco1962]

Considering issues with drivers, I am looking at Batocera as an OS on the VCS since it shells EmulationStation and integrates RetroArch.

Any suggestions?

[Raised2bRude]

Please let me know if you ever found a work around to partitioning the M.2 drive. I currently use a USB for windows but would like to install internally but still have room for Atari files as well. Thanks for the info above so far….

[Draco1962]

Still no luck, I'm afraid. I am going to attempt loading Win 10 on a 4TB WD My Passport. We will see how that goes.

[Raised2bRude]

Thanks for the response!

I’m currently using a 128gb USB with up to 200mb per second read speed to run Windows 10. I’ve installed an internal M.2 240gb with up to 500mb read speeds but it’s only being used for Atari storage as of now. Do you think I would see any improvement if I move Windows to the internal M.2 drive and use the USB for Atari storage instead or would it be a waste of time?

[Draco1962]

Following the instructions for installing to a USB flash or hard drive, I was finally able to load Win 10 Pro x64 on my WD My Passport External 4TB HDD. I also upgraded the RAM from the stock 8GB to Corsair Memory Kit 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 2400MHz SODIMM Memory, (2 x 8GB).

So far running smoothly. Given the issues many have had with running Windows from the M.2 and those successful have not reported back with significant speed returns, I have decided to stick with this configuration and dedicate the M.2 to the VCS for storage. I will be running GameEx Arcade Edition to load games from my Steam library - mostly retro remakes (Recharged series) and other titles that do not require ultra-high graphics. I will also load similar programs from my GoG library.

I had considered running MAME and DAPHNE but have decided not to since I have these already loaded on my other PC with an X-Arcade Tankstick attached.

[Draco1962]

I have decided to not give up on this just yet but did have to set it aside while dealing with some "real life" responsibilities.

While I was hoping to leverage the VCS as a true dual-boot console to take advantage of VCS only titles, I do not see enough being released to justify not using the PC side for some older gaming goodies.