E.S. Raye

About a year ago, I shared that I was going to be building a diesel-punk PC.

Life got hectic, and that project, having only just gotten started, was put on the indefinite back burner. But then my every-day PC died, and due to financial constraints, I was forced to long-term-borrow a friend’s laptop in order to do my day job and work on my writing.

But, I have been slowly collecting the parts I needed to begin construction, and I now have everything to at least get a functioning computer working, even if the more aesthetic parts have to wait for the summer.

**SPOILER ALERT: It didn’t quite work out that way**

The Idea

So, what am I doing exactly?

In a nutshell, I’m refurbishing an old record console, and using it as a case for my PC. When I talked about this last year, I called it a “diesel-punk” PC, but the more I think about it, the less accurate that feels. Sure, I’m trying to harken back to the same era that diesel-punk utilizes, but diesel-punk is very industrial, and I’m aiming for a more domestic feel.

So, now I’m calling it my “mid-century modern reto-future PC.”

Here’s what I’m working with:

This console is from the late ’70’s, early ’80s–not exactly mid-century. But that’s where the refurbishing comes in! When I’m done, I want it to look more like this:

And here’s under the hood:

Ultimately, that space on the right, that was a cubby for records, is where the “face” of the PC will be, with the actual computer down inside and the fans facing up.

Like this:

I’m calling her EdiE (Editing & Entertainment, since it will be my writing computer and I’m keeping the radio and record player intact and working).

Building EdiE

I got the final few pieces over the last couple of weeks, and with a friend’s help and wood shop, started putting EdiE together!

For reference, this is how I want her face laid out:

And what I’ve done so far:

Before anybody calls me out, yes, I know my ram shouldn’t be side-by-side like that. Rest assured, I caught it.

The Problem

I finally got all this done on Wednesday, and I thought I was going to have a fun few days of installing the operating system (I’m going with kubuntu, for those interested), and then a weekend of playing with my new computer.

Alas, it was not meant to be.

I got EdiE to post to the BIOS:

So far, so good, right?

Wrong.

I tried installing the OS, and it all went sideways.

After running tests and consulting with friends that know way more about this than I do, I’ve concluded the processor I got (which was labeled “Open box” and therefore cheaper) is bad. My much smarter friend thinks one of the cores is dead.

So, now I’m in the process of returning that CPU, ordering a new one, and waiting not-so-patiently for it to arrive.

More updates soon, and hopefully refurbishment/construction of the console will begin in June!

Stay tuned!