Internal SCSI Mod: Made Easier (MPC2000)

For those who haven't seen the original mods by destruktiv and JVC, read the following topics...

http://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=67154

http://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=130248&start=0


I'm not converting SCSI to IDE. So that's one less card to install and $100 saved.

Here's where it gets easier...

The wiring is the same as JVC's mod, but only requires 1/2 the amount of soldering. For $13 on ebay, you'll save yourself some work and have plenty of room inside the MPC to mount this breakout board...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/371180918311?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT



After I mount this board with PCB standoffs or some 2 way tape, I'll connect the soldered wires from the MPC's main board to the terminals and plug my 50 pin to 25 pin converter right in.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251712572906?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT



^ The metal PC slot that's included isn't needed, so just remove it with a nut driver before connecting to the breakout board.

I'm waiting for my parts to arrive, and I'll add pics when it's completed.

I'm gonna install an MO drive. But I might end up installing a CF reader. I might be able to use a 50 pin laptop CF drive with a 50pin laptop/IDE to SCSI converter. I'm not sure if it'll work in the MPC. But it's definitely cheaper than a SCSI CF or adding a 40 pin IDE to SCSI converter.

Eight months later, I finally got around to completing this mod. Right now, it's sitting on my kitchen table. I got one more thing to do. I need to buy some PCB standoffs to mount the terminal board. I might just use two-way tape instead, since I'd have to buy some epoxy to glue the standoffs inside the chassis. I don't think I wanna use the epoxy. I've had problems with it in the past using it to mount PCBs inside some DIY guitar pedals I built. The epoxy wouldn't adhere so well to the metal. The last thing I need is for something to short out inside the MPC. Two-way tape never lets me down. Since it's 3:00am, I'll have to wait till tomorrow to buy some. So here's what I got until then...







I'll take more pics tomorrow when the project is complete, and I'll either start a new thread in the DIY section or clean this thread up, so that it's more organized if needed. But for now, I'm really glad I got it working and I had to share the excitement.

Good Stuff D!

distortedtekno wrote:

Now that is some Frankenstein shit there!

Thanks Juke. I bought some two-way tape and finished it up. Everything fit nicely, even with the 8 out and SMPTE card. You could still fit an EB-16 if repositioned. Here's a better visual of how it all fits in the unit.





















... and that's a wrap for this project. That's about as easy as it can get. With half the soldering points, it saves time and makes it easy to disassemble or repair. If it weren't for destruktiv and JVC, who posted their mods, I wouldn't have thought about using a breakout board with terminals. I'm so glad it all worked out as planned. Now I don't have to keep a boat anchor attached to my MPC.

Thanks for the update man. Just a quick question, how does this impact the usage of the external scsi port now?

The external port should still work, according to JVC's topic. I'm sure if both the internal and external drives are terminated, there shouldn't be any issues. It would be the same as running both internal and external devices on a PC's SCSI card.

For different mounting locations and requirements, there are a few different sizes and styles of DB25 breakout boards available, which I found after ordering mine, and for cheaper too.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/DB25-Male-Signals-Breakout-Board-Parallel-Port-Header-Screw-terminals-/301113535266


http://www.ebay.com/itm/D-SUB-DB25-Male-And-Female-25Pin-Plug-Breakout-Board-2-Row-Terminals-Connectors-/171575302935


http://www.ebay.com/itm/DB25-Male-Signals-Breakout-Board-Parallel-Port-Header-Screw-terminals-180-degree-/380794170740




The price went up for the DB25 to IDC50 adaptor from $17.99 to $19.99. But It still may be cheaper than ordering from any electronics website, as shipping charges were high, from what I recall.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/SCSI-DB25F-IDC50M-Internal-External-Adapter-NEW-NEW-NEW-/252080345081?hash=item3ab128cff9

As for the Teflon wire, you can get 25 ft for $5.25, which is a bit cheaper than I paid.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/25-26-AWG-stranded-Silver-Teflon-Wire-Orange-/380768494233?hash=item58a7922299

The good news is that the material needed may end up costing less than buying an external SCSI case and a good quality SCSI cable. So it's still a cost-effective mod in comparison to the external solution. Also, if anyone decides to go the MO route, it'll be $100 cheaper than a CF reader. $29 is an awesome deal on these drives.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/FUJITSU-MCJ3230SS-2-3GB-SCSI-REMOVEABLE-MAGNETO-OPTICAL-INTERNAL-MO-DRIVE-/361375178487?hash=item5423a39ef7


http://www.ebay.com/itm/FUJITSU-MCJ3230SS-2-3GB-SCSI-REMOVEABLE-MAGNETO-OPTICAL-INTERNAL-BLACK-MO-DRIVE-/361372768139?hash=item54237ed78b


http://www.ebay.com/itm/FUJITSU-MCR3230SS-2-3GB-SCSI-REMOVEABLE-MAGNETO-OPTICAL-INTERNAL-MO-DRIVE-/361372767757?hash=item54237ed60d


http://www.ebay.com/itm/FUJITSU-MCR3230SS-2-3GB-SCSI-REMOVEABLE-MAGNETO-OPTICAL-INTERNAL-BLACK-MO-DRIVE-/141755181589?hash=item2101446a15

good stuff I'm taking notes, might take the project on, thanks for sharing!

No doubt. There's a lot of good reference material in destruktiv and JVC's threads that I linked to in the beginning of this topic. It was good to see a few people had done the mod back then. Now that the life expectency of the 2000 is looking better when the new displays come out, this mod becomes more worth doing. Now that the mod is easier, I'm hoping to see more people do it. Good luck with yours. Post it here when you finish it.

Coincidentally I did the mod the day you made this post. Picked up an MPC2000 for about $100US. Had some parts from two that I Frankensteined together years ago. . Installed an internal ZIp. Working perfectly now.

Thats awesome. Good to see more people doing the mod. It's really too good of a machine to let go the way of the dinosaur. Just like you, I ended up with 3 of them. I had enough parts to keep 2 running and sell the remaining parts on ebay. I'm thinking about modding the other before I sell it, if it's worth the extra time and money.

distortedtekno wrote:Thats awesome. Good to see more people doing the mod. It's really too good of a machine to let go the way of the dinosaur.

Definitely! Plus you learn. Gradually over the years I've been repairing more and more of my stuff. It's empowering. I had an old ASR10 internal SCSI mod kit + Zip Drive that I never got around to using laying around. I got for pittance years ago. I used the 25 to 50 scsi adapter from that kit like shown in the other thread, but I really like that adaptor you're using. Can it be used to connect to SCSI devices in parallel? Maybe install an internal harddrive to store breaks and hits.

With that breakout board, it should be no problem at all to connect another device. But youll need a DB-25 male to male adaptor since the open connector is female. It can also be used for a terminator if the drive connected doesn't have one internally on it's jumpers. Most 50 pin internal SCSI cables already have 2 connectors for 2 devices. So it would be more preferable to use the existing cable than having to add another DB-25 to 50 pin adaptor and another 50 pin cable. Plus it would look less cluttered and fit easier.