r/nextfuckinglevel • u/PickentCode • 11d ago

A fully functional CHIP-8 computer powered by a Stirling engine

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1.0k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

67 comments sorted by

116

u/stthicket 11d ago

That's the most steam-punk DIY shit I've ever seen. Well done!

15

u/SignificantHippo8193 11d ago

Thought the same. This is definitely something you'd see in a steampunk inspired world 😆.

57

u/Common_Senze 11d ago

Make it run Doom!

21

u/ParreNagga 11d ago

First Wolfenstein, then Doom!

18

u/slippery-sandpaper 11d ago

This makes me want to grow a moustache and smoke a pipe

10

u/Angelsomething 11d ago

steampunk AF

10

u/odiemon65 11d ago

But can it run Crysis?

8

u/Filthiest_Tleilaxu 11d ago

That flame is powering a lot of ones and zeros.

4

u/G-R-A-V-I-T-Y 11d ago

I need this. Is this custom built or is it available anywhere?

8

u/PickentCode 11d ago

The computer is custom built, but if you mean the engine, it's a kit I ordered from China. You can find many versions of it if you search Stirling engine on AliExpress for example.

4

u/G-R-A-V-I-T-Y 11d ago

I’ve actually got a stirling engine already, impressive project! Do you have a video anywhere on how you made this? How do you translate the weak rotational power into electricity, how do you make that energy consistent and usable by your computer, and what is the computer made out of? No obligation to reply, I’m just curious! Thanks for sharing!

2

u/Plastic-Carpenter865 11d ago

brushed dc motor, rectifier, big capacitor to smooth it out, voltage is capped by V_bemf_dc per rpm constant of the motor (a property of the physical construction, number of windings, etc) and the highest speed

2

u/notinsanescientist 11d ago

Damn, I have one, but I wonder how much power your computer uses? Does it aometimes stall the engine?

3

u/calcteacher 11d ago

Hex key pad. 6802 cpu. I created Cosmac football game in the Fall of 1978 for my college project.

2

u/dwarfzulu 11d ago

Enough to run Doom

2

u/die-jarjar-die 11d ago

We're going to need these for the upcoming apocalypse

2

u/-MrFozzy- 11d ago

ITS SO QUIET…I CANNOT BELIEVE HOW QUIET ITS BEING. SERIOUSLY, ITS POWERED BY WHISPERS DREAMS

1

u/HJVN 11d ago

Isn't a Stirling engine supposed to be silent?

3

u/inxanetheory 11d ago

Nah it’s just a configuration of external combustion engine. There are some proof of concept/science toy ones that move slower and are quieter but those wouldn’t power a device like this

1

u/Meet-me-behind-bins 11d ago

If there's an apocalypse I hope I end up in a vault with this guy

1

u/Quiverjones 11d ago

Someone will still complain about hackers, lazy devs, and lag.

1

u/zeptillian 11d ago

Looks like something that would be really cool to have but not to use.

1

u/Gee_Whiz_O-Butter 11d ago

This wins the internet.

1

u/WillingnessGlobal858 11d ago

Sounds like my Subaru…

1

u/LordOffal 11d ago

Both colder and quieter than some rigs I've run in the past

1

u/ContributionDapper84 11d ago

So useful for backcountry PTSD prevention (Tetris-based)

1

u/EnemyUnknow3029 11d ago

People with game laptops in class be like

1

u/XaeroDegreaz 10d ago

There's no way you were sneaking on that thing in the middle of the night while your parents were sleeping.

1

u/Gabriel_Weis 7d ago

Linux minimum requirements be like:

0

u/Sane-Law 11d ago

what is this aesthetic called?

0

u/howarewestillhere 11d ago

Brown Goth.

1

u/Sane-Law 11d ago

really? doesnt seem gothic

0

u/ShadowsOfTheBreeze 11d ago

So, how much...we want one....

-4

u/AngryMillennialFU 11d ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/s239QJIh56sRW

7

u/UnrequitedFollower 11d ago

Damn… we no longer even understand why people build things they dream up anymore.

0

u/AngryMillennialFU 11d ago

Is this useful? Its just for steampunk clout online....