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A passionate gamer has taken up a daring challenge: transforming an old, out-of-use typewriter into a real gaming PC. The result? A unique computer, capable of running Minecraft, that blends mechanical nostalgia with digital power. Here’s a look back at a feat of tinkering that has fascinated the web.
When nostalgia meets innovation
In a world where high-tech is often synonymous with rapid obsolescence, some enthusiasts are redoubling their ingenuity to give a second life to objects from the past. This is the case of one gamer who, faced with an old, dirty and incomplete typewriter, decided to transform it into a functional PC. The machine, deemed irreparable in its current state, escaped the scrap heap to become the heart of an atypical gaming station.
The project began with a meticulous exploration of the spare parts available. The DIY enthusiast found an H110 motherboard (without a PCIe x16 slot), an Intel i5-6600 processor, a 4GB DDR4 array, a GT635 graphics card, a 240GB SATA SSD, a 200W SFX power supply and a WiFi card. While the configuration doesn’t rival the current power monsters, it’s more than enough to run games like Minecraft or even demanding office applications.
I turned an old typewriter into a gaming typewriter!
byu/maniek-86 inpcmasterrace
The originality of the project lies in the integration of all these components inside the typewriter chassis. To achieve this, the designer uses hot glue – a reversible solution that holds the components together without damaging them permanently. The graphics card, in the absence of vertical space and a PCIe x16 slot, is connected via a riser, which guarantees a degree of modularity for future upgrades.
An old-fashioned keyboard interface, modernised thanks to the Arduino
The real technical tour de force involves transforming the original mechanical keyboard into a modern peripheral. The typewriter, equipped with a single-matrix keyboard with a Polish layout, has been made PC-compatible thanks to an Arduino Leonardo microcontroller. This acts as an interface, translating keystrokes into signals recognised by the operating system. The missing special keys are cleverly mapped onto existing combinations, while the character layout is adapted to match a standard American keyboard.
This technical choice not only preserves the authenticity of the mechanical feel, but also offers a unique typing experience. A video demonstration shows the author reaching a speed of 137 words per minute, proof that the machine has lost none of its responsiveness.
The publication of the project on Reddit quickly attracted the attention of fans of retro computing and gaming. The reactions were unanimous: “Ingenious!”, “Impressive!”, “This is the way to avoid electronic waste!” Internet users are praising the creativity and eco-responsible approach, with some even suggesting adding a keystroke printing function to take the concept even further.
This type of hijacking is reminiscent of the early days of personal computing, when people often cobbled together hybrid machines using whatever resources were at hand. Now that PC customisation has become a passion in its own right, this project illustrates the vitality of the maker culture and its ability to bring together past and present technologies.
By transforming a condemned typewriter into a gaming PC capable of running Minecraft, this gamer has given a second lease of life to an iconic object. His initiative, applauded by the community, proves that innovation can be born from recycling and passion, and that the line between retro and modern has never been so fine.
