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The original Nintendo DS introduced a revolutionary dual-screen design, with the bottom screen featuring touch functionality. The DS became a landmark console in handheld gaming, pushing boundaries with its innovative controls, built-in Wi-Fi for multiplayer gaming, and a vast library of titles like Pokémon Diamond/Pearl, Nintendogs, and Brain Age. Its blend of casual and core gaming experiences cemented its place as one of the best-selling consoles of all time.

Hardware Specifications

Processor: Dual ARM processors (ARM946E-S at 67 MHz and ARM7TDMI at 33 MHz)

Graphics: Two LCD screens, both 256×192 pixel resolution (one being touch-sensitive)

Memory: 4 MB of RAM

Storage: Cartridge-based (proprietary DS game cards) and backward compatibility with Game Boy Advance cartridges

Audio: Stereo sound, built-in microphone, and a headphone jack

Battery: Rechargeable lithium-ion battery with 6–10 hours of battery life

Dimensions: 148.7 x 84.7 x 28.9 mm, weighing 275g

Connectivity: Local wireless multiplayer with built-in Wi-Fi support for online multiplayer

Original Release Date: 11th March 2005

Discontinued: 2013

Cost (New in 2005): £99.99

Cost (In 2024 Price): £170.00

Modifications I have performed:

None

Cost to me for computer £0.00

Cost to me for repairs and upgrades £0.00

The Philips CD-i (Compact Disc Interactive) was an ambitious attempt to blend gaming with multimedia entertainment. Marketed as a “multimedia” device rather than just a gaming console, it offered interactive education, films, and games on CD format. While it didn’t achieve widespread success in the gaming market, the CD-i was notable for its use of early CD technology and its range of titles, including The 7th Guest and the infamous Zelda and Mario games produced under license from Nintendo.

Hardware Specifications

Processor: 16-bit Motorola 68070 running at 15.5 MHz

Graphics: Custom chip supporting 16.7 million colors, capable of resolutions up to 384×280 pixels

Memory: 1 MB of RAM, with 8 KB of NVRAM for save data

Storage: CD-ROM drive (1x speed), supporting interactive CDs with video, audio, and software content

Audio: 16-bit stereo sound with full CD-quality audio

Controllers: Standard game controller, optional mouse, trackball, or remote control for multimedia use

Connectivity: Composite video, S-Video, and RF outputs, plus a keyboard and modem for added multimedia use

Original Release Date: 1992

Discontinued: January 1998

Cost (New in 1992): £700 (Without Video Cartridge Add-on)

Cost (New in 1992): £900 (With Video Cartridge Add-on)

Cost (In 2024 Price): £1500 (Without Video Cartridge Add-on)

Cost (In 2024 Price): £2118.50 (With Video Cartridge Add-on)

Modifications I have performed:

Have replaced the drive belt for the CD tray open/close motor and greased the tray to allow easier movement on open/close action.

Cost to me for computer £499.99

Cost to me for repairs and upgrades £5.00

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I know strictly this is not old or collectable, but it does fit in the retro theme of this site, so that is what I am sticking with. The C64 Mini is a modern, compact reimagining of the legendary Commodore 64, one of the best-selling home computers of all time. The C64 Mini brings the iconic 80s computing experience to a new generation, complete with 64 built-in classic games, HDMI output for modern TVs, and a USB port for adding your own games or even programming in BASIC.

Hardware Specifications

Processor: Allwinner A20 dual-core ARM Cortex-A7

Graphics: Mali-400 MP2 GPU, capable of 720p HD output via HDMI

Memory: 256 MB of DDR3 RAM

Storage: Flash memory with 64 built-in classic games

Audio: Emulated SID chip (6581/8580), stereo output

Connectivity: HDMI output for 720p video, two USB ports (for joysticks, keyboards, or other accessories)

Controller: Classic-style joystick included (USB), compatible with additional USB keyboards for BASIC programming

Games Included

Some of the most iconic titles built into the C64 Mini include:

• California Games
• Impossible Mission
• Paradroid
• Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe
• Boulder Dash
• Jumpman

Original Release Date: March 2018

Discontinued: 2020

Cost (New in 2018): £69.99

Cost (In 2024 Price): £80

Modifications I Have Made:

None

Cost to me for computer £52.99

Cost to me for repairs and upgrades £0.00

the Acorn BBC Micro Model B was a landmark home computer, developed as part of the BBC’s Computer Literacy Project. It became synonymous with education throughout the 1980s and 1990s, thanks to its wide adoption in schools across the UK. The Model B, the more advanced of the BBC Micro range, featured better memory and expandability compared to the Model A, making it ideal for programming, gaming, and educational software.

Hardware Specifications

Processor: 8-bit MOS Technology 6502A running at 2 MHz

Graphics: Text display up to 80 characters wide; graphics up to 640×256 pixels with 8 colors

Memory: 32 KB of RAM

Storage: Cassette tape interface, optional floppy disk drive via expansion

Audio: 4-channel sound with built-in speaker

Operating System: Acorn MOS (Machine Operating System) with BBC BASIC programming language

Connectivity: User port, printer port, RS423 serial interface, and expansion slots for peripherals, and Econet networking support for school

Original Release Date: 1st December 1981

Discontinued: 1994

Cost (New in 1981): £399

Cost (In 2024 Price): £1450

Modifications I have performed:

Modified the Monochrome composite display connector to allow colour output.

Removed original Power Supply and replaced with modern version.

Have fitted the RetroClinic DataCentre (pictures in gallery)

Raspberry Pi Zero Co-Processor (not working as I don’t have a ROM with the TUBE code on it fitted in the system yet)

RetroClinic repaired my BBC when it stopped working, there was a broken trace on the motherboard on the CPU reset line.

Other Modifications: Factory Disc Filing System ROM Chip (DFS) has been replaced by Super LVL DOS 1.00 by Computer Village Ltd

Using RGB Monitor port to Scart cable for better colour picture quality than composite video.

Cost to me for computer £0.00

Cost to me for repairs and upgrades £220.34

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The Atari 1040 STF was part of Atari’s ST series of personal computers, known for its powerful hardware at a relatively affordable price. The 1040 STF stood out as the first personal computer to offer 1 MB of RAM as standard, a ground breaking amount for its time. Aimed at both home users and professionals, the 1040 STF became popular for gaming, music production (thanks to its built-in MIDI ports), and general computing tasks.

Hardware Specifications

Processor: 16/32-bit Motorola 68000 running at 8 MHz

Memory: 1 MB of RAM (expandable)

Graphics: Three display modes:

Low resolution: 320×200 pixels, 16 colors

Medium resolution: 640×200 pixels, 4 colors

High resolution: 640×400 pixels, monochrome

Storage: Built-in 3.5-inch floppy disk drive (720 KB)

Audio: Yamaha YM2149 sound chip with 3-channel sound, plus built-in MIDI ports for music production

Operating System: TOS (The Operating System), with GEM (Graphical Environment Manager) desktop interface

Connectivity: Parallel and serial ports, MIDI In/Out, floppy disk drive port, and expansion port for peripherals

Original Release Date: June 1986

Discontinued: 1993

Cost (New in 1986): £699

Cost (In 2024 Price): £2150

Modifications I have performed:

None, this system has been fully refurbished by the person I purchased it from

Cost to me for computer £162.89

Cost to me for repairs and upgrades £0.00

the Commodore Amiga A500 became one of the most iconic home computers of the late 80s and early 90s. Renowned for its powerful graphics, sound capabilities, and multitasking OS, the A500 found success with gamers, artists, and home users alike. It was particularly popular for gaming, with titles like The Secret of Monkey Island, Lemmings, and Shadow of the Beast showcasing the machine’s capabilities.

Hardware Specifications

Processor: 16/32-bit Motorola 68000 running at 7.16 MHz

Memory: 512 KB of RAM (expandable to 9 MB)

Graphics: Advanced custom chipset supporting up to 4096 colors and multiple resolutions:

Low resolution: 320×256 pixels

High resolution: 640×256 pixels (up to 4096 colors in HAM mode)

Audio: 4-channel stereo sound (Paula sound chip)

Storage: Built-in 880 KB 3.5-inch floppy disk drive, with support for external drives

Operating System: AmigaOS, a multitasking operating system with a graphical user interface (Workbench)

Connectivity: Parallel and serial ports, mouse/joystick ports, expansion port for additional peripherals

Original Release Date: 1987

Discontinued: 1991

Cost (New in 1987): £499

Cost (In 2024 Price): £1550

Modifications I have performed:

General clean inside

Replaced power supply with modern switch mode power supply

Replaced RTC battery on 512k RAM expansion

Fitted a RGB to HDMI converter

Fitted a Gotek drive as external drive

Replaced yellowed and broken case

Replaced broken key “plunger”

Replaced broken keyboard membrane

Cost to me for computer £50.00

Cost to me for repairs and upgrades £222.58

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The Acorn Archimedes A3000 was part of Acorn’s ground breaking Archimedes line, known for introducing the RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) architecture, which Acorn pioneered. The A3000 was designed as an affordable all-in-one unit aimed at schools and home users, combining powerful performance with the simplicity of a single-box system. It became a familiar sight in UK classrooms, widely used for education, programming, and gaming.

Hardware Specifications

Processor: ARM2 32-bit RISC CPU running at 8 MHz

Memory: 1 MB of RAM (expandable to 4 MB)

Graphics: Multiple display modes:

Low resolution: 640×256 pixels, 256 colors

High resolution: 640×512 pixels, 16 colors

Storage: Built-in 3.5-inch floppy disk drive (800 KB), with external expansion options

Operating System: RISC OS 2, a graphical user interface with multitasking capabilities

Audio: 8-channel stereo sound with built-in speaker

Connectivity: Expansion slots, printer port, serial port, and Econet networking support for school networks

Original Release Date: May 1989

Discontinued: Mid 1990s

Cost (New in 1989): £649

Cost (In 2024 Price): £1680

Modifications I have performed:

Removed and replaced CMOS chip and battery with RTC Podule

General clean

Replaced power supply

RGB to Scart cable for colour TV output

Changed ROM chips to upgrade RISC OS from 2.00 to 3.11

SmallyMouse2 Acorn to USB mouse adapter

Fitted ZIDEFS Compact Flash “Hard Drive”

Replaced all three internal timing crystals

Replaced all Zero Ohm links for mouse port

Replaced floppy drive with a Gotek drive

Cost to me for computer £0.00

Cost to me for repairs and upgrades £411.66

the Atari 2600 Jr. was a redesign of the legendary Atari 2600, originally released in 1977. The Jr. was aimed at revitalizing the 2600 line in a more compact and affordable form as the gaming industry shifted toward newer consoles like the Nintendo Entertainment System. While smaller in size, the 2600 Jr. maintained compatibility with the extensive library of Atari 2600 games, offering a budget-friendly option for gamers who still loved the retro classics.

Hardware Specifications

Processor: 8-bit MOS Technology 6507 running at 1.19 MHz

Graphics: Custom Television Interface Adapter (TIA), supporting 128×192 resolution with 128 colors

Memory: 128 bytes of RAM

Storage: ROM-based game cartridges

Audio: Mono sound via the TIA chip, with simple sound effects

Controllers: Joystick ports compatible with original Atari 2600 controllers, paddles, and keyboards

Connectivity: RF output for connection to standard TVs

Original Release Date: 1978 (Original Design)

Discontinued: 1st January 1992

Cost (New in 1978): £49.99

Cost (In 2024 Price): £140

Modifications I have performed:

Removed and replaced the UHF output, changed to composite video output, cleaned the inside

got a modern power supply.

Cost to me for computer £20.00

Cost to me for repairs and upgrades £25.28

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