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HDD Synth

MaverickUK·HDDSynth·2_prototype_mk1/hardware/HDD Synth.kicad_pcb

HDD Synth PCB layout, top view — open source RP2040/RP2350 board by MaverickUK
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About the HDD Synth PCB

HDD Synth is an open source RP2040/RP2350 PCB design by MaverickUK, published on GitHub under the CC-BY-NC-4.0 license. It is a 2-layer board measuring 136.2 × 86.6 mm, with 6 components from 6 distinct parts.

Its main chip is the RaspberryPi_Pico, from the RP2040/RP2350 family. By type, the board carries 4 connectors, 1 module and 1 diode.

It belongs with the audio and retro computing designs in this gallery.

From the project

Recreate the sound of mechanical spinning HDDs on retro PCs that use a solid state drive

Phase 1 has established that this project is possible from both a hardware and software perspective. This phase is to create and iterate using a professionally manufactured PCB ready to enter phase 3, which will produce the released board.

The MK1 prototype was designed to prove that the individual components would work together on an ISA card and be able to detect HDD activity from the ISA bus.

HDD Synth, from the project README
From the project README

Main components on the HDD Synth

RaspberryPi_Pico

HDD Synth bill of materials (BOM)

6 components, 6 distinct parts — part numbers from the project's BOM.

QtyPartRefs
1
RaspberryPi_Pico
A1
1
Conn_01x09
J1
1
C49257
Bus_ISA_8bit
J2
1
Conn_01x07
J3
1
C165948
Conn_02x03_Counter_Clockwise
J4
1
SMAJ5.0A
1N5817
D1

HDD Synth design files

The KiCad project lives in the MaverickUK/HDDSynth repository on GitHub; these links point at the commit this page was built from.

HDD Synth: common questions

What microcontroller does the HDD Synth use?

The HDD Synth is built around the RaspberryPi_Pico, from the RP2040/RP2350 family.

How big is the HDD Synth PCB?

The HDD Synth measures 136.2 × 86.6 mm, has 2 copper layers and is 1.6 mm thick.

How many components are on the HDD Synth?

6 components, from 6 distinct parts, with part numbers taken from the project's own BOM. The full bill of materials is listed on this page.

Where can I download the HDD Synth design files?

From the MaverickUK/HDDSynth repository on GitHub, which has the KiCad layout, the schematic and the BOM; the links under Design files point to each one.

Can I use the HDD Synth design in my own project?

It is published under CC-BY-NC-4.0, which limits how it may be reused; read the license before building on it.

Can I test firmware for the HDD Synth without the hardware?

Yes. HardLabs builds a simulation of the board from its netlist and BOM, so you can run and debug RP2040/RP2350 firmware against it before you order a PCB.

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