In Tim’s Retro Corner, a new project begins with the Amiga ITX Denise build—a Swedish-designed Mini-ITX take on the Amiga 500 Plus. Featuring two Zorro II slots, 2MB Chip RAM via a 72-pin SIMM, and compatibility with PS/2 peripherals, the board is compact and modern, yet firmly grounded in classic Amiga hardware. Tim tackles the project in stages, beginning with surface-mounted parts and walking viewers through each step with soldering iron in hand.
Getting Started with Surface Mount Components
Tim opens by populating 0805 capacitors across both sides of the board. Some are placed with a soldering iron and flux, while others use solder paste and hot air. The video compares both methods, though neither proves faster. It’s less about speed, more about consistency. An interactive BOM helps pinpoint each part’s location on-screen, making component placement easier to follow.
Capacitors, Paste, and Trial Runs
Next up is a batch of 1uF and 330nF capacitors. Tim switches to low-temp solder paste and hot air to try a different technique. It works—but not without a few messy moments. A few parts go flying, some need rework, but the progress is steady. Multiple values follow, including a tricky set of seven 47pF caps.
Resistors: Wrong Wattage, Right Decision
Just when things start flowing, Tim hits a snag. The resistors are the wrong wattage. Nearly all get removed and tossed into a “scrap pile.” A handful remain, but new ones need ordering. Meanwhile, he installs ferrite beads where needed, and some transistors and TVS diodes.
Soldering Transistors and Diodes
Back with the iron, Tim adds BC807 transistors, though one goes in the wrong place. It’s a classic “rewind and fix” moment, complete with hot air and a second try. Several TVS diodes follow—thankfully bi-directional, which simplifies orientation. They’re added in rows on both sides of the board.
What’s Next in the Denise Build
By the end of the video, most of the SMD work is complete. With resistors on order and many chips still missing, Tim wraps up the session and cleans the board. Future updates will bring more parts, more soldering, and eventually a complete Mini-ITX Amiga system.
You can buy the Denise board from Tindie or Flamelily, and follow full build info on Enterlogic’s page.
