A Commodore 64c case can become the shell for a portable Raspberry Pi cyberdeck, but it takes more than dropping a board inside: the documented builds involve altered openings, careful component layout and different choices for the keyboard, screen and power. Jason Benson’s 2016 Cyberdeck 64 used a Raspberry Pi 3 and a custom retractable 5-inch display; a separate build described by Hackster.io in 2018 paired a Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ with a 7-inch touchscreen.
What the Cyberdeck 64 build puts inside the case
Jason Benson’s Cyberdeck 64 Build — Cyberdeck Rev2, published September 21, 2016, repurposes a dead Commodore 64c case as an enclosure for a Raspberry Pi 3. Benson chose the case for its proportions and 1980s appearance. The original keyboard was removed in favor of a wireless keyboard with a trackpad, and a four-port USB hub occupied the former function-key area.
The build’s parts list gives a useful picture of the space and integration work involved. These are the components Benson used, not a current shopping list or a guarantee that parts will fit another case:
- Commodore 64c case
- Raspberry Pi 3 with a case and fan
- 10,000 mAh USB battery
- Wireless iPazz keyboard with trackpad
- Four-port USB hub
- HDMI splitter, HDMI-to-USB adapter and USB-to-Micro-USB cable with a power switch
- Styrene sheet plastic, carriage bolts with inserts, paint and stickers
The same guide lists a sharp razor knife and spare blades, straight edge, drill, lighter or mini-torch, rotary tool and glue among its tools. A different enclosure, screen or component layout may call for different materials and tools.
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Choose a display arrangement before cutting the case
Benson designed the Cyberdeck 64 to support an internal screen and an external display. Its 5-inch LCD slides out from the rear and pivots toward the user on friction hinges. The guide describes using VGA output with an external monitor or video glasses, and an HDMI splitter to feed the two display paths. The LCD was powered over USB. Benson fabricated the screen case and slide mechanism, and noted that the video cables and adapters took more room than he wanted.
| Display choice | What the documented build indicates | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| External display only | The guide describes omitting the internal LCD and exposing an HDMI-to-VGA adapter. | Less internal screen fabrication, but use depends on an external monitor or compatible video glasses. |
| Retractable internal LCD | Benson built a custom housing and slide-and-pivot mechanism for a 5-inch LCD. | A self-contained viewing option adds fabrication work, wiring and space for the screen and mechanism. |
| Internal and external displays | The guide describes an HDMI splitter route for the LCD and VGA output. | More display flexibility means more adapters and cable routing to fit inside the enclosure. |
Screen size alone does not determine fit. Account for the display housing, hinge or slide travel, connector clearance, cable bends and any splitter or adapter before deciding where to cut or mount parts.
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Test-fit the connected hardware before committing to a layout
Benson’s practical advice is to connect the chosen components on a workbench first, then arrange them in the case and test the fit before fixing anything in place. He reports changing the layout repeatedly and making compromises. Treat that sequence as a way to reduce avoidable rework—not as a guarantee that another set of parts will fit.
- Connect the intended components outside the case. Check that the Pi, display path, USB peripherals and power arrangement work together before installation.
- Arrange them in the enclosure and check access. Allow room for plugs, cables, the battery charging port and any power switch you want reachable.
- Mark case changes only after checking the arrangement. Benson widened some openings with a rotary tool and covered others with thin styrene plates. He also modified openings for the USB hub and keyboard.
- Secure parts after a further fit check. The guide describes using a switched power cable with its button placed through an opening. Plan the position of controls and connections before fastening components.
Case cutting, drilling and powered electronics call for appropriate care. Benson’s build notes report what he did; they are not a safety certification or independently tested instructions. His observation about styrene plates is specific to his project: “I found that a rotary tool worked very well for widening holes, and to cover them I made plates of thin styrene plastic and glued them in place.”
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Plan for battery, peripherals and carrying hardware
The Cyberdeck 64’s 10,000 mAh USB battery had to share the enclosure with the Pi, keyboard receiver, hub, display hardware and cabling. Benson positioned the battery so its charging port remained accessible. That capacity is the specification in his 2016 parts list, not a runtime figure; the guide does not establish how long a different build will run.
The guide also describes attaching a strap using drilled holes, glued inserts, carriage bolts and nylon webbing, and connecting a power LED to the Pi’s 5V and ground GPIO pins. These choices affect case work and component placement, so account for strap attachment points and indicator wiring during the test-fit rather than treating them as afterthoughts.
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Do not combine the separate Cyberspace 7 parts list with Benson’s build
A 2018 Hackster.io article by Cameron Coward describes a different project, the Cyberspace 7, built by Redditor D10D3. It used a reproduction Commodore 64C case, a Red Dragon mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX Blue switches, a Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+, an official Raspberry Pi 7-inch touchscreen, a 10,500 mAh battery and a carrying strap.
That configuration is distinct from Benson’s: Coward’s article does not establish that the Cyberspace 7 used the 5-inch retractable LCD, 10,000 mAh battery, iPazz keyboard and trackpad, or HDMI/VGA arrangement. Keep the two builds’ components and display choices separate when planning or comparing a project. Both are historical examples; their named Pi models and other parts should not be assumed to be currently available or compatible with an unmodified case.
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