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Retrowave: Theme for EmulationStation and RetroPie

For my latest RetroPie build, I wanted to go with a synthwave style, so I made this 80’s inspired theme for EmulationStation.  Introducing Retrowave: plenty of laser grids, neon lights, and pixel test makes for a perfect match for RetroPie!

Image gallery:

Retrowave Theme – EmulationStation

Install via RetroPie Setup script, or download it manually here:

Check out the matching video splashscreen too!

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How to Fix 3.3v Power Issues with Hard Drives

Today’s tutorial from the “things-that-should-have-easy-answers-but-for-some-reason-don’t department”, here’s how to to fix the 3.3v power “issue” with some SATA hard drives (HDD) .

If you’re reading this, you probably already know what I’m talking about, but if not, Tom’s Hardware covers it in detail.  If you’re too lazy to read that, the short summary is that some newer hard drives align to the SATA 3.2+ or SATA 3.3 spec, which means that the 3.3v power supplied by the 1st-3rd rails is used as a shutdown signal.

The problem is that older power supplies don’t know this, and will happily supply continuous 3.3v power the way they were designed to, no questions asked.  This triggers the shutdown signal, and keeps the HDD locked in a powered off state.  Super frustrating if you’re not aware of what’s going on.

Luckily it’s easy to fix this.  Simply prevent 3.3v power from reaching the drive!  Here are two easy ways to do it: Continue reading “How to Fix 3.3v Power Issues with Hard Drives”