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ITX-Llama - Accessories

Below is a collection of hardware accessories that should work with the ITX Llama in order turn it into an even more capable MS-DOS/Windows PC. If a device needs further testing, it will be noted.

Optical Disc Drives

SATA CD/DVD Drive

  • Status: Verified to work on ITX Llama
  • Connects directly to the onboard SATA port, appears as a standard optical disc drive.
  • Pros:
    • Simple hook-up, no fuss
    • Drives are readily available for now
  • Cons:
    • No CD-Audio (SATA ODD models do not have integrated CD Audio DACs)
    • Occupies only onboard SATA port

IDE CD/DVD Drive

  • Status: Verified to work on ITX Llama
  • Connects to an IDE to SATA adapter and then to the onboard SATA port, appears as a standard optical disk drive.
  • Pros:
    • Has CD-Audio output which can be passed to the onboard Crystal sound card
    • Fairly simple to hook up with required adapters
  • Cons:
    • Requires an IDE to SATA adapter to function. (ITX Llama has no onboard IDE)
    • Drives are getting hard to find, old drives are beginning to fail due to age
    • Requires an IDE to SATA adapter
  • Link(s):

ZuluIDE

  • Status: Verified to work on ITX Llama
  • Connects to an IDE to SATA adapter and then to the onboard SATA port
  • Emulates a CD/DVD drive with ISO or BIN/CUE files stored on microSD card.
  • Pros:
    • Has CD-Audio output for BIN/CUE files, which can be passed to the onboard Crystal sound card
    • No moving parts!
    • Fairly simple to hook up with required adapters
  • Cons:
    • Requires an IDE to SATA adapter to function. (ITX Llama has no onboard IDE)
    • Does not support copy-protected images
    • Has a very rudimentary image selection mechanism as of 2024-11-21.
    • Requires an IDE to SATA adapter
  • Add-ons:
    • With a Pi Pico/DAC board populated with a Pi Pico W, you can add remote image management to the ZuluIDE
    • The DAC board also enables passing CD Audio to the onboard Crystal sound chip
  • Link(s):
  • Additional Configuration Information for the zuluide.ini file:
    zuluide.ini
    [ide]
max_udma = -1
max_pio = 3
max_blocksize = 4096
device = CDROM

USBODE

  • Status: Verified to work on ITX Llama
  • Connects to a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W / or Raspberry Pi Zero W through USB
  • Emulates a CD/DVD drive with ISO files stored on microSD card.
  • Pros:
    • No moving parts!
    • Fairly simple to hook up
    • Simple Setup
    • Uses inexpensive off-the shelf parts
  • Cons:
    • Does not support copy-protected images
    • Requires Wi-Fi to utilize (change images via a webpage from a separate device, like a smartphone)
    • Open Source project may have bugs
  • Links:
  • Notes:
    • The author of this project continues to work on it, and will hopefully provide a solution for CD Audio in the future (this may require an addon)

Floppy Disk Drives

GoTek Floppy Emulator

  • Status: As of 2025-06-02, this is NOT working on the ITX Llama in MS-DOS
  • Connects to a Floppy to USB adapter and to the rear USB ports.
  • Emulates a 720k/1.44MB Floppy drive with images stored on USB.
  • Link(s):

3.5" Floppy Drive

  • Status: As of 2025-01-30, this is NOT working on the ITX Llama
  • Connects to a Floppy to USB adapter and to the rear USB ports.
  • Link(s):

External Joystick / MIDI Port

  1. Adapt DB15 to MIDI In/Out
  2. DB15 Splitter (for Joystick and MIDI)

Keyboard / Mouse

  1. Native PS/2 ports are provided for keyboard and mouse support
  2. Optionally, the PS/2 ports can be disabled and a pair of dedicated USB ports can adapt themselves to PS/2 internally.
    • This allows modern USB peripherals to appear as PS/2 devices to the OS.