Manufacturing Engineer & Retro Tech Obsessive

Researched fixes.
No fluff.
Nearly 30 years in.

I'm Mark Baxman, a UK-based retro enthusiast with nearly 30 years in electronics manufacturing. My first computer was a Sinclair ZX81. This site is where I share researched guides and everything I've learned — FPGA consoles, mini PCs for emulation, retro gadgets, and electronics tools. Practical, well-sourced, no PR fluff.

FPGA Consoles Emulation Retro Gadgets Electronics Tools
Explore the lab
// lab_status.log
Years in Electronics 30 yrs
Guides Published 1,000+
Articles Published 110+
First Computer ZX81
Affiliate links clearly disclosed

Every guide is checked against manuals and trusted sources. When I say avoid something, it's because I've made that mistake.

Four things I know better than most

Pick your interest and I'll point you straight to the best content and the gear worth buying.

🕹️

FPGA & Retro Consoles

The closest you'll get to playing on original silicon — without the hardware dying on you. I cover MiSTer, Analogue consoles, and everything between.

Shop FPGA consoles on Amazon →
💻

Mini PCs & Emulation

Small boxes. Enormous game libraries. I cover SBCs and mini PCs for PS2, GameCube, N64 and beyond — so you don't waste money on the wrong one.

Shop mini PCs on Amazon →
⏰

Retro Gadgets & Clocks

The gear that makes a desk look like it belongs in a different era. Flip clocks, gravity clocks, retro cameras, and genuinely weird and wonderful retro kit.

Shop retro gadgets on Amazon →
🔧

Electronics Tools

nearly 30 years of bench work means I cover the multimeters, power supplies, and soldering stations worth knowing about. These are the tools worth a look.

Shop electronics tools on Amazon →
MB ENGINEER
Mark Baxman
Manufacturing Engineer

This isn't a content farm.
It's one person's obsession.

I've worked in electronics manufacturing for nearly 30 years, in PCB assembly, RF and power test, repair and line design. It started with a Sinclair ZX81 and honestly, the interest never really stopped.

Every recommendation on this site is researched and checked against trusted sources. When something is worth considering, I explain why. When something is worth avoiding, I say so clearly.

30
Years in Electronics
1,000+
Guides Published
1981
First Computer

Latest from the lab

All articles →
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Best GameCube Games of All Time: 25 Ranked, With What Each Costs Today

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DuckStation BIOS: Which File to Use, Where It Goes and How to Fix “No BIOS Image Found”
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DuckStation BIOS: Which File to Use, Where It Goes and How to Fix “No BIOS Image Found”

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28 Oct 2026 Read →
Best Christmas Gifts for Retro Gamers 2026: 16 Picks, $29.99 to $750
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Best Christmas Gifts for Retro Gamers 2026: 16 Picks, $29.99 to $750

Sixteen Christmas 2026 gift ideas for retro gamers and vintage tech fans, from a $29.99 controller to a $750 4K upscaler, with prices checked on 28 October 2026, a budget table and notes for UK buyers.

28 Oct 2026 Read →
PS2 BIOS for PCSX2: How to Dump Your Own (the Legal Way)
Emulation

PS2 BIOS for PCSX2: How to Dump Your Own (the Legal Way)

PCSX2 will not run without a PS2 BIOS, and the only legal source is your own console. Compare FreeMcBoot, FreeDVDBoot, Fortuna and modchips, dump with biosdrain to a USB stick, put the files in the right folder for your OS, and fix "no BIOS found".

28 Oct 2026 Read →
Best microSD Card for Miyoo, Anbernic and Retroid Handhelds
Emulation

Best microSD Card for Miyoo, Anbernic and Retroid Handhelds

Which microSD card to buy for a Miyoo Mini Plus, Anbernic RG35XX-family handheld or Retroid Pocket, what size and file system each one needs (FAT32 or exFAT), what the A1, A2, U1, U3 and V30 labels mean, and how to spot a fake card.

27 Oct 2026 Read →
How to Add Bluetooth to an Old Stereo or Vintage Amp
Audio Equipment

How to Add Bluetooth to an Old Stereo or Vintage Amp

How to add Bluetooth to a vintage receiver or old hi-fi: which input to use (AUX, tape or tuner, never phono), what to look for in a Bluetooth receiver, aptX and AAC explained, two receivers compared on published specs, and how to cure hum and volume problems.

27 Oct 2026 Read →