IMSPI 8080 Brings Front-Panel Switches to the Raspberry Pi
IMSPI 8080 is a 3D-printed Raspberry Pi 5 case inspired by the IMSAI 8080 that uses retro toggle switches to control modern services.
Picking up a Raspberry Pi is a great way to inexpensively expand your homelab or self-host essential services at home. But a bare Raspberry Pi board isn’t much to look at. Not only that, but you have to be careful that conductive surfaces and static electricity don’t zap your little computer. So, the smart thing to do is install the board in an appropriate case. This will keep it safe and make it look nice sitting on your desk.
If you happen to be looking for a really unique Raspberry Pi case, then you’ll want to see what Redditor SiSpx_ has created. It may just be the best case for vintage computing enthusiasts ever made. Inspired by the IMSAI 8080, SiSpx_’s IMSPI 8080 gives off some serious WOPR vibes. Not only does it look cool, but the front panel switches can be used to enable a VPN, Bluetooth, or any other services you choose.
After picking up a Raspberry Pi 5 for a homelab setup, SiSpx_ needed a case and decided to put a Bambu Lab P2S 3D printer to work. As a longtime fan of classic hardware — and particularly the IMSAI 8080 made famous by the film WarGames — the idea quickly evolved from a simple enclosure into a full retro-inspired front panel computer.
The front panel has twelve two-way rocker switches, fitted with custom 3D-printed IMSAI-style paddles. These are mapped to a variety of system-level functions and Home Assistant automations, including VPN control, Bluetooth toggling, fan monitoring, and more.
Complementing the switches are 28 LEDs distributed across the Pi itself and two MCP23017 I/O expanders, with plans to add a third. The LEDs are inexpensive 3mm 3V units, each paired with a 330-ohm resistor to keep current well within safe limits. To refine the look and tame brightness, the latest revision adds recessed LED windows, white alignment lines, and a layer of window tint film.
Despite being massively over-engineered for what was originally meant to be a simple Pi case, the IMSPI 8080 now sits alongside a WOPR-style network monitor in SiSpx_’s mini rack. There is no build guide available at this time, but the project write-up could give you inspiration for your own DIY case.
R&D, creativity, and building the next big thing you never knew you wanted are my specialties.