(1) *approximately* how much would it cost me to get an MEB, a current CPU Card (I assume that'd be A10 based?) and a case, almost-ready-to-go (as in, assemble the case, stick in the card, and drop on an OS), including shipping...? I'm in NC, US -- ZIP+4 for me is 27344-6644. (...or are we not quite there yet? I'm a little confused on that one.) To be super de doober clear -- estimate, not quote :P
(2a) how realistic is the idea of putting together a prototype of the VGA adapter I came up with using perfboard? (I can't afford custom PCBs, and I can only do thru-hole soldering... I'll be socketing everything if I can work out the wiring for it!) What limitations should I expect, resolution-wise?
(2b) alternatively, I have an eBay issue HDMI-to-VGA-and-Audio adapter, one of the ones that pulls power from the HDMI port. (It works, I've tested it.) Would that work with the MEB+CPU Card as things are now (don't mind needing adapter cables, but I am NOT rewiring the thing, even to provide extra power -- my soldering skills are simply too poor).