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Florian Nücke edited this page Jan 11, 2014 · 28 revisions

This page lists all blocks OpenComputers adds to the game. Please check the recipes via NEI, since they're still subject to change, and there may even be context-specific recipes at some point in the future (i.e. recipes using BuildCraft, IndustrialCraft² or GregTech specific parts, based on which of these mods are installed).

Adapter

Adapter

Used to control non-component blocks, such as vanilla blocks or blocks from other mods.

This block allows interfacing with all kinds of blocks, as long as a driver is made available to OpenComputers. For example, OpenComputers comes with such drivers for the vanilla Command Block and Note Block, as well as one for Redstone in Motion Carriage Controllers.

If you're a modder it's pretty easy to write a driver, you just have to implement the corresponding interface from the API and register it with OpenComputers in the init phase. Have a look at the implementation of the built-in drivers for in-depth reference, if you find the documentation is insufficient.

Cable

Cable

A cheap way of connecting blocks. As described on the start page, most blocks in OpenComputers will serve as "connectors", i.e. components will automatically be available to any computers the are indirectly connected to. A few exceptions are the keyboard, which only connects to its screen, the Router and the Power Distributor blocks, which explicitly should not connect different networks they are adjacent to. Cables are the least expensive way of building such connections over longer distances. For example, if you wish to have your actual computer in a safe place, and the screen somewhere more visible, you may wish to connect the screen to your computer using cables. Instead of... capacitors. Or more screens.

Capacitor

Capacitor

Stores energy for later use. Can be filled and emptied very quickly. Note that some blocks have a small, internal storage capacity, to allow getting started quickly with a small setup (currently: computer cases and Power Converters). This means you will have to keep supplying power almost non-stop, to avoid computers shutting down due to power loss. To increase the time a network can continue to function without new power being injected into it you can build capacitors to increase the networks' energy storage capacity.

You'll also want to have some capacitors ready to allow charging robots at a reasonable pace without bringing down all other components in your network. Otherwise they'll just suck your network dry.

Basic Case

Basic Case

The Computer Case is the basic building block for computers and houses the computer's extension cards, RAM and hard disks.

  • Slots: 2/1/1.

From left to right: Card slots/RAM slots/HDD slots.

For most use cases a basic case will be quite adequate. When you want to run more complex applications or control multiple screens you may need to upgrade to a higher tier case, though.

Computers offer an API to the programs running on them and neighbored blocks, allowing them to start or stop the computer, and to inspect its running state, for example.

Advanced Case

Advanced Case

The Computer Case is the basic building block for computers and houses the computer's extension cards, RAM and hard disks.

  • Slots: 2/2/2.

Superior Case

Superior Case

The Computer Case is the basic building block for computers and houses the computer's extension cards, RAM and hard disks.

  • Slots: 3/2/3.
    Note that the the third storage slot is for floppy disks, not for a third hard disk.

Charger

Charger

Transfers energy from capacitors into adjacent robots. The transfer rate depends on the incoming redstone signal, where no signal means don't charge robots, and maximum strength means charge at full speed.

You'll need one of these to get your robots running. There is the generator upgrade, but you can only put fuel into the generator via the API, meaning you have to get some energy into your robot some other way, first. And that way is the Charger block.

Disk Drive

Disk Drive

Allows reading and writing floppies. ComputerCraft floppies are also supported.

The main use of floppies - except being cheaper than hard drives - is to get data onto robots, since they cannot connect to external components, and only have a component slot for floppies, but not for hard drives. If you have the materials, you can build a tier three case, which has a built-in disk drive. Until then, this block is your new best friend.

Keyboard

Keyboard

Can be attached to screens to allow typing on them. Note that keyboards can only be attached screens. If the screen they are attached to is broken, they will fall off.

For multi-block screens it can very much matter where on the screen you place the keyboard, since you have to be within range of the keyboard to type - meaning you may be able to open the screen's GUI, but not be able to type.

Note that a screen block for itself is just that. A screen. Displaying stuff. Once you attach a keyboard to it, a GUI will open when you right-click/activate it, allowing text input. Note that tier two and three screens allow "clicking" them in the world directly (by right-clicking/activating them), i.e. a click signal will be generated. They're touch-screens, so to speak. This only works if they have no keyboard.

Power Converter

Power Converter

Converts power from other mods to the internal energy type.
The default conversion rates are:

  • BuildCraft MJ: 1:1.
  • IndustrialCraft² EU: 2.5:1.
  • Thermal Expansion RF: 10:1
  • Universal Electricity Joules: 1:1.

Since there is no way to generate the mods internal energy directly at this point you'll definitely need one of these. Well, the exception is the generator upgrade for robots, but that energy can only be used by the robot with the upgrade.

Power Distributor

Power Distributor

Distributes energy between different networks. This can be useful for powering multiple sub-networks that should not connect to each other. For example, you'll usually want to try and keep different computers in different networks - unless you have a startup script on each computer that manually assigns the primary components. Otherwise you'll frequently end up with the computers binding the wrong screen and/or keyboard on startup, for example, or even multiple computer binding to the same screen.

Redstone I/O

Redstone I/O

Allows reading and emitting redstone signals around the block. Can be controlled by any computer the block is connected to. This is basically like an external redstone card.

  • This also supports RedLogic wires, if present, including colored and bundled wires.
  • This also supports MineFactory Reloaded RedNet cables.
  • This also supports Project: Red wires, including colored and bundled wires.

Like redstone cards, this offers the redstone component API. Note that while redstone cards rely on the container's orientation for the sides in their API, the redstone I/O block always uses absolute directions.

Robot

Robot

Unlike computers, robots can move around and interact with the world much like a player can. They can not interact with external components, however! If you need to communicate with a computer or other robots, use a Wireless Network Card or create some low-level protocol using redstone signals via a Redstone Card.

Router

Router

Allows connecting different networks to each other. Only network messages will be passed along, components will not be visible through this. Use this to separate networks while still allowing communication using Network Cards. The reasoning is the same as for the Power Distributor not connecting its adjacent networks: you may often wish to keep your sub-networks separate. This allows computers in different sub-networks to communicate without having to go all out and use wireless networks.

The Router block also serves as a ComputerCraft peripheral, providing an interface imitating that of ComputerCraft's (wired) modems. It will forward network messages sent from ComputerCraft to the OpenComputers side, which can be received if a Network Card is installed. It will also receive OpenComputers' network messages and push a corresponding signal in CC computers attached to the adapter. Note that network messages in OpenComputers do not require a "response port" like ComputerCraft does. If the first argument for the network message is a number, it will be interpreted as the response port to tell ComputerCraft receivers, otherwise the response port will be set to -1.
Note: this functionality was available via the Adapter block before 1.1.0.

Basic Screen

Basic Screen

Display text, controlled by a Graphics Card in a Case.

  • Maximum resolution: 50x16.
  • Maximum color depth: 1.

Screens allow computers to display text, by binding them on a graphics card and then changing their text buffer. Think of these screens more like... chalk boards. You don't have to send the data to display each "frame", instead you set something to display, and the screen will continue displaying it until it's told to display something else. There are a few scenarios where a screen's buffer will be cleared, though: when they are merged into a multi-block screen, and when they are bound by a graphics card.

Note that screens of all tiers can be controlled by graphics cards of all tiers. However, the minimum capabilities of each combination apply. For example, when using an advanced screen via a basic graphics card, the maximum resolution and color depth will be limited by that of the graphics card.

Advanced Screen

Advanced Screen

Display text, controlled by a Graphics Card in a Case.

  • Maximum resolution: 80x25.
  • Maximum color depth: 4.

See the basic screen for more general information on screens.

This screen allows mouse input: it generates a click signal on all computers in its network whenever a user either right-clicks/activates the display area of a screen without a keyboard - like a giant touch screen - or when left clicking on the display area in the GUI of a screen with a keyboard.

Superior Screen

Superior Screen

Display text, controlled by a Graphics Card in a Case.

  • Maximum resolution: 160x50.
  • Maximum color depth: 8.

See the basic screen for more general information on screens.

Like the advanced screen, this screen supports mouse input.

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