
Back to topic!!!
You want your portable to be small? Here are the problems we portablizers run into with the Gamecube system:
the motherboard - although it is relatively small, its squarish size makes for an unattractive portable
the disc drive - the depth(aka height) is about 1.2" which forces your portable to be thick and less fun
batteries - the gamecube is a powerhog and if you want decent battery life, then you will need large batteries (anywhere from 2-4 batts). Big batteries = big portable = not fun
I have dedicated the past 6 months to trying to overcome these obstacles. What I have learned:
- you can't slim the height of the disc drive, its next to impossible
- you CAN slim the motherboard A TON
- the best battery life and size I have seen was presented by the almighty Hailrazer. http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=34576" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Considering you are new, I would recommend you open up a gamecube, look around and start planning things out. Draw out what you want to do on paper, plan plan plan! Slimming the gamecube consists of mobo cutting and relocating anything hooked up to the mobo - thats it. Easier said then done of course. READ KASARS GUIDE A BILLION TIMES

First thing you will do is rip off the unnecessary plugs (whatever you call them) that stick out of the mobo. Then you should hook up a screen to your motherboard. Since you are a beginner, I would recommend this screen:
http://cgi.ebay.com/3-5-DVD-VCR-CCTV-TF ... 3ca81fe443" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Solder that screen on, and you will be able to test your board whenever you want since that screen will light up! After that, you will start "relocating" everything to the mobo: the disc drive, memory card slots (if you cut them off), controller, powerboard (rev A/B), and finally the batteries.
Of the above mentioned, the disc drive is the hardest relocation. It consists of rewiring the daughterboard (the disc drive board), and sometimes the cables coming from the disc drive (but that is also optional - but an absolute must if you want a small portable).
Right now, these are a bunch of words on a page. After you open up the gamecube and mess around with it a bit, things will make more sense. Feel free to ask questions on this topic, BUT you should search around and try to get answers yourself first (more rewarding when you figure something out on your own
