Original Xbox Laptop Idea... and questions.

Meleeboy0 · Post by **Meleeboy0** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 12:01 am

I've been looking into this whole Xbox Laptop scene recently, and right now I can't really drop close to $1000 just to get a 360, a monitor, and parts to make one. Not to mention I am quite scared of the level of my skills to flatten the motherboard and recreate the heat sink.

So I figured, well hell, I have an Xbox and a 9.8" widescreen LCD screen. So I've taken apart my Xbox and the motherboard is quite small. I might have to do a few alterations, but other than that, I think it is very doable.

So anyways, I had a few questions about the Xbox inners for whoever has experience modding and disassembling the old Xbox.

1. Is it like the 360 in that you have to have a massive cooling system just to keep it from exploding? What measures must be taken for the older system to keep it alive and well?

2. I've almost completely disassembled my Xbox, but I cannot take the power/eject button. I've been able to take out the fan, however I cannot take the bottom metal plate out to release the power/eject button.

3. There are a few other software issues I'd like to address a bit more personally, either by AIM, MSN, or email. These are mostly questions concerning Linux Software installation, Hard drive replacement, and keyboard installation.

4. Case Issues: Okay, I'm planning on building a customized case out of Plexiglas in the form of a laptop, and the issue as stated in question 1 rises again. But that isn't my only concern. I don't really have a great idea of what I am going to do as far as design goes. I was thinking about basing it off of Ben's original concept for the Xbox 360 Laptop, except perhaps thicker since I am not doing a whole lot to flatten the motherboard. And in this same category, I would also like to know what the best method to cut Plexiglas is. Shaping it won't be a problem since I have a grindstone I use a good bit.

So yeah, from the questions I have stated so far (as far as I can remember), I'm sure I come off as a beginner to this whole scene, which I am of course. But I have enough patience to finish this job without ruining it completely.

Basically my goal is to put an Xbox together with a 9.8" screen I have and not have too many excess wires laying around. I travel a lot so when I'm riding passenger, I'd like to have a good console system to play. I also want to install a Linux Softmod so I can access some homebrew apps and watch movies while going down the road.

If there's anybody that has any experience with any of these, especially with things like combining power supplies, connecting console to the screen, and perhaps wiring a keyboard to the motherboard for linux use, I would really appreciate any help you have to offer.

Website · Post by **Life of Brian** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 10:22 am

As far as putting an OS on the system, I'm sure there are websites with the specific information you need. Hardware stuff, then stick around here. What sort of heatsink/fan combo does your XBox have? Does it feel really hot when you run it?

I have the hardest time cutting plexiglass. Some methods involve using a box knife to score the plastic a million times and snapping it (although I always manage to break it in the wrong spot), using a table saw, or using a band saw. It's brittle stuff so you have to be careful. Another method is using a dremel or similar rotary tool to cut it out, which I've had the best success with but it takes a while.

Meleeboy0 · Post by **Meleeboy0** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 1:43 pm

Life of Brian wrote:As far as putting an OS on the system, I'm sure there are websites with the specific information you need. Hardware stuff, then stick around here. What sort of heatsink/fan combo does your XBox have? Does it feel really hot when you run it?

I have the hardest time cutting plexiglass. Some methods involve using a box knife to score the plastic a million times and snapping it (although I always manage to break it in the wrong spot), using a table saw, or using a band saw. It's brittle stuff so you have to be careful. Another method is using a dremel or similar rotary tool to cut it out, which I've had the best success with but it takes a while.

Well for the first question, this is basically what my motherboard looks like, but minus the red mod chip on the left.

http://cristian.madrigal.googlepages.co ... 6-copy.jpg

To answer your second question, I haven't tried turning it on and running it yet, so I wouldn't know about how hot it gets yet.

And about the plexiglas, I have a sheet of it I found in the garage from an old painting type frame, and I have decided to buy a dremel and see if I can cut it with that. I also have a grind stone if all else fails with the dremel. But I was wondering most about the cosmetics of the case.

For instance, what should I use on the interface? Like where the power buttons and other controls go, I don't think I want to use plexiglas on everything. Is there another stylish/shape-able material I can find at my local hardware store that I can use for around the key pad and screen?

And I was also curious about painting. What type of paint/primer should I use when painting it? I don't want it to chip or flake to the point where it becomes transparent again, and I also don't want it to look too cheap either.

Again the only reason I am using plexiglas is because it is about the only resource on hand besides wood and sheet metal, and I think I might be able to grind away at it until I get the product I want. Despite how hard I hear it is to shape.

EDIT: Oh yeah, I wanted to ask one more thing. Does anybody by chance have the layout or anatomy of Ben's original Xbox 360 casing? I was thinking I might end up basing what I have off of that, but I'm not sure.

I'm also wondering if there's anybody here with experience in modifying the original Xbox's motherboard to flatten it, such as the capacitors and heat sink. But if I do that, I want to be sure it is for a good reason.

Website · Post by **Life of Brian** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 2:38 pm

Really honestly and truly you're probably going to find a lot more information about what you need at xbox-scene than on these forums. We concentrate more on smaller portable systems, and although there have been a few people who have tackled the XBox they aren't active members.

Meleeboy0 · Post by **Meleeboy0** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 3:36 pm

Ah ok, thanks for the redirect, I appreciate it very much. I'll take my thread over there and ask a few questions, I'm sure it's been done more than once. =P