Original Xbox Portable

The title says it all. Tips? Suggestions? Build logs? I was thinking of a one-piece unit reminiscent of Ben Heck's XPod (benheck.com/Games/XBox/Xpod_1.htm) , yet with dvd playback, a kick stand, and 2 player support. It would run off 9v batteries for the screen, no internal audio (yet external audio support), and the regular power cable for primary power. The two player support would be enabled by the internal controller having an external plugin so you could unplug it, just to plug in two seperate external controllers. Memory card support would also be allowed.

My issues:

The Case: I was thinking of a 3d printed one. Any suggestions on layout or thickness?
Layout (idea): Dvd drive on the top so that I can open it wihout it hitting my table, memory card slots on the ?? I don't know. The controller inputs on the side, power and eject on the bottom with the dvd remote sensor on top. Screen dead center, intergrated controller near the top for triggers on the top edge. Maybe the memory cards could go underneath the controller inputs. So a inch on the side down from the middle.
Power: Should I run the 9v screen off of batteries or does the xbox psu have enough power?
Batteries: If the screen should be run off of batteries how many 9v's?
Controller: How could I split the controller into two halfs for each side of the console? Cut the PCB and use ribbon cable to connect the traces?

And no, I don't want to mod my xbox so I do need the dvd drive. Plus without modding, I don't believe you can put a 2.5" hard drive in. I would just mainly copy Ben Heck but Ben Heck never but his complete build instructions/process online.

 

Sorry that I didn't just edit the previous post, I didn't want it to get stuck in the spam filter. So, another issue:

Cooling: Should I upgrade the heatsinks or just put a lot of fans in? It is meant to be portable

 

I'm currently building one, I have a few build videos on my YouTube channel, you can find it in the user articles sub forum,,

 

Thanks LeHaM. I did find that during my research before posting here. You do show your layout yet yours just looks like a PSU removed from case + moved fans + extended ethernet. I did see your intergrated internal power cords though. I'm looking for more... tips on my layout idea and how to extend everything so I can complete a layout. How did you extend that ethernet cord? Did you just use ribbon cable or is my idea of ribbon cable totally misplaced? I'm not an electrical engineer and I am a first time modder so I wouldn't know.

 

I used cat5 Ethernet cable

 

Am I missing something? You're saying you just stripped the ethernet cable and used that to connect the ethernet port on the xbox to the Xbox's motherboard? If so, what would be your suggestion for splitting a xbox controller in half and the connecting it again, while keeping the halves on different sides of the portable?

 

There are a few methods for this, easiest method would be to keep the Pcb whole and wire switches off the pads on the Pcb, as for the sticks just desolder them and put them where you like
As for your idea of running the screen off batteries, there is no point, it will just waste space. Most small lcds can run off 12v (depending on the regulator they use). Worst case is get a 9v regulator and put it between the LCD board and the 12v off the PSU. It will boot with the console.

 

Okay, thank you so much LeeHaM. What type wire would you use to extend everything?

 

Really depends on current load. For usb stuff you can get away with flat ribbon as it's only a short distance (normally USB uses a twisted pair)..

 

Thank you so much for everything LeeHaM. You have knocked out half my questions. The remaining ones:

Cooling
Layout

I could probably do this myself I just want to know what other people think about it. Layout wise: whether or not there is some obviously better way to lay it out, Cooling wise: Well It would be nice to know where to put the fans so I don't burn my hands, xbox, or case.

 

Cooling will be dictated by layout but the main components that need cooling are: PSU then GPU and lastly CPU depending on layout and if you use non stock heatsinks, you should be getting lower than stock temps..

 

I've been bringing an original Xbox and a Wii to the woods with a projector and a Black & Decker Powerstation as a power source. The Wii was great, but the Xbox would completely drain the battery, was only able to get one game of Halo 2 in. So good look with the power source...

 

I'll make that one bit wired.