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Thread ID: 128564	2012-12-29 09:14:00	[Build] Xbox 360 Portable	icow (15313)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1320570	2012-12-29 09:14:00	Portable Xbox 360 Project The Reason Two days ago I purchased a Xbox AV to VGA looking forward to playing some Forza 4 (and Horizon when I buy it) on my shiny Asus monitor. Only to find that my Xbox has decided to pick this very day to Red Ring (damn you M$). I went online to see what I should do in regards to a fix (x-clamp or whatever). I open my Xbox only to find that my xbox has probably already been xclamped (I can't confirm as I don't know where my Torx screwdriver is and you can only pull an Xbox so much apart without one). I was at the time investigating into doing a portable PS2, I however came across the problem of getting a screen into New Zealand (from the US) that would be suitable for a small amount of money. The screen I was looking at was going to end up with a horrendous shipping fee attached (I didn't investigate into mail forwarding). When I found out that my 360 had died I said f**k it and decided to kill two birds with one stone. Plan 4629 I'm going to use the existing metal frame of the 360 as a base for the portable. The design will be fairly simple and rectangular as I don't have access to, know how to use or could afford any machinery that could be used to create anything more advanced. I'm probably going to use a black plastic of some kind. 4628 I'm planning to store the HDD internally, I could not open mine because I don't know where my Torx is, after some research online and a bit of basic maths I estimate that the HDD with adapter is about 10.7x5.3 (HxW) once removed from the plastic case. This *should* fit inside the space I have marked out for the HDD. If it doesn't I can move the HDD to where it would normally sit and just extend the plastic case around it or even keep the original plastic casing from the HDD and design that side of the case like the original Xbox's case with clips for the HDD. The Screen I'm going to use a widescreen 17" LCD (probably), this is because the LCD Panel can be no larger than 27.5x24, I will probably end up using an older cathode backlit screen because: 1) LED LCD's rarely come under 18.5" in size 2) LED LCD's are expensive and even more so when under 18.5" Apparently bigger is better or something. This is unfortunate as it will increase the overall size of the portable but I'm just going to have to deal with it. Audio I'm going to use a small USB powered speaker to give the portable it's audio, I have a RCA to 3.5 adapter to get audio directly from the VGA/RCA cable that will run to the screen. I will have to desolder one of the front USB ports or a rear USB port and rotate it to face inside the case. Shouldn't be too hard. Power and Eject Buttons For the power button I'm simply going to move it to above the DVD drive and run a USB extender to the port it is normally powered from. Because it's standard USB this is pretty easy. The eject button is tricky, I may just end up using the original button and spray painting it. This is because the 360 doesn't use a standard DVD drive. The eject button isn't in a standard position which makes it hard to get to without fabricating my own parts, 3D printing is the only way I could think of doing this and I hear it is pretty expensive. I'll also make a custom front panel for the DVD drive that fits around the new (or old) eject button. The one that is on the Xbox is bigger than it needs to be. Things I won't be doing - Running the whole thing off a battery so it is truly portable: To save money M$ has lent towards using components in the 360 which aren't exactly power friendly, meaning any battery that could power the 360 would be huge. This detracting from the portable aspect of the console. - Running the screen and the console off the same power brick: I don't feel comfortable doing this, even though I probably have the knowledge to do so. Largely because I can't afford to break anything. Seeing as it is not battery powered anyway one extra power cable doesn't make much of a difference to me. Shopping List: - LCD that is = or < 27.5x24 (Panel) - Thermal Paste - Sheet(s) of Plastic - Solder - Speaker(s) - 3.5mm F to F Adapter - USB Extension Cable - Bigger HDD? (If the budget lets me :p) - Meter or two of Single and Multicore wire The next two steps (apart from finding my Torx) 1) Reflow or replace the thermal compound on the 360 to get it going again. I'm pretty sure this will fix the red ring problem. If anyone has any experience with a RROD'ed Xbox and has anything helpful, post away down below. 2) Find a screen which is suitable. If anyone has an LCD that meets my requirements and are willing to part with it for a rather low price post here or flick me a PM. I'm currently looking through TradeMe, I've found one screen so far that *might* be suitable. I won't know until I hear back from the seller. Post your thoughts, feedback and ideas for the project below :). I'll update this thread whenever I make some progress on the portable. TL DR: I'm going to try to make a portable version of the Xbox 360.	icow (15313)
1320571	2012-12-29 09:36:00	Wait...what? Buy some new Torx bro.	KarameaDave (15222)
1320572	2012-12-29 22:33:00	I have 3x RROD units here, 2x JTAG and one with a blown Efuse (and I can't even RGlitch it :( ) need to find a place that will reflow/ball them. One of them has a persistent E0022 that will need a ball. If you find a place that does em cheap enough perhaps we could get a bulk deal since we're doing 4 units?	The Error Guy (14052)
1320573	2012-12-30 02:54:00	I was intending on doing most of the repair work on the 360 myself. If I couldn't get it going I'd assume it's just cheaper to buy another one 2nd hand ($100 or so).	icow (15313)
1320574	2012-12-30 04:27:00	4630 Today I was able to get the 360 running again by simply cooling it with a 120mm PC fan (sitting directly on top of the CPU heatsink), I couldn't play any games as the GPU would overheat (when the fan was on the GPU the CPU would overheat). This is good as it means the issue is likely just the thermal paste drying up (this is the original Xbox 360 from 06 -07 remember) and/or the x-clamps coming loose. I've order some more TIM for the Xbox and now need to go hunting for some better fans, I might do the 12v fan mod. Screen I was looking at was too big :( I might just buy the next cheap widescreen display I see and build the portable around that. 27.5:24 isn't a real aspect ratio and anything that is smaller than 27.5x24 on either 16:10, 16:9 or 4:3 is probably tiny and therefore expensive.	icow (15313)
1320575	2012-12-31 03:45:00	Hope you find your Torx and fix your Xbox... I have an old 2006 Xbox 360 lying around in my room which I should really get to fixing... It gets intermittent RROD :P Those old Xbox's from 2005 - 2007 are quite prone to RROD.	ChazTheGeek (16619)
1320576	2013-01-01 05:02:00	Had a ruined falcon here, GPU BGA shot to hell and back, as well as 3x Xenon units. I wish I had access to a rework station to fix them. I just can't justify more than $80 to do the work per unit. Unfortunately rework stations aren't the sort of thing most people have lying around (usually you can ask someone to borrow a lathe, drill press, rivet gun) not so much with a rework station! If I DID manage to get access I'd happily share the knowledge as well as help perform the rework to the best of my ability.	The Error Guy (14052)
1320577	2013-01-17 10:39:00	Reapplied thermal paste, the paste on the cpu side was almost no existent. Worked briefly but back to RROD. Will probably pickup an x-clamp kit and do a reball of the the solder.	icow (15313)
1320578	2013-01-17 18:56:00	Cool project icow, keep us posted on your efforts	Gobe1 (6290)
1320579	2013-01-23 05:23:00	Not having much luck, tried to reball existing solder. No dice, might give it 1 last try. If not I'll need to get another 360 or I could shelve this until the 720.	icow (15313)
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