X-Book (XBox Laptop) NOW FEATURING PICTURES!

[XCVG]

Only problem with a picoPSU is that IIRC the xBox doesn't use a standard ATX plug for the PSU, I know for fact that my v1.0 doesn't but I can't remember on other ones. And you may run into an issue where the voltages don't match up, I mean this isn't a straight-up PC motherboard in there. Other than those, doubling the wattage of the xBox PSU would be a blessing.

Meh, just run a few wires, no biggie. Hack up an extension if it makes you feel better.

[Tromoly4130]

Only problem with a picoPSU is that IIRC the xBox doesn't use a standard ATX plug for the PSU, I know for fact that my v1.0 doesn't but I can't remember on other ones. And you may run into an issue where the voltages don't match up, I mean this isn't a straight-up PC motherboard in there. Other than those, doubling the wattage of the xBox PSU would be a blessing.

Meh, just run a few wires, no biggie. Hack up an extension if it makes you feel better.

But if you read the article I linked to (the second one), one of the guys says that the picoPSU doesn't put out enough amperage on the 5v rail to run later-revision xBoxes, not sure if they've been beefed up since the post was made. And yes, I know you can make a converter from ATX-AT if it's a v1.0-1.1 xBox, it's just more wiring to stuff into a case and takes time to do.

[XCVG]

Ah. There are many versions of picoPSU, perhaps a more powerful one is necessary.

Anyway, the stock PSU is fine for wall power. However it's big, heavy, and you can't run it off batteries.

[XCVG]

So no plans for a battery or car adaptor?

[XCVG]

I suppose you could get an inverter. And I understand the no batteries thing- it would be crazy huge.

Please+stop+typing+like+that+it's+really+hard+to+read+!

[DK]

Please+stop+typing+like+that+it's+really+hard+to+read+!

Think he's typing off his phone and for some weird reason it puts the +'s there.

[XCVG]

Do the xbox side first. I wanna see your design!

[Mario]

Do the screen half first.

[XCVG]

Ring of light? I thought this was an xbox original- oh right.

[Tromoly4130]

Back it up first, then go crazy.

Personally, I'd just run a CLI and execute (in this order):

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

I've never used the Synaptic Smart Update so I'm not sure what'll happen if you use it, but if you go through the CLI nothing will get broken too badly.

[Harlequin]

Jeeeeez that took a long time to read all the way through! Interesting ideas on what you are doing. Here are a few suggestions for what I think you should/could do.

First, you will want to swap where your PSU and your mobo go. The Mobo isn't touching the back of the box so it will make it harder to wire in the video, and LAN ports. Will just kind of fit better IMO. You can wire your USB extensions easily enough.

Second, I cannot remember where (and dont have time to look) but you can wire in switches so that if there is no controller plugged in, the controller defaults to USB (or DVD remote). This is handy if you want to use it as both XBOX and Laptop.

Third, brilliant on the PATA converter. Surprised that worked at all, I've heard of it working, but to see it and see how much space it saves is pretty wild. For future fun maybe try an IDE -> USB converter and plug in a Thumb drive instead.

Fourth, Go with the PICO PSU. Even if you don't want to swap out the extra space for batteries, you can swap it out for water cooling. Don't underestimate that heat that this behemoth kicks out. It would/does require a tiny water cooling unit. Get one of the units that doesn't need to be refilled. If you go that route it drops the overall depth of the unit.

Fifth, why keep the original DVD drive at all? I understand the desire to keep a DVD drive, but why not go with a laptop drive? You will need an older one (preferably one that doesn't have spin down) and a bit of luck with finding certain points (tray in/out, data ready, eject) on the circuit board. Find those, wire them up, connect to xbox. Good to go! The original drives are only good for two things - playing original disks, and making your xbox not sound like a jet engine with the newer DVD drives (loud).

Sixth, You might find this helpful for your video wiring - http://www.gamesx.com/avpinouts/xbox.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - it has a full pin out of the A/V port. You need to ground certain parts to get what you want out of it. Choose what best fits your needs.

If you decide to go with laptop DVD drive, let me know and I'll post some relevant links. Oh yeah, you may also want to consider (can't remember if this is possible on a 1.4) adding the extra 64 megs of ram and bumping the CPU to a 1.4 GHz. If you aren't that steady/trustworthy with a soldering pencil then skip this. I know I don't trust myself that much....

[MegatronUK]

You don't actually need the drive in order to install games.
Hook up the network, stick the Xbox game in your PC/Mac, rip it to xiso format (tons of tools to do this) and then send it to the Xbox using something like Qwix. Delete the xiso from the PC, stick the dvd back in the case and put it away somewhere safe.

[vskid]

Since I'm on summer vacation I'm becoming bored because the electric car project takes soo long to do

Wait, do you mean that you are building an electric car? If so, POST ABOUT IT!

[vskid]

What forum topic should I post it under?

F42 would probably be the best place for a work log. Dang good price on the car.

[Harlequin]

Usefull Xbox links -

http://xbox-scene.com/articles/hardwire-dvd-dongle.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Read this article and at the bottom they lay out how it could be used with a USB rather than a DVD dongle. I am pretty sure that this method was used in the custom face plates later seen in xboxs that had a built in DVD dongle and two USB ports built in. I don't see any reason why you couldn't scrap the dvd dongle (pretty useless in your case) and instead wire in another USB port (for controller 4) and have that run from USB to a PS2 mouse/keyboard adapter. Most laptops have them, so it wouldn't be a bad addition...

Let me know if you need any other links. I cannot think of anything else you wanted off the top of my head. I would still consider going with a pico I think you can get them up to 150 W. I'm not sure what the wattage on your monitor will require, but if i have some time I'll check what wattage the xbox itself runs..