Creating a portable ps2 (slimline)

[dugec01]

G'day everyone,
I'm Dan from Australia and im new to the hacking scene. I looked on the internet for "portable ps2s" as a joke, and to my suprise, benheck.com showed up! I was like wtf is this site, so i entered it, and this, like, ultra hyper mega 1337 site came and i was like, Oh my god, i dont believe it! People actually tear apart vintage and new consoles to make em portable!! Then i saw my ol' slimline PS2 sitting in my corner and i thought, "Hrmm.. maybe this wouldnt be a bad after-school project to do!"

So, ive decided to make my first project a slimline playstation 2 portable!

Now, before i go ripping apart my ps2 and hoping for the best, theres a couple things i need to know and state a few considerations and constraints:

-=-Questions-=-
How much will this all cost me roughly? (In australian dollars. Im guessing this is a american forum so im putting that there)
How long will this take if i allocate a whole day to it? (I do go to college so my weekends are my only times i could do this)
Will i need access to any special machinery? (Really big drills or can i use a saw, soldering iron and a screwdriver?)
Will i need any assistance in making it? (I have a few friends willing to chip in ;D)
How difficult will it be? Scaling from 1 to 10, with 1 being easiest and 10 being the hardest. (Im assuming its a 6 or lower.)
How difficult will the building of the case be if its bigger/smaller? (Ergonomically speaking: is it easier to hold when its bulky or when its ligher?)

-=-Considerations and Constraints-=-
I dont have a very big budget (Probably $150 AUD at the most)
I would like it all to be done in the privacy of my own home, and not have to go out and use special machinery like Ben has
I dont know how to read circuitry very well (But i can learn pretty quickly)
I dont have bens famous guide to hacking book (uh oh... im gonna get flamed.. i know it..)
I dont want it to be all shiney and stuff, just so it can play all ps1/ps2 games.
I need it to be able to plug into a TV, like every other console
Needs to have 2 memory card slots
Needs to have its USB slots as well
I'd like it to last at least 3hrs on a battery if its possible.
It'd be nice if a mate can connect a secondary control to the console so he/she can play as well (yes, there are female gamers that i know)

Thats about it really. I cant really do much yet because this is just a idea of mine, but tomorrow at college, ill draw up a few case styles and show em to everyone. (It's nearly 23.00 over here so i need to go to bed lol)

Any comments or helpful advice would be greatly appreciated. I am serious about this project and if anyone can show me some ideas on how to make a case, that'd be rad.

[eurddrue]

is it the second or third revision ps2 board?

I think that making portables in AUS is very hard because the parts are harder to find and then really expensive.

If you are a good worker, after you get all your parts then it will probablly take you about 4 weekends. If you are a procrastinator it will take you around 6 months, just estimating off of me.

All the parts you really need are: soldering iron, desoldering iron/desoldering pump, sponge/water, flux, dremel with cutting and drilling bits, wire stripper, and helping hands. Well, you don't need helping hands, but like the name says they help a lot.

You probably won't need anyones help, unless you need more money.

It's easier to hold a light portable, but easier to build a bulky one.

$150 isn't gonna build you a portable in australia, unless you already have most of the parts. I think that evilteddy's costed $400.

Ben uses CNC equipment. You don't have to. Many people simply dremel their own cases or vaccum for them, more on that in this forum.http://forums.benheck.com/viewforum.php?f=13

You can leave all of it's ports on so that other people can play with you.

3hrs of battery life is going to be pretty hard to get on a ps2. You should be happy with the 1.5hrs that you get.

You don't really need to know how to read schematics, everyone on here is nice enough to make actual pictures

Look around in that link I posted, there are most of the ways to make a case.

[themadhacker]

you have been a member since 2006, and you just heard of this place?

[eurddrue]

O Gawd, your right, maybe he signed up then forgot about this then booom! remembered it.

[jjhammerstein]

God, I read your whole post in an Aussie accent.

Good luck!

[eurddrue]

God, I read your whole post in an Aussie accent.

That's funny

[dugec01]

is it the second or third revision ps2 board?

Im fairly sure that its a second revision ps2 board. im not quite sure to be completly honest. Ill have to double check.

I think that making portables in AUS is very hard because the parts are harder to find and then really expensive.

Yeah, we dont exactly have wal marts so i think ebay or my local tech store is the way to go (no flaming intended).

If you are a good worker, after you get all your parts then it will probablly take you about 4 weekends. If you are a procrastinator it will take you around 6 months, just estimating off of me.

Im a fairly competent guy. Im not a procrastinator, i am doing an Advanced Diploma at college .

All the parts you really need are: soldering iron, desoldering iron/desoldering pump, sponge/water, flux, dremel with cutting and drilling bits, wire stripper, and helping hands. Well, you don't need helping hands, but like the name says they help a lot.

Sweet! thats all the parts i really thought i needed, and i got (except for the desoldering pump).

You probably won't need anyones help, unless you need more money.

Yay parents!

It's easier to hold a light portable, but easier to build a bulky one.

Thought about that, but whichever is easier to build would me much more preferred.

$150 isn't gonna build you a portable in australia, unless you already have most of the parts. I think that evilteddy's costed $400.

I do have most of the parts, and im sure my college/parents could chip in .

Ben uses CNC equipment. You don't have to. Many people simply dremel their own cases or vaccum for them, more on that in this forum.http://forums.benheck.com/viewforum.php?f=13

Dremel seems the way to go for me. Im a bit of a arty person so ill most likely base it off a cartoon or manga or something.

You can leave all of it's ports on so that other people can play with you.

Nice! I was initally worried about it because some of the designs i saw, didnt have extra ports for other people.

3hrs of battery life is going to be pretty hard to get on a ps2. You should be happy with the 1.5hrs that you get.

Haha I thought it might. But as long as it can survive a car trip into town (20min on the bus), im not fussed! Ill leave it on AC power if its possible.

You don't really need to know how to read schematics, everyone on here is nice enough to make actual pictures

Yay! I saw some of the pics from other threads and i though "OMG... im doomed.."

Look around in that link I posted, there are most of the ways to make a case.

Ill do that at tafe

you have been a member since 2006, and you just heard of this place?

Yeah, in 2006, i signed up to everything that had PS2 or PS3 in its name. Lol... the immature days of my life..

God, I read your whole post in an Aussie accent.

Good luck!

I loled at that comment

[eurddrue]

3rd revision would make it smaller

you also don't neeeeed a desoldering bulb, it just helps

[dugec01]

3rd revision would make it smaller

you also don't neeeeed a desoldering bulb, it just helps

Ah ok. Like ive said before, i just want to make it portable, im not too fussed whether its big and bulky or light and fluffy.
Ive got to go to college in a couple of hours. Ill see if i can make a few drawings now or later if possible. I got a few good designs in my head

[collinE]

Nice. I'd like to see more ps2's made.

I think you could get by with one that's cheaper than 400 if you didn't mess up. If you take necessary precautions, you shouldn't have to worry. Problem is, we all get so focused on the project and make little slip ups, even the most experienced. Sometimes you fry a board and need a completely new one. that's where the high price comes from.

Good luck. Read as many relevant threads as you can, and then if you have any questions, we'd be happy to try and help.