My ideas for an xbox laptop media center

crazy_asylum · Post by **crazy_asylum** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 1:31 am

My plan is to convert my version 1.1 xbox into either a small box or possibly a laptop running either linux or xbmc. I am also debating whether or not to use a mod chip, and if i do ill be using the Xecuter3CE. the hard drive will be replaced with a 40-80gig 2.5" laptop drive and the disk drive will be removed. The psu will be replaced with the pw-200-v psu. and finally the heat sinks will be replaced with iceberg4 pro's. Also, something i really doubt will happen, but i have been thinking about upgrading the ram from 128mb to 256mb. but like i said, i highly doubt ill do it. Lastly, if i make it a laptop i will try to add batteries

parts list:
2 iceberg 4 pro heat sinks
1 2.5" lockable hd [40 - 80gigs]
1 pw-200-v psu
1 12v/5A AC-DC Power Adapter
1 sickmods atx to xbox psu converter
1 atx extender

optional:
1 lcd screen 7-12" widescreen
1-3 40mm fans
2 usb female ports
x3 mod chip

Edit: I have decided not to use a mod chip, instead i am in the process of flashing the TOSP chip with an xecuter 2 bios so i can run the box without a dvd drive.

Stage 1

[updated]design model v1.6 (drawn in autocad 2006)
small box designed to be converted into a laptop by adding the optional lid.

after some research i have found i can make it more slim
possible 3D model coming soon

lifeisbetterwithketchup · Tue Sep 09, 2008 2:36 pm

Sounds like a cool project.

I wouldn't bother upgrading the RAM; it's a pain in the butt, and not really worth it.

Joes2Silly · Post by **Joes2Silly** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 5:05 pm

By X3 modchip are you referring to the xecuter 3 or the DuoX3 ?

crazy_asylum · Post by **crazy_asylum** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 6:32 pm

the xecuter 3

evilteddy · Post by **evilteddy** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 4:32 am

DKap said that his xbox portable drew something like 50A from memory so keep that in mind when you come to shopping for batteries.

If you make a nice functioning xbox laptop then please keep good documentation I would love to see how its done.

Joes2Silly · Post by **Joes2Silly** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:02 pm

crazy_asylum wrote:the xecuter 3

Do you need a xecuter 3? Just get a cheapmod based chip like a DuoX2 or something

crazy_asylum · Post by **crazy_asylum** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 10:07 pm

Joes2Silly wrote:
crazy_asylum wrote:the xecuter 3
Do you need a xecuter 3? Just get a cheapmod based chip like a DuoX2 or something

no im just going to flash the tosp with an xecuter2 bios, as it enables the same things as a modchip, with just a lot more work. because all a mod chip does is replace the tosp flash chip, if i understand correctly.
once i finishing gathering all the files and such ill have that all squared away.

crazy_asylum · Post by **crazy_asylum** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 8:28 pm

well it seems i killed my xbox so this is on hold for at least a day or so until i get my next one... and hopefully ill be able to get my hands on a copy of 007 agent under fire or splinter cell for the exploit.

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 8:49 pm

crazy_asylum wrote:hopefully ill be able to get my hands on a copy of 007 agent under fire or splinter cell for the exploit.

I went to gamestop to get my copy of Splinter Cell, was 2 bucks used.

I've never used the game for anything other than the softmod, maybe I should play it...

evilteddy · Post by **evilteddy** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 6:14 am

[quote="vskid]I've never used the game for anything other than the softmod, maybe I should play it...[/quote]

You should I'm playing it at the moment and its a good game, though I think pandora tommorrow is better. My brother hates it though; you really need to spend some time getting into it.

Its a hate it or love it game.

crazy_asylum · Post by **crazy_asylum** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 1:40 pm

ok, so i fixed my 1.3 box with slayers 1.7 install disk and have xbmc as the dashboard with the x2 4981.06 bios and it now boots without the dvd drive.

i still have a lot of case work to do but i dont have any money to buy materials at the moment but im thinking of doing a clear acrylic plexiglass.

i was wondering if 1/8" would be thick enough because i want to keep the box as thin as possible

Killer_Rabbit · Post by **Killer_Rabbit** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 6:07 pm

This sounds like a very cool idea. I had been pondering doing something like this, but eventually I decided that I might as well just spend a similar amount of money on an Xbox 360. But anyway, that sounds like a good plan.

I do have one interesting thought:

I have heard that Compact Flash cards use the same interface as IDE, and that you can even just solder the pins to the wires in an IDE cable. But in any event, CF to IDE adapters are cheap, and pretty small. I'm betting that a CF card setup would be pretty small, and would leave you with room to move your batteries to move your batteries from the side to right on top of the motherboard, which would mean you could make the laptop smaller and thinner. 16GB and 32 GB cards are fairly cheap.

Then again, so are 120GB laptop hard drives. If you decide not to make this into a laptop, you might as well just use that.

evilteddy · Post by **evilteddy** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 10:37 pm

The only problem with CF cards is that they're slower than hard drives, more expensive and no one has ever gotten one to work well in an xbox. Using media centre I heard one person say that it took them 20 seconds to go between menus.