Evilkeo's Threesixty2go Worklog, it has begun! Options

[evilkeo]

well, i'm still gathering all the stuff i need, but i've gotten most of it. here's a mockup of how i think it's going to work out.









this is an xbox 360 that i'm modding into an aluminum carrying case. i hope for it to fit the 360, a screen, the psu, and a wireless controller at the least. if i can squeeze another controller in there, that'd be cool. i'm still debating about the screen. i have an old 5 or 7 inch(can't remember) tft screen with speakers that i could install, but i also have a 15" lcd monitor that i could throw in there. i'd like to to the monitor, but i don't know if i'd have room for speakers. i have a 17" that i need to replace the backlight on that i thought about putting in there, but it's a few millimeters too big for the top of the case.

i hope to make the entire thing look like an ordinary case for the most part. i have an xbox backpack with a big X on it and it just screams "STEAL ME!". there are some things i will have to overcome:

HEAT- this is a big one, but i think i can take care of it
space- i really want 2 controllers in there, but it won't fit with the psu in there
also not sure if the psu should stay in the case when playing- may overheat
speakers- if i use the monitor, can i/will i install speakers
RF- will the 360 still pick up the controllers when it's shoved where it is

anyways, let me know what you think! oh, and the buyer i had for the case backed out and it's up for sale again in the 360 fs forum.

This post has been edited by evilkeo: Jan 4 2006, 07:22 AM

[ferrari_rulz_02]

well i agree that heat is your worst enemy. how exactly do you plan on combating it?

[Videogamebuyer14]

Eh the case on the 360 is too nice to stuff this into a box.

Yeah, with the old one I could see it happening, but not the new one.

[D33z]

ehh, to each his own, but I agree. I'm not sure you can handle the heat w/ the psu in there. Those things run hot. Unless you cut out holes in your aluminum box and install the fans and ducts to the cpu maybe. Dunno, but you'll have issues with heat for sure. You might also be able to take the psu outta the case and lay down some sort of insulate between the case and psu, then position fans around it. You can also splice your power cord to get rid of all of the excess, just leave enough for a maintenance loop. Anyways good luck.

[evilkeo]

eh, call it add, but i'm already tired of windows and leds.
yeah, i don't think i'll be playing with the psu in there. that'll at least get rid of one source of heat. i do plan to have at the very least vents in the case and extra fans. sure, it may end up sounding like a jet engine on redbull, but oh well
my 360 hasn't overheated yet and i've left it on overnight a couple times. i have the second gen psu, so that should help too. i do plan to have a barrier between the 360 and the storage compartment. i also plan to have the cover to the 360 be easily removable during gameplay if needed. i considered trying to shorten the psu cable, but if i decide it's one of the things that goes out of the case during gameplay, then i probably won't do it.
anyways, i plan to get everything in with some basic cooling precautions, see where i stand, and then mod accordingly. wish me luck

[Areohbe]

what if you mount the psu outside the case...

[evilkeo]

permanently mounting the psu outside the case sort of defeats one of my goals- i want it to still look almost like a normal case when closed. though, having mounts for it to clip to when you're playing sounds like a cool idea.

[mastersloth]

Yeah, if you store the PSU inside the case when transporting/not using then have some sort of way of mounting it outside of the case when playing, that would be cool. Maybe use some sort of removable clips on the opposite side to the one with the handle in. Then you could atatch them and clip on the PSU while in play, then detach them while your not .

As for the console itself, you could face it so that the exhaust fans are against the edge of the case, add a small duct to channel the air out a hole cut in the side covered over with some mesh to blend in with the case. You could use a grill or something, but i think mesh would fit in with the case better. Then you could do the same for the air intake.

As for space, i'm not so sure. Doing what D33z said about the cable would free up some space. Would there be more space if you rotated the 360 90degress so that there is more space infront of it?

Hope this helps

This post has been edited by mastersloth: Jan 4 2006, 06:29 PM

[majorx2]

Turn your xbox so it faces the controller and drill holes on the side for the fans, and maybe put bigger fans in there. Use velcro for your psu and im thinking put a fan ontop of it and bondo it in. Also for the spearkers, it looks like you have an inch to work with so find some small, but powerfull speakers and maybe make a cas type thing to rest on the 360 and mount the speakers as close to the board as possible.

[ferrari_rulz_02]

ok, how about thsi for an idea:

the psu can go next to the xbox motherboard, held down with velcro for easy removal. but over the top, put a clear perspex lid, held down by clips or something. maybe even hinge it with some clips so that the psu can come out easily.

for cooling it, put some vents or holes on opposite sides. a fan (sor two) close to one side sucking the air from across the mobo and out again will be the best cooling choice. if the lid can seal resonably tight (doesnt have to be air tight, but should allow lots of airflow), then you can create a vaccum, which will aid ventilation and cooling heaps.

this configuration would allow for it to run reasonably cool (depends on how much air your vents will pass), and allows for heaps of lighting mods, as there is one HUGE window in it.

[Areohbe]

He wants to put in a screen, up in the lid. So he won't be closing it when he plays...and where is the perspex lid going??

[Zero_Cool]

well first of all, looks awesome, if i had the case, id probably do it myself lol, my ideas, first of all, if possible, pull the mobo out of the case, allows for more air flow just build a plexi cover over it, if you wanna store controllers then you could make "cubbies" to hold them the only issue with that is it may restrict air flow in the next part, second of all, set up a wind tunnel, with two fans on the left blowing inwards, across the mobo, and two on the right blowing out. Have the psu directly mounted to the inside, but cut out the back of the case so the whole back end of the psu sticks out, allowing for the back fan to suck in the air it needs, and then at the front have it blow the air out right into one of your previously mentioned output fans, as far as heat, while playing, the top will be open making the psu's positioning no different than if it were outside of the case, i dunno, maybe if i get bored ill mock up a photoshop or a really shitty 3d model of my idea but anyways thats my ideas, enjoy! gl looks great!

[ferrari_rulz_02]

He wants to put in a screen, up in the lid. So he won't be closing it when he plays...and where is the perspex lid going??

the perspex lid would sit ontop of the mobo, just clearing it. thsi would allow for great lighting mods, and also means you can put things ontop of it if you wish (extra leads?).

[NEUROMODS]

I don't get the point of doing this unless it's truly portable. This is just an Xbox 360 thrown in a case that will have a TV built in. It still has to be plugged in to play, will be heavy to carry and not very portable. I can do this by throwing my Xbox 360 into my laptop case and taking my portable DVD player with me connecting it to it.. Much smaller and more portable.

[ferrari_rulz_02]

I don't get the point of doing this unless it's truly portable. This is just an Xbox 360 thrown in a case that will have a TV built in. It still has to be plugged in to play, will be heavy to carry and not very portable.

well the thing is, a battery to play it off that will last for any reasonable amount of time would be as big as a car battery, and weigh 20 odd kg's.