My first GCp

[Duhasst0]

I have been working on a portable game cube for a while now, and figured I should post some of my progress. Basically going frankencase from an old hp external cd burner. Here are some pics.

Top of my portable getting ready for holes


Using all for player ports


Front side where the controls will go and the screen


Where everything will go inside


Backside where I have the bike cut out for the fan


Motherboard rev a I believe, in the chassis of the old cd burner insides.

To side of the motherboard.

I am waiting on a screen and my batteries to get here. I also managed to kill a couple of my regs but it was my first time using such devices. So I have to order those as well. My wiring is almost done. Mainly just putting the holes in the places they need to go and put it together.

I don't have a name for this portable either, but since it was made from an old hp cd burner, maybe something related to that. Although it's getting covered with paint and I might etch something in the plastic.

[emu_kidid]

nice heatsink

[Duhasst0]

Thanks emu, have you used the same? Do you know a good way to mount this fan to my gc.

[emu_kidid]

No I haven't used it before. I've never had to extend the heatsinks I've used to fit over the screw holes so I've gotten off easy. I'm sure there's a nice way to do this though.

[Duhasst0]

Oh well question stands tho if any one has any info on how to mount this please let me know. Thanks, but I might be able to do this just really gotta think.

[SNEAKxxATTACK]

I've heard people using the thermal paste around most of the area of the chips that are covered by heatsink, then superglue on the rims of the chips.

[public-pervert]

There are a little thickness diference between the CPU, GPU and RAMs, that's why nintendo puts the thick thermal pads. I'd stick to the original pads and put some piece of plastic or something between the heatsink and mobo, and then put some superglue or epoxy to secure everything.

[Duhasst0]

Hmm I don't know about all that. I don't like the idea of epoxying the heat sink to the board. Maybe I will mount it to the lid so that when I put the motherboard over top it will clamp down on it and it won't move. Maybe even epoxy it to the lid.

[Duhasst0]

Ok so I got my screen, batteries, pcb, charger, and extra controller board today. I messed up a couple Regs like a week ago so those are on the way. Putting some work in on the case to get the holes cut. But after that, it's all wiring and testing.

[megalomaniac]

what the hell is that big hunky white box?
GC mainboard looks so small in comparison...

[Duhasst0]

Xbox 360 case

[megalomaniac]

360.....thats a big bitch

[Duhasst0]

Yeah that is a big bitch. First gen 360 was huge. Almost done with this gcp really. The batteries i got were from a guy on mr and I guess he had them wired to something. I will go thru and mess with that, then cut my holes buy some more epoxy and some plastic filler and be done.

[Duhasst0]

So I really have only gotten a chance to just build an audio amp for my gcp. Been doing alot of mental placing of batteries, pcb, wkf, external memory card slot, 4 player sockets, a/v out, power switch. But I think this is going to turn out pretty good.

Audio amp before I cut it off


After I cut the amp off the bread board

[Duhasst0]

Did a whole bunch of cutting and case work. Unfortunately the epoxy I bought was old and hard so I have to take it back and get some new. I couldn't put any epoxy on the case to keep the controller front in so I have it hot glued in the corners for now. Drilled out the holes for av out and an external memory card port and wkf port.

Front of the case with lcd frame and controller waiting for epoxy.


Oh yeah my regs came in so those are installed and ready for power.


Using a full sized controller board since it's going to fit.


Memory Card av out and wkf ports


Wired my pcb for the batteries up. So far just have the charging port soldered straight to the board. I will be getting a switch so that I can have play and charge.


Waiting on 3ds sliders and for funds for plastic filler, paint and clear coat. So all this week when I have free time I will be wiring everything together.

[Duhasst0]

So haven't gotten around the to motherboard yet, work sucks. I did get some of the casework done tho. Got some epoxy in there. Got it everywhere cause it was thinner than what I was using at first. I will be going back to that other one for sure. Getting bondo later on to fill in any gaps and smooth everything on the front and back. I have been doing alot of thinking on how I was going to attempt the shoulder buttons and the analog part. I have a really good idea. My first idea would have worked if the button actually had legs. It would have been perfect too. Any way the pic I took off the epoxy didn't turn out and I'm really tired so I'm not going down there, more tomorrow.

Peace

[Duhasst0]

Alright, so I think my board may be just fine and I don't think I'm using a good wire or connection from when I solder my video wire. Then again I Maui have a short somewhere. Turned it on today after putting the heat sink fan on I have and it got pretty warm pretty quick in my opinion. But I could be wrong. I probably won't have time to do any work on her tonight either but I will try.

Anyway here is the front epoxied and ready for bondo.

[megalomaniac]

interesting to see how this turns out...
i like that little "recycled" case

[Duhasst0]

Ok so I am having some issues with my board. I am not getting any audio or video out. I haven't done much to it but take the ports out and wire power to it. I did wire the wkf but I removed it untill I can figure out wtf. I will post some shots of the board in just a few.









Dol cpu 10

Edit: 10 not 20

[Duhasst0]

So I looked over this board again, noticed quite a few missing components. Probably from my impatience before I started this log. But all markings looked to be for caps and I happen to have a board that may be popular has the worst fail rate. This board has a bunch of those kind of caps. Let's see if science is on my side today. I'm going to clean up the power port and try again

[Duhasst0]

Stock regs no video no audio. Last night wouldn't turn on, today I got it to turn on. Chips heat up, heat sink is turning. I have a feeling I'm missing something really easy.

[Duhasst0]

Trying to tidy the power area


Oh yeah video and the screen working.

What the wiring looks like now


Edit: I forgot to mention that I got my ds analog sliders in today. So tomorrow it's to radioshack to get the right kind of switch, a couple dc jacks, some resistors, maybe a pot or 2, and maybe something for a low battery circuit.

I also picked up some bondo, sand paper, more epoxy (the kind I liked better), and getting ready to paint my case. I think my other board may be ok, and I need a new multimeter. There was a fuse that came with the screen and it was the right rating. Tried it out, so messed up. That sucks but, Oh well.

[Duhasst0]

Decided on some case work tonight. So bondo and sanding, lots and lots of sanding. Although, I need to do more bondo, damnit. There are several places I just didn't fill very well. Plus it has been years since I messed with bondo and forgot how quick the stuff dries. Any way pics.




Also, I did a little controller work this morning but haven't taken any pics yet.

[Duhasst0]

Ok so doing more controller work, can't get the transistors to work but I don't have the bc 547 I have what radio Shack calls a general use transistor. Any way, did alot of case work too. Wired up my memory card extension, that works. Haven't done much other than that. But here are the pics.

Memory Card extension and internal memory cards working


Bondo work on the case


More bondo and primer on the other piece.


First coat of primer on the face the top piece has had like 3 already. Trying to get that now even coat.


More sanding with a lighter grit


Well that's it for now. Not much else to do but test the batteries and the audio amp, install the power switch I will be using, get the controller working, build the shoulder button locations, Mount everything in the case, and finish the paint.

[megalomaniac]

oh yea!!!
its looking great