DIY modder transforms original Xbox into a 'portable' console using a soldering iron and angle grinder

The Unlikely Genesis of a Portable Powerhouse

In a feat that screams DIY ingenuity and a healthy dose of daring, a dedicated modder from the YouTube channel James Channel has achieved the seemingly impossible: transforming the original Xbox, a console famously described as “the biggest, heaviest, and most power-hungry console ever seen,” into a portable gaming device. While the aesthetic might lean more towards functional chaos than sleek design, with the revamped console held together by what appears to be an impressive amount of tape and glue, the visual impact is undeniably striking. Adding an almost theatrical flourish, an exposed DVD drive, spinning at a dizzying 10,000 RPM right at the heart of the contraption, conjures a sense of thrilling, albeit precarious, retro gaming.

From Shelf Find to Saw Project

The journey began with James retrieving an original Xbox from his collection, nestled amongst a veritable graveyard of other iconic, and some less so, gaming consoles in various states of disrepair. It quickly became apparent that this particular Microsoft behemoth was not in a condition to be immediately hacked apart. Before wielding the saw and adhesive, extensive repairs were necessary just to get the console back to its baseline functionality. Starting with a working unit, as James wisely notes, is crucial to avoid compounding the inherent complexities of a major modification with the headaches of troubleshooting a fundamentally broken machine.

Reimagining the Beast: A Symphony of Salvage

With the original Xbox resurrected, the dissection commenced. James meticulously stripped away unnecessary components and excess chassis material, meticulously shaping the console into a more manageable, portable form. But this ambitious project wasn't solely about cannibalizing the Xbox; it was a masterclass in resourceful repurposing. An old iPod dock, serving as the foundation for the screen and speakers, was integrated. The bulky 3.5-inch hard drive was replaced by a more compact Compact Flash solution, a testament to the pursuit of miniaturization. Even the iconic Xbox controllers weren't spared, being bisected and ingeniously reattached to the sides of the central screen and console unit, creating a unified, albeit unconventional, control scheme.

Overcoming Obstacles: The Trial of the Drives

The path to portable Xbox glory was far from smooth. The project experienced a significant lull, with James stepping away for nearly three weeks. Upon his return, he encountered a particularly frustrating hurdle: out of eight donor DVD drives purchased for the project, only a single one proved functional. Furthermore, a poorly crimped IDE connector added another layer of complexity. These trials and tribulations, however, ultimately culminated in the birth of his “portable monster,” a testament to perseverance against technical adversity.

The Verdict: A Glimpse of Portable Power, Briefly

In the final act, James put his creation to the ultimate test: booting up Halo on the portable Xbox. The results were… illuminating. The device managed a mere 9 minutes and 40 seconds of gameplay on a single charge. In comparison to today's portable powerhouses like the Steam Deck, which are true endurance champions, the original Xbox's portable iteration is more of a fleeting gaming sprint. It's worth noting that the modern gaming landscape does offer official Xbox-branded portable solutions, such as the Asus ROG Ally and Ally X, which are readily available for pre-order, providing a more refined and sustained portable experience.