Frankentop gets a GAME PORT!

Frankentop has spent the last month enjoying it's added storage. I've tested many things including leaving the second drive on and copying files for hours with minimal added heat. Today, Frankentop is getting an internal XBox connector from formerly XBox's donor parts.

This hack was a little messier than the first, apparently I didn't get enough coffee in me before setting off to begin cutting into the laptop case. That said, it doesn't look bad either so meh! :-D

First thing first, I've found that I have really great luck using a sheet of paper to track my screws as I take the laptop apart. You can see in the image that I have broken out various parts of the laptop and I've created boxes that I'll use to keep the screws in separate piles. This makes it really simple to quickly tear down a laptop and help you remember where those screws go later. Additionally, you can use scotch tape to keep them together incase you are worried about bumping them.

I took the second spare connector out of the parts bin, and I used the dremel with a cutting / grinding attachment to shave the plastic down to where the part looks like just another connector. I then cut out an area in the notebook where I was going to mount the connection. It just so happens that there is exactly enough room for the new connection right next to where I mounted the hard drive power switch in the creation of Frankentop last month. I interfaced the connection via USB as before, connecting red to +5v, white to Data -, Green to Data+, and Black to ground using the USB connection on the motherboard right next to the connection used for the hard drive. Pin 4 on the Xbox connector is unused, I just de-soldered the connection and left it. I used electrical tape to shield the computer from contact with the ground wire mesh and didn't bother to connect it to anything since the Xbox connection is plastic. I also routed the cables as before which allowed the laptop to be put back together without creating any internal pressure points. I put Frankentop partly together to test the connection, and FRANKENTOP LIVES! I've included multiple pictures for your enjoyment. What's next? Who knows, there's still plenty of space left inside this case, and I haven't even touched the screen area yet.

Stay tuned for more Frankentop "upgrades".