How to Turn Your Atari 2600 Into an XBox

The Atari 2600 was not only the first successful video game system to come out, but it also had a unique look that has not been matched since. Updating the 2600 by putting the electronics of an XBox 360 inside gives you the best of two worlds: the fake wood, boxy 50's shape of the 2600 and the updated video game abilities of an XBox 360. This work is not for the casual enthusiast and will change both the Xbox 360 and 2600 forever.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Atari 2600 game console
• Xbox 360 game console
• Dremel hand drill
• 1.25 inch cutting wheel
• 1 inch grinding wheel
• 1/4 inch drill head
• Nylon screws
• Nylon nuts
• Two small fans
• Strips of velcro
• Pliers
• Phillips screwdriver
• Flat edged screwdriver
• Wire cutters
• Crimper
• T8 Torx screwdriver
• T10 Torx screwdriver
• White glue
• Two Atari 2600 game cartridges
• Power button from IBM tower computer
• Power button from Gateway tower computer
• Long thin stick

Disassembly of Atari 2600 and XBox 360

1. Remove the power cord and any audio or video cables from the Atari 2600. Turn the Atari 2600 upside down and remove the four screws from the bottom. Turn the Atari 2600 right side up and pull off the top shell. Pull out the circuit board and other internal parts from the 2600 so all that is left is an empty shell.

2. Remove the power cord and any audio or video cables from the XBox 360. Put one hand inside of the door covering the USB ports while squeezing the top and bottom of the faceplate. Pull off the faceplate.
   
   Bend the gray ventilation shield at the right side so you can see inside. Use the long, thin stick to push through the white holes and dislodge the clips holding the tabs attached to a gray piece of plastic. Release the tabs so the gray piece of plastic comes loose. Press the button on the front of the console and then repeat the procedure on the left side to loosen the gray piece of plastic with the long, thin stick.

3. Turn the Xbox 360 upside down and pry off the four clips that hold the top sheet to the bottom of the console using the flat edged screwdriver. Lift off the top of the bottom shelf so you can see inside.

4. Use the Torx screwdrivers to remove the 14 silver screws and the eight black screws inside the console. Turn the console right side up and lift off the outer shell.

5. Find the Blu-ray drive and remove the screws holding it to the case. Remove the power and data cables by pulling them off. Pick up the Blu-ray drive and place it aside.

6. Remove the screws holding the circuit board to the bottom of the case. Pick up the motherboard and place it aside.

Placing the Xbox 360 into the Atari 2600

7. Cut out the screw mounts and other internal markings on the inside of the 2600. Put a bolt and several washers on the underside of the XBox 360 motherboard so it will stand off of the bottom of the 2600 case. Drill a hole in the bottom of the 2600 case so that the bolt can go through.
   
   Put the Xbox 360 motherboard into the Atari 2600 case facing backwards (i.e., the front of the motherboard facing the back of the inside of the 2600 case).

8. Cut a hole in the top shell of the Atari 2600 case. Hollow out two Atari 2600 games cartridges and mount them around the heat sink of the XBox 360 motherboard so that they go onto the two parts of the heat sink.
   
   Cut out a hole in the top of the Atari 2600 case to match up to the RF board. Build two supports for the RF board using bolts and nuts so that it can be secured to the top of the Atari case later through two smaller holes in the top of the case, and so the faceplate from the XBox 360 can be placed over the RF board.

9. Drill a hole in the front of the Atari 2600 case and insert the IBM tower button so that it lines up with the power button on the 360 motherboard. Drill another hole in the front of the Atari 2600 case and insert the Gateway tower button so that it lines up with the eject button for the DVD drive on the 360 circuit board.
   
   Cut open a hole on the front of the Atari 2600 that lines up with the IR port of the 360 inside. Take the purple IR light director from the faceplate and install it into the hole.
   
   Make small holes in the side of the Atari 2600 case to let the SATA and power/control cable exit the case. Cut additional holes from the cables to come out from the Memory unit, Ethernet, power and video out cables. Use the dremel to smooth out the holes.
   
   Drill holes in the back of the Atari 2600 case to accommodate the power cord and audio and video cables.

10. Cut vent holes in the side of the Atari case. Insert two fans side by side. Splice the power lines to a connector inserted into the Xbox motherboard.

11. Attach the power and data cables from the Blu-ray drive, which will be situated next to the Atari 2600 through the holes in the Atari 2600 case's back and into their corresponding connections on the motherboard. Close the Atari 2600 case and use Velcro pads glued on to keep the case together. Plug in the power cord and attach the audio and video cables to use your new Xbox 360 Atari 2600.

Tips & Warnings

• Work in a clean and well lit environment that is free of dust. Wear an anti static strap to keep static electricity from damaging the components that are being taken out of the Xbox 360.
• Opening up and removing parts from the Xbox 360 voids the warranty. Microsoft or an authorized dealer might refuse to do a needed repair on the console later, even if you put all the parts back in.

References

• The Atari-Xbox 3600
• Xbox 360 Exposed

Resources

• Welcome to the Atari History Museum