How to Build an Xbox 360 in a Computer Case

The Xbox 360 becomes very hot during use. Overheating can cause the game console to shut down and require a trip to the service center for repair. You can keep the Xbox 360 from overheating by taking it out of its case and building a new case for it inside of a computer case. The computer case will not only offer more room for the Xbox 360’s motherboard to “breathe,” but you can install a fan to keep the motherboard cool during use. The process is not complicated, although you must be careful not to damage the Xbox 360’s motherboard when putting it into the computer case.

Taking Xbox 360 Apart

Put the soft cloth down on a table. Remove all cables from the Xbox 360. Put the Xbox 360 down on the soft cloth. Squeeze the top left edge of the faceplate and pull up on the port door at the bottom. Wiggle the faceplate free of the case. Remove the faceplate. Grab the hard drive door and pull it off the Xbox 360. Use the Phillips-head jeweler's screwdriver to remove the hard drive door from the hard drive.

Insert the thin stick in the vents on the right side to release the plastic insert. Press the "Power" button. Repeat the process on the left side.

Turn the Xbox 360 face down. Lift the bottom shelf and remove the screws with the Torx screwdriver. Return the Xbox 360 upright. Unscrew the back panel with the Torx screwdriver.

Lift the top shell off of the bottom case of the Xbox 360 and put it aside. Remove the screws from the metal shield using the Torx screwdriver. Use the Phillips-head jeweler's screwdriver to remove the screws from around the DVD drive. Lift the DVD drive up and pull the power cord and the ribbon connector out from the back. Put the DVD drive aside.

Use the Phillips-head jeweler's screwdriver to remove the screws from around the motherboard. Pull the "Power" button free from the bottom case. Wiggle the motherboard free from the bottom case. Put the motherboard down on the soft cloth.

Installation

Open the computer case. Insert the DVD drive into the optical drive bay of the computer case. Attach a power cord extension cable to the power cord plug on the back of the DVD drive. Attach a ribbon connector extension cable to the back of the ribbon connector plug on the back of the DVD drive.

Insert the hard drive into one of the drive bays in the computer case. Attach the power cord from the drive bay into the power connector on the hard drive. Attach a ribbon connector extension cable to the ribbon connector plug on the back of the hard drive.

Attach the ribbon connector extension cable from the DVD drive to the DVD ribbon connector extension cable on the motherboard. Attach the ribbon connector extension cable from the hard drive to the hard drive ribbon connector extension cable on the motherboard.

Insert the fan computer card into a computer card bay. Attach the power plug from the computer card bay into the power connector on the fan computer card. Attach a power cord from one of the drive bays to the power connector on the motherboard.

Route the "Power" button from the motherboard into the open "Power" button hole on the front of the computer case. Use silicone paste to hold the button in position. Let the silicon paste set. Close the computer case. Plug the power plug into the computer case.