Looking for more info on creating an Alpha XDK

Does anyone know what case was originally used for these? I seem to remember years ago someone saying what case it is, but I can't remember.

I'd be interested in trying to build one in the future just for fun when I have the time.

I do wonder about the graphics card requiring 'solder' modifications though, is the graphics card some sort of prototype or pretty much just a retail unit? I know there are differences, but don't know if it was specifically produced for this application.

I think the sound card is going to be quite tricky, I doubt many AMR sound cards ever existed, so finding one now would prove difficult, especially one that is compatable?

 

The video card in the Alpha 1 seems to be an NV15, and NV20 in Alpha 2, but I can't confirm this. I don't know if there were any differences hardware wise compared to a retail...yet. I've not yet spotted anything crazy in the kernel that makes a normal NV20 seem incompatible. The kernel does a simple check to see if the hardware DeviceID is below 150 (150 was the device of NV15, I believe). If it is below, it spits out the message of being too old.

1. D3D:004281F9 cmp [ebp+var_102], 150h
2. D3D:00428202 jnz short loc_428210
3. D3D:00428204 push offset aMpNoVideoOutpu ; "MP: No video output because you are usi"... // "using an outdated video card" ... or something on the lines of that (I forget)

This is from Alpha 2 kernel.

 

I wonder if the exact graphics card model does exist and retail form? If it does it should surely be as simple as to flash the bios?

Does anyone have a download link for the files? I didn't get them before the links died, a couple seem kind of live, but I don't have permission to download them? hmmm.

Kl0wn, have you flashed the motherboard bios, or just the graphics card?

 

There are so many different revisions of graphics cards, I'd bet that it does exist. But I don't know that for a fact.

You're right, those files are down again...Does someone not want us using them? :sorrow: I can't get you them until I'm home.

I've flashed the motherboard bios to the exact version that the alpha kits I've seen use. It's just a normal bios released by intel. I've also flashed the graphics card.

 

http://www.assemblergames.com/forum...y-and-SDK-May-2001-3521-1&p=649346#post649346

Hope that helps.

 

mmmmm symbols with the kernel ...
Too bad I forgot to get any blank dvds/cds so I'll have to wait until tomorrow to really debug this. Progress shall happen soon.


Thanks

 

Told you it was good stuff

 

http://i.imgur.com/GjyDapJ.jpg

Now to figure out USB input...

No audio card, btw.

sorry for the mess

 

Glad that helped

 

Can't even get my card to work in a "normal" pc. Assuming it's dead, however, I have no idea if I can just use a normal xbox controller converted to pc usb to work with this or not. Anyone have any input on that?

 

Yep, normal Xbox controller with a USB breakaway like you'd use on the PC works perfectly. It's what I use, even now that I have a hammerhead. Both the controller S and the Duke work fine.

 

This ran on my "Alpha" xbox without any hardware or software hacks. I was unable to get USB to work. I'm pretty sure my card came DOA. I've ordered two more USB cards to try.

 

Great work guys, keep it up!

 

I've been wondering if there were some exaggerations made when it comes to getting things to work. At least we're one step closer

 

I don't know why the earlier XDKs would not work, nor do I care right now. I can see how using other hardware will throw out errors though.

I won't have any USB ability for a few days but going to try to patch the kernel tonight to force it to format my drive with the recovery to see if dash boots okay, which it should. I'm also going to throw a lot of other hardware at it to see what it will and won't work with.

So far I can confirm that it will boot without a USB card and without audio.

 

At some point, Ill pick up some bits and bobs and see what happens when we mix and match the alpha hardware, see what is really necessary. Unless you get yours working 100%

 

Got the Xircom replacement as mentioned earlier and it's working fine. I can control the XDK, and connect to it over ethernet. I'll get a video up later, for those who care. Now if only I had some games to run on it =)

I also used some generic, no name USB card with the same chip as the Xircom and it is also working just fine. OPTi 82c861

 

there was some alpha games uploaded a while.... simpsons road rage and dark summit i think

 

Found a mirror, trying now.

 

Yep, I uploaded those two.