My attempt at making a cool useful and fun original Xbox system.

Wish I knew why some boards don't like the upgrade. I just know I'm not the only one with this problem. As for compatibility, best to find the same part number as what is on the board. I did during my attempt. The chips have a number at the top and bottom. The top one is the part number and the bottom is a date code. Only the part number matters. Generally the boards don't care but some do and won't work without matching chips. Also, you can't use the RAM from a 1.6 board. Something about it is different enough to not work in 1.0 to 1.5 boards.

 

Thanks. I have a chipped xbox with the xecuter 3 chip and that is definitely an upgrade I would like to do but not sure if I might have the same issue as you. What was the cost of the ram?

 

I never had a RAM upgrade fail... But I aways tried to match the chips which I installed with the ones that existed already the best I can...

 

Total cost for new chips was $25 (USD) shipped.

 

More news. The 750GB drive I was planning to use won't be making it in anymore. Save it for another Xbox project that will be turning a craptastic 1.6 board I have into a cool little NAS.

The Seagate 2TB drive is now on order. got it for $121 and change new in box shipped. Yay for FleaBay auctions.
Still no sign of the 128MB 1.4 board.
Got the ATA133 cable and the SATA to IDE adapters in. Both tested and show working.

Since I'm waiting to get the new board before I can move on I'll be turning my sights to a cool little side project. Xbox NAS. Take a 1.6 model I have and turn it into a cool little NAS with upwards of 4TB space. It'll stay on 24/7 run Linux to allow for 2 HDD at same time, both drives will be 2TB in size, and have a Duo X3 clone chip for alternate BIOS. No need to make a worklog of it unless some of you here want to see how I do it since Linux will need some configuring. BTW, the Linux I think will be XDSL since I don't know of any alternatives...

 

While a cool idea, it seems pointless. Its more work and will take more power than a dedicated nas. Hell, you could repurpose a router and it will likely do a better job and cost less both in equipment and power usage

 

True. But at the same time I'd have to find a compatible router, USB drives, and delve into the unknown (for me) territory of Open WRT or Tomato firmwares unless I got a more expensive one that has drive hosting built in from the factory.

This way all I really need are the drives since I have IDE cables, the 1.6 console, the SATA to IDE adapters, and the modchip on hand. I also have the stuff to make a splitter for the molex power cable not to mention I know the Xbox inside and out now and it's fun to hack stuff up. With the router method I'd just be flashing firmware (if I even have to) and plugging USB drives in. With this I actually "get my hands dirty" with the hard mods.

So in the end with the stuff I have on hand this way may end up being cheaper at the moment. Not counting the cost of the stuff when I got it since most of it was years ago. Data transfer speed is no concern. And I don't have to worry about an electric bill thanks to where I live so power consumption in a moot point for me.

 

You have to delve into the unknown of open WRT, but linux on the xbox is OK?

=/

 

I've dabbled with Linux so I know it better than WRT...

Besides, loving the Android OS means I HAVE to use Linux or else I'll be hated by everyone.

 

Kind of off topic:
Android is to Linux as a moped is to a car.

 

OpenWRT = Linux

However, I dont see the big deal about doing this with the xbox for "getting hands dirty"

You are installing linux, then sharing a drive. This is pretty basics, which is why I see it as pretty pointless. If you are doing something for the hell of it, to get your hands dirty and learn something - surely the openwrt route that you arent familiar with, will gain you more knowledge?

Which is why I am confused.

Xbox:
Simple to do
Noisy
Power hungry

Router:
Something you dont know
quiet
Not power hungry.

Can get a openwrt router for next to nothing too. Probably find someone who has one to give away.

 

Really? Damn. But I have what I have so I'm sticking with it. Besides, why follow the crowd with what is commonly done when I can be different? I don't like following "the normal way" for all things...

 

router nas is hardly commonly done. However, the xbox is pretty terrible for doing anything custom - because there are a million devices better, smaller and quieter.

Raspberrypi, etc etc etc

I am all for pimping xboxes, but really only for when they are still going to be playing xbox games. For all other uses (xbmc, coinops, router, what ever) - there are better, faster, quieter alternatives.

Which is a shame, because if you look into my early history of this nickname (on forums at least) - I was big into xboxes

 

The XBox is still a pretty cheap media server overall but as soon as you want 720p video you're pushing the limits of the thing without dropping some serious money on it making its former cost effective nature into something wasteful.

But in terms of serving your media and heating a small apartment? Bueno.

 

Raspberry pi - $35 or so, does HDMI and HD.

Cant see any reason to use an xbox for that anymore.

 

$35 extra dollars I'd have to spend that I wouldn't with the Xbox I already have. then there's the SATA to USB adapters I'd need as well when I already have SATA to IDE adapters that work on the Xbox. HDD cost would be about the same regardless of what method I take. I don't need HDMI or HD video for this. With the Xbox method all I need is the drives and nothing more cost wise. Your move.

 

what i want to see is the xbox finished and also it hovering around like an evil skybase

 

It depends on how much your time is worth to you, if you have a lot of free time then the Xbox might be the better choice (although not exactly cost effective as the R-Pi in terms of power/long run). Not to mention you have to fart around with Xbox Linux which can be akin to pissing patterns in snow.

 

I like a challenge and the power consumption is of no concern since I don't pay an electric bill.

Guess I'll just shutup now since so many of you are against this...

 

Dont take offense, its hardly like it matters what I say if you want to do it - its just discussion.

however:

Mod xbox, sell it, buy pi, have better setup and pocket the difference.

However, you are picking on the raspberry pi - which was in response to APE and his media player. Your nas - free router from someone on internets, sell xbox, buy usb adapter - pocket even more money.

np