The XNA kit history.

Kit History
Black background friendly will not work with white background

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Note* Inverted LED's = Red main outer LED's (when there is no error), Blue center LED, and Blue main outer LED's (when there is an error).
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Prototypes:

Version 1:

White case, No Sidecar, Gigabit Ethernet mounted through HDD shell, and inverted LED's

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Version 2:

White case, Black sidecar (appears dark blue in some lights), Gigabit Ethernet, and inverted LED's

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Version 3:

White case, Chrome XNA branded sidecar (always branded), Gigabit Ethernet, and inverted LED's
-They were to test the Gigabit Ethernet (later cut probably due to cost) and other features of the Finial XNAs, in addition during this time Microsoft didn't have the design of the case

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Version 4 (2009 Prototype XNA kits (GDC Kits)):

2009 prototype kits, had the case that would be used for the rest of the XNA kits life span, but the sidecar had the gigabit Ethernet as well as the cut out for it. They had cool stickers too.
They were practically version 3's with the new cool XNA blue design case and proper ROL.

-The Gigabit Ethernet port was taped on the back, to give a better representation of the final XNA the devs would get.

-Always has XNA logo/decals on sidecar and sometimes on the faceplate (for expos to promote their XNA program)

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Faceplate:

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Sidecar:
(cut due to 20 image limit, visit http://xnaclub.boards.net/thread/15/xna-history for full thread)

Taped Gigabit Ethernet ports at GDC 2009

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(second image cut due to 20 image limit, visit http://xnaclub.boards.net/thread/15/xna-history for full thread)

You can see the green led in this picture that the Gigabit Ethernet board produces (sorry for bad quality) :
(cut due to 20 image limit, visit http://xnaclub.boards.net/thread/15/xna-history for full thread)

Another difference between the Expo 09 and Expo 10 kits would be the kit information sticker having more info on the 10.
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"FINAL" Kits:

XNA EXPO development kit (EXPO Development Kit):

-Blue ring of light
-Full development kit
-Blue chrome on sidecar and on the dvd/eject bezel
-Always has XNA decals on the sidecar and sometimes on the faceplate (to promote their XNA program at expos)
-XNA Dev kits without the expo faceplate are called "XNA Dev Tribal Kits"

XNA Dev Expo with Expo faceplate:

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XNA Dev Expo without Expo faceplate - sent to developers:

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XNA EXPO test kit (EXPO test kit):

-Green ring of light
-Test kit
-Greenish chrome on sidecar and on the dvd/eject bezel
-Always has XNA decals on the sidecar and sometimes on the faceplate (to promote their XNA program at expos)
-XNA Test kits without the expo faceplate are called "XNA Test Tribal kits"

XNA Test Expo with Expo faceplate:

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XNA Test Expo without Expo faceplate - sent to developers:

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XNA Final development kit - sent to developers:

-Blue ring of light
-Full development kit
-Blue chrome on sidecar and on the dvd/eject bezel
-Never had XNA logos on sidecar and on the faceplate

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XNA Final test kit - sent to developers:

-Green ring of light
-Test kit
-Greenish chrome on sidecar and on the dvd/eject bezel
-Never had XNA logos on sidecar and on faceplate
(Better images here)

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More information:

-GDC 2009 prototype kits to XNA final/EXPOs kits all came in the dark blue/purple case with the xshell lines there were NO BLACK CASES

-The extra 512mb of RAM was never stored on the sidecar, it is always under the board.

-The gigabit board produces a green LED towards the back of the console (the light can be seen in one of the pictures at the GDC 2009 prototype section)
The gigabit board can also produce a yellow LED for unknown reasons.

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http://www.assemblergames.com/forum...nt-Kit&p=563872&viewfull=1#post563872

http://www.assemblergames.com/forum...nt-Kit&p=563732&viewfull=1#post563732

-Jasper was the only motherboard used in an XNA kit. They would always be Jasper prototype boards that had the orange SMC light near the HDD port. Also want to add they are all BB (Big Blocks).
* Big Blocks are either 256mb or 512mb
(not gonna lie I saw someone say one was a falcon...).

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-GDC stands for game development convention

-(2011-2012 around when XNA program ended, is when EXPOS were being repurposed) Some expo kits would be sent to devs with the XNA faceplate removed that said ‘XNA’ and they would give it the normal XNA faceplate with no branding, but the sidecar will still have the branding.

-XNA Sidecar (besides the prototype versions 1,2,3 and 4 which had the gigabit Ethernet port) only have DVD emulation (pix is there, but it is covered by the plastic sidecar shell)
Image of XeDK's console; someone modified the sidecar to expose the pix port.
*The USB-SPI Flasher in the below image was custom added, they are not on the sidecars*

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-Both XNA final and expo sidecars (all of them) have the cut out for the gigabit board in the metal chassis as well has the riser for the gigabit board (third board).

-Stickers:

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Version 1s: got stickers that said: "Not For Sale Beta Only JADK EV2", usually located on the lower right on the top panel of the case. They also got a info sticker that was different from the ones expo kits got and to the ones version 4s got, as it had more/different information.

Version 2s: got stickers that said: "Not For Sale Beta Only JADK EV2", usually located on the lower right on the top panel of the case. They sometimes got a sticker on the facpelate under the bezel with system information. They also got a small square sticker on the facplate above the usb door but off centered. No info sticker.

Version 3s: [unknown]. Something maybe related to "JADK3"

Version 4s: The info sticker is different on version 4 XNAs compared to XNA tribal kit info stickers and the info stickers that appear on version 1s, as it includes more/different information about the kit. They sometimes got a sticker on the facpelate under the bezel with system information.

"Finals" Tribal (Expos) and Finals: Tribals are the only "final" XNAs that got the info sticker. But, not all Tribal kits got the sticker (see below). Finals Never got the sticker in the first place.

You will find some kits without the sticker, that is because:
*Unit never got it in the first place.
*Hardware dev takes sticker off before shipping console(s) to game developer(s).
*Game Developer(s) removes it.
*Person in scene removed sticker
*Ewate/ebayer removed due to not knowing any information about it.

-Applies to all XDKs, depending on your development type that being a dev or a test, the background in xshell will be different (use a non-blade dash recovery)
Test kits having a grey background
Dev kits having a blue background
if you edit the xlaunch.fdf file you will see "bg image test" and "bg image dev"

-GDC kits came out in 2009, so it's possible that the other prototypes came out in 2008. I mentioned earlier, that GDC kit's are just version 3 prototypes with the new design case, I'm guessing they waited until 2009 to show it off at the 2009 GDC expo.

-My theory on the branding on some XNA kits:

Here is a video showcasing/discussing the XNA dev kit; Video created by Drahcir.


Here is a video showcasing/discussing the XNA test kit; Video created by Drahcir.


XNA EXPO Dev and Test Side By Side:


If any of you have anymore information about XNA kits that I did not list, please PM me, thanks.

 

Awesome guide, didn't realize there was quite so much variation.

Im curious though, I know that certain ones were used at Expos and whatever. Were they ever used for anything (officially) outside of that? In otherwords, should we consider it "GDC Era" or simply "Used at GDC?" Any dates available on more of these?

Any major advantages over a Slim XDK other than usually looking cool?

 

Your post was caught by the spam system. You might find your posts don't show up straight away. If that happens, just sit tight and a moderator will get round to approving your posts. If they notice ;-)

Thanks for the comparisons!

Borman - I approved your post, too lol. Slightly overzealous spam system! ;-)

 

Thanks, Borman!

1) Good question, in my opinion I think it is "simply used at GDC". I'll get some manufacturing dates for you in a litte, cause XNAs would be at conventions from 2009 - 2011; but in 2012 - late 2011 when XNA ended I would think they stopped putting XNA logos on all together. That is why many if not all (besides proto XNAs) XNA expos kits have the mfr year 2010.
2) No real difference besides the obvious.

 

Wich guide? spam filter? im curious for that guide or history

 

Think something happened to it cause it was up just fine earlier today...
Maybe an admin can see if they can fix it somehow?

 

Every time the OP edits the post, it'll get moderated as it has links.

Solution - don't edit it until you have more posts

 

I see it atm, so nice wanna touch. Great work Lehvak, and hope we find more nice details.

 

added two videos showcasing/discussing the XNA dev and test!
thanks drahcir

 

Very in-depth, great documentation!

 

Some very nice information,a mod should definitely sticky this.

 

New updated history can be found here:
http://xnaclub.boards.net/thread/15/xna-history

 

Nice history about the XNA its a beautiful kit

 

update: ported most from the information from XNA club
but i had to remove some images due to 20 image limit

 

added and corrected info

 

I would give every 360 I have including my kit for one of these LOL

This is a great write up and collection of information, thank you!

 

I remember the whole debate with the 512mb of ram added to the kit instead of the sidecar.

 

I agree with what ever is contrary.

 

There's a few of the ROL's that are inverse,
Red when running, green during Error.

I had a XNA prototype with a blue ROL.
The motherboard had the extra gb and a few extra cables hanging out the sidecar. I'm sure there's a ton of pictures floating of them.

 

Yes I'm aware of them, I had an argon ROL that was inverse with red while running and green when error. But this is XNA history and prototype XNA's only got ROL that were inverse with blue and red, not green and red.

Do you have pictures of the 1-gb unit with wires coming out the sidecar?