Toubib has finally given in and is making a thread

Those posters...

 

Can I come over?

 

The cold has kept me indoors for the most part. So I've picked up a lot of side projects. Unfortunately between wrenching cars and fixing up watches, I haven't been able to document the video game hardware I've been modding. However, I did get a new SD card and I wanted to try out the camera, so this weekend I got to removing the old Xbox enemy, the clock capacitor that loves to fail and leak.

First up, our old friend, LT 2001 Xbox. I've already opened it up before, so no need to bring out the pitchforks. When I received it the DVD drive was dead so I had to replace it. I thought about doing the clock capacitor then, but from the view I had it looked "OK". Turned out I was wrong.


Here's a photo for documenting sakes for the LT2001 Xbox, looks like standard v1.0 board as far as I can tell (please note if you see anything different).


Here's the little bugger that tricked me! When I looked at it months ago, I was like "meh looks alright", turns out when I removed the motherboard, it was leaky leaky leaky.


And here's the damage. Not the worst one I've seen. But still. That is acid or alkaline on the PCB, on one of my most used console


More LT2001 documentation photos, again, I don't see anything un-natural, looks like the standard v 1.0 board. (Pretty happy about how clean this motherboard is considering its 15 years old now)


Bye Bye little bugger. I did the normal method thats been documented all over. I put some solder on the back of the motherboard where the capacitor is. Then heated up the newly soldered in solder to melt the old solder connected to the capacitors pins... and the capacitor comes right off when you do this method.


Here was the hard part. Removing all the old acid/alkaline. This was a strange leak because, almost none of the acid/alkaline got to the front of the motherboard, it all leaked on the 2 metal wires of the capacitor and went to the back of the board. I used some soft neutralizer and some rubbing alcohol, it came off clean after 20min of softly and carefully cleaning away.


Moment of truth... looking good.


Closed and cleaned up. Now this bad boy is ready to run another 15 years!

 

That would make for a good "GUIDE" sticky in the Original Xbox forums.

 

Agreed!

 

Hmmmm thats not a bad idea. I have other xbox's to do it on, so I may try it again on another xbox and make a little how to guide.

 

So Toubib.... When you gonna sell me that LT and duke......

 

In all my 20 years of PlayStation collecting... This console should have been the easiest to get. Unfortunately, it has not. It's been a 7+ year journey to get one of these. Not because there wasn't ample supply, but because of a long story...

Back in March of 2008 it was announced by Sony/Konami that there was going to be a U.S release of this Gun Metal MGS4 console. It was going to be the newer CECHH01 model of the Playstation 3. At the time, I wasn't too happy with the specs. This model was a 40GB and going to be one of the first PS3s w.o PS2 backwards compatibility. It's cost when new? A whopping $600! The same price as the launch PS3 60gb with backwards compatibility, and $100 more than the Black Metal Gear Solid 80GB PS3 bundle which was PS2 compatible (CECHE01 Model)

Call me crazy... but I thought getting 20gb-40gb less and losing PS2 playback seemed like a rip off at $600 (plus tax and shipping!), so I scoffed at the console and didn't look back. Apparently I wasn't the only one, this console didn't sell out... at all. For 3 months it was only available for purchase on Konami's website. Eventually after months of sitting around in October 2008 the last batches were liquidated on Amazon for $450, and then again for $400. (Old source)

As I got more into collecting 4 years ago, I grew a soft spot for this console. As it remains the only Limited Edition PS3 Fat console release in the U.S. All the other Fat PS3 Special editions were released in Japan or other parts of Asia. I started to look for used ones, but they held their value pretty well, and for the same-ish price I could get one of the Japanese special editions... so I did... which is how I ended up with the Yakuza PS3 console.

As I got into PS3 repair and modding, I learned the CECHH01 is actually a pretty reliable and robust console, much lower YLOD failure rate than the PS3 consoles before it. So, eventually 2 years ago I started looking again, and even bought one! When it arrived it was heavily damaged and abused. I had to return it was in such poor condition... As a matter of fact, a lot of the bundles I were finding were loose or in poor condition. And the ones that weren't were asking a fortune.

I finally stumbled on a happy medium the other week by mistake. And I'm glad to finally say I have this console in my collection.


It's nice to know that someone cared for this console, pretty much everything from new is still there. Wrappers, Papers, Manuals. It's like opening up a time capsule.


The included Blu-Ray disc was never opened... I can see why. Who wants to watch a Blu-Ray disc of just a bunch of trailers? lol


I was lucky in the fact the owner didn't sell the original MGS4 Limited Edition game, a lot of the bundles are missing the game. Also lucky the controller is in great shape. Painted PS3 controllers can wear pretty noticeably.


Good stuff inside:


The engraving at the bottom of the console, and a good look at the Gun Metal Color.


The full house:

 

What ruins it for me is the label at the bottom. Seems so out of place.

 

On the box? The white label that says "includes"? Bc yes I agree... no idea why they did that. lol

Now that you reminded me, I shoulda posted in the photos that the outside art isn't actually a box. Like a lot of LE consoles, it's actually a sleeve. Inside the sleeve is a white box that is the exact same dimensions as any other PS3 box, but without any writing on it.

 

No no, on the console it's self, bottom right. Ruins it mostly.

 

Ah, different floats for different boats. I love it, I think its great.... then again this is coming from the same guy who likes the Mountain Dew Xbox. lol. I wish they would of done more engraving to be honest.

 

I think the MD Xbox was pretty unique. Mine ended up being sold privately but someone on here ended up buying it anyway LOL.

 

Awesome to see you finally getting it after such a long time! I like the way the LE game opens up. I think you should post a group photo now of all your Playstation consoles.