(WIP) New modchip coming in

Thanks for the advice. I think I'll go back to SeeedStudio's service anyway. I ordered PCBs there many times. Never had any issue.

OSH park is great but a little expensive especially if you're not in the US. I kind of want 10 copies. First of all to test stability across multiple boards on my own but also to eventually send sample units to a select group of testers. I don't have all Xbox revision and certainly no Debug/Development/Beta kits.

If people are interested to buy my work, I must make sure that it's working just fine on every revision! I know there's not much chance a certain revision won't work but I prefer to be cautious.

Well I was disapointed a little because I would have had lot of time to work on it during my vacation. Like I said, I still have the previous revision of the PCB so at least I can still work on the OS.

This also gives me the opportunity to try and add another feature: TSOP split control for 1MB TSOP. I wondered about this, that it might be possible to control A18 and A19 TSOP lines within the OS to configure a splitting configuration; either 2-way or 4-way. Booting options would reflect the settings the user configured. Of course this would be only possible on 1.0/1.1 motherboards. Options would be hidden on other revisions.

I like the name you found, classy! I had time to think about it myself and I thought about XBlast which could either be pronouced X-Blast or XB last as it's probably the last "brand" of modchip the Original Xbox will ever see.

I really don't know what I'll do when I go into production. Turn key services to manufacture and assemble PCBs are quite expensive when you pay from your pocket... I don't think this thing will be that popular to sell enough units for me to recover all the money spent. I don't expect to produce 1000s of units. Maybe 100-200? Most people are satisfied with what they have, either it be modchips, TSOP flash or softmods.

Well as I just wrote, I'm not fixed on the name but please do! I suck at graphics and all this stuff. I code software for embedded systems and that's what I like. Still, I'm happy to read that someone wants to get involved this way!

If you want to tinker, you can always download check the source code of either cromwell or Gentoox Loader, in the "pics" folder for backdrop.jpg. It contains icons and backdrop.

Cromwell jpg can be loaded from there : https://github.com/not404/cromwell/blob/master/pics/backdrop.jpg

Gentoox Loader source is compressed and found here : http://sourceforge.net/projects/xbo...er/Gentoox.ShALLaX.Loader-v6.07.tbz2/download

 

Id like to see an interface that looks like it belongs on the Xbox. I know Ill be in for a handful of chips in the future, should be good to have. Need to work on my soldering skills again though, been a while.

 

Wow! this chip is gonna trump the X3.

 

I love to help out, just say the word - maybe once you're closer to production I'll work into it, since if you're still throwing around a name for the chip there's be many changes and would help with the design for me.

So let me know, I'd love to grab some of these chips too

Just something quick I thought of but, would a POST speaker be an option? I think it would appear as nice customization feature for the chip.

 

Well it's going to be different. Personnally, I think the hardware for Xecuter 3 chips was not revolutionnary. The sweet sauce lies in software. Their Config Live BIOS is really a piece of art! Personnally, I bought the chip not for the device itself but for the ability to run the BIOS exclusive to it. Being able to change BIOS settings on the fly is really something. That's a feature I'd have a hard time implementing.

I thought about implementing a EvoX M8+ editor in my OS but it would likely render it illegal as it would include the decryption key necessary to unpack/pack the kernel. Also, not everyone uses M8+ and I don't see myself add duplicate routines to satisfy IND-BIOS or Xecuter 2 users. So right now it's not in the list. I prefer to spend time adding more useful features like FATX explorer/partitionner and FTP server.

Any help is welcome! I'll contact you when the proper time comes!

When you say POST speaker, you mean like a piezo; something that makes sound like a PC speaker? It's an original idea but would probably not work the way you intend it. POST speaker would be useful to emit sound codes during bootup right? The problem is that the LPC port is used way after important initialization of the hardware has been done. So there's total silence on it while the console initially boots. It's only after the MCPX asserted that the onBoard TSOP is invalid that it turns to the LPC bus for a valid BIOS. So basically, at the time the LPC port is accessed, hardware is initialized and ready to go; and therefor passed POST.

If the POST speaker you write about is for something else, please describe how it would work.

 

I dont understand what not being in the US means for OSHpark. They ship worldwide for free?

a 5cmx5cm board from oshpark would be $10 for 3 copies. So same price, just less boards. But they are high quality in my experience - good for testing stage, to rule out pcb issue. Personally I use OSHpark for prototype. Then when beta testing, switch over to planned fab house (so small run to test them out).

 

Really? Back in the days when it was called Dorkbot PDX they charged like 10$ extra for international shipping. I haven't checked back for a while. I will consider this option for sure then. Thanks.

 

Oh, I never used them back then.

Yes, international is free too

 

Do you plan to share source and PCB project after releasing it?

 

No problem, I'm always here

Yeah something like that, or like the 360 and PS3 make when you turn it on. Not sure if wiring it to D0 would do anything, to give off a short beep?

 

Yes. The project will not be forever lost if I was to lose interest or anything else.

Well, in this case I guess that a separate mod would be better.

Maybe a piezo and a 555 timer tied to the reset signal and switched 3.3V rail of the Xbox could do the trick. As soon as the Xbox powers ON, piezo is activated and once the RESET signals goes up (a few ms after booting), 555 timer is triggered. Cap and resistor combination determines the delay before the piezo shuts down. Maybe a transistor could be needed to supply enough current to the piezo as I'm not sure the 555 alone can drive it.

So basically, you would need, a 555 IC, piezo, 1 capacitor, 1 resistors and 1 general purpose diode. With this, piezo will beep once everyime console is boots or reboots.

For more complex patterns, a small microcontroller will be needed. PIC10F or something alike.

 

Hello everyone,

After a 2 week silence I have some news.

I've been coding a bit on the OS during my 2 weeks vacation. I didn't do much but I've fixed annoying bugs and added a couple of features.

Nothing to show off really but what's there runs good.
I added a confirmation screen before potentially dangerous operations. Press back to cancel or LT+RT+Start+White to accept. For some low-critical settings (like changing XBE region), ConfirmDialog will only be shown once (if accepted the first time) while staying in the same menu level and not changing any other critical setting.

Quickboot is now implemented. Choose a default bank to boot from and if quickboot is enabled, modchip will boot that bank without going through OS. For now, you just need to hold the white button while booting the xbox to access OS when quickboot is enabled. I'm not fixed yet if I should use the controller to access OS or the Eject button like on SmartXX. I'll probably enable both.
I also plan on adding a ALT quickboot where holding the Black button boots an another predefined bank (whether TSOP or modchip).


The only issue still present is with the netFlash feature (flash BIOS from web browser). It seems that sometimes, the Xbox will not reply to ARP requests. I have to look into that.

What's left is:
- 128MB memory tester(almost done)
- On screen keyboard
- FATX partitions handling (r/w, format, etc.)
- FTP server (if possible)

In the meantime, following the DirtyPCB fiasco, I have to send the PCB design to another fab house. So it will be another ~3 weeks before I get a beta prototype that might be ready to ship to a few selected testers.

 

SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY



But nice work fellow Canadian.

I'd gladly throw you some money to test a chip.

 

I would love to get my hands on a few of your chips. Seems like it would be a dream to work with, loving all it's features! Very happy to see that you're trying to implement the 128mb tester application to your chip! Can't wait to see that working, it will be nice to have another option other than a smartxx chip. Those damn things are getting hard to find.

 

Very interesting, can't wait to see it hit the market. Watching the progress

 

You can't really get original Xbox modchips easily anymore, so this will be handy !

 

Happy to see the continued progress.

I just wanted to throw my request that very large hard drives be supported. So that we can format/partition 2TB drives, of course! Thanks!

And RAM testing will be totally useful for my upcoming projects!

 

Benny - I have been a member at the Team-Xecuter forums for many years. I saw your note regarding source code: "So is there anybody on the Xecuter Team that was there during development of the chips for the Xbox original? I'd very much appreciate it if someone would at least reply." My experience there with older gear is that they won't respond. I attempted to get their attention regarding the market interest in the X3 and ProPanel. I heard nothing but crickets even though I was offering to buy them in large lots and had found other interested parties. They are all about pushing forward with new kit.

I definitely like your project and would be interested in purchasing multiple units.

AlaskaCC

 

Thanks for the heads up. I pretty much figured they wouldn't do anything about it...

 

Looking neat!

Modchips for the original Xbox are difficult to comeby, this will surely help me resurrect broken old Boxes that I sometimes get.
Will deffo follow this project.
Good luck with it!