X-box media center

[Maverike-prime]

Hey all. I had the idea to do a mod out of an X-box case. Before I start dropping money on it I wanted to ask if anyone else had done it? and more to point to know if anyone knows of any issues I would run into off the bat. I already space is an issue, so I'll need to do like a mini-atx and use Laptop parts where ever possible. Anyone know any other problems I might run into?

[Bucko]

I saw this site a while ago:
http://www.mini-itx.com/projects/nespc/

I didn't see an xBox, but there are quite a few small builds which may give you an idea of any problems you may face.

[Luke122]

Whoa whoa.. if you have a working xbox, why not just softmod it, and install XBMC? You can still mod the case (and get some great results), but there's no need to gut it and use laptop components if it's already working...

..unless you want it to be more PC and less Xbox. :D

Click here to learn more about XBMC. (http://www.xboxmediacenter.com/)

[.Maleficus.]

..unless you want it to be more PC and less Xbox. :D
In which case you install Linux, make a USB hub for a keyboard and mouse, and still be able to game on it.

mAtx might work, but I'd do some measuring and check it out before you buy. Otherwise, mini-Itx is a good option.

[Maverike-prime]

Whoa whoa.. if you have a working xbox, why not just softmod it, and install XBMC? You can still mod the case (and get some great results), but there's no need to gut it and use laptop components if it's already working...

..unless you want it to be more PC and less Xbox. :D

Click here to learn more about XBMC. (http://www.xboxmediacenter.com/)

actually it's not working. The thing took a powersurge, a fairly big one too cause there are three seperate scortch marks on the mainboard of the system from (diaodes?) going pop. Belkin's paid me the $64 the systems got in fair market value and decreciation and all that hoop la. I still have 2 other X-boxs, my PS2, a game cube, an NES, aSNES and A Genisis, in addition to my main computer. But I figure I can use the remains of the X-box for something and this struck my imagination.

[Computer-Geek]

Not To Hijack Your Thread But is there any parts on an Xbox that you can use on a computer ? Also Good Luck with your project :)

[Maverike-prime]

hmm, not sure about using the Xbox parts on a PC. Maybe the DVD drive. If memory serves it's a Standard Samsung (or might be philips) DVD drive. I guess you could use the hard drive. Course it doesn't have a windows Partion so you'd need to reformat and re-partition it. But why would you want an 8 gig hd these days?

[Computer-Geek]

Just Wondering lol Thanks :D My xbox HD is gone and i can't do nothing with it so for now its trash in my closet.

[Mitternacht]

hmm, not sure about using the Xbox parts on a PC. Maybe the DVD drive. If memory serves it's a Standard Samsung (or might be philips) DVD drive. I guess you could use the hard drive. Course it doesn't have a windows Partion so you'd need to reformat and re-partition it. But why would you want an 8 gig hd these days?

The DVD drive in the Xbox does not use a molex connector. So it's not practical to use an xbox drive in a PC. They don't read CD-R's, but do read CD-RW's.

[blue73]

The DVD drive in the Xbox does not use a molex connector. So it's not practical to use an xbox drive in a PC. They don't read CD-R's, but do read CD-RW's.

You can still use the HDD though. Even if it is a boggo IDE affair.

[Dem Pyros]

I've modded an Xbox. It has a new case, cold cathodes, a bigger fan, and runs on XBMC.

XBMC is easy to install once you've softmodded it, a new case is also easy as well as the cold cathodes. A fan is a bit more difficult, as you have to dremel out a large part of the HDD case.

[Maverike-prime]

I've modded an Xbox. It has a new case, cold cathodes, a bigger fan, and runs on XBMC.

XBMC is easy to install once you've softmodded it, a new case is also easy as well as the cold cathodes. A fan is a bit more difficult, as you have to dremel out a large part of the HDD case.

that's nice, but that's the exact opposite of what I want to do. here's what I have:

1 dead Xbox.

I'm not really interested in repairing it and I have 2 other X-boxes inaddition to several other games sytems. I would loud XBMC on it, if the Xbox worked. But it doesn't work.

What I am Looking at doing is putting a mini-atx (assuming it fits) mother board with a All-in-wonder Video card in it the case. I'll probably take 250 gb hard drive, partition it to 50 and 200 set the 50 as the primary and load Windows Media center on it.

[Dem Pyros]

that's nice, but that's the exact opposite of what I want to do. here's what I have:

1 dead Xbox.

I'm not really interested in repairing it and I have 2 other X-boxes inaddition to several other games sytems. I would loud XBMC on it, if the Xbox worked. But it doesn't work.

What I am Looking at doing is putting a mini-atx (assuming it fits) mother board with a All-in-wonder Video card in it the case. I'll probably take 250 gb hard drive, partition it to 50 and 200 set the 50 as the primary and load Windows Media center on it.
.....you're going to have a reasonably difficult time with that. All i did was put in a larger fan and a cold cathode inverter and had a hard time fitting it into the case.

Did you ever thing about trying to fix the xbox?

[Maverike-prime]

.....you're going to have a reasonably difficult time with that. All i did was put in a larger fan and a cold cathode inverter and had a hard time fitting it into the case.

Did you ever thing about trying to fix the xbox?

I have. But in order to fix it, I would at very least need to replace the main board. And that assuming nothing else is fried in the system. Besides, I still have 2 other X-boxes. I don't really "NEED" three X-boxes.

Plus I see it as a bit of a challange. I've seen people build a computer that would fit into a Windows Box, so why couldn't I fit one into an X-box case? (I'm not 100% sure about getting an All-in-wonder card in it though.)
For spacing, I'm gonna pull the other all-in-wonder I have, made a dummy board out of foam core, and then make foam core dummies of the rest of parts and see what configuration I can get it in that may fit in the case. I may do like an Apia board just cause 90% of it's integrated, though I wouldn't be able to do an all-wonder-card then. Ah choices....

[SgtM]

Sounds interesting man. Good luck with the mod.