Archive for the 'My Projects' category

Case Transplant: Xbox 360 to Lian Li XB01

Aug 05 2010 Published by under My Modding, My Projects

I decided to change the case of my launch day 360 last year for no other reason than for something to do (read enjoy taking things apart). I had been eyeing up the Lian Li XB01 for some time and, after paying a brief visit to Scan, decided to give it a go.

The results were a much quieter and cooler console plus I gained better understanding of how it all fitted together.

The Lian Li XB01 is also built with watercooling in mind so when money allows it may well become another project of mine.

Here are some pictures for your perusal.

Cracking her open.

Half of the standard 360 case gone. The hardest part of the whole project was removing the original case; it just didn’t want to go!

The innards; not much to it is there?

Time for the transplant; nurse pass me the Phillips screwdriver stat!

Bare Lian Li ready for fitting.

Off we go. I replaced the included 120mm fan with an Akasa fan to give some illumination; well a little bit of pimpage doesn’t hurt.

A few more connections made and we’re almost done.

Backplate with a little cable management.

Drives added and she’s done.

Et viola – runs cooler and quieter and, in my opinion, looks better.

All in all a good afternoon project and a fairly straightforward one to complete.

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Project Log: XGS Build Your Own Game Console Kit – Day 1

Aug 04 2010 Published by under Geek, My Projects

OK so I’ve started building my XGS Console Kit today.

I decided to initially build using the breadboard so no soldering required. I figure the chances of this working first time are slim at best so let’s get the console up and running before soldering it all on to the PCB.

First lets take a look in the box and get it’s organised.

It’s highly recommended to read all of the, it has to be said, rather large book before commencing. To my credit I did skim through it (albeit at speed).

The Book

Power circuitry fitted and tested and by jove it worked.; off to a promising start.
Power Circuitry Fitted

Now lets fit the brains (AKA the processor), mmmm brains….

Mmmm Brains!

Next up was the clocking circuitry (middle) and the LED output port (4 x red LED’s). I also started on the VGA output circuity (top right) but my head started hurting so I decided to call it a day.

So that’s it for now; more to follow so keep checking back.

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Project Log: XGS Build Your Own Game Console Kit – Prequel

Aug 03 2010 Published by under Geek, My Projects

XGS Starter Kit

Has anyone seen these ‘build your own game console’ kits from XGS?

The Game Console Starter Kit is the ultimate resource for getting you started with game console development. The kit includes everything you see including the XGameStation Pico Edition 2.0 Kit which includes both the solderless and PCB version of the XGS Pico Edition. Also included in the kit is a hardcopy of the one of a kind book “The Black Art of Video Game Console Design” written by Andre’ LaMothe.

I had one shipped from Austin, USA over a year ago but still haven’t got round to building it. Well enough of my laxness, it’s time to break open the box and commence production.

There may be ups, there may be downs and there may just be plain, outright failure. I’ll be posting updates so keep checking back or grab the RSS feed.

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