Xbox modchip makers get their hands on the Xbox 360

by Conrad Quilty-Harper { Aug 27th 2005 at 12:15PM }

Some guys at SmartXX managed to get their hands on a few Xbox 360 developer kits and have posted 40 high resolution shots of the motherboard for our viewing pleasure. If motherboard pictures are your thing then this is heaven in a .zip file. There are also shots of a pretty massive power supply, a new proprietary power plug, the cabling and also the USB wired controller.

I'm not sure exactly how they managed to get three Xbox 360s or what they're doing with them, but it's possible that they're trying to develop some kind of a mod chip for the console. One of the main pictures of the Xboxes shows a blue SmartXX LT OPX, a modchip developed by the SmartXX peeps, posing with the machines. Also listed on the SmartXX site is an original Xbox running Darwin via a modchip, although that's a seperate project by an individual sponsored by SmartXX. Soooo, Xbox 360s with SmartXX modchips and old Xboxes running OS X. Sure, that's enough Xs to make a nun feel seedy, but could these guys be the first to get a working version of OS X onto the Xbox 360's Triple Core IBM processor?

[Thanks, SilverX]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

JT Mill @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

A new proprietary power plug!?! What the heck is wrong with the standard one!

Conrad Quilty-Harper @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

Funny you should say that, recently Microsoft had to recall millions of EU power plugs for the original Xbox. Apparently they were catching on fire...

Reza @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

I'm pretty sure he meant standard as in PC standard.

Omokron @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

Hey check at this image: http://dwl.xbox-scene.com/pictures/XeDK-smartxx/smartxx-xbx360-01.JPG

When your read all of the text on it it shows a few lines in Swedish at the botom.. wtf is that about, why is it in swedish?... It says: The machine should be connected to a "jordat uttag"(i'm not sure how to say this, earth link or sumething, you can check it in a translator)when connected to a network

VGH @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

Glad to see a mod chip will most porbably be available on release :D

Mythmon @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

regarding the picture from #4: i may be wrong, but i see that it says it uses 200-240v connection. Last time i checked the standard voltage for aus outlet was 120v, and only certain appliances had to use a 240v plug...

like i said i don't know much about it, but common sense is screaming something is wrong

SickNic @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

I wonder how long it will be till MS sues SmartXX...

CowTipper @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

About #6, i believe that the US (not sure about canada) uses a standard of 120v (unless its a dryer or oven) and Europeans use a differnt standard, probably a 240V, im not sure though

Peg_Leg @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

ya, i had one of those xbox's unfortunately. the one with the sparking, smoking, zapping power plugs.
I called MS and they wanted me to send them 100 bucks for them to fix it...oh i was so pissed.

Luckily thouhg, there was this guy in my town that was fixing peoples xbox's for 20-50 bucks, dpeending on what was wrong with it.

I had so many darn problems with my xbox, so i ended up selling it.

fast forward 7 months.
i get a letter from MS in the mail saying they will replace my xbox power supply for free becuase i have a defective one.
oh thanks alot flippin MS, that sucks.

I know they wont make that mistak again, they were to close to lawsuits and stuff.

and i also has disc reading errors.
my xbox was made in may. they would replace xbox's made in april and earlier, so they wouldnt replace mine. grrrr.

i am getting an xbox 360 at launch, becuase if anything goes wrong, i have the first shipment, you can think of it as a life time warranty. :)

Nick Spacek @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

Well, as far as I know (some of?) Europe uses 240v or something like that, which (I think) is why computer power supplies have a little red switch, which says 120/240. I can only assume that "should be connected to earth link" or whatever means it needs to be grounded. Makes sense to me.

Tom Staight @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

I live in Britain, and yes we use entirely 240V power. It results in lower amp requirements, so is generally better for keeping wires cooler. But anyway...

If there's Swedish on the power supply, and it runs in 200-240V (obviously to survive dodgy 240V connections) and Europe runs on 240V, then doesn't that suggest something to you about where SmartXX got their Xbox 360s?

chill @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

Later people wont be around I live on the gulf coast where this cane is coming in....LATER.

soco @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

the UK used to be 240v and most of mainland europe was 220v, but they've all standardized now on 230v. however, there's still a lot of tolerance left there so many power adapters will work with a wide range. plus it allows them to use them in more areas with only a change in plugs.

eltrento @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

Woohoo, Samsung DVD players, at least, in the Dev Kits.

Score!

Jake @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

There are three sockets in use in Sweden, the normal 240v, the grounded 240v and the europlug. The grounded one is installed in all newly build houses in all sockets and in kitchens and bathrooms in old the one's houses.

And the external power adapter in the picture requires that you use the grounded 240v wall socket.
http://194.132.118.17/item_img/se/large/l099268.jpg
connecting plug http://www.clasohlson.se/images/products/S/hi/B/221887_X_2004-06-30_081511.jpg

A somewhat correct translation should be something like this.

"apparatus should be connected to a grounded outlet when connected to a network(lan)"

Jake @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

Disregard 'the one's' in the second sentence ;)

The1 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

I think MS gave SMARTXX those un tits to see if they could MOD the x360. If MS see's how it's done they can probably stop massive modding.

Josh @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

did anyone notice the picture with the headset plugged in the controller? it has a puck!!! i thought that was built in, and the mute and volume would be inline?

etathed @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

I love the pic of the controller,,, Remember when It was such a big deal to have a CORDLESS controller. That pic is ALL CORDS!! i just found that funny.

Buehlerra @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

To me, the picture looks like a DC power connector, where there is no actual standard. That would mean, the system uses an external power adapter, as seen on a different picture. Don't know wheter this is final or only for the Dev Kits.

Goldrusher @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

The consoles they have are Danish - not Swedish - development kits.

Codename "XeDK" (Xenon Denmark).

The special connector is probably for use with a development kit only.
If not...who cares, you'll get a power cable with the console.

geekzapoppin @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

Well, the DVD drive in the current gen of Xboxes has a proprietary power connection though oddly, the hard drive does not. It hasn't stopped modding, it has only created a new grey market for replacement DVD drives with the special power jack. It didn't help that the first generation of machines is known to have shoddy DVD drives. I'm not sure where this new power plug connects; whether it's the AC or if it's for the DVD drive, etc.

Mathias Pettersson @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

Xenon Denmark?

How about Xenon Development Kit?

thomas @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

"Posted Aug 28, 2005, 3:07 PM ET by Goldrusher

The consoles they have are Danish - not Swedish - development kits.

Codename "XeDK" (Xenon Denmark).

The special connector is probably for use with a development kit only.
If not...who cares, you'll get a power cable with the console."

Then why is it swedish text on the power adapter??

Kilgore Trout @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM

Yeah, I guess the XeDK is "development kit" and not "Denmark". But you never know.

Swedish is sometimes used as a "universal language" on product packaging that is intended for Scandinavia. Norwegians and Danes tend to understand Swedish better than the other way around (and Sweden is bigger). The text could also be information that Swedish authorities demand on this type of equipment and other countries don't. Though I've never seen it before myself (I am Swedish).