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Post by Sarge on Apr 27, 2024 13:34:39 GMT -5
Dreamcast is way worse to me than XBOX, especially one of my systems. It's like a dang jet engine. And yet... I don't bother replacing the fans, haha.
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Post by Ziggy on May 4, 2024 19:10:44 GMT -5
So I ended up getting a second oXbox
I'm kind of a hardware nut, and I like having backups for things. So an oXbox listed as tested/working goes for around $100 on eBay, but ones that are listed as untested/as-is can be had for way less. Now that I have a working Xbox, that came with a controller and AV cable, I don't mind rolling the dice on an untested bare console. Even if it ended up having an issue, I felt confident on being able to repair it. So I found a nice looking one that I made an offer on for $47 and the seller accepted.
Pictured above is my second Xbox! It's very clean, and I think it may even be in better condition than the first one I got. When I tested it, not only does it work but it turns out it has been softmodded. So that's a neat bonus! I've already cracked it open, and aside from a ton of dust it actually looks really good. I could tell from the eBay pics that it was never opened (two screws are under stickers). Turns out it's a v1.1 console, which has the benefit of a larger TSOP which I believe gives you more options for a BIOS. The DVD drive is really smooth and seems to work great. And it doesn't have that annoying GPU fan. The case fan on the Xbox really doesn't sound horrible by itself, so I don't think I'll swap it out. And since it's already been softmodded, I don't think I'll bother with a mod chip, I think I'll just flash a BIOS. I cleaned out all of the dust and removed the clock cap. The clock cap had leaked a little, but no big deal. And since I was in there, I decided to replace the thermal compound on the CPU and GPU. I'm pretty sure the temps went down from when I initially tested the console.
Until I get around to modding everything, I'll mainly stick with the first Xbox that I got since I already have a few saves on it. But that damn GPU fan is so very annoying! I just had to swap it out, and I decided to do both fans.
I went with the Noctua 40mm and 60mm fans, with the required 3D printed brackets to mount them. Now my 1.0 Xbox is super quiet! Next on the hardware side of things, I might mod one or both of them. The 1.0 will get the mod chip, the 1.1 will get a BIOS flashed. But I'm not sure yet if I want to recap them first. And I definitely want to replace the clock cap. It's annoying having to set the date and time every time I unplug the console.
I had decided that I want to get the ElectronXout, which converts the component video and digital audio output to HDMI. I know that there's an internal HDMI mod, and that's a digital to digital AV solution, but it requires you to remove the AV port from the Xbox. I'd rather keep the stock AV ouput, in case I ever want to use the Xbox on a CRT. But the ElectronXout is out of stock right now. I figured I would just use composite cables until the ElectronXout is back in stock, but it turns out that Xbox composite on my HDTV looks extremely poor. Just very soft and blurry. Which is kind of surprising because composite from the Xbox looks great on a CRT. But yeah, I decided to pick up a cheap set of component cables to hold me over until I can get the ElectronXout. Specifically, I got these: www.amazon.com/dp/B01E6W2XKW
I knew that those cheap cables would have interference, but they're still loads better than composite cables. The picture is nice and clear now, but there's definitely a lot of noise. Still, the noise is a tolerable trade off for how much more clear the video is.
As for games, I've been playing Medal of Honor Frontline. Which is kinda funny because I just played through the PS3 remaster. But this was one of my favorite 6th gen games. It's been such a long time since I've played it, I've just been having a blast with it. I was playing a bit of Conker Live and Reloaded, but I guess I'm just not in the mood for a 3D platformer right now. I was also playing a bit of Fable, just enough to get out of childhood and out of the initial training stuff. And I also was playing the first level of Tony Hawk 2X. So I'll probably switch on and off from all of these games. I'll have Frontline finished before long, and then I'll move on to another FPS.
I would bounce around between more FPS games simultaneously, but I find it hard in adulthood to remember different controller schemes. I don't know how I did it as a teen, but I would switch off of games with wildly different control schemes. Now I find it too difficult to do that. I have to get the muscle memory for a game, then play through it. When I'm done, I can retrain and get the muscle memory for another game. At least with Fable and Frontline, they're two different types of games. But playing more than one FPS with different control schemes, my brain just doesn't like that anymore.
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Post by Sarge on May 4, 2024 20:39:11 GMT -5
Nice! I think most of my models are 1.6, but my tank (until recently, anyway) was a 1.1. I really need to fix the DVD drive in it.
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Post by Ziggy on May 4, 2024 21:00:28 GMT -5
I wouldn't be opposed to getting a 1.6. It sounds like the only thing that kinda sucks is that Microsoft removed the TSOP chip so you cannot flash a BIOS. But you can install a mod chip, and it sounds like that's just as good. The downside to a mod chip on a 1.6 is that Microsoft did not connect the traces needed, so you have to add some bodge wires. But someone made a QSB to restore those signals, so really it's not that big of a deal. I just had to swap the stock case fan back in my 1.0 Xbox. Apparently when you swap it out for the 60mm Noctua fan, you're suppose to increase the fan speed in the BIOS. Obviously I cannot do that on this stock Xbox, so the Noctua fan was not moving enough air. I was gaming for about an hour when I put my hand behind the console to check. The air the fan was pushing out was extremely hot, hotter than I've noticed with the stock fan previously. The bottom of the console was also very hot to the touch. When I opened it up to swap the fan, the HDD was also very hot. So yeah, don't use the Noctua fan on a stock console!
I just let the demo for Fable run over and over as I typed this post. I put my hand behind the fan just now and it feels a lot cooler, like it did previously. I might circle back to the case fan after I mod the console, but really the stock case fan isn't too bad at all. It was just the damn GPU fan that I couldn't stand!
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Post by Sarge on May 4, 2024 21:20:31 GMT -5
Yeah, I remember that there's options to increase the fan speed in the soft mods I use as well. I don't actually use it, but it's nice to have them there. One place I have used the higher speed is on the PS3. That's a system that doesn't have very aggressive fan speeds at all, and it's probably better for that system to give it a little extra cooling, especially with the YLOD issue that can hit.
I should probably remove the clock caps in the 1.6, although like you said, they're apparently less prone to failure. I did remove it from my 1.1.
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Post by Xeogred on May 4, 2024 22:22:22 GMT -5
Yup, your second Xbox there is looking fresh!! Very nice. 3D printing your own brackets is next level haha, that sounds fun. I have used upscaler inputs for the PS2 and Wii that were decent. But yeah in my case, Xbox's component is pretty solid on an older HDTV I have around, so I'm happy with that. It's cool when some of the games natively support widescreen too, but that's a bit rare.
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Post by Ex on May 5, 2024 9:25:54 GMT -5
I applaud your effort. The results seem worth it thus far, especially having a quieter original Xbox. HDMI out would be quite nice too. >As for games, I've been playing Medal of Honor Frontline Glad to read it still holds up. I remember it being quite a good console FPS, back when the best FPS were usually reserved to PC. >Conker Live and Reloaded I was impressed by its graphics on Xbox, but I thought this one was lame and not fun. Dropped after about 2 hours and sold. >I was also playing a bit of Fable This is another one where I thought it had nice graphics, but the game design failed to capture my attention. I guess because it was goofier and more juvenile than what I was in the mood for at the time. I wouldn't say it's a bad game, it might be good if you're in the right mood. I'll probably give it another chance someday. Definitely will play the sequels as they offer local co-op. It's the co-op aspect I'm intrigued by with those. >I would bounce around between more FPS games simultaneously Still hoping you give Urban Chaos: Riot Response a chance.
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Post by Ziggy on May 5, 2024 14:05:49 GMT -5
Yeah, I remember that there's options to increase the fan speed in the soft mods I use as well. I don't actually use it, but it's nice to have them there. One place I have used the higher speed is on the PS3. That's a system that doesn't have very aggressive fan speeds at all, and it's probably better for that system to give it a little extra cooling, especially with the YLOD issue that can hit. I should probably remove the clock caps in the 1.6, although like you said, they're apparently less prone to failure. I did remove it from my 1.1. The fan speed is a little confusing to me. I checked on my 1.1 with the softmod, the default speed is 1x and the fan sounds like it does on my stock 1.0 Xbox. I increased the speed, and sure enough the fan got louder. So what does that mean? Does the stock fan spin slower than it's max rated RPM? Does the stock Xbox rev up the fan when needed? If it does, I haven't noticed that yet. Or is the stock fan spinning at it's intended speed, as you would expect from a 2-pin fan. But that would mean increasing it is, what, making it spin faster than intended?
I forget if this was already mentioned, but if you do need to remove/replace the clock cap in your 1.6, you will have to replace or bypass it or else the console wont boot.
Yup, your second Xbox there is looking fresh!! Very nice. 3D printing your own brackets is next level haha, that sounds fun. I have used upscaler inputs for the PS2 and Wii that were decent. But yeah in my case, Xbox's component is pretty solid on an older HDTV I have around, so I'm happy with that. It's cool when some of the games natively support widescreen too, but that's a bit rare. Yeah, I'm very happy with how good it looks. It's not always the easiest to tell from eBay pics, especially with the varying quality of the pics sellers use. I didn't print those fan brackets myself, I got them from Stone Age Gamer. But you can find the 3D models online to print yourself. I've been wanting to get a 3D printer, but I don't currently have one. My local library offers a 3D printing service, 50 cents per half hour and with a lot of colors to choose from. I haven't used it yet, but there's several things I want to get printed up. I was looking into getting a smaller, cheaper printer. But since my library offers this now, I'm not sure about getting my own. I applaud your effort. The results seem worth it thus far, especially having a quieter original Xbox. HDMI out would be quite nice too. Thanks. I forget if I mentioned this previously, but messing with the hardware was a big factor on why I decided to get an oXbox. I'm definitely a gearhead.
HDMI is going to be nice just because it'll simplify my setup somewhat. There will be two less devices in the signal chain, the component switch box and the RetroTINK. But also, it's kind of a pain in the ass to get quality component cables right now. So getting the HDMI thing also simplifies that problem.
It was my entry point to the MOH series, and WWII shooters in general. The game plays just fine, but it's the culmination of everything that makes this a great game. As far as how the game plays, the mechanics, there were definitely better FPS games at the time (PC or console). But this game gets an A+ is presentation. From the menus, to the amazing score. In fact, I think the music is a huge factor in what makes this game great. It creates such an amazing atmosphere in the levels. It's like watching a movie. Which is kinda no surprise, given MOH's roots. But yeah, Frontline has some high points that are still awesome today.
Are you a fan of 3D platformers in general? Or more specifically, Rare's 3D platformers on the N64? This game has Rare's signature all over it, which I appreciate, but it very much goes off and does its own thing. I didn't want to say "lame and not fun," but that might be what I was thinking in the back of my head. I use to own the N64 cart, and I've tried it once or twice. It just never sucked me in. Although, I tried Banjo Kazooie a few times before it finally sucked me in. So I'm not going to give up on Conker just yet. I might also just not be in the mood for a 3D platformer right now.
Yes, the character design and overall presentation is a little more Disney than Dark Souls. I think that's what I liked about it though. It has serious gameplay, but then it's at the same time goofy and juvenile. I kinda like when games don't take themselves too seriously. It's definitely a lighthearted adventure.
Looks pretty pricey on the used market, but now that I have a modded Xbox I can always play a "backup" copy of it!
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Post by Ex on May 5, 2024 21:07:34 GMT -5
Are you a fan of 3D platformers in general? Yes, quite a few. But not any of Rare's 3D platformers. Certainly not their N64 ones. I can't think of any good exclusive oXbox 3D platformer either, and I tried all of them. I probably just had the wrong idea going in, expecting it to be more realistic WRPG. No Fable's sense of humor is juvenile and its game design leans towards casual. >can always play a "backup" copy of it Hmm, didn't expect it to hold any value, but glad you can play via alternative means. It's a rather unique FPS.
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Post by Ziggy on May 6, 2024 6:57:15 GMT -5
Hmm, didn't expect it to hold any value, but glad you can play via alternative means. It's a rather unique FPS. Yeah, looks like it's a $30+ game. PS2 or Xbox. You can get a disc only copy for cheaper, but I'd rather not.
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