"My Xbox is better than yours"

As many of you know, I've recently purchased an Xbox. "Crazy talk", some of you might exclaim. But I didn't purchase it to play games, it's my new media centre.

I've sold all of my DVDs and DVD player, have cut up my Video Ezy/Blockbuster cards and if you're a retro gamer will have removed the need to have 5-10 consoles laying around the room. As soon as I buy a HD LCD TV with built in tuner, I can be rid of my HDTV tuner and my entire entainment system will be comprised of my TV, Xbox, digital reciever and speakers.

I'm so happy with my purchase, I thought I'd write up a list of the pros that might just get a few more of you on the wagon that will revolutionise your lounge-life.

1. Cheap setup...
"75 for a 300GB IDE HDD, "29 for pre-owned Xbox from EB at the moment and approximately $60 for basic mod chip + install. Compare this to a Media PC or laptop doing the same job.

2. Expandability...
Using custom install expansions and modifications you can up-the-ante on your Xbox with an additional 64Mb of RAM (bringing it to 128MB), replacing the stock 733MHz with a 1.4GHz and even a vertical bay that allows the installation of up to 3 HDDs.

3. Dashboard and operating system options...
I personally run XBMC as my primary dashboard which enables me to launch other applications including games, play these games online for free, watch & listen to downloaded media, stream audio/video from the internet such as quicktime trailers and various radio stations, view my photos, view other network shares and stream media from those shares and much more.

However, I also have X-DSL installed -- a GNU/Linux distro for the Xbox platform which I also run in 720p widescreen, browse the web from and perform a few other amusing tasks.

4. Case customisation...
Whether they be for ease of use or just to show-off, there are a range of cool mods you can implement that will enable LCD screens, add buttons, move ports, convert Xbox controller ports to USB ports and much, much more. For a very bad example of what is possible, chek this out.

5. Great gaming...
So far I have a C64, NES, SNES, N64, Master System, Megadrive and even a Playstion with Tekken 3 on my Xbox using emulators. Games include Donkey Kong and Mario Kart 64. Oh, and let's not forget the MAME emulator allowing me to thrash out 4-player Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in true arcade style, and play some of the best beat-em-ups ever including Marvel vs Capcom. I play all of this using my wireless Logitech controllers.

That's not all, however. As mentioned above, using a program called Xlink Kai which comes bundled with XBMC, I can play all of my "legitimately backed-up" Xbox games for free (avoiding Xbox Live altoghter) with others using Kai all around Australia and the world.

Unless you're happy to play some beat-em-ups or racers, most of you might consider this pointless without a keyboard and mouse as FPS gaming is a joke without them, and shooters are the only games worth playing online. Well, thanks to the SmartJoy Frag you can play titles like Unreal Championship 2, Rainbow Six 3 (Rogue Spear) and Halo 2 online on your Xbox with a keyboard and mouse!

That's about all I can think of at this very minute, but if any of you have any other cool tidbits to share about your Xbox or things you've heard, be sure to post them here. :)

I too have been running the same system for a whlie now (minus LCD screen), and I don't spend that much time on the computers anymore as the xbmc360 is my primary entertainment device... the problem is now i spend most of my time in front of the tv :(

ohwell what rec said .. it's crazy talk :cool:

Seriously rec get Desterga for the playstation... if you can find it.
Best basic fighting hand to hand and magic game ever. Easy to pick up and everyone has fun :)

Quote from psyave:
Seriously rec get Desterga for the playstation... if you can find it.
Best basic fighting hand to hand and magic game ever. Easy to pick up and everyone has fun :)

He means Destrega.

can we get some pics?

wish someone would teach me this shit i wanna do my xbox360 lol..

You can't do much of this to your Xbox 360.

Down the track I'm sure you'll be able to though.

im all for the xbmc, i use it myself and love it
but say u are going out one night and want something of the telly recorded, what will u do then? :)
its the only downfall about the xbmc setup

Quote from Knight Of Nih:
say u are going out one night and want something of the telly recorded, what will u do then? :)

then break out the VHS recorder :eek: and record it

I don't miss anything, I see it months before it hits Australian free-to-air. If it's a sporting event I can't catch, I download it the next day.

This post is so 2004 :/

Can you have an xbox media centre on a tv that has foxtel? I was looking at getting one but I don't wanna have to get rid of foxtel + IQ.

Can you have an xbox on a tv that has foxtel? xbox media centre is a program that runs on an xbox. It plugs into the normal AV ports on your TV and acts as another input.

With u there all the way rec - had a modded xbox for a few years now with a basic black xbox with a applexv modchip ($45) and a 120gb hdd, bought another xbox 2nd hand and did it up completely with lcd screen, 200gb hdd and xecuter3 modchip - looks something like this...

[Image: http://www.xecuter.com.au/images/x3cp_black_fitted.jpg]

[Image: http://www.gordonrobertson.co.uk/images/xbmc-screenshot.gif]

i run evox as my primary dashboard with seperate menus for
games - xbox games on hdd, emulators, and homebrew games
multimedia - XBMP, XBMC, and DVD regionX
apps - DVD2Xbox, Boxplorer, Xpad, Linux, WindowsCE, etc

all in all, a modded xbox is THE best multimedia system it plays xbox games, emulated games from everything from NES to PS1, homebrew games like doomX, all types of video, all types of music, all types of images, OS like linux, the list goes on

All for a really cheap price

Don't forget you can be uber nerd and run it as a FTP server at the LANs :D

xecuter3 - that's the chip I am running aswell

Quote from tn1:
Don't forget you can be uber nerd and run it as a FTP server at the LANs :D

xecuter3 - that's the chip I am running aswell
too right, just take the xbox and a powercord for it and a network cable and you have a instant server. never though of that, thanks howie
beats the hell out of taking a computer

mamemvsc.jpg: Marvel vs. Capcom (greatest arcade fighter ever) in original aspect ratio on my widescreen.

xbmcfar.jpg: XBMC running in a 720p HDTV resolution (1080i makes the fonts too small to read).

agreed, marvel vs capcom for greatest arcade game ever!

i might have to invest in one of these this holidays..

thats awesome

D0es anyone mod these locally or do you have to send them away. Or can it be done yourself with moderate electrical skilz?
or, or, or, Ahhhhhhh nvm

a co worker of mine will do them for a bit of money and beer
or everything electronic will do them for 320 which is a chip+ a 160gig hdd i think

old pic, but that's my setup, I got a new amp sony digital :D

[Image: http://users.on.net/~tn1/media/tv.jpg]

as for modding an xbox, there's a few guides on the net, just google for it.

sih when i finishe paying off all my many, many toys ill look into modding my xbox or my 360 lol.

Quote from Smurf:
D0es anyone mod these locally or do you have to send them away. Or can it be done yourself with moderate electrical skilz?
or, or, or, Ahhhhhhh nvm

very easy to do urself, if u buy a solderless adapter
iv'e posted pics on how to do it before cbf finding the post if anyone finds it post the link

this is a step by step guide...
http://teamxecuter.entryhost.com/xapter/?CMSSESSID=3d8c91ce64f7e7ef7443330659c79c80

The problem with the solderless setups is that they cost $50-"00 more than a standard chip + install, at least from what I've seen.

The DuoX 2 (the chip OverDrive & I are running) can be bought for less than $30 including shipping from the USA. I bought my chip and had it installed for $60 total at a local electronics shop.

A solderless Xecuter package for a 1.6 Xbox (most recent model) will cost approx "30.

Quote from rec:
The problem with the solderless setups is that they cost $50-"00 more than a standard chip + install, at least from what I've seen.

The DuoX 2 (the chip OverDrive & I are running) can be bought for less than $30 including shipping from the USA. I bought my chip and had it installed for $60 total at a local electronics shop.

A solderless Xecuter package for a 1.6 Xbox (most recent model) will cost approx "30.

So if I got them soldering skillz (except SMDs) can I like, do it myself with a regular 30 watt soldering iron?

Sure can matey.

How do you switch up to 720p Rec?

Nem; you need to change your Xbox region from PAL to NTSC. There is an application on the latest AID installer CD that will do this for you. Once done, shut down and boot into your MS Dashboard with your chip disabled and go into video settings.

Instead of a "PAL 60" setting, you will be able to enable 480p, 720p and 1080i. Enable them, then turn the console off and boot back to your dash. Now you will have HDTV video options in most applications including emulators, your dasboard and other programs.

You'll also find any NTSC games you "backup" will now run at a minimum of 480p, many will run at 720p - it's amazing the graphical difference it makes.

Thanks for the info guys

Quote from Knight Of Nih:
too right, just take the xbox and a powercord for it and a network cable and you have a instant server. never though of that, thanks howie
beats the hell out of taking a computer

You'll have to take the video cord as well. I found that they dont start up without a video cable plugged into them.

can u buy the xbox remote and have it work using xbmc insted of using a controler as i dont have a wireless one?

Quote from Knight Of Nih:
can u buy the xbox remote and have it work using xbmc insted of using a controler as i dont have a wireless one?

yes, and u can also use keyboard/mouse

Knight speak to OD, I know he uses his xbmc with a remote. I use the wireless remote fits in the hand perfect.

I use the Xbox DVD remote, and my wireless Logitech controllers when I can't find it. :)

Got Xbox... now to mod :)

New Xbox's are $99 at JB while stocks last.