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swap XBOX mainboards 64MB->128MB posssible

Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 6:56 pm
by maccallan
i just isoldered additional 64mb ram to my second xbox's mainboard. now i want to swap the mainboard with my xbox server's mainboard. both xboxes have the conexant video controller and HDD is unlocked. both xboxes are 1.0 or 1.1 but not neccessarily both are the same version.

Is it possible to swap the motherboards without doing any harm to the running installation?

Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 9:20 am
by orochi
yes if you flash the bios (or use a modchip) on the new xbox mobo to cromwell before you boot (because the hdd's are unlocked)

Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 10:09 am
by maccallan
thanx => tried it and works fine!!
i really recommend anybody upgrading to 128mb if possible!!

Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 12:08 pm
by ShALLaX
Well done :). It is definitely worth upgrading, yes.

a little question........

Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2006 3:08 pm
by lumpmonkey
I've been wanting to do that upgrade for a while, but couldn't find a source for those chips so gave up.
Are there any decent sources around for these still?
:?:

Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2006 3:14 pm
by ShALLaX
Ebay -> broken xboxes.

Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2006 3:26 pm
by lumpmonkey
cheers, was hoping for some nice clean chips but I guess ebays the practical option :D

Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:45 pm
by lumpmonkey
just won a bid for a faulty xbox mobo, 128mb here I come...... :twisted:

Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 3:42 am
by orochi
goodluck

Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 2:14 pm
by clpalmer
Hopefully it wasn't faulty because someone removed the memory chips =)

Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 3:06 pm
by blighty
I tried to do a mem upgrade quite some time ago now but ended in fragging left right & centre.

Pretty gutted that I never got it done even though I spent about 4 days working on it in total :roll:

Well done to you for getting it right & I hope it is a good as I was hoping it was gonna be :P

bLiGhTy.

Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 3:09 pm
by ShALLaX
How dare you steal the gentoox logo and change it! ;)

I do like the greenness ;p

wooop

Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 5:39 pm
by lumpmonkey
Will apply a large dollop of caution when attempting the upgrade blighty :wink:

Just noticed stashed away in a corner of employers workshop a hot air solder station, that'll make the job MUCH easier :D I'm guessing some desolder wick would be the best method of freeing the chip legs from the pads?

Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 1:16 pm
by maccallan
if you don't have the tools (i.e. hot air soldering station) then i recommend using hot air gun on the other side of the board till the chips fall off.
this is a very critical process since the memory ic's are very likely to overheat and break down.
forget removing the ic's with desolder wire => it won't work and you stress them really hard (with temperature and force).
whatever you do be sure to use solder flux!
you may also think about buying a hot air solder station (aoyue is a cheap chinese supplier for example)

another thing:
i do have some spare boards with 128mb lying around here (1.0/1.1 i think). rather than me upgrading your ram i can offer you a 100% working motherboard shipped at your door (saves double shipping). the board will have a pinheader for modchips installed and D0 wired to GND.
shipping will be 9,05 EUR to europe and 15,05 EUR worldwide (both insured airmail).
just make a reasonable offer (hint: 30 bucks won't be a reasonable offer ;-))

cheers,