Gooday Gaming Guests - PHAT Xbox 360 Through the Years

Episode Date: November 26, 2024

So Many on the Original AV only had Blown CAPS.

so today we're going to talk about the xbox 360 fats the original ones just had audio video then after that they had the white ones with HDMI and then it was a black elite ones after that so I believe there is the original power supply was a 203 watt. And then as it went along, the Falcon, I believe it was, had the 175 watt power supply. Therefore the motherboard 150 watt power supply and then I'm trying to see within that there was a few different variations of the 360 fat those Samsung BenQ data storage and light on and you can usually tell by looking right in the front there's a little hole by the disk drive if you look inside you can see the color wire tells you what kind of drives inside of it or if there's no hole to look inside then it's the data storage so that's a fun little fact there so you can use a 203 watt on any of the

systems even even the jasper however you can't go the opposite way the 203 has a certain connection on that won't fit the smaller 150 watt power brick called power power brick not really a power adapter and then there was a black one and then there's the black had two different shades of black there was a really a dark black and then there was a grayish black the grayish black i believe was earlier and then after 2009 the black was more of a darker shade uh that's important because lots of times people want that that color to match the rest of their system. And then the gray. The original gray. Was a silverish gray.

That came out of the audio video ones. I believe. And then all the rest. Were that yucky flat gray. You'd find in pretty much. All the other white 360's. Then there was a few makes and models. Custom ones. The most popular custom one and i have one

right now is the halo 3 green fat xbox 360 actually i have a complete one right now it doesn't work though but um i forget what's wrong with it something i can't remember but besides that I did there was a few other different custom fat 360s until that error ended and then they went into the 1439 s but the so the best fan inside so the audio video boards have four pin fans. The ones with the HDMI have three pin fans. The best fan to find is the one with black on the back and that's 360 are the most common. The best one is the NIDEC one, it's all black. Normally if you see the white on the back of the fan, then you know it's the Delta. And then there's also the Sun On, has like a green color to it on the back and you can see them right from the console while it's still intact um so and then those three pin and four pin on all three

of those kinds of fans uh the best being like i said the n-i-d-e-c but to me all fat 360s make annoying noises and there's two mods first one is the bolt mod taking the heat sink and bolting it on i guess it was supposed to snug the chip better for the imperfections so i sell tons of heat sink sets that original to replace the bolt mods that somebody else did guess gamestop was one that was doing it professionally and i guess over time it warps the chip so once you bolt modded i guess you can go back to original one with the x clamp on it um so when i every time i pull a system i never know if it's gonna be bolt modded or not until I pull the top covers off because if you don't see the black screws in the bottom then you know it's bolt modded and then most people don't want that I sold one or two sets of bolt mods compared to

about 50 sets of the original and the ones with the fins um both heat sinks is the best set hardest to find and then the second uh mod you see once in a while is a fan mod that they do is a bypass of five volts they tap into the 12 volts on the disc drive um and they make the x Xbox 360 fan run faster and louder because in the end of the day the 360's always had a cooling problem especially the original ones that audio video every one I have doesn't work

usually that or the caps are blasted so yeah so bolt mods and fan mods were very common. I found a lot of each in them. So let's bring my little buddy in here and see what he's got to go on. Let's see what we can learn something new fun today. About 360s.

Hello? Hey, Tom. How's it going? what are we diving into today uh xbox 360 fats nice working on some xbox 360 fats huh those consoles have quite a history are you troubleshooting modding or maybe doing some restoration work? Just a little history. So when did the first ones come out with the audio-video? The original Xbox 360 was released in November 2005. The initial models, including the Core and the Premium versions, featured composite video output, which is the red, white, and yellow cables. The premium version also came with component HD AV cables for higher definition output.

Do you have one of these early models? Yeah, most of the ones I ever come across never work anymore. Blasted caps. Yeah, those early models are notorious for issues like the red ring of death, often caused by faulty capacitors or overheating problems. It's a common sight for folks who dive into refurbishing or repairing these consoles. Have you had any luck bringing some of them back to life? Not as of yet. And then there was uh most of the early boards had four pin fans that's right the early xbox 360 models like the xenon boards had four pin fans these fans are

controlled via pulse width modulation pwm allowing for variable speeds to help manage heat. Later models switched to a three pin fan setup. It's interesting to see how these designs evolved over the different revisions. Are you working on one of these early models now? So there's three different fan models in there the best one being the NIDEC fan? Exactly. In the Xbox 360 fat models, there are three main types of fans used, the Delta, the Sunnen, and the Nidec. The Nidec is often considered the best

because it's quieter and provides good cooling performance. Have you found any of these Nidec fans in the consoles you've worked on? They're hard to find, but yes, and I've sold just about every one I've had. Yeah, Nidec fans are definitely sought after, especially for those looking to refurbish

or upgrade their consoles. It's great that you've been able to find and sell them. They're a real treasure for anyone trying to keep their xbox 360 running smoothly are you on the lookout for more of them uh yeah they're usually easy to find uh because they're black in the back as opposed to white or green for the other two exactly the nidec fans have that distinctive black color on the back, making them stand out compared to the white or green backs of the other brands. It definitely makes them easier to identify when you're searching through a batch of fans. Keep an eye out and you might score some more of these gems. And then there was those people that made fan mods.

What is that? Fan mods for the Xbox 360 are custom modifications to improve cooling and sometimes reduce noise. They often involve replacing the stock fans with higher quality or higher performance fans, adding extra fans, or even installing more advanced cooling solutions like liquid cooling. The goal is to keep the console running at a cooler temperature to prevent issues like the red ring of death. Have you encountered any consoles with these kinds of mods? Yeah, it would be the ones where they tap into the 12 volt and go past the 5 volt to make into the 12 volt and go past the 5 volt to make the fan go faster and louder. That's a classic mod. By tapping into the 12

volt line instead of the 5 volt that the fans normally run on, it forces the fans to spin faster, providing more cooling at the cost of increased noise it's a straightforward way to boost cooling performance especially for those who want to prevent overheating issues have you ever tried this mod yourself i see him once in a while gamestop is known for that in the in the bolt mod yeah gamestop and other refurbishers sometimes used mods like the 12-volt fan mod and even the X-clamp or bolt mod in an attempt to fix the red ring of death issues. The bolt mod involves replacing the X-shaped clamps that hold down the heat sinks on the CPU and GPU with bolts and washers.

This creates a tighter, more even pressure, which can help improve the contact between the heat sink and the chips. These mods were somewhat controversial, as they could void warranties and didn't always provide a permanent fix. Have you ever tried these mods on any of your consoles? I see them often. Buyers want to go back to the original heatsink sets, so I sell those all the time.

That makes sense. Many buyers prefer the original heatsink setup for authenticity or to restore the console to its factory state, especially if the mods didn't work out as intended. It's great that you're able to provide those original parts for them. Do you get a lot of requests for specific parts, like heat sinks? The heat sink set is one of my most popular ones for the Fats, for that reason. That's good to hear it's always nice to have a

popular item that you know will sell well original heatsink sets are essential for those looking to restore or maintain their xbox 360 fat consoles sounds like you've got a good thing going with those do you have any other popular items for the 360 or other consoles? So the different power bricks was the 203 watt, then the 175 watt, and then the 150 watt. Yep, the Xbox 360 fat models had different power brick versions over the years. The 203 watt, 175 watt, and 150 watt power supplies. These correspond to different revisions of the console, with later models becoming more energy efficient. Do you find that these power bricks are popular items in your store too?

203 watts are popular for other than the 360 fat. Not sure what though. The 203 watt power supply is indeed popular for more than just the original Xbox 360 fat. It's also compatible with the Xbox 360 Elite and some versions of the Xbox 360 Arcade models. These models require the higher wattage for their internal components. It's no surprise they're popular, given their wide compatibility.

Do you get a lot of requests for these from owners of the Elite or Arcade models? And you can get the adapter plug for the back of it that'll do 1439, 1538, and Xbox One. Yes, there are adapter plugs available that can make the 203 watt Xbox 360 power supply compatible with a range of devices. These adapters can fit various Xbox 360 models like the 1439 and 1538 and even the original Xbox One. This makes them a versatile solution for anyone needing a replacement or backup power supply. It's great to know you can offer that kind of flexibility to your customers.

Do you keep these adapters in stock? I pretty much sell out of them. So some of them have a certain notch cable. Without that notch cable, you can't put a normal cable on it. Yes. Some Xbox 360 power supplies and consoles have a notch or key on the connector, ensuring you use the correct power brick for your specific model. This prevents users from accidentally using an incompatible power supply that could damage

the console. Having the right adapters for these notched cables is definitely a plus for customers looking for a hassle-free replacement. It sounds like you're well prepared to help out with that. So are those the original ones or the ones without the notches after? The original Xbox 360 power supplies for the early FAT models typically had the notched connector. This design helped ensure that users would only connect the correct power supply to their console, preventing damage from using an incompatible one. Later models, like some versions of the Xbox 360 Slim, moved away from the notched design, offering a more standardized connector.

Are you dealing with a mix of both types in your inventory? Yes, I've got a lot of notches that are missing the notch cable, so it makes it a pain to sell them. I can see how that would be challenging. Missing the specific notched cables makes it harder to provide a complete solution for your customers. Offering the adapter plugs or sourcing the correct notched cables could help make those power supplies more appealing and easier to sell. Have you considered looking for these cables or adapters to pair with your notched power bricks? It's just, it's not cost effective, because it costs just about as much to get them,

as I could turn around and sell the whole set for. So no. That makes sense. If the cost of getting the cables or adapters is too high, compared to the resale value, it wouldn't be worth it. It's a tricky situation. Maybe you could consider selling the power supplies as is

for parts or targeting buyers who already have the correct cables but need a replacement power brick. It could be a way to move them without investing more into the cables. Yeah, I'm two steps ahead of you there. Yeah, I have them listed that way as well. Smart move. Listing them as is for parts or targeting specific buyers is a great way to make the most of what you have.

It's all about finding the right approach. You're welcome. If you need any more tips or just want to chat, I'm here. What different disk drives are in the 360 FATs? The Xbox 360 FAT models used a few different DVD drives, primarily from three manufacturers. One, Toshiba slash Samsung. These drives are quite common and known for their reliability.

They're usually marked with TSH in the model number. 2. Hitachi slash LGD Storage. These drives are also common and can be identified by model numbers starting with GDR. 3. BenQ These drives are generally considered to be reliable and are identified by the VAD in their model number. Each drive has its own characteristics and firmware versions. When replacing or working with these drives, it's important to match the drive model and firmware to the console for compatibility. Are you working on or looking to replace one of these drives? There's also the light-on as well. You're right. I forgot to mention the light-on

drives. They're another common type found in Xbox 360 fat models. Light-on drives are known for their reliability and are often identified by the DG16D in their model numbers. So to recap, the main types of drives in the Xbox 360 Fat models are from Toshiba slash Samsung, Hitachi slash LG, BenQ, and LightOn. Are you dealing with a LightOn drive issue? In each one, the drive board is definitely different. Two of you just have the solder wires, two of you don't. Exactly. Each of these drives has its own unique drive board, and the methods for working with them can vary.

For some drives, you need to solder wires to extract or flash the firmware, especially with certain LightOn and Toshiba Samsung models. Other drives, like some BenQ and Hitachi LG models, don't require soldering for firmware access or modifications. It's crucial to know which drive you're working with to use the right approach. Are you planning to flash or modify one of these drives? And they have to match the motherboard. Yes, that's a key point. The drive board and the motherboard in the Xbox 360 need to be matched, especially for the DVD drive to function properly. Each console has a unique drive key that pairs the motherboard with the specific drive board. If you're replacing or swapping the original drive key to the new drive board or use a matched pair of drive and motherboard, without this match, the console won't play games or movies. Are you working on matching a drive

and motherboard? Is there a way to make it match another drive board? Yes, you can make a new drive board match the Xbox 360's motherboard by transferring the unique drive key from the original drive to the new drive. This process is often called flashing the drive. Here's a general overview. 1. Extract the drive key. First, you need to extract the drive key from the original DVD drive. This often requires connecting the drive to a computer. 2. Flash the new drive. With the drive key extracted, you can then flash it onto the new drive board, making it compatible with your console's motherboard.

Once the new drive is flashed with the correct drive key, you can install it in your Xbox 360, and it should work just like the original drive. This process requires specific tools and software, and it's essential to use the correct firmware for the drive model. It can be a bit complex, so it's important to follow detailed instructions. Are they thinking of trying this with a drive? And then there was different top hard drives, 20 gigabytes, 60, 120, 250. Yes, the Xbox 360 Fat models had a variety of hard drive options over the years.

First, 20GB. This was the original hard drive size that came with the Pro models at launch. 60 gigabytes. Introduced later, this option provided more storage and became the standard for some Pro and Elite models. Three, 120 gigabytes. This was included with the Elite models and offered a significant storage boost. 4. 250GB This became available later on and was featured in special edition consoles and some later Elite models. These hard drives were detachable and could be swapped out,

allowing for easy upgrades. They were proprietary to the Xbox 360 with a specific enclosure and connection interface. Are you working with one of these hard drives? It has a specific system on it. You can't just put a different hard drive in it, correct? Correct. The Xbox 360 hard drives have a specific system

and file format that's proprietary to the console. While it's possible to use a different hard drive, it requires some technical know-how to format and prepare the drive so the Xbox 360 will recognize it. This process usually involves connecting the drive to a computer and using specific software tools to format it properly. It's generally easier and more reliable to use an official Xbox 360 hard drive. Are you considering upgrading or replacing a hard drive? Well, all mechanical hard drives are going to fail, so it's actually better to upgrade to solid state and do it directly. Absolutely. Upgrading to a solid state drive SSD is a smart move. SSDs are more reliable, faster, and have no moving parts, which means

they're less likely to fail than mechanical hard drives. While the process to install an SSD in an Xbox 360 requires some technical steps, like formatting and preparing the drive, it's definitely worth it for the performance and longevity benefits. Are you planning to upgrade an Xbox 360 with... I've done a lot of the Xbox One. Same deal. I know how to do that. Put the system on a new drive.

Perfect. Since you're familiar with upgrading Xbox One drives, you have a good foundation for doing the same with Xbox 360. The process is similar. You'll need to format the SSD correctly and transfer the necessary system files so the Xbox 360 recognizes it. Given your experience, you should find the process straightforward. Do you have an Xbox 360 in mind for this upgrade? I have a hard drive that needs a system on it, so I haven't done it yet, but I will soon. Got it. When you're ready to upgrade that hard drive with the system files for the Xbox 360, you'll be able to enjoy the benefits of an SSD.

If you need any pointers when you get started, feel free to ask. I'm here to help. Great, thanks.