Hacking the Xbox

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Hacking the Xbox: An Introduction to Reverse Engineering
the console’s electronics, but it might be aesthetically disconcerting.
Appendix C, “Getting Into PCB Layout,” describes a sample design that
you can implement to avoid these incompatibilities in a more graceful
manner. However, the design outlined in the appendix will require you to
invest some effort in the form of soldering and board design.
Procedure
The procedure for replacing the Xbox power supply consists of two
parts:
1. Modifying the standard ATX power cable to be an Xbox
power cable.
2. Removing the old power supply and installing the new one.
Building the Xbox Power Cable
Begin by cutting off the existing ATX power supply’s motherboard
connector as shown in Figure 5-1. You may elect to perform this modification
using an ATX motherboard power extension cable, so you can
preserve the ATX power connector on the power supply for future use.
The procedure is identical for both options, but the pictures in this
chapter are taken using the ATX motherboard extension cable.
Now, attach crimp terminals to the following wires ten of the ATX cable,
as shown in Figure 5-2:
• One yellow wire
• Three red wires
• One orange wire
• Four black wires
• One gray wire
If you are using a cheaper crimp tool, you may have trouble making a
sufficiently strong crimp connection. In this case finish the connection by
soldering the crimp terminal onto the wire. Use a copious amount of heat
when soldering, or else the solder will not fully penetrate the wire and the
crimp terminal. The soldering iron should be in contact with the joint for
about five seconds before and after applying the solder.
On the violet wire (the +5V standby wire), attach two diodes in series
between the end of the wire and the crimp terminal. The procedure
shown in Figure 5-3 uses portions of crimp terminals for connecting the
diodes, so no soldering is required. (Note that diodes are polarized
devices: they will not conduct electricity if they are installed backwards.
The diodes should be installed with their cathodes (the end with the band
painted on it) toward the motherboard.)