Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Location: Star Kingdom of Manticore
Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2015 1:52 am Post subject:
Challenge: Xbox to PC Conversion
So, as about 99.9% of you know, I'm a big computer nerd. I love to build and tinker with them. If you are one too, or if the title interested you enough, continue reading!
I'm about to set out on a rather unorthodox challenge. There are quite a few Xbox consoles that have been put in PC Cases, but not the other way around. I'm going to build a gaming PC that outperforms an Xbox in every way, inside an Xbox cover. (Whether it's a 360 or XBone case remains to be seen) There are a couple I could find, but none of them were very pretty. I'd like to do it in an XBone case since there's marginally more room, and I can already see a way to make liquid cooling feasible with that spare room (more on that below).
So my challenge will be this: I'm going to fit a micro ATX AM3+ motherboard with an AMD FX8120 Black edition CPU, an MSI 750ti Video Card (with a PCI-E Riser cable so I can orient the card on it's side) and 16GB of Patriot Viper DDR3 Ram. I'll be using a 900w PSU, which will be the only component not inside the case (for obvious size reasons), but rather mounted on a non-imposing base (360 case) or sit inconspicuously behind the "console" if it's an XBone case. I'll probably have to modify the cover just a bit to improve airflow (like drill some holes or slots) and of course fit the IO panel, but I'm going for a completely vanilla look here. I want it to be as cleverly disguised as possible.
For those who know computer components know that this build is by no means a top-of-the-line system, but it'll certainly knock the socks off of the system who's case used to call it home. I'm still not sure if i'll have room to liquid cool the CPU or if I'll have to use an air-cooled heat sink. If I liquid cool it, I can Overclock it to around 3.7GHz. If not, I'll leave it at the stock 3.1GHz. The disc drives will be non-operational because there just isn't any room. Thankfully most games are downloaded anyways, and if I need a disk drive, I'll just use an external one.
I'm pretty positive the hardest part is going be getting the power and reset switches to work. That may take some doing. It won't be too difficult if do it inside a 360 case, but the touchpanel on the XBox One will be much more challenging.
My biggest limiting factor here is budget and space. That's why I'm not using higher-end components. I have a spare FX 8120, and the 750ti is the highest-end card I could find that draws power directly from the board rather than using a PCI-E power. The less cords going from the PSU to the main system, the better I am. I'd love to be able to fit a PSU inside the housing, but I don't think it would be possible. The PSUs that I found that could fit only go up to maybe 350W, and I need much more than that to be safe under load.
I plan on building it, showcasing it for a while, then auctioning it off for charity.
Because I'm basically paying for this out of pocket and giving it away, any assistance, even advice, is always more than welcome! So, what do you guys think? _________________ "Reality is a lovely place, but I wouldn't want to live there." -Adam Young QUICK_EDIT
I would try finding a mini-ITX mainboard. They have a much smaller footprint and would suit the needs better. If you go mATX or mITX, you'll need to modify the XB case to account for the rear ports and likely need to find a proper connection for a slim DVD drive and front USB headers. It's doable but you've got a challenge ahead of you.
I have a similar project planned for a dead Panasonic 3D0 and a giant CD-i. _________________ KGR | AT
AZUR
Discord: theastronomer1836
Steam QUICK_EDIT
Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Location: Star Kingdom of Manticore
Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2015 3:52 pm Post subject:
That's why I'm going with an mATX. It's still fairly small, and I already have an AM3+ CPU. Keep in mind my budget here... I'm trying to save as much money as I can while still trying to build a quality gaming system.
This is all out of pocket, then going to auction for charity. I get pretty much zero return for this. _________________ "Reality is a lovely place, but I wouldn't want to live there." -Adam Young QUICK_EDIT
It's nice that you're auctioning it to charity, though it's gonna be alot of work to make it look nice and function. If it's a 360 (and your budget would thank you if it was as I've seen even broken XBone consoles go for $100+), you should have room for a liquid cool if you can find one with a thinner radiator (maybe a Corsair Hydro Series H60), otherwise, you're gonna have to depend on a heatsink and not overclock it.
Its too bad you already have the graphics and processor, makes it much harder to fit both, would be preferable to use a socket FM2 board Mini-ITX, as some of those even run off of a standard wall outlet unit instead of a power supply, not to mention the space you'd save. But good luck sir! _________________ "Don't beg for things; Do it yourself or you'll never get anything." QUICK_EDIT
Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Location: Star Kingdom of Manticore
Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2015 1:34 am Post subject:
The XBone case is large enough for either a rad and fan or air cooler for the CPU. I found one local to me for 30 bucks. I also found a super-slim Slot-load optical drive that I can use. It even has a touch sensor I can wire to the front touch panel of the Xbone. _________________ "Reality is a lovely place, but I wouldn't want to live there." -Adam Young QUICK_EDIT
Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Location: Star Kingdom of Manticore
Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 4:41 am Post subject:
People are asking entirely too much for original xbox's in my area. the cheapest I found was 50 bucks. I can buy a defective 360 cheaper. I actually want to see if I can find a defective XBone for that price, since the XBone has a great space-management system and it's IO port is well placed for a PC motherboard. _________________ "Reality is a lovely place, but I wouldn't want to live there." -Adam Young QUICK_EDIT
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