XBMC - The Xbox Media Centre
From Mod Mania
Hey Guys, Girls and Guyguls!
For MY MOd MoNIA PRoJeCT i will be creating an Xbox Media Centre and new housing!!!! ... that's if all goes to plan... You know how it is!
So basically, If you havent heard of it before now, the xbox media centre(xbmc) is (to put it very simply)an xbox that has been mod chipped and loaded with a new software build that creates an xbox that works like a computer. Sort of... read on!?
By inserting a Mod Chip into the (at this stage) factory condition xbox, This creates a alternate BIOS which in turn, instructs the harware in the machine to do different things. So when switching on the xbox, the Central Processing Unit (CPU) boots the basic input/output system (BIOS) which gives information (known as software) to the hardware which loads in order, the build put in place, including the interface you see on the screen.
This is what a BIOS looks like
Please have a look at the links to see exactly what and how some of the technical Jargon works:
How a BIOS works
How a Operating System works
How a Microprocessor works + a good computer video
This one is particularly good for learning the basic parts of a computer, definatly watch the video
But moving away from all that geeky stuff for now, the real benefits are creating a platform to view & access:
- Music
- Videos
- Pictures
- Games
- Weather Updates etc.
All on the screen/projector/Televison
For now, Check out the offical creators website of XBMC an have a look at what these things can do... Meanwhile, i'm going to try and buy a cheap second-hand xbox on ebay!
I bought this one, was reasonably cheap. Hopefully i don't screw it up!
So i started pulling apart the xbox i bought
The case - notice the screw under label, apparently, as soon as this is broken/unscrewed, the waranty is void.... here goes!
After taking the 5 x long case screws from the bottom of case (4xcorners/2xcentres) I pulled the top half of the case from the chasis. Notice the HDD (harddrive) and the CD drive next to each other on plastic stands. This allows the console to be more packed with out interference with the motherboard.
1. CD drive - nice little logo (could be used on my housing) 2. Picture of motherboard, Power supply and cabling attached to case. 3. Motherboard 4. Power supply
Notice the PS (power supply) plug input direcly at the back of the (PS)(first image). I then emptied out the rest of the case, including cooling fan at the back and game port inputs at the front, then i removed the whole front facia panel
This is a picture of the small chipset for the front facia configuration, notice the writing detailing what each piece does on the end picture. This is for the small round light at the front of the xbox to indicate pwr on. Also the eject and pwr on/off buttons
1. I started to measure out the motherboard and PS onto the 15mm thick perspex i got, this will form the base of the housing. I will need to make some spacers that sit the motherboard about 5mm off the base to allow airflow around the terminals underneath etc. 2. This is the plastic frame that supports the CD Drive. I might try and make another to reduce the overall size of the xbox. 3.
When i opened the disc drive, there was a copy of the italian job game inside (rental courtsey of video ezy & Cool_boy 84(ebay i.d)) haha SCORE!
just some pictures of my little tool set (saved my life) and the carnage currently on my dining table (take-away time)
