Microsoft was the first company to release a seventh generation video game console when they released the Xbox 360. Even though Microsoft had problems with reliability, and required a paid subscription to play online, they outsold the PS3 within the United States for much of the generation. Last November, I bought one of those original white 20GB Xbox 360 Pro systems for less than $25. That’s less than 7% of what the original MSRP was back in 2005.

My console has an interesting past. I know it’s one of the launch Xenon consoles because of the 20GB hard drive, the lack of an HDMI port, and the higher wattage power port. At one point the system must have failed and was fixed by Microsoft, because there is an upgraded heatsink, and a sticker on the back marked as 2009. Because these older Xbox 360 consoles are prone to failure, I’m going to be modding my console to run as cool and quiet as possible. This is the introduction to a series of blog posts documenting my experiences restoring and modding my Xbox 360.

Topics

Here’s a short list of topics, in no particular order, that I’m planning to cover:

• Console teardown and reassembly.
• Thermal paste reapplication.
• Thermal pad replacement.
• X-Clamp replacement.
• 12V fan mod.
• Manual hardware fan speed control.
• External temperature display.
• Add an additional fan.
• Flash DVD firmware to play game backups, or x360key.
• Powering the 360 with an external ATX computer power supply.
• Mounting in a computer case.
• Water cooling.

For an up to date listing of topics that I have covered, see my projects page.

• Category: Consoles, Video Games, Xbox 360, Xenon Xbox 360 project