Xbox Case Modding FAQ V3.13=====[
Table of Contents]=====
Guide To A Dead Power Supply Unit Replacement
How do I change my front (eject) LEDs?
What type of resistors do I need for ____ LEDs??
Where is the tutorials page???
What Xbox Version do I have???
How do I get the case off???
How do I get the face plate/front panel thingy off?
What's the best way to get the jewel off?
How do I get the paint off of my jewel/Get the jewel clear or less cloudy?
Okay, So I took off my jewel and sanded it, or got a custom one. How do I get it back on???
What type of paint should I use on my xbox?
Painting tips for newbies!!!
Complete Two Color Painting Tutorial
How do I do the 12v Fan Mod?
What are the average temperatures for the xbox cpu and motherboard?
What is too hot for my xbox?
What's the best way to cool my xbox?
How can I make the fan more quiet?
What are sizes for the back fan?
Where can I get a new jewel at?
How do I light my jewel? Cold cathode or LEDs?
Where can I buy a cathode fan?
I have a cathode/light kit...how do I install it?
I bought a lighting product that uses an inverter...now Xbox won't turn on!!!
There is not enough room for my jewel lighting!!
What size LEDs do I need for the eject buttons?
Where can I buy LEDs?
How do I install LEDs in the controllers?
How do I install LEDs in the controllers to make the A, B, X, and Y buttons glow?
What type of soldering iron should I buy?
HOW DO I SOLDER??
=====[/
Table Of Contents]=====
*Lots of props to brahm2 for the edits and updates* - neo529Guide To A Dead Power Supply Unit Replacementhttp://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?act...ST&f=24&t=31421^ this thread has saved many people in desperation
(by
smokeingit)
also look
hereHow do I change my front (eject) LEDs?Well,
XBTool allows you to specify the LED color of red, green, or orange and can have them alternate and flash as well. Otherwise, there is a tutorial for changing them to any color (by
dzv)
http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?act...24&t=50825&st=0What type of resistors do I need for ____ LEDs??http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?act...ST&f=24&t=61484(by
EvilWays)
Where is the tutorials page???http://www.xbox-scene.com/tutorials.phpWhat Xbox Version do I have???http://xbox-linux.sourceforge.net/docs/ver...onsfinding.html - incredibly detailed
http://www.xbox-scene.com/versions.phpHow do I get the case off???http://www.xbox-scene.com/articles/open1.phpHow do I get the face plate/front panel thingy off?Read this thread:
http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?act...=24&t=83735&hl=And watch this video (thanks to
TykSak)
http://www.strikeforce.dk/phpBB/uploads/Mo...anelRemoval.aviAnd brahm2's own video (it's not this easy to get it off the first time, but oh well)
http://s87573135.onlinehome.us/xbox/remove...efrontpanel.aviWhat's the best way to get the jewel off?This method is reccomended because it is sooooo easy:
Step 1: Put the top part of your case into the freezer for about 30 minutes.
Step 2: Take it out, remove metal shielding and tap directly under your jewel with a hammer [OR A SHOE!!] and she'll pop right off. (by
tester123)
If tester's method doesn't work (unusually strong glue or something) try this method:
First open up the xbox case ant take off the top. Take the metal shielding off the top. There are 6 little posts that you have to bend a little of the metal back. Grab a hair blower and a small screw driver. Set the hair dryer to hot and high. Point the hair blower at the back of the jewel for 5 minutes, no less. Take the screw driver and stick it under the jewel and leaver it off. Thats it your jewel is off. (by
wup)
Here is a 30 second method:
What you need is a can of compressed air. You use it for cleaning PC parts and dusting things. If you turn it upside down it shoots out a liquid that is super cold and freezes. Anyways, turn the can upside down and spray all around your jewel. Be sure to get alot of it around the sides and underneath. When i was done spraying I had a little pool of this "super cooling liquid air" on my jewel. It evaporated in a few seconds then the jewel peeled right off. Hope this helps! (by
EyeCandyAccord)
How do I get the paint off of my jewel/Get the jewel clear or less cloudy?[*]A good way, with no sanding required, is NAIL POLISH REMOVER. Take some paper towel, dab some Cutex on it, and rub. It will take a while, but it is well worth it. If you don't have a sister/mom/girlfriend, go to a drugstore. It should be cheaper than a million kinds of sandpaper. Look at this result:
http://s87573135.onlinehome.us/xbox/newcasejewel1.JPGNote: don't let it SOAK.. RUB it. Sometimes it might depend on the nail polish if it is cloudy.
Note 2: Apparently ACETONE FREE Nail Polish is the kind that does not cloud.
Note 3: This method does not work 100% of the time, and some members still get cloudy jewels.
[*]the sanding method is quicker but sometimes yields less than satisfactory results. I usually start with a low-grit sandpaper til most of the paint is gone. Then I use a 600 - 800 grit til its all gone then i use a 1500 grit + wet sanding. Then I use toothpaste for polishing.
[*]Keep the following in mind:
http://s87573135.onlinehome.us/xbox/hownot...stallajewel.jpg
[*]Just as a tip, various other household chemicals have been reported to work just as well. Pine Sol and Oven cleaner have both had good results, but sometimes the jewel clouds with oven cleaner. Nail Polish remover is the way to go!!
Okay, So I took off my jewel and sanded it, or got a custom one. How do I get it back on???Definitive Jewel Reattachement Guide (by
feflicker)
http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?act...ST&f=24&t=93010What type of paint should I use on my xbox?TykSak, one of the best xbox case modders, uses acrylic car paint. Many people have also had luck with krylon fusion paint. Some other good brands are:
Krylon Fusion
Motip Car Paint
Dupli-Color Auto Paint
Tamiya Model Paint
Plasti-kote Auto Paint
Painting tips for newbies!!!http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?act...ST&f=24&t=98508Complete Two Color Painting Tutorialhttp://www.modzone.dk/forums/showthread.ph...s=&threadid=136Thanks
TykSak!
How do I do the 12v Fan Mod?http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?act...ST&f=24&t=79072^
DEFINITIVE WAYWhat are the average temperatures for the xbox cpu and motherboard?CPU temp should range from about 40º-65ºC (104º-149ºF)
Motherboard temp should range from about 33º-49ºC (90º-120ºF)
What is too hot for my xbox?your Xbox sill shut down if the cpu temperature reaches 71ºC (160ºF)
What's the best way to cool my xbox? I have had good experiences w/ the
12v mod. You can also add more fans, especially one underneath the hard drive. If you add one under the HD make sure it is sucking air away and not blowing air against it because you will just be blowing hot air against the hdd. If you blow the air away from the hdd the back fan will take it out.
If you are not concerned about looks...then leaving the case lid off is one of the better cooling methods. But what case modder would do that? :-P
How can I make the fan more quiet?Buy a new, more silent one. Such as a Vantec Stealth 80mm (requires some fitting)
What are sizes for the back fan?3 1/4 x 2 3/4 x 1 inch or 70mm x 60mm x approx 21.5mm
Where can I get a new jewel at?There are a lot of places to buy jewels at. Try:
http://www.xport1.comhttp://shop.craxtion.com/http://www.mad-modder.comSome members sell them independantly and have a store - such as LepPpeR and No_Remorse_666. Ask politly but please do not flood inboxes. Some people make them on and off. Check the Buy/Sell/Trade section...you never know what you might find.
How do I light my jewel? Cold cathode or LEDs?The difference between cold cathodes and LEDs is this: LEDs are bright, and CC's are incredibly bright!!
Mastermods.com used to sell light kits but have had incredible shipping problems and they are generally not reccomended. There are also some tutorials to make your own. Here is the best one (thanks
Ben999_):
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/ben999000/ledtutorial/Another one:
http://hometown.aol.com/xboxsicko/LEDs.htmlCircular cold cathodes are becoming extremly popular...they are available at Xoxide.com or any major computer case modding site. A cathode from an 80mm fan is PERFECT for the Xbox. Spiral fans also work very well. Basically, you unscrew the cathode part from the fan, plug the molex connector into the Xbox's PSU (requires Y-splitter) and turn it on.
Where can I buy a cathode fan?EVERYWHERE!!! Search Google for "Cathode fan". Get them on Ebay for cheap. Anywhere!!
As of this update,
http://www.xoxide.com has a deal on - any color cathode fan for $4.99 each!!
I have a cathode/light kit...how do I install it? You need a 4-pin molex power spiltter for the hard drive power cable...then the hard drive goes in one end and the light kit goes in the other. Advanced modders will be able to figure out which wires to solder without having to buy a splitter. Remember that CCs NEED an inverter to work.
I bought a lighting product that uses an inverter...now Xbox won't turn on!!!Depending on where you placed the inverter, it can sometimes interfere with the interior of the Xbox. Mainly, when you place one right near the IDE cable from the HDD. Simple fix.. wrap the inverter in tin foil (stops electronic signals), then wrap the aluminum-wrapped inverter with electrical tape (because electronics and aluminum foil DO NOT MIX!!). If this fix doesn't work for you..post a help thread for troubleshooting.
Another common cause of the inverter screwing up your xbox is that there's usually a piece of methal inside the inverter thats touching another piece of metal that it shouldn't be. This happens especially with inverters from svc.com (not sure what brand specifically). To open the inverter, usually you can just push in the middle in on both sides and the two covers with pop right off. Then just make there are no pieces of metal touching any other pieces of metal inside the inverter, if there is just pry the 2 pieces of metal away with a flathead screwdriver or something (be gentle with it). This has already happened to me and a friend, we wrapped it and tinfoil first and still had problems with interference, but we opened up our inverters and sure enough there were some pieces of metal touching each other that weren't supposed to. If you tried wrapping it in tinfoil and tried this method also, its probbably time to get a new inverter... (THANKS deviation56)
There is not enough room for my jewel lighting!!Well, the easiest solution is to take out the metal shielding attached to the lid of the Xbox. It is completely useless and taking it out is perfectly fine.
What size LEDs do I need for the eject buttons? 3mm is best. You can fit 5mm w/ some work though.
Note: 3mm Bi-color LEDs are the easiest to install, because they are the same size as the originals. When you install 2- 3mm LEDs, some trimming of the insides may be required. 5mm LEDs require more trimming.
Where can I buy LEDs? eBay is my favorite. Also try searching on yahoo or check the buy/sale area.
also -
http://www.LSDiodes.com - no Bicolors, but .45 per LED and $2 shipping worldwide for ANY AMOUNT of LEDs
bicolors -
http://coolerguys.com/ProductDetails.aspx?...x?productID=831 RED/
BLUE bicolor LEDs
How do I install LEDs in the controllers?Visit this link - bad pics, but good tut.
http://xbox20-02.tripod.com/ledtutorial/index.htmlVisit this link - awesome pics, awesome tut
http://www.geocities.com/xboxinstigator/Visit this link - awesome pics, awesome tut
http://www.toppaninteramericainc.com/mod/x...xcontroller.htmHow do I install LEDs in the controllers to make the A, B, X, and Y buttons glow? Check these links.
http://members.cox.net/bounty_rook/modcon.htmhttp://144.92.190.113/htmltonuke.php?filna...ler_lights.htmlAlso see Ben999_'s website for another pic of a completed one
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/ben999000/xb...llerbuttons.jpgWhat type of soldering iron should I buy?Get one that is 30 Watts or less. Preferably a little less than 30w. Otherwise you can burn the traces. Don't be a cheapass when modding...it's less than $10 at Radio Shack for a 15w Iron, and thats better than spending the case for a new Xbox!!
HOW DO I SOLDER??http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?act...T&f=24&t=155478http://www.circuittechctr.com/guides/7-0.shtmlGoogle Results for 'basic soldering guide'http://www.xbox-scene.com/articles/soldering2.phphttp://www.xbox-scene.com/articles/stems.phphttp://www.epemag.wimborne.co.uk/solderfaq.htm#howto=====[
Updates]=====
Jun 24 - Original Post by
NeO529Sep 7 - Updated heavily by
brahm2Sept 28 - Updated by
brahm2. TOC added, updates list added.
Oct 6 - Updated by
brahm2. Lots of helpful painting stuff added.
Oct 27 - Updated by
brahm2 - nothing new, but a lot of corrections and additions to existing stuff.
Dec 07 - Updated by
NeO529 - more corrections.
Jan 13 - Soldering links added by
brahm2Feb 14 - Respectfully unpinned
This post has been edited by brahm2: Feb 15 2004, 02:32 AM
Faq: For Case Modding And Some Other Things, helpful info for noobs in here.
Jun 25 2003, 04:08 AM
