Xbox 360 Case/Fan Mods

MoogPaul

I did a search and couldn't come up with any topics. If there is a forum topic already, please lock.

I've been looking into modding my xbox 360. I'm no longer worried about voiding my warranty. I am interesting in modding my xbox for the following things:

1. Quieter Disc Drive
2. Disc Drive Pads to help cut the risk of laser scratches
3. More powerful/quieter cooling fan
4. Over all cooling issues

I've been searching a bunch of different sites, and to be honest, a lot of these webpages out there look pretty shady IMO. I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions of recommendations. I don't really have a problem with doing most of the work myself, however I am a little iffy on soldering.

Dark Shroud

There are some videos on youtube of people replacing the fans on the back and mounting additional fans. You can replace the heat sink in side if you want. The only thing I don't think you can do it replace the DVD Drive, maybe replace it with the HD-DVD add-on drive but that's all I can think of.

I used to have some links, let me take a look. I'll post back here.

Dark Shroud

Ok, here is the basic easy fan mod. Replacing the stock fans with the whisper quiet fans. This guy opened the case the hard way. I'd recommend oiling the fans a bit and letting them sit overnight just to make them as quiet as they can.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io5QuXZVdqI

And then there is the XCM 360 High Speed Air Cooler: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xUx-uxY_Ew

I'm a minimalist so I wouldn't cut the case up, but I would put a mesh intake screen on the top. I'll probably buy a used on this summer and try it out myself.

MoogPaul

Dark Shroud wrote: »

Ok, here is the basic easy fan mod. Replacing the stock fans with the whisper quiet fans. This guy opened the case the hard way. I'd recommend oiling the fans a bit and letting them sit overnight just to make them as quiet as they can.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io5QuXZVdqI

And then there is the XCM 360 High Speed Air Cooler: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xUx-uxY_Ew

I'm a minimalist so I wouldn't cut the case up, but I would put a mesh intake screen on the top. I'll probably buy a used on this summer and try it out myself.

That XCM 360 one looks pretty nice, not too expensive either. I'm concerned about the power supply of the xbox itself. Does it pack enough juice to power this kind of stuff(the LEDs and such)?

FaceballMcDougal

There is plenty of cooling in a stock 360. The kind of heat that is killing these components isn't the kind of heat you can disapate with these simple mods. If you've got a server rack in an environmental room then that's your best bet. Otherwise cross your fingers.

Dark Shroud

MoogPaul wrote: »

That XCM 360 one looks pretty nice, not too expensive either. I'm concerned about the power supply of the xbox itself. Does it pack enough juice to power this kind of stuff(the LEDs and such)?

It should. I've never used the XCM, you can email the manufacture about it and ask how it connects to the power. As long as it connects to the power supply or USB instead of the way the Nyko intercooler did/does you should be fine.

Mr_Grinch

Flashing the firmware, whilst allowing for copied games, also has an advantage over the stock firmware, you can choose to run it as low as 4 speed (Stock firmware is 12). Other than some fmv stuttering it generally behaves the same and the DVD drive will be almost silent.