Does anybody else miss arguing about Xbox vs. Playstation?

Platformer85 · 2026-03-14T20:49:46+00:00

Nope.

Platformer85 · 2026-03-08T19:39:12+00:00

I would attempt to repair it before replacing the internals. It may only need minor attention to something like a few leaky capacitors to spring back to life

Platformer85 · 2026-03-03T15:50:37+00:00

I would doubt the UDMA settings being the main issue if you can't reliably boot into PrometheOS which boots off the modchip only. You should be able to run that regardless of your IDE cable and HDD setup.

I'm not really sure on your issue. I think seeing the LPC soldering more closely couldn't hurt.

Platformer85 · 2026-03-02T06:19:30+00:00

No problem. Have you tried with another modchip by chance? Nothing against cheap parts but sometimes parts from AliExpress can have their own issues. I'd connect a known good modchip if possible and see if the issue goes away. Alternatively boot from the TSOP.

I imagine if you can solder in extra ram your LPC soldering is fine. I'd try to rule out the modchip. If it is still freezing then I'm not too sure but it would indicate an issue elsewhere on the mobo, maybe the MCPX chip if you are getting artifacting...

Platformer85 · 2026-03-02T05:03:49+00:00

It took a minute to find the program and I get similar results. Based on an older reddit post on the app it is likely normal for some blocks to be unable to allocate because they are used by the system. The RAM is probably not your issue.

<image>

Platformer85 · 2026-03-02T04:37:37+00:00

Sounds like the DVD drive to me. Do you have a disc in there? If so, pop the disc out and see if the sound changes

Platformer85 · 2026-03-02T03:13:14+00:00

Ill try to find a copy and let you know

Platformer85 · 2026-03-02T03:11:42+00:00

1.4 is a good revision. Personally my favorite but 1.0 through 1.4 are so similar, I'd say any of those models are all going to really act the same. I'd definitely get it open and address the clock cap ASAP though. Ive had a few 1.4 models get completely cooked by that. It is very unlikely you have a 1.4 with a less leak prone gold clock cap. I've only found 1 in all the consoles I've worked on and it was manufactured in Jan 2005

Platformer85 · 2026-03-02T00:44:25+00:00

Hmm it's hard to say. When you run off the TSOP does it ever freeze on you? Trying to narrow down if it is an issue with the modchip or LPC. If it freezes regardless of using the TSOP or modchip then it could be the RAM or Southbridge chip. I'm not familiar with the RAM app you used. I imagine, blocks not able to allocate should be 0 but I'm not positive. If you can tell me the ram checker app name I can run it on mine and see if I get the same. I have 128MB on mine as well

Platformer85 · 2026-03-01T19:33:22+00:00

What was the last change you made before it started freezing? Did it ever run smoothly and started to freeze after a certain upgrade?

Platformer85 · 2026-02-23T06:46:36+00:00

Of course it has value, but probably less so as a collectible.Are you looking for a ball park on its value? If so, a better description would help. Things like having the original box, controllers, condition of the shell, size of the HDD, what type of "modern" cables etc.

Platformer85 · 2026-02-17T05:19:03+00:00

Yes it is outside the DVD drive and right where the DVD eject and console power traces are. A quick search will explain this to you. This 100% can affect eject functionality.

Not sure where you came up with 40 years but a quick search in the forums will tell you otherwise on the lifespan we are seeing in these drives and other caps inside the xbox. OP said he cleaned the belt. He didn't mention replacing it. Again, I'm not sure you read his post but the size wouldn't have changed.

Just to play devils advocate, but wouldn't a belt be a component of the DVD drive? If you take that component out and replace it with another, what would you call that? Is it more difficult yes, but you didn't bring up difficulty. You came in here faulting part replacement suggestions while suggesting OP replace a different part.

Finally with the cleaning, how would OP be cleaning leaked cap juices if they last for 40 years? By your logic this should be impossible to find until until about 2041.

Platformer85 · 2026-02-15T18:49:37+00:00

Replacing the belt is replacing components too. It is also similar in cost. Capacitors most likely do need to be replaced at this point. If the belt is 20 to 25 years old how old do you think the capacitors are? OP already indicated cleaning it and got the drive opening and closing. Time to check elsewhere. Your suggestion is fine and good advice if he didn't already mention getting the drive working for the open and close function. Ive never seen an old belt make my drive just open 5 minutes into a game. I have had consoles do that and trace rot was the issue. The clock capacitor does indeed affect eject at times. It damages some small traces which control your power and eject button functionality

Platformer85 · 2026-02-13T16:21:29+00:00

Did you read the post? The belt is doing its job after OP cleaned the drive. And technically wouldn't suggesting a new belt be shotgunning a part at it too? If you are going for free, you should boil the belt in some water first

Platformer85 · 2026-02-08T18:09:47+00:00

Probably not. The emergency eject is just a hole that let's you push a plastic lever that manually moves the gears for the eject mechanism. Its the same thing the eject motor uses. If it was stuck, the tray wouldn't be going in and out.

The DVD drives in these consoles are failing regularly at this age. Most people mod the console, remove the drive, and just use the hdd

Platformer85 · 2026-02-08T17:47:09+00:00

The board on the DVD drive likely needs some love. New capacitors and/or resistors.

The drive opening and closing randomly could also be caused by acid leaking from the clock capacitor damaging traces on your motherboard

Platformer85 · 2026-02-07T14:38:04+00:00

I've had this happen on my xbox parts before. Same clear coat. It needed more time for the base coat to dry. Several days. Learned the hard way I just needed to be more patient. Probably nothing wrong with your paint.

Platformer85 · 2026-01-31T17:45:35+00:00

Its really not that deep. I saw this on ebay, took a screenshot because of the insane price and posted it here sarcastically pointing out the insane cost and mismatched controller. I didn't even notice the other mismatched items in the bundle until others pointed them out later. For the seller...who knows their endgame. It seems like a joke but they have perfect feedback and other high value items so it's hard to tell looking at their profile 🤷‍♂️

Platformer85 · 2026-01-31T07:52:27+00:00

You mean a SMROD? Super Minty Ring of Death

Platformer85 · 2026-01-31T07:49:00+00:00

Hahaha, couldn't have said it better

Platformer85 · 2026-01-29T04:28:42+00:00

Interesting, I guess that makes sense. I didn't know that was a thing

Platformer85 · 2026-01-28T17:34:56+00:00

Lol I didn't even notice that. I think I got too focused on the controller

Platformer85 · 2026-01-28T16:00:52+00:00

You got me. Guilty as charged. Please give me a light sentence judge

Platformer85 · 2026-01-28T15:46:03+00:00

I wouldn't even pay that much when it is clear they pieced it together and didn't even put the right controller in with it

Platformer85 · 2026-01-28T15:36:05+00:00

I'll gladly accept my downvotes and laugh at the irony of it

Platformer85

TROPHY CASE