Beta live debug xbox

[Pikkon]

I saw this at xbox-scene in the forums.I think its used to beta test xbox
live games.But it has a odd connector.Right below the fan
http://www.geocities.com/johnnysoj/fullmobo.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/johnnysoj/30pinhdr.jpg

Here's a link to the thread.
http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=414572&st=0&p=2734283&#entry2734283

Does anyone know what its used for.

[Topic Archive]

I saw this at xbox-scene in the forums.I think its used to beta test xbox live games.But it has a odd connector.Right below the fan

Does anyone know what its used for.


Yep I know what it is and it isn't anything to do with Beta Live!

...Beta Live! Debug's run on 128mb RAM Ver 1.0 Mobo's

It's a real 'odd' one off type evaluation Xbox showing the migration from Ver1.0 to 1.1, also even though the pic isn't that clear I'm pretty sure it's fitted with an MCP rather than am MCPX. A nice piece of kit.

...The 'odd' connector is an arcade harness connector related to the relationship with the Sega, as per DVT3.

[hl718]

I saw this at xbox-scene in the forums.I think its used to beta test xbox
live games.But it has a odd connector.Right below the fan
http://www.geocities.com/johnnysoj/fullmobo.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/johnnysoj/30pinhdr.jpg

Here's a link to the thread.
http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=414572&st=0&p=2734283&#entry2734283

Does anyone know what its used for.
Why exactly do you think that is a Beta Live Box?

1) The BIOS date is pre-launch of the hardware. Microsoft would have been working on getting its first party launch titles out the door in March of 2001, not focusing on Live games. The initial debug kits didn't even have online support in the dash.

2) The lack of labels doesn't indicate anything aside from the fact that the box has been opened.

3) The black case is a non-issue. Microsoft produced debug kits with black cases. They will have a "Debug" label on the bottom of the machine in the standard place and run the XDK Launcher just fine.

4) Why do you insist on claiming that Debug Kits have a blank EEPROM? As I mentioned before, they certainly do contain data in the EEPROM.

-hl718

[Topic Archive]

The BIOS date is pre-launch of the hardware. Microsoft would have been working on getting its first party launch titles out the door in March of 2001


Btw the date on the BIOS is NOT related to the build / release date of that Xbox.

...It's using a 'hand-built' hybrid mobo built up from old DVT3 hardware left overs.

...In other words it's release date would be post DVT3, possibly late 2001, maybe even early 2002.

[Topic Archive]

2) The lack of labels doesn't indicate anything aside from the fact that the box has been opened.





...A genuine lack of labels can indicate a Prototype Xbox.

My two Prototypes have labels indicating that they are Prototype's, but sometimes no labels were used, especially with Internal destined machines. You just got a blank case filled it with hardware and tested it.

...Also the lack of labels confirms that the Xbox in question is designated niether as a Debug Kit, Dev Kit or indeed a regular Xbox. They only officially fit stickers to hardware thats approved.

Of course you could just peel the labels off and confuse things even more, lol :smt042

[hl718]

Even with internal hardware though there was usually a small sticker on the inside of the board listing different revision parts so as to not get boards confused. ;)

But yeah, any time I see a piece of kit sans labels the first thing that comes to mind is some fool peeled them all off. *grins*

-hl718

[PhreQuencYViii]

This may be a totally doofy question oldengineer, but...when you turn any of the test/debug/devolper Xbox'es on, do they have any kind of different logo screen (like the green ball opening movie thing that I guess was filmed underneath J. Allard's toilet) or do they just like....show BIOS type stuff.?

[hl718]

If you go back to the Alpha kits you'll see a different screen, but the DVT4s (current kit) all display the same boot animation you see on a retail.

In fact, if I were to use the recovery disc to configure a debug box as a retail kit and stuck it out of sight you wouldn't have any way of telling it was a debug when it booted as the animation and dash would look identical to a retail box starting up.

-hl718

[Topic Archive]

Even with internal hardware though there was usually a small sticker on the inside of the board listing different revision parts so as to not get boards confused. ;)


Yep, although the sticker is usually a serial number that ties in with the database.

...If you look at genuine Xbox Prototype Mobo you will notice that it doesn't even have the word 'Microsoft' on it :)

[Topic Archive]

This may be a totally doofy question oldengineer, but...when you turn any of the test/debug/devolper Xbox'es on, do they have any kind of different logo screen (like the green ball opening movie thing that I guess was filmed underneath J. Allard's toilet) or do they just like....show BIOS type stuff.?


The logo screens have basically remained the same although the DVT3 (mid Aug'01) screens were set to run a lot tamer and imo look sweeter than the Final ver.

...Of course the Alpha Dev Kit screens look nicest of all, the first Beta Dash running on March 2001 and then lot's of nice sparkly effects on April 2001 :)

[PhreQuencYViii]

What do they look like on the alpha ones.,.......can either of you get a screencap........?

[Topic Archive]

What do they look like on the alpha ones.,.......can either of you get a screencap........?

Yep, of course :)

...In the meantime here's the BIOS screen loading up...

[PrOfUnD Darkness]

...The 'odd' connector is an arcade harness connector related to the relationship with the Sega, as per DVT3.

Could you elaborate this more? :-)

[Topic Archive]

Could you elaborate this more? :-)


Xbox and Sega had a Development relationship in the early days that culminated in the following:


http://www.system16.com/sega/hrdw_chihiro.html


...That 'odd' connector is related to the development.

[Topic Archive]

What do they look like on the alpha ones.,.......can either of you get a screencap........?


Here you go, they don't come much rarer than this, this screen shows the VERY FIRST 'proper' INTERNAL dash release that we still use today in a modified form on the Xbox Console.

Dates from March 2001, running on one of my Alpha I Dev Kit's.

...I'll post more when I get chance :)

[PhreQuencYViii]

Woah thats cool dude, thanks for the pics...I love stuff like this.

[Borman]

Thats awesome. One of the few Xbox dev kits id be willing to buy

[Paulo]

Lovely pics. But damn that writing.... they could of made it abit smaller and less glowing!

[PhreQuencYViii]

Dude, how do Dev systems and kits and stuff even get into the hands of the public?

[Taemos]

Dude, how do Dev systems and kits and stuff even get into the hands of the public?

Some people steal them, other times companies go out of business and auction off their (well, relatively speaking) property [*cough* ;)]. I think I've even heard a few stories of older dev kits being thrown away.

[Topic Archive]

The photo below shows the fate of about 98% of the Xbox Alpha Dev Kit's...

...The picture isn't that clear but it was taken in a Game Development Studio showing an Alpha smashed into a thousand pieces as a sign of triumph moving away from Alpha Dev Kit's to Beta Consoles!

...The other 1.5% of Alpha Dev Kits were converted to 'regular' P.C's, thus rendering them usless as Xbox Dev Kit's :(

...About 0.5% of Alpha Dev Kit's managed to survive into preservation :(



Dude, how do Dev systems and kits and stuff even get into the hands of the public?

...Some people are lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.

[Paulo]

thats wrong! plaing wrong! Dont these people know what they are doing!

[bigsexyolli]

damn, that pic is sad :(

[PhreQuencYViii]

wahhhhhhhhhhhhh

[Borman]

Just think, thats happening to the 360 ones right now.

[the_steadster]

Just think, thats happening to the 360 ones right now.
Not too much of a tragedy though, as with the beta/alpha 360 kits, the important bit is the software - the hardware is mac G5's

[Paulo]

Umm you dont know if its just plain G5s though. Also the GFX cards!

[Calpis]

*Oh nos*

lol I for one could care less 'bout Alphas.

[Topic Archive]

Not too much of a tragedy though, as with the beta/alpha 360 kits, the important bit is the software - the hardware is mac G5's


The hardware BIOS is critical on the 360 Dev Kit's just like it is on the Alpha Xbox Dev Kits...

...In other words the hardware is important.

[the_steadster]

so the dev-kits and std G5's contain different bios's? interesting.

[Topic Archive]

Also the GFX cards!


That reminds me, talking of rare graphics cards here's the BIOS of the NV20 on the Alpha Dev Kit loading up...

[hl718]

That reminds me, talking of rare graphics cards here's the BIOS of the NV20 on the Alpha Dev Kit loading up...
Granted it's not specifically Xbox related, but how many of you have an NV1 card?

Seeing that BIOS screen reminded me of it for some reason, heh.

-hl718

[AntiPasta]

Granted it's not specifically Xbox related, but how many of you have an NV1 card?


Me! kekekekekeke :smt033
That BIOS text is interesting, though - does that NV20 have its own memory, unlike the Xbox with its UMA?

[Topic Archive]

Me! kekekekekeke :smt033
That BIOS text is interesting, though - does that NV20 have its own memory, unlike the Xbox with its UMA?


Yes it has 64MB RAM on a traditional plug in GF3 'type' AGP board, flashed with a Prototype Engineering BIOS.

...The UMA part is 'emulated' on the Alpha Dev Kit's to simulate the final console UMA.