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XBox Alpha Development Kit Build Log


N64 freak
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As there might be a couple people out there who want to own an Xbox Alpha Development kit but don’t want to spend the Cash they cost I thought I just write up a guide how to build one yourself with off the shelf parts!

This is not the first guide about this topic out there but hopefully the most detailed and helpfull!

I’m going to do this as a picture supported step-by-step guide so it should be easy to follow for anybody.

 

Let’s start with the parts used in the Alpha2 Console:

-Intel VC820 Desktop Board                                         

-128MB RD Ram (Kingston KVR800X 18-8/128)

-733Mhz Slot 1 CPU  (Part number SL3XN)

-250Watt ATX PSU (ATNG Model: PS-250S)

-20GB IDE HDD (Fujitsu MPF3204AT)

-3,5” FDD (Sony MPF920-C)

-DVD Drive (Hitachi GD-7000)

-64MB Geforce3 (180-P0050-0000-A05)

-Network Card (Intel Pro/100)

-Soundcard (Wolfson Micronics WM9707_AMR_EV1_Rev2)

-USB Card (Xircom Portgear PGPCI2 )

 

 

Now on to the parts you need to buy for a basic bootable setup:

-Intel VC820 Desktop Board (CC820 should also work!)

-128MB RD Ram

-733Mhz Slot1 CPU

-Any ATX PSU 250Watt or more

-IDE HDD 20GB or bigger

-Any DVD Drive that reads self-burned CD-r

-64mb Geforce 3 NV20 Video Card ->more details a bit later!

-Intel Pro/100 Network Card

 

 

That’s the minimum that is needed to get the alpha to boot the recovery CD. If you want to be able to do anything except looking at the Recovery Screen you need some more parts:

-2 Port USB Card that uses an Opti Firelink 82C861 Chipset

-Xbox Controller to USB Adapter +Xbox Controller

-Wolfson Micronics Soundcard (or the recreated Version)

-Any Case to install it all to.

(The original case for the alphas is the GlobalWin YCC-802)

 

That’s how my stack off parts for the alpha looks like:

 

IMG_1.thumb.JPG.5395c0eba7cf8619c8dad265b765bf32.JPG

Once you have all the parts together let’s start by putting it together!

Guess I don’t have to cover how to install the CPU, Ram, Video Card, PSU, Network card, Audio Card and the Drives.

The end result should look like this. It’s not important in which pci port the usb and lan card are installed. BUT it is important that the lan card is installed as the Alpha won’t boot otherwise!!!

IMG_2.thumb.JPG.e9ef7eec8e67f6daa11cdeb13125259e.JPGIMG_3.thumb.JPG.7561a2d9b55f356694964e58b5c03b6c.JPG

When it’s all put together turn it on and check that it properly posts and there are no errors or whatever before continuing!

 

 

Now on to burning a recovery CD!

(Thanks to Borman for releasing the May2001 Alpha2 recovery! All credit goes to him for the release!) You can find the files in the download section and can simply download them.

 

Here's a direct link to the files on an external Server: Alpha Recoveries and VGA Bios

Once downloaded just use ImgBurn (or any other iso burning software) to write the May2001 recovery to a cd-r disc.

Pop that disc into the DVD drive off your alpha and you should see the Xbox animation and should be greated by this recovery Screen afterwards:

 

 

IMG_4.thumb.JPG.2806ee2679ef932da30f799de1fb4221.JPG

Now (if you haven’t done it earlier) plug in the Controller using the matching adapter and Press any button to start the recovery. The progress bar should show how far the progress is. It shouldn’t take any longer than 5 Minutes to finish and you will see this screen. Then remove the recovery disc from the drive and reboot.

 

 

IMG_6.thumb.JPG.a324e5510daece1b0b57b590162e655f.JPGIMG_7.thumb.JPG.faad0b3f5774b953f34ac4ebcfcb06ba.JPGIMG_8.thumb.JPG.91ff268c6dac3301b08959fbfbdf7c1d.JPG

You should then be greeted by the following screen where you can set a name for your alpha console.

 

IMG_9.thumb.JPG.3f44e597c15a1a73c3772861ab8b0c4e.JPG

Congratulations your Alpha Development kit is now fully working and ready to be used!

 

IMG_10.thumb.JPG.ea0ada10c2ba1f67c4283efc0d982651.JPG

 

 

Soundcard:

I recreated the Soundcard to build a completely working alpha kit for myself as the original Alpha soundcards are as rare as the original alphas. If you need one for your build just drop me a message and I can build a couple more!

 

img50189cp2d7qnz8.thumb.jpg.dac7fa6e0eaa26f472b04c817757b05d.jpg

 

 

Graphics Card:

The video card is an important part of this build so here’s a little extra information about that part.

The Card needs to be an NV20 Core Card with 64mb. 32MB cards might also work but we want to be as close as possible so buy a 64mb card to not get into trouble!

I successfully tested 2 card from 2 different vendors:

-Medion MS-8838 Geforce3 200ti

-MVGA-NVG3T2A 64MB

 

Many other NV20 core cards should work and I gladly extend that list if you used another card on your build! J

Flashing the engineering Bios is NOT needed it is only a cosmeticall detail you might enjoy.

The motherboard does also not need to be on a special Bios version or anything.

 

Troubleshooting:

You Get a blinking black cursor and no Xbox boot animation?

->You might have forgotten to install the Lan card, got a wrong one or your Nvidia Card is not supported!

Your DVD-drive doesn’t spin up and you end up with an intel Network card boot/bios Screen?

->Something might have gone wrong with the CD you burned or your drive can’t read the cd-r!

Could also be a problem with the boot order!  Check that in the Bios the dvd drive should be the first boot device!

 

If you have any questions about the build or anything just drop me a PM! :)

IMG_5.JPG

Edited by N64 freak
Further information added!
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10 hours ago, Solomono said:

Do you have any Intel VC820 Desktop Board schematics diagram? I am want to read the hardware components.

I might have an idea what you wanna try, but I suggest you look at the chipset itself first
Intel i820 Chipset Family Technical Documentation

Some people had success with diferent motherboards but still the same chipset. basicly, if windows would see the same hardware (use the same drivers), it would work. CC820 I believe worked aswell.

Based on these docs and maybe combining these with the schematics for other parts on the VC820, you might work out a schematic for a Xbox alpha motherboard. I leave any reasons for why you would wanna try this or why not to another forum thread. meanwhile ill be downloading these for my personal reference :D  also, sometimes the servicemanuals are archived using other names, like the factory that maked them or nicknames (camino ?)

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12 hours ago, codeasm said:

I might have an idea what you wanna try, but I suggest you look at the chipset itself first
Intel i820 Chipset Family Technical Documentation

Some people had success with diferent motherboards but still the same chipset. basicly, if windows would see the same hardware (use the same drivers), it would work. CC820 I believe worked aswell.

Based on these docs and maybe combining these with the schematics for other parts on the VC820, you might work out a schematic for a Xbox alpha motherboard. I leave any reasons for why you would wanna try this or why not to another forum thread. meanwhile ill be downloading these for my personal reference :D  also, sometimes the servicemanuals are archived using other names, like the factory that maked them or nicknames (camino ?)

Thanks for the reference. 

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  • 4 months later...

I do sell the soundcards to anyone who wants one. But i only sell them completely assembled and tested!

I won't sell bare pcbs or DIY solder sets and i also won't release the design files for them.

 

The only thing that's missing for a 100% replica is the metal mounting bracket. But you can easily mod one to fit from an old PCI card. Or get one produced for this special purpose.

The price for each soundcard is 40€ +shipping if anyone is interested in purchasing one.

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How certain are you that the CC820 Board works? I can only find those, and the VC820 is going for nearly $600, or on Amazon only being sold in packs of 10. The concern is that the CC820 actually uses "fake RDRAM", in that it actually only takes SDRAM and then `translates it`.

Edited by InvasionSurvivor
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Hello,

I am interest in building one of these myself when I lost the chance of a lifetime to own an original ( The guy said it was mine if i could out bid a $2700 offer he got). I just went looking around on eBay for the motherboard since i know these board haven't been made since at least 2005, an i am finding that both the Intel VC820 and the CC820 Motherboards are running $120 - $500. I am wondering what the heck these people are smoking because I was expecting to pay anywhere from $30 - at max $70 on the high side. Any body got any Ideas about the inflation of price or where I can get a good priced board. Also when the time is right for me to afford it, I would be interested in one of the sound cards you make, if you are still selling them. 

thanks

Aidan

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