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Xbox360 Forums => Xbox360 Hardware Forums => Xbox360 General / Hardware Chat => Topic started by: enixn on June 07, 2005, 04:35:00 PM

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: enixn on June 07, 2005, 04:35:00 PM

this is the first time in a while that i have started a topic, but i just had a random thought. I dunno if anyone else has had a similar thread of thought and posted it, so i have decided to do so.

I was just thinking about all the stuff we are gonna be able to do once the 360 is modded, when it hit me: xbox 1 could almost run windows XP but lack of RAM among other things prevented this (windows embedded i think almost worked, but i never followed that up) and windows CE i think actually ran. BUt most of all, the 64 mb of Ram kinda screwed everything up (including dreamcast emulation among other things).

Now (rather in the future) the xbox360 is most likely gonna be more powerful than ANYbody's PC they own. I mean 3 Core-powerPC @ 3.2 GHz and 2 threads each. That is pretty powerful. the xbox had like a 733 mhz. Then you have the 512 mb of GDDRam, which is how much i had in my pc up until about a month ago, which is more than enough to run most, if not all, common pc applications. The graphics card will be more powerful than anthing for 12 months, as claimed by cnet i think (or some other news site). then again, playing pc games wont really be a question, as 360 games will be better anyway. The upgradeable hdd is a gimme and a necessity for any PC.

I mean, c'mon it has direct VGA out, USB ports, Wireless built in....jesus

I mean, just looking at all the components and features, this is a highend PC for 300 bukcs (or around there) that can play xbox 360 games too. PPC based CPU though warrants Mac OSX (or linux i think?) but im willing to bet that in the future I'm going to be buying a second 360 as my desktop powerhouse computer.

So, anyone else think that this is gonna be...oh, i dunno, pretty friggin crazy/awesome?

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: Carlo210 on June 07, 2005, 05:03:00 PM

Very, very true.
As long as you can mod to make it run on an os, you got a beast of a pc on your hands.

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: Bigsam411 on June 07, 2005, 06:02:00 PM

QUOTE(enixn @ Jun 8 2005, 12:46 AM)

this is the first time in a while that i have started a topic, but i just had a random thought. I dunno if anyone else has had a similar thread of thought and posted it, so i have decided to do so.

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: M-K-E! on June 07, 2005, 06:59:00 PM

you say it has direct vga out, is that really confirmed yet? im still waiting.

that's probably going to be my final purchase decision. the ps3 may have 2 hdmi outs for the 4 people in the world that have 2 hdtv's sitting next to eachother, but i dont have that kinda money to buy a good hdtv, but i can get a monitor capable of displaying 1080i/p, and i have a bunch of monitors that i use with the x2vga at 720p, but if this has direct vga out, id deffinatly be preordering it.

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: thebroken on June 07, 2005, 08:36:00 PM

i got my fingers crossed

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: scienide on June 08, 2005, 01:58:00 AM

Yeah...

i was "dreaming" about this scenario...

at my work place i have an old CPU to work on...

How about..... waking up in the morning...
take your xbox360, go to work... hook it up there..

and start to work on the linux partition

...

Get back home.... re-install the original harddisk... and go play on live...

Oww goodie goodie

...

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: enixn on June 08, 2005, 01:10:00 PM

QUOTE(M-K-E! @ Jun 8 2005, 03:10 AM)

you say it has direct vga out, is that really confirmed yet? im still waiting.

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: enixn on June 09, 2005, 01:31:00 AM

ah thats where i remembered seeing it...thx

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: Carlo210 on June 09, 2005, 05:17:00 AM

QUOTE

Get back home.... re-install the original harddisk... and go play on live...

I think youd have to mod your xbox360 to make it run an os. Xbox + Mod = No live.

I'd suggest getting one xbox360 to be a gaming system and the other to use at work and where ever else.

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: enixn on June 09, 2005, 11:56:00 AM

QUOTE(Carlo210 @ Jun 9 2005, 01:28 PM)

I think youd have to mod your xbox360 to make it run an os. Xbox + Mod = No live.

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: oxygenuk on June 09, 2005, 01:54:00 PM

games aint all about live and after all, id much preffer to be running a linux or windows OS runnin some fun app's using messenger & surfing the net & using other functions what you can do on a pc if that would be avaliable, guessing it would if u connected to 360 to a router or something.

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: Carlo210 on June 09, 2005, 03:32:00 PM

Hmm, I remember hearing something about how PC users and XBOX360 users will be connected to the same network over xbox360 games over xbox live. How PC users can subscribe for xbox live too.
If this is true, you can mod your 360 to pc-state and just run the pc version of live.

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: enixn on June 09, 2005, 03:51:00 PM

QUOTE(Carlo210 @ Jun 9 2005, 11:43 PM)

Hmm, I remember hearing something about how PC users and XBOX360 users will be connected to the same network over xbox360 games over xbox live. How PC users can subscribe for xbox live too.

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: CattyKid on June 09, 2005, 06:17:00 PM

QUOTE(fasmanza @ Jun 7 2005, 10:41 PM)

This is nothing....

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: enixn on June 29, 2005, 09:30:00 AM

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: twistedsymphony on June 29, 2005, 12:07:00 PM

QUOTE(enixn @ Jun 29 2005, 11:41 AM)

in light of seeing the new "xbox as pc" thread closed that i wanted to respond to, i figured i'd respond to my same forum topic which i guess the other guy couldnt find.

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: Ballz2TheWallz on June 29, 2005, 11:22:00 PM

QUOTE(mikeandbandit @ Jun 8 2005, 02:10 AM)

MS supports the mod community and the options it provides

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: xionanx on June 30, 2005, 12:56:00 AM

I'm sure MS will release a larger HDD as an expansion. However its also easy to imagine 3rd party companies releasing larger HDD's as well, since they are removable. Also, since they are removable you can assume they wont be "locked" like the current gen XBOX HDD, which means we "MAY" be able to crack open the case that holds the drive and install an off the shelf 2.5" HDD the size we want.

The DVD Drive that comes standard with the 360 will be either IDE or SATA, once again an off the shelf product. So I'm willing to bet we could easily replace it as well.

The sticking points for me are the RAM and the OS.

People seem to love Linux, however its practical uses for the average person are limited right now. So unless MS releases a version of WinXP or Longhorn for the 360, I cant see me bothering to run Linux.

The RAM on the other hand, 512MB isn't bad, but I would love to upgrade to at least 1GB. But, ONLY if I could run a OS other then Linux on the 360.

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: twistedsymphony on June 30, 2005, 06:45:00 AM

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: enixn on June 30, 2005, 07:46:00 AM

QUOTE(twistedsymphony @ Jun 29 2005, 08:18 PM)

I completely get what you're saying but what software do you use, and is there a Linux version... see, THATS where the problem is.

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: Bogus8 on June 30, 2005, 10:05:00 AM

QUOTE(xionanx @ Jun 30 2005, 02:07 AM)

People seem to love Linux, however its practical uses for the average person are limited right now. So unless MS releases a version of WinXP or Longhorn for the 360, I cant see me bothering to run Linux.

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: xionanx on July 01, 2005, 04:21:00 AM

QUOTE(Bogus8 @ Jun 30 2005, 06:16 PM)

Trust, I'm not a linux nut... I am on a windows box right now... but I do have several linux boxes (they are specialized for me, fileserver/MythTV box) but ONLY reason I don't use it as a desktop is I do a lot of pro audio and video editing and I need Cubase and Vegas and such... IF they had that for linux I would switch...

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: Paranoid666au on July 07, 2005, 10:00:00 AM

The Xbox 360 may not get a a lot of use as a PC.

How many Linux distos run on PowerPC?

How many Linux programs run on PowerPC?

I think the answer is not much.

It'll be great when they make a media centre for it, that'll be shit hot! But other than running specialised apps made for it there won't be much else that can run on it.

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: Bogus8 on July 07, 2005, 11:30:00 AM

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: IAmCanadian on July 08, 2005, 02:51:00 AM

I dunno if this has been said but...

If you DONT need a hdd to play on the xbox 360... whats holding the dash? Im guessing onboard flash memory, so this may make modding a little harder

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: twistedsymphony on July 08, 2005, 05:02:00 AM

QUOTE(IAmCanadian @ Jul 8 2005, 05:02 AM)

I dunno if this has been said but...

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: M-K-E! on July 08, 2005, 12:35:00 PM

i thought you needed the hdd there to play games...and it was an optional upgrade not an optional hdd...

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: twistedsymphony on July 08, 2005, 01:31:00 PM

While the Xbox does come with a 20GB HDD... some from MS have gone on record as saying that it is "not required to play games" and "only required if you have an XBL account" Meaning that you could theoretically remove the hard drive and still have full, non-live functionality over your Xbox360.

Which leads some to believe that if this is true, in addition to the Hard drive there is some internal flash memory used for the dashboard/xbox guide and caching.

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: LowProfileWurm on July 08, 2005, 01:41:00 PM

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: twistedsymphony on July 08, 2005, 01:43:00 PM

QUOTE(LowProfileWurm @ Jul 8 2005, 03:52 PM)

Since the HDD won't be "needed" to play games... how are you going to carry your Gamertag (preferences, stats, etc.) around when you go to a friend's house? Will you all be able to sign on to XBL and get your info there? Or will you have to keep it on a memory card... even though there are only 2 ports? I'm curious how that would work. Keeping all the stats and preferences on XBL servers makes the most sense, but it would be very hard to do that if not everyone has an internet connected 360...

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: LowProfileWurm on July 08, 2005, 02:00:00 PM

QUOTE(twistedsymphony @ Jul 8 2005, 04:54 PM)

That's why you need a memory card or the HDD to use XBL

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: incognegro on July 08, 2005, 02:19:00 PM

the dashboard and the xbox guide are apparently two separate things so im guessing that one is stored internally while another is hardrive. If the dashboard uses all of the xbox resources while the guide uses some then im guessing the dashboard is coming of the hdd or something while the guide is internal. especially since the dashboard can be updated and changed and stuff. Also The fact that the guide is accessible at ALL times even when in the dashboard.

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: Paranoid666au on July 09, 2005, 04:28:00 AM

QUOTE(Bogus8 @ Jul 8 2005, 05:41 AM)

Did you actually research this before having diarrhea of the mouth?

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: Bogus8 on July 09, 2005, 10:09:00 AM

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: Carlo210 on July 09, 2005, 03:45:00 PM

QUOTE(LowProfileWurm @ Jul 8 2005, 10:11 PM)

That's not quite what I meant.... I mean, if you go to your friends' house, and all 4 of you want to sign in with your Gamertags, do you swap out each HDD and or memory card? I'll assume MS isn't putting 4 HDD ports on the thing. I'll spell out my question a bit more clearly: How do 4 people get their GamerTags on another's 360?

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: LowProfileWurm on July 09, 2005, 04:12:00 PM

QUOTE(Carlo210 @ Jul 9 2005, 06:56 PM)

whats with this? You guys love the xbox1 and not being able to sign into your xbox live account wasn't ever a problem or evena concern... but, all of a sudden, you are dying to be able to, for some reason, sign into your xbox live account on someone elses xbox360.

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: BurnerAzR on July 09, 2005, 04:35:00 PM

Well id think there would be a login screen where you would have to enter your gamertag and "password". Then once loged in it would probably get all your info from the xbl server... that is if they allowed loging in from other xbox360s.

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: Bogus8 on July 09, 2005, 07:55:00 PM

QUOTE(Carlo210 @ Jul 9 2005, 04:56 PM)

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: twistedsymphony on July 09, 2005, 09:35:00 PM

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: LowProfileWurm on July 09, 2005, 09:40:00 PM

QUOTE(BurnerAzR @ Jul 9 2005, 07:46 PM)

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: incognegro on July 10, 2005, 05:19:00 AM

QUOTE

Just like how it was discussed in it's own thread... the thing with the controllers is with those other consoles they reinvented the controller and like the PS this one isn't really that different that's why some people think it's dumb not to support the old one... I am one of those people... if they added a Z button or something then OK there is a new function you can't use now... but all they did was add that gay ass "guide" button that I don't see being used in a game (maybe I'm wrong though).

So if it is so similar to the old one then why the F*** does it matter that you can't use the old one!? I think ms' stance is that the controller is a refined version of the first one, so why make the old ones compatible the new system? The world is not gonna end if you have to buy some new controllers for a new system. Isnt that what we been doing for years now!? Oh I can see myself using that guide button quite a bit; for music purposes (custom soundtrax in every game is a dream come true

)

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: COTA-GodlyOne on July 10, 2005, 05:59:00 AM

QUOTE(incognegro @ Jul 10 2005, 01:30 PM)

)

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: Bogus8 on July 10, 2005, 11:01:00 AM

word, that was a rather ignorant statement (ignorant as in uninformed). I think I could spend $30 bucks elsewhere... and if you have 4 controllers that's 120 to spend elsewheres... that's like 3 games... btw, the PS2 refinded their controllers too all the buttons became analog (execpt start and pause) yet they still didn't shove it up our arse for 120 in new controllers and accesories... btw, it's not just controllers some people have spent quite a bit of money on steering wheels and dance pads and all sorts of things that would be nice if it all came over cleanly. I'm willing to bet some people have 200-300 in accessories they would like to be able to bring to the new system. Unless you are volunteering to donate money to use that don't have it to blow on all new accessories.

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: LowProfileWurm on July 10, 2005, 02:30:00 PM

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: twistedsymphony on July 11, 2005, 07:06:00 AM

QUOTE(Paranoid666au @ Jul 11 2005, 09:03 AM)

You can buy a budget wired controller as well for Xbox 360. Most likely 360 games will only support 360 peripherals, so the old controllers would only work with Xbox games.

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: incognegro on July 11, 2005, 08:31:00 AM

QUOTE

because it saves money for the people not quite as rich as you. Also the guide button only needs to be on ONE controller, and thats the one that is in the "first slot"

I am by no means rich! I live in a thrid world country where paying for a game is almost like a months salary. Im not rich, i am just not cheap! Every system in the history of time you had to buy new controllers when you got it. So why should MS lose more money to facilitate cheap bastards (not pointing any fingers)

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: incognegro on July 11, 2005, 09:15:00 AM

QUOTE

...........really................ignorant........

......uninformed.........

...............cute

...........listen, where im from a game costs $5000 atleast, while a controller is like three thousand. I make 7000 a week, and i have bills; shit, my phone bill alone is like $10000 a month. i own 6 controllers and quite a few games. How can I afford all of this? Aggressive saving which means you should spend your money wisely, if you dont feel its worth it to get 4 more controllers well dont buy it! I spend thousands of dollars on gaming alone and im proud of it. The money is going to something I love. I wouldnt mind paying for new controllers cause you cant get what you want in life for free. Worrying about having to pay 120 bux ( which is $2400 TO ME) for a few controllers is just cheap from my point of view.

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: Bogus8 on July 11, 2005, 11:30:00 AM

Like I said ignorant isn't meant to be an insult... everyone should look up the definition it isn't such a deragotory comment like it has been used in the past...

Anyway, that's fine and dandy if you enjoy working to spend money (give to MS) on games.... I myself am more interested in building a house right now so buying new controllers is not high on the list so it would be better if there were BC to old controllers... btw, old systems had like 2 ports and they also almost all came with two controllers.. now we have 4 ports and we are lucky we get one controller it seems.

it was stated above MS is loosing money on these consoles so it's obvious why they are doing this... and that is what is fustrating it's not a technical issue it's a greed issue... that I have a problem with.

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: incognegro on July 11, 2005, 12:50:00 PM

I was not offended by that statement, I knew it wasnt MEANT to be an insult but it did cause im not in the rich departement at all. You cant possibly gauge my knowledge on any subject, you dont even know me, thats the point of what i said. Also this is an issue of cost vs. value. In my case i think the value and cost is a good balance. While in your case you dont feel the value is worth the cost (or am I wrong?). If thats the case then dont whine about it. you can't afford (by afford, i mean 'willing to spend' ) it do with out. Technically I cant afford it, but im willing to save and spend because i think the experience of multiplayer gaming is worth it. Expecting MS to lose more money because you need to 'build a house' is ridiculous. MS is a business and they cut alot of corners just to get the system this cheap, so you can even afford it. Im not gonna whine about controllers when im getting such a great deal on such a powerful console.

by the way, my dreamcast, genesis, snes and ps1 all came with ONE controller.

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: Bogus8 on July 11, 2005, 09:01:00 PM

Trust, MS didn't do ANYTHING to make it affordable for me or anyone... they made it so it would be profitable for them.... you said it yourself they are a corporation out to make money... Like Noam Chomsky says there is no such thing as a "greedy corporation" they are all greedy that is the nature of the business. I don't forfeit the right to think that it isn't right what they do. No one is saying this is the worst thing ever we are just calling out how tasteless it is. Sony was the only serious console when PS2 was put out yet they didn't pull crap like this when they could have EASILY gotten away with it.

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: Moleman on July 12, 2005, 12:30:00 AM

QUOTE(Bogus8 @ Jul 12 2005, 12:12 AM)

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: incognegro on July 12, 2005, 07:47:00 AM

QUOTE

Sony was the only serious console when PS2 was put out yet they didn't pull crap like this when they could have EASILY gotten away with it.

You mean like forcing you to buy a multitap AND three more controllers if you want to play multiplayer?

you cant be serious........

your right about the MS point though, they did make it more profitable for them. But compare that to what sony is charging......

im not saying ms doesnt have their own ulterior motives but im a consumer, what the hell does it matter to me what their motives are? as long as i know what MY motives are (buy an affordable system and buy whatever accessories is needed to make my experience worth it).

what do you say to a business man that is trying to make his product more affordable and attractive to the consumer for whatever reason, (compared to the competition) without having to break his own back?

A.make it cheaper?
B.where do i sign up?

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: Bogus8 on July 12, 2005, 11:02:00 AM

honestly I don't play nor do I know many people that play more than 2 controllers multiplayer so the PS2's two controllers were about right... btw, you can't have your cake and eat it ... you say every other system we had to buy new controllers so we shouldn't whine... but every other system also only had 2 ports and a need for a multi-tap to play more. GC and xbox were the first to really push 4 ports standard. I'm assuming sony will step up to the plate and match the competition now that the standard has been raised.... similar to BC of controllers I feel as I think others feel that is now the standard unless you revolutionize the controllers *shrug*

btw, you should always question the other guys motives, if you are just a mindless consumer you will buy ever horrible "As Seen On TV" product and very much in debt like all of us americans... that is why we have such a debt problem in this country, we are all mindless consumers that don't think or question they just buy buy BUY!

granted I don't trust MS... the way I look at it is what reason does MS have in dumping so much time and money into something like IE7 and give it away... why not allow someone like firefox to come in and say "hey we'll give it to you to include in windows" MS scares me when I see them dumping so much time and effort into a product that will not raise their profits directly... makes you wonder what's in the background of these products or what other angle are they approaching.... ok enough conspiracy theory crap

Peace

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: LowProfileWurm on July 12, 2005, 11:12:00 AM

QUOTE(Bogus8 @ Jul 12 2005, 02:13 PM)

GC and xbox were the first to really push 4 ports standard.

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: Bogus8 on July 12, 2005, 11:31:00 AM

QUOTE(LowProfileWurm @ Jul 12 2005, 12:23 PM)

Sure, if you're 8 years old...

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: twistedsymphony on July 12, 2005, 09:03:00 PM

QUOTE(LowProfileWurm @ Jul 12 2005, 01:23 PM)

Sure, if you're 8 years old...

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: Bogus8 on July 13, 2005, 01:57:00 AM

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: lostboyz on July 13, 2005, 05:35:00 AM

what does this have anything to do with the xbox being a PC

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: incognegro on July 13, 2005, 06:21:00 AM

. It was the first system to get me into multiplayer gaming with quake 3..........now i dont think i can play by myself anymore

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: Bogus8 on July 13, 2005, 12:16:00 PM

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: scienide on July 13, 2005, 12:51:00 PM

QUOTE(Bogus8 @ Jul 13 2005, 08:27 PM)

I agree a modified kernel will be what it takes to really unleash this beast but I don't doubt that some nut hasn't already started looking at what can be tweaked to make it happen. I'm pretty ignorant on this but aren't there "multi-core" PPC already or is that multi-processors? Macs have some dual processors and I'm sure SMP isn't hard to translate to this cause... I could be wrong I'm pretty ignorant about the multi-core stuff and how it relates to SMP or whatever. Basically I'm talking out of my ass on this one

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: Bogus8 on July 13, 2005, 01:48:00 PM

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: JimmyDeushku on July 17, 2005, 01:09:00 AM

Afterall, there would be like 15 of us so it wouldn't really matter to us if we screwed it up because we would each only be paying $30-$40.

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: XBSC on July 19, 2005, 08:48:00 PM

If we're looking at clustering the x360 - could make some dirt cheap webservers...KVM Switch for them wouldnt be a bad idea.

My boss has a nice one which has its own IP allowing you to connect remotely and switch between servers could do the same for the xbox's.

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: jk009 on July 23, 2005, 12:15:00 PM

QUOTE(CattyKid @ Jun 10 2005, 02:28 AM)

...

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: microchaos on July 25, 2005, 03:13:00 PM

Title: Xbox360 As A Pc?
Post by: lostboyz on July 25, 2005, 04:01:00 PM

i dont know if your saying thats true or not. but just to clarify its Not.

they couldnt make a longhorn/vista(shitty name) for x360. would be way too lame. i dont think you can cross platform when your already on thin ice for anti-trust lawsuits

xboxscene.org forums

Xbox360 Forums => Xbox360 Hardware Forums => Xbox360 General / Hardware Chat => Topic started by: enixn on June 07, 2005, 04:35:00 PM