xbox psu compatible with pc?

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Limp Gawd
Joined
Apr 22, 2006
Messages
331
For about the last six months, I have been slowly collecting spare parts with the intent of building a machine inside an old xbox case I have. My biggest issue has been finding a way to power the machine. The xbox has one of the old version 1.0-1.2 power supplies with the pins all in a line. From what i've read, it is possible to convert this to work with the 1.2-1.6 versions, which use a standard ATX motherboard connector. However this will result in several empty pin-holes.

My question is, are those pins necessary to run a computer off the power supply? The only gaming we ever do around here is the "good old games" like Half-Life, Quake 3, and MOHAA, so the power draw is not going to exceed whatever this thing puts out. But does an atx motherboard require those pins, or can I just rearrange the pins from the xbox supply and plug it in?

Thanks
 
When comparing the two there is no - voltage rails in the Xbox PSU.......You may need to consider that as well depending on motherboard choices.

20pin ATX

1 3.3V Orange +3.3 VDC
2 3.3V Orange +3.3 VDC
3 COM Black Ground
4 5V Red +5 VDC
5 COM Black Ground
6 5V Red +5 VDC
7 COM Black Ground
8 PWR_OK Gray Power Ok
9 5VSB Purple +5 VDC
10 12V Yellow +12 VDC
11 3.3V Orange +3.3 VDC
12 -12V Blue -12 VDC
13 COM Black Ground
14 /PS_ON Green Power Supply On
15 COM Black Ground
16 COM Black Ground
17 COM Black Ground
18 -5V White -5 VDC
19 5V Red +5 VDC
20 5V Red +5 VDC

ATX P4/AUX
1 COM Black Ground
2 COM Black Ground
3 +12VDC Yellow +12 VDC
4 +12VDC Yellow +12 VDC


XBOX 12pin
1 +12V Yellow
2 +5V Red
3 +5V Red
4 +5V Red
5 +3.3V Orange
6 +3.3V STBY Brown
7,8,9,10 GND Black
11 Power on White
12 Power OK Blue


XBOX 20 Pin

1 +5V Red
2 +5V Red
3 +5V Red
5 GND Black
7 +3.3V Orange
9 GND Black
10 Power OK Blue
11 +12V Yellow
13 +5V Red
14 GND Black
15 +3.3V STBY Brown
16 GND Black
18 +3.3V Orange
19 GND Black
20 Power on White
 
Just looking at the pin distributions, I would be inclined not to try it. There are few +12V pins (2), many +5V pins (7), many +3.3V pins (3 and 2 standby). That indicates to me that there's less 12V current being produced and consumed by the xbox. Thus, I'd tend not to try to use that power supply with even a reasonably modern machine that draws most things off the +12V rail.

Something like the picoPSU might be a better choice. Here's a review.
 
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