The Blog

Bosch PHG 630 DCE Heat Gun: Destructive Xbox CPU Removal

Nix McRetro // 23rd May 2013 // Categories: Hacks, Microsoft, Repairs

I’ve picked up a few new tools for the workbench, including a decent pair of bent needle-nose pliers and some wire cutters. The pliers are particularly nice, even better than the pair I’ve been using at work. The most exciting purchase, though, is a Bosch PHG 630 DCE heat gun,... Continue reading

Raspberry Pi, BerryBoot and Raspbian Wheezy File Server Experiment

Nix McRetro // 11th May 2013 // Categories: Raspberry Pi, YouTube

I’ve got a Raspberry Pi on the bench, and I’m wondering just how much work I can persuade this little Linux computer to do. It’s small, quiet and hardly overflowing with processing power, which naturally makes me want to give it rather more jobs than it probably asked for. I’m... Continue reading

Sony PS one Internal Overview and Old Modchip Install

Nix McRetro // 10th May 2013 // Categories: Hacks, Sony, YouTube

A quick look inside my old Sony PS one. This particular console has some history attached to it because I modchipped it myself a long time ago, when I was still in high school. Taking it apart now means I get to inspect my own ancient soldering rather than somebody... Continue reading

Original Xbox Clock Capacitor Cleanup and Repair

Nix McRetro // 9th May 2013 // Categories: Microsoft, Repairs, YouTube

Back to the original Xbox from the previous assessment. The leaking clock capacitor has now become an actual repair rather than just something horrible to point at. After clearing out that random 9 V battery and all the mysterious wires, I’ve been replacing the affected capacitors and cleaning up the... Continue reading

Original Xbox Initial Damage Assessment

Nix McRetro // 7th May 2013 // Categories: Microsoft, Repairs

Here’s something for the modern gamers out there. A friend dug this original Xbox out of his garage and handed it over for an assessment. There are a few things going on here, and I’m not entirely sure what the person who last worked on it had in mind! Interesting... Continue reading