How to put a DVD Writer in the X360

[litium]

Premise : Search function now is not working, so I reasonably looked around for a topic regarding this subject and I was not able to find something.  I apologize if this question was already answered somewhere in the board.  If so be so kind to provide me the link to the thread and remove this one.

Couple of week ago I got a broken XBOX360 board (just board and case, without anything else) for 5Euro to train myself in soldering on it before doing my one.  At last I was able to fix the board, implement the jtag hack and boot linux through network boot and then loading the Linux Live CD by mean of an old HD-DVD.

Now I'm planning to dedicate this board to Linux only, so instead to put a X360 drive, I would like to replace it with a DVD writer, that would be more useful.

I would like to know if someone else has already tried it and im particoular:

1 - If it is possible and how to connect a "normal "DVD Drive to the consolle

2 - If there is any issue using a standard dvd writer under linux on the X360?

3 - I've noticed that the size of a normal DVD is a little larger.  I feel that cutting the metal of the box on the right side would make the space to insert the drive, but it would close most of the holes for air in on the right side of the case.  I worry this might induce overheating.  Alternatively a drive for laptop could be used.  Any experience?

Thanks, L

[B1N4RY]

You can try and connect it via the hard drive port, you can find a conversion cable inside of a hard drive enclosure

[sentinel0]

I would find the pin outs for the xbox dvdroms pin header cable that supplies power, eject, maybe a couple other functions your going to then need to wire a sata power cable to that to plug into the pc sata drive. Then your going to need to get the pin out of the sata drive you plan to hookup to figure out where eject will need to be wired to.  Atleast i think that would be the process. Or you can take the easy approach and get an external drive that is supported by linux.

[l_oliveira]

Hm ... Using the HDD port for the DVD is a bad idea as he can just use a normal XBOX HDD enclosure for his linux HDD and keep the cool case design of the XBOX360.
He can then put a generic SATA cable on the DVD drive port and take it to his DVD burner.
On the DVD pin header all he need to do is connect the tray status pin to +3.3v to make the SMC think the tray is closed (to quieten the blinking power led)

12v and 5v can be obtained from the motherboard and routed outside from the system through the tray hole (which will be gaped as the original DVD drive will be removed) along with the SATA cable.


Connect power and SATA to the burner.

Happy linux-ing for you !