I have some limited experience, as follows.
I have found that xbmc can serve as a reliable permanent internet radio (shoutcast) stream. The first time I tried it with my v1.6 box, the stream disappeared after two days (not an xbmc problem). The second time it lasted more than a week and would have gone longer. Recently I got a second xbox, modded it (x3), and put IR mods and Vantech Stealth fan mods in both. The v1.0 box has now been streaming audio for over a week. I noticed recently that its video signal appeared to have stopped, i.e. when I switched the tv to it, there was no picture and I couldn't get one back without restarting the xbox.
Thanks for the HD spin-down tip. Here is the xbm manual page:
http://www.xboxmediacenter.com/wiki/inde...m_Settings
I wasn't able to figure out how one configures a low-power mode - advice?
Now about temperature. The stock xbox fan is loud. At turn-on, it starts at about 20% which is very quiet. But at 100%, which it does get to eventually, it is loud. The Vantech stealth fans (
http://www.xbox-scene.com/articles/stealth-case.php)
are still fairly quiet at 100%. At constant 100%, the v1.0 box as cpu about 118 degrees and gpu about 105 degs F. Depends on ambient temp, of course - I am referring to room temp about 70 degrees. I did replace the thermal compound on both cpu and gpu in this box (arctic silver, $3 at radio shack).
The vantech stealth mod tut instructions result in the fan going 100% all the time, powered off the hard disk cable. But I found that the power/control cable provided with the fan can simply be plugged into the motherboard and then one has full motherboard control.
I did not replace the thermal compound in my v1.6 box. I set it to vary fan speed to keep the temp at 118 degs. It goes to 100% most of the time, but does frequently go down to below 50%. I am considering letting the box go to, say, 125 degs to lower fan noise. The box shuts down automatically at 170 degs F, from what I have read.
Below I append some info on power consumption. Though the author provides unfavorable comparisons, it won't keep me from running my xbox. I am the kind of pc owner who never turns them off. The gateway I bought in 1997 has basically been running for ten years with no failures. The dell I bought three years ago recently started having howling-fan problems, but not frequently, just a couple of times. No HD or any other failures. They only go down with local power outages, which happen 3-4 time per year here. I suppose many would advise UPS's, but I have't bothered. I do have good surge protection.
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http://digg.com/linux_unix/XBMC_recruiti...Linux_port
by Erkan on 05/30/2007
I read in this thread someone claimed XBOX is a low power system. Sad I have to shock you but it is by no means a low power system!
When playing games XBOX consumes over 100 watt. When idle in XBMC XBOX still hovers around 100 watt. That is a lot of watt for a celeron based system. No doubt it is probably the GPU that is constantly on that is consuming the majority of watt. As a reference my P4 2.4 GHz system with 120 GB harddrive and Radeon 9600 hovers around 60-75 watt while working in XP. A Sega Saturn uses 25 watt. An Amiga 1200 15 watt. A 32 inch flat screen Sony CRT TV, 100 watt.
Another fun thing, when in stand by XBOX consumes over 10 watt. That is the same amount as a low energy lamp these days running 24/7.
The XBOX was modeled after the Hummer booth in style and energy consumption.
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