We ran Windows on an Xbox! … Sort of - AMD A9-9820
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Try FreshBooks free, for 30 days, no credit card required at freshbooks.com Use code LINUS and get 25% off GlassWire at lmg.gg Not long before the Xbox Series consoles released, a strange listing sprang up on AliExpress: A motherboard with an AMD A9-9820, which until now, has only ever been used in the Xbox One S…
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The video kicks off with a provocative premise, claiming to run Windows on an Xbox, and immediately confronts skepticism with a close look at a motherboard that resembles a PC board rather than a traditional console layout. The hosts identify an AMD A9-9820 SOC, the same processor found in the Xbox One S, and begin a hands-on teardown to evaluate what this board really is and how it could run Windows. They discuss the board’s oddities, such as its upside-down design, unconventional RAM placement, limited PCI Express connectivity, and a mix of legacy and modern features like an M.2 slot, DDR3 memory, and a southbridge-like chipset. The exploration moves from curiosity to practical testing as they attempt to mount a cooler, connect power, and get a basic Windows session up and running, all while acknowledging the constraints and risks of repurposing console hardware for PC-like tasks. The initial success is tempered by surprising discoveries in the software and driver space, including ROMs and drivers that suggest beta or pre-release software, as well as a Radeon software panel that surprisingly functions, offering real control over settings rather than a barebones driver interface. By the time Windows boots and basic peripherals are recognized, the team shifts to benchmarking and real-world tests, such as Cinebench and gaming, to gauge how the A9-9820 performs in a non-native Windows environment, revealing performance well below modern mobile CPUs but still capable of running contemporary software. They conclude with a broader commentary on why AMD never officially released this SOC beyond the Xbox, proposing theories about collaboration with other manufacturers and the challenges of monetizing or repurposing console-derived hardware, while acknowledging that the mystery and curiosity around this rare artifact provide a compelling story rather than a practical pathway for consumer hardware. The video wraps with readers invited to consider the broader implications for console-to-PC experimentation and a nod to other odd corners of hardware history, leaving viewers with a mix of technical curiosity, humor about the build process, and appreciation for the underlying engineering effort that made this peculiar project possible.
Topics · technology · hardware · gaming · consoles · pc_building · diy
Questions answered
- What is the motherboard used to run Windows on the Xbox like board in the video?
- The board is described as a Funhouse style AMD A9-9820 setup with an SOC intended for Xbox hardware, including DDR3 memory and a mixed PCIe topology, used in an attempt to run Windows.
- Did Windows actually run smoothly on this hardware?
- Windows booted and basic peripherals were recognized, and simple tasks could be executed, but performance was weak, with gaming and benchmarks showing significant limitations compared to modern CPUs.
- Why did AMD not officially release this SOC beyond the Xbox?
- The video suggests multiple theories including reuse of engineering work, market timing, and competition with Ryzen, with the implication that the project became noncompetitive in the wake of newer AMD technologies.