Decrease Load Times

[ThePope43]

This is probably one of the easies mods available but don't think because its easy that its not worth doing. This mod will decrease your load times by 20-30%, which is alot for such an inexpensive mod.

1) Start with a normal xbox console and void your warranty by cracking it open
When re-assembling it replace the standard ATA33 cable with a non-sliced ATA 100 cable.

Start with the blue end in the motherboard, fold it 90 degrees so the cord goes by the DVD, the key will be facing in the right direction on the proper side if the initial fold is made on the proper side of the cable

Make some accordion style folds to take up the extra length, the cable then extends right past the DVD drive
Lay the cable on top of the DVD and make a 90 to send it toward the hard drive. Notice the tab that initially held the IDE cable in place is not used then cable lays over the top of it. Make another 90 degree fold to put the connector in line with the hard drive connection.

That's it, reassemble the case... done

Benchmark:
IThe setup: 1 Un-modded Xbox system
The Test:

Halo: 1 Player, Normal Difficulty, Level 1 Load (Pillar of Autumn)
Halo: 1 Player, Normal Difficulty, Level 5 Load (Silent Cartographer)
Prince of Persia: New Game, Loading prior to first movie / level
SW - Knights of the Old Republic: Loading of Saved Game on planet Kashyyyk

*All recorded times rounded to the nearest 1/2 sec.

The comparison:
Halo Test #1
Trial | ATA33 | ATA100
1| 19sec | 14sec
2| 18sec | 13sec
3| 19sec | 12sec
4| 18sec| 13sec
AVG| 18.5sec| 13sec ---> 29.7% Improvement

Halo Test #2
Trial | ATA33 | ATA100
1| 18.5sec| 13sec
2| 18sec | 12sec
3| 18sec | 14sec
4| 18sec | 13sec
AVG| 18.25sec | 13sec ---> 28.7% Improvement

Prince of Persia
Trial | ATA33 | ATA100
1| 3.5sec | 3sec
2| 4sec | 3.5sec
3| 4sec | 3sec
4| 5sec | 3sec
AVG| 4.125sec | 3.125sec ---> 24.2% Improvement

SW - Knights of the Old Republic
Trial | ATA33 | ATA100
1| 18sec | 13sec
2| 14sec | 12sec
3| 16sec | 12sec
4| 15sec | 13sec
AVG| 15.75sec | 12.5sec ---> 20.6% Improvement

So the ATA100 Mod improves load times ~20-30% - Quite a reasonable improvement for such an inexpensive part. Worthwhile for any Xbox user to do.

[CommonSenseless]

Hey look, a tutorial with sufficient evidence of its claim. I probably would never do it if you just said it cuts down loading times 20-30 percent. but unlike most people, including myself someone on this site does some research and gives hard evidence. thanks a lot. great tutorial, was this your idea?

[R0BBER]

This works and can be done with a ATA 133 or ATA 166 cable as well. I did it myself and it runs so much faster, it seems to run more like 50% faster to me. whatever, it works.

[high6]

Quote: Originally Posted by CommonSenseless

Hey look, a tutorial with sufficient evidence of its claim. I probably would never do it if you just said it cuts down loading times 20-30 percent. but unlike most people, including myself someone on this site does some research and gives hard evidence. thanks a lot. great tutorial, was this your idea?

Read the images, He ripped the tutorial. Word for word.

as a bump:
How do i distinguish the difference between cables? Cuz i have a good couple hundred ide/ata cables in a box

[Myth]

yo
good idea man

do u think this cable would make it just as fast?
Newegg.com - StarTech Round ATA 100/133 IDE cable Model IDE100RND18 - Cables - Round

[ChiefJoboo]

my xbox1 looks exactly like pic 2