6 layers40 × 40 mm
6 layers49.5 × 48.6 mm
Interposer
zzattack/xbox-cpu-interposer61Open source xbox cpu interposer
- Size
- 49.5 × 48.6 mm
- Copper layers
- 6
- Thickness
- 1.6 mm
- Parts
- 51
- Nets
- 222
- Pads
- 963
- Tracks, vias
- 5,030, 516
- Pours
- 6
- Routed
- Yes
- KiCad
- KiCad 8.0 (file 20240108)
- Created
- 23 Nov 2023
- Updated
- 24 May 2026
Overview
Interposer is an open-source printed circuit board by zzattack, from the zzattack/xbox-cpu-interposer repository on GitHub. It is a 6-layer board of 49.5 × 48.6 mm with 51 parts on 222 nets, routed with 5,030 tracks and 516 vias.
Its parts include 38 capacitors, 11 resistors and 2 ICs.
README
README.mdRepository overview
In this repository schematics, layout and gerber files are shared for the recreation of an interposer PCB allowing upgraded Intel CPUs to be used on the original Xbox console. The designs are made in KiCAD.
Background
Back in 2003 the Taiwanese company FRIENDTECH came up with methods to upgrade computer systems with faster CPUs, and the original Xbox was among the devices for which they offered an upgrade path. Details of their solution can be found in their patent application https://patents.google.com/patent/US20050282621A1/en.
This interposer board follows the same schematic, minus the poorly functioning clock reduction circuitry, and with the BGA footprint positioned to allow use of the original heatsink mounting holes.
Contact
I can be contacted at frank@zzattack.org if you're looking to obtain PCBs or CPUs.
Attribution
This board is a recreation of the original FRIENDTECH design. Revision 1 was a board-level clone of original design through intermediate clones by 'trusty', 'N64freak' and 'Kekule'. Revisions 2 and 3 are re-routed from scratch, inspired by pictures of a similar board with cleaner layout by @gaasedelen, who also kindly assisted in finding issues with early board revisions.
Installation guide
See guide.
Status
Full schematic and PCB are routed. Gerber files are available in the Github releases overview. Revision 3.2 and onwards should be working correctly. Prior revisions require PCB modifications and should be avoided.
Parts
51| Qty | Value | Footprint | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 0.1uF | Capacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608Metric | C1, C2, C10, C12, C14, C16, C18, C20, C21, C22, C23, C24, C25, C26, C27, C29 +9 |
| 12 | 4.7uF | Capacitor_SMD:C_0805_2012Metric | C3, C6, C7, C8, C11, C13, C15, C19, C28, C31, C32, C36 |
| 5 | 1k | Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric | R1, R5, R6, R7, R8 |
| 3 | 10k | Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric | R101, R102, R103 |
| 2 | 10R | Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric | R3, R4 |
| 1 | 15R | Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric | R2 |
| 1 | 1uF | Capacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608Metric | C17 |
| 1 | PGA370 | interposer:PGA370 | U1 |
| 1 | uPGA2 | interposer:uBGA495-mirrored | U2 |
Questions
How big is the Interposer PCB?
It measures 49.5 × 48.6 mm and has 6 copper layers, 1.6 mm thick.
What parts does the Interposer use?
51 parts. The full list of its parts is on this page, with links to each part's symbol and footprint where PCBKit's library has them.
Where can I download the Interposer KiCad files?
From the zzattack/xbox-cpu-interposer repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is kicad/interposer.kicad_pcb and its schematic kicad/interposer.kicad_sch. PCBKit opens the board in the browser, with nothing to install.
Can I use the Interposer design in my own project?
Its repository states no licence, so its author keeps all rights: ask zzattack before reusing the design.
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