ASPECT2 PCB

Development board for Xbox One / Xbox Series consoles, based mostly on blurry PCB images.

Allows for POST-Code monitoring (via I2C) and reading flash via SPI.

On some development kits, there are more features available.

See Functionality for more infos

This repo contains:

• KiCad files for the PCB / schematics
• EEPROM template for FT_PROG
• STM32 firmware

Functionality

Functionality	Description	Tested / Working	Notes
SPI	Reading eMMC flash	✅	Could also support reading SPI NOR on series-family
POST	POST-Code display	✅	STM32 renders codes to OLED display
JTAG	Southbridge JTAG	✅	Devkit exclusive
I2C	SMBus communication	❌	Requires bitbanging driver @ libaspect2 (TODO)
SWO	ARM Single-Wire-Output	❌	No success, Devkit exclusive (?)
UART (KRNL)	Kernel Debugging	✅	Devkit exclusive
UART (SMC)	SMC/SB Debugging (?)	❌	No success, likely Devkit exclusive

• Devkit exclusive: Requires specific flavor of bootloaders or certain Certificate capabilities.

Software

There are two main repos with support software for this board.

• dsmc-rs - A windows x64 tool that makes use of a proprietary DLL to read flash via SPI. Also supports reading Expected1SMCBLDigest from flash controller.
• libaspect2 - Attempt at an open source library

Directory structure

|- Main Aspect2 PCB
├── eeprom
│   ├── Greybull_FabD+.xml - FT Prog template (official on-board FACET)
│   └── Facet2_fabA+.xml - FT Prog template (derived from onboard FTDI dump)
├── firmware - STM32 firmware
├── lib - additional KiCad symbols / footprints

Manufacturing / Development

PCB Stackup

• 4 Layer board (for impedance control) - 1.6mm thickness
• Stackup:
  • F.Cu: Signal
  • In1.Cu: Power (GND)
  • In2.Cu: Power (GND)
  • B.Cu: Signal

This PCB was designed with the target stackup of JLC04161H-3313 (JLCPCB). See JLCPCB - Impedance.

Manufacturing files

Generally, Github Pages hosts the most up-to-date manufacturing files. These are also available for download on the Releases-page.

Here is a list of the most important ones.

• Bill of materials (BOM): ibom (Interactive HTML), HTML, CSV
• Schematic: PDF
• Datasheets: Here

We recommend JLCPCB, due to the specific Layer-Stackup that was used.

JLCPCB MFG files

• Gerbers
• Pick and place / CPL (CSV)
• BOM (CSV)

Software / plugins

• KiCad 9.0
• KiCad JLCPCB tools extension (for looking up / syncing JLCPCB part#)

Module bring-up

Before being able to communicate with the device, programming eeprom or regular usage, drivers need to be installed!

• Windows x64
• FTDI Drivers
• FT_PROG (Programming eeprom only)

Programming the eeprom

• Download & install drivers
• Download & open FT Prog
• Connect Aspect2 board
• Click "Scan & Parse" to enumerate connected device (Magnifying glass icon or "Devices -> Scan & Parse")
• Right-click on the found device, hit Apply template
  • Choose Facet2_FabA+.xml
• Click Program (Lightning bolt icon or "Devices -> Program")
• Click Program-button in the dialog box
• Click Close-button, close FT Prog tool
• Re-plug Aspect2 board

Programming the STM32 (POST Code display)

See firmware/ for detailed build & flash instructions.

Thanks

@emoose @OGXHarcroft @cactusduper @TorusHyperV @ShadowLAG @billy @craftbenmine @DonyPS3 @flynnyfoo @jacksomness @Pheeeenoom and everybody else helping and testing along the way

References

• AssemblerGames - first mentioning of FACET2 PCB
• FACET on xosft wiki - Technical documentation of FACET port
• POST code on xosft wiki - Original MAX6958A circuit and error codes
• POST code database