Chinese enthusiast XNZ has built a complete console with PS5, Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch 2 in a single system. And one of the most interesting aspects of the project is that the basis lies in traditional lost wax casting techniques.
The project came about when the modder realized she wanted to play games exclusive to each platform on a single device, instead of having to manually plug in and switch between three different consoles. The end result, dubbed “Ningtendo PXBOX 5,” combines traditional craftsmanship with modern technology.
XNZ used Apple’s Mac Pro, the “trash bin”, as a model, realizing that its triangular design would be perfect to house the three systems in a compact way: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch 2. In sequence, all consoles have been disassembled down to their internal components.
Additionally, the coolers and power supplies were discarded, as XNZ developed a unified system for them, while the motherboards were left intact. The idea was that each of the three printed circuit boards would be fixed to one side of the triangle, with a fan at the base cooling all three.
The design isn’t too different from how the Xbox Series X is already built. And the modder modeled and 3D printed a triangular heatsink, but the CNC machining costs for such a complex design were too high.
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Progress and Tradition
Here tradition comes in. Lost wax casting, also known as lost clay casting, is an ancient Chinese metalworking technique that allows you to create complex structures without spending a fortune. It preserves surface details and enables complex shapes that would be unfeasible without high costs.. And the process is simple.
First, you need to build something with a disposable material like wax or clay. In this case, the modder used plastic (PLA) and coated it generously with a heat-resistant material. When heated, the soft material inside melts or burns, leaving an empty cavity that can be used as a mold.
At this point, molten metal is added which quickly solidifies, providing the necessary metal structure.
After getting the cooler through the lost wax casting process, it still needed polishing, and XNZ had to remove the support used for the casting. The block didn’t look high quality, but that didn’t matter, as it will not come into direct contact with the motherboards.
This responsibility falls to the copper plates, which will distribute the heat evenly and the modder built two plates and fixed them to the block using screws.
Now all that was left was to connect the PS5 and Xbox Series X motherboards to the new cooler. In the video, the modder details the founding’s adventures, including a failed attempt, which is worth the experience of watching, despite the language.
Addition of Switch 2
XNZ also swapped the liquid metal thermal paste for a standard thermal paste on the PS5 SoC. The result was that temperatures reached a maximum of 60 degrees Celsius during the tests.
On the third side of the cooling block, visibly left without a copper plate, she added the Switch 2, which “does not need cooling”, according to the modder. Since the Switch is also a portable device, simply gluing its motherboard to the cooler wouldn’t be enough.
The base also needs to be part of the equation, so XNZ took it apart to remove the small motherboard and place it inside a custom 3D-printed case.
This case was significantly thinner and had a spring-loaded mechanism for ejecting or attaching the Switch to the case, which had a USB-C connector on the bottom for docking functionality.
Food
The last internal component was the power supply. XNZ measured the resting power consumption of the PS5 and Xbox at less than 5W, while both peaked at 225W under maximum load.
Therefore, a single 250W unit can power all three consoles simultaneously, as long as the user is not running more than one game at a time.
To do so, the modder printed a triangular case for the power supply with ventilation holes and installed a 250W GaN supply. Above is a 120 mm Phanteks T30 fan, which draws air from the bottom, blowing it upwards, where the cooling block will be with the motherboards.
Everything was assembled to fit inside the final structure that would serve as the player-facing chassis, equipped with a color-coded LED strip. This light would be controlled by a custom Arduino board hanging inside, responsible for power control (and video output).
Finishing
The modder also added some decorative details, such as wooden finishes and a “Ningtendo PXBOX 5” label on the device. The last addition was a large button on the top, connected to the Arduino, which, when pressed, would switch between the three consoles. XNZ tested it on its TV and it worked perfectly.
It took about three seconds to switch between Dong Kong Bananza on Switch 2 and Ghost of Yotei on PS5. There is a catch, specifically about not being able to run two games simultaneously. Yes, the user needs to close the game they are playing on one console before pressing the button to switch to the other.
Otherwise, the power supply will be overloaded and shut down.
Another negative point is the absence of disc readers on both the Xbox and PS5, which makes it an exclusively digital console.. For PCs, which frequently receive this type of modification, this is not a problem, but there are still console users who prefer physical media.
Finally, there is also the issue of copyright infringement. Will Nintendo not sue the modder?
Source: XNZ, translated by Tom’s Hardware.
Source: https://www.adrenaline.com.br/hardware/modder-constroi-console-que-reune-playstation-5-xbox-series-x-e-switch-2-em-um-so-lugar/
