Looking to get an Xbox Mod Chip.... Want opinions...

[jcovercash]

Ok before anyone says LOCK etc... I got a MOD's permission to do this, he said that as long as it doesn't float into the bios/illegal part of chipping that this post would be ok.

First off I have never installed a mod-chip and im not to sure about my soldering skills on a new $200 toy, so I want to go with a solderless mod-chip...

I belive that I have a version 1.4-1.5 XBOX, but im not 100% sure...

I know It has a Focus Enhancments Chip in it.


I have been looking at the X-Ecuter 2.3B LITE[+] as seen Here. Has anyone used this? I have heard both good and bad things about it. I think most of the bad things are from people not knowing what they are doing though.

Is this a good place to buy this chip from? Also is this a good chip, It is completely solderless so thats what I am going for. Is there something else that you would recomend?


I would like someone to help me either via PM or AIM that has done this before and can help me with the process after its installed, as the directions after that are kinda flaky...


Thanks,
Josh

 

[Joker81]

I got an X.B.I.T and it works very well. Was easy as pie to install. The USB interface to upload ummm "Cromwell" bioses(This is the legal bios) was very easy to use. Some people had problems but I didn't. I have a Version 4 Xbox and didn't realize that linux doesn't work on it yet because of the video issues.

 

[rh71]

What's legal and what's not when it comes to modding the XBOX ? I'd love to make it play DIVX.

 

[jcovercash]

Anyone else.....


Josh

 

[Fiveohhh]

I've used a few versions of the x2. I soldered all of mine and had no pboblems. I'd recommend either the new ozxodus, or you can also wait till them new x3's come out and see what they have to offer. System mods is an awesome place to order never had any problems with my orders. Also for installation check out xbox-scene.com they have lots of info on it.

 

[jcovercash]

Originally posted by: rh71
What's legal and what's not when it comes to modding the XBOX ? I'd love to make it play DIVX.

Well I think that installing a chip is legal, as there is nothing Ms can do about people selling them as long as they are sold with the legal bios, when it comes to installing the homebrewed bios i think thats where ms says you cross the line.

But I paid for the device and its mine now, Ill do whatever the hell i want to do with it...

Josh

 

[SunnyD]

You own the xbox, so you can take a hacksaw to it if you like. Perfectly legal. Owning copied movies and/or games on the other hand, now THAT'S what's illegal.

Oh wait, there's also that stupid DMCA thing too. I guess that means if you turn on the xbox with the wrong finger on a tuesday at precisely 11:32pm, Microsoft can sue the crap out of you for no real reason.

 

[DaWhim]

probably will get a better answer in here

 

[Fiveohhh]

Originally posted by: rh71
What's legal and what's not when it comes to modding the XBOX ? I'd love to make it play DIVX.

the illegal part is the software since its compiled with some MS SDK(not sure what that is, but thats the term always used). To be perfectly legal you can put a modchip in and install linux. there are linux bios's that are perfectly legal, and xbox linux versions. Through linux you could than play divx stuff.

 

[purbeast0]

SDK = Software Development Kit ... so the illegal part is that they are using the MS SDK to compile stuff, which can only LEGALLY be done by MS itself.

As far as the chips, I have an x1 in my xbox still and it works perfectly. However I install x2. something lites, not sure if its 2.2 or 2.3, but they work fine. They are simple to install and the whole process takes about 30 minutes. I would recommend, if you do the x2.2 lite, that you do the alternate d0 point on the bottomside of the mobo because its alot easier to get to, you just have to extend the d0 wire w/your own wire. good luck.

 

[Fiveohhh]

Originally posted by: purbeast0
SDK = Software Development Kit ... so the illegal part is that they are using the MS SDK to compile stuff, which can only LEGALLY be done by MS itself.

As far as the chips, I have an x1 in my xbox still and it works perfectly. However I install x2. something lites, not sure if its 2.2 or 2.3, but they work fine. They are simple to install and the whole process takes about 30 minutes. I would recommend, if you do the x2.2 lite, that you do the alternate d0 point on the bottomside of the mobo because its alot easier to get to, you just have to extend the d0 wire w/your own wire. good luck.

for the d0 you can also go through one of the LPC holes if they're not filled with solder than no need to extend it. but I'd definatly recommend the point on the bottom. the top is a PITA.

 

[jcovercash]

Originally posted by: purbeast0
SDK = Software Development Kit ... so the illegal part is that they are using the MS SDK to compile stuff, which can only LEGALLY be done by MS itself.

As far as the chips, I have an x1 in my xbox still and it works perfectly. However I install x2. something lites, not sure if its 2.2 or 2.3, but they work fine. They are simple to install and the whole process takes about 30 minutes. I would recommend, if you do the x2.2 lite, that you do the alternate d0 point on the bottomside of the mobo because its alot easier to get to, you just have to extend the d0 wire w/your own wire. good luck.

What are you talking about? The one I want to get is completely solderless what do you mean about the wire?

Thanks,
Josh

BTW if I get a modchip and install it and leave the bios how it is when it comes with the legal cromwell bios can I still play games? or will I have to monkey with bios before I can play legal games again? I know to play backups and stuff, which I am not getting into, you need the modified bios, I just want to know if I can still play my regular games with the modchip with a cromwell bios.

Also can I remove the modchip, sinces it is just installed with 1 screw and have a normal xbox again?

Thanks

 

[RagingBITCH]

I owned the 2.2 Lite+, but my chip was not manufactured correctly, and Xecuter refused to acknowledge that it was indeed manuf. incorrectly. I frag'ged my XBox bios so it defaulted to using the chip's bios. Beware if you do get the 2.3 b/c Xecuter is a crap company IMO. XBIT seems to be quite good from what I can tell.

 

[jcovercash]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
I owned the 2.2 Lite+, but my chip was not manufactured correctly, and Xecuter refused to acknowledge that it was indeed manuf. incorrectly. I frag'ged my XBox bios so it defaulted to using the chip's bios. Beware if you do get the 2.3 b/c Xecuter is a crap company IMO. XBIT seems to be quite good from what I can tell.

Does XBIT have a no solder chip? I would like a chip I can flash and still let my xbox have the original bios if I remove the chip, is that even possible?

Josh

 

[CZroe]

Originally posted by: Fiveohhh

Originally posted by: rh71
What's legal and what's not when it comes to modding the XBOX ? I'd love to make it play DIVX.

the illegal part is the software since its compiled with some MS SDK(not sure what that is, but thats the term always used). To be perfectly legal you can put a modchip in and install linux. there are linux bios's that are perfectly legal, and xbox linux versions. Through linux you could than play divx stuff.

No, the non-Linux Cromwell BIOS or non-blank mod chips including the mentioned Xecutor are all illegal. They are modified versions of Microsoft's official and copyrighted BIOS. They are not patches. They do not intercept and change anything. They are 100% illegal replacements. If they released an IPS patch and a way to apply it to a copy of your XBOX BIOS which you dumped using the save exploits and flashed to a blank chip, then and only then would it be legal.

That's why the TechTV specials totally blew my mind. They never even touched on the fact that the chips could be illegal for anything other than a DMCA violation. XBOX mod chips share nothing in common with PSX mod chips of Gamecube exploits.

 

[Fiveohhh]

Originally posted by: AMDman12GHz

Originally posted by: purbeast0
SDK = Software Development Kit ... so the illegal part is that they are using the MS SDK to compile stuff, which can only LEGALLY be done by MS itself.

As far as the chips, I have an x1 in my xbox still and it works perfectly. However I install x2. something lites, not sure if its 2.2 or 2.3, but they work fine. They are simple to install and the whole process takes about 30 minutes. I would recommend, if you do the x2.2 lite, that you do the alternate d0 point on the bottomside of the mobo because its alot easier to get to, you just have to extend the d0 wire w/your own wire. good luck.

What are you talking about? The one I want to get is completely solderless what do you mean about the wire?

Thanks,
Josh

BTW if I get a modchip and install it and leave the bios how it is when it comes with the legal cromwell bios can I still play games? or will I have to monkey with bios before I can play legal games again? I know to play backups and stuff, which I am not getting into, you need the modified bios, I just want to know if I can still play my regular games with the modchip with a cromwell bios.

Also can I remove the modchip, sinces it is just installed with 1 screw and have a normal xbox again?

Thanks

With the cromwell biosyou won't be able to play games, but you can shut off the chip and play just fine than. the d0's only a big deal if your soldering.

 

[jcovercash]

Is this the Xbit modchip that is solderless that you where talking about?

It looks like a good alternative since it has the programmer etc, in case of a bad flash... right?

Josh

 

[CZroe]

Originally posted by: Fiveohhh

Originally posted by: AMDman12GHz

Originally posted by: purbeast0
SDK = Software Development Kit ... so the illegal part is that they are using the MS SDK to compile stuff, which can only LEGALLY be done by MS itself.

As far as the chips, I have an x1 in my xbox still and it works perfectly. However I install x2. something lites, not sure if its 2.2 or 2.3, but they work fine. They are simple to install and the whole process takes about 30 minutes. I would recommend, if you do the x2.2 lite, that you do the alternate d0 point on the bottomside of the mobo because its alot easier to get to, you just have to extend the d0 wire w/your own wire. good luck.

What are you talking about? The one I want to get is completely solderless what do you mean about the wire?

Thanks,
Josh

BTW if I get a modchip and install it and leave the bios how it is when it comes with the legal cromwell bios can I still play games? or will I have to monkey with bios before I can play legal games again? I know to play backups and stuff, which I am not getting into, you need the modified bios, I just want to know if I can still play my regular games with the modchip with a cromwell bios.

Also can I remove the modchip, sinces it is just installed with 1 screw and have a normal xbox again?

Thanks

With the cromwell biosyou won't be able to play games, but you can shut off the chip and play just fine than. the d0's only a big deal if your soldering.

That's right because it turns it into a mostly standard PC with a legal homebrew PC BIOS I borked my onboard BIOS when installing a 29-wire linux BIOS (Before the LPC bus mods were available) so I need an "illegal" LPC BIOS for mine unless I want to only run Linux forever

 

[MustangSVT]

So, once I get it set up right, there are no difference between mod chips?

functionally what is the difference between X2.3lite and XBIT or apple? the prices are different but couldnt they all do the same things?

Play DIVX and XVID. play DVD. MP3, wma, etc. play back up games. run linux?

oh, if you install Linux on xbox, can you surf the web on TV? i guess on super low res however..

 

[jcovercash]

Originally posted by: MustangSVT
So, once I get it set up right, there are no difference between mod chips?

functionally what is the difference between X2.3lite and XBIT or apple? the prices are different but couldnt they all do the same things?

Play DIVX and XVID. play DVD. MP3, wma, etc. play back up games. run linux?

oh, if you install Linux on xbox, can you surf the web on TV? i guess on super low res however..

See these are the things I want to know.

 

[CZroe]

Originally posted by: AMDman12GHz

Originally posted by: MustangSVT
So, once I get it set up right, there are no difference between mod chips?

functionally what is the difference between X2.3lite and XBIT or apple? the prices are different but couldnt they all do the same things?

Play DIVX and XVID. play DVD. MP3, wma, etc. play back up games. run linux?

oh, if you install Linux on xbox, can you surf the web on TV? i guess on super low res however..

See these are the things I want to know.

All of these things are done with entirely different software applications. The mod chips enable you to execute these applications.

 

[MustangSVT]

Originally posted by: CZroe

Originally posted by: AMDman12GHz

Originally posted by: MustangSVT
So, once I get it set up right, there are no difference between mod chips?

functionally what is the difference between X2.3lite and XBIT or apple? the prices are different but couldnt they all do the same things?

Play DIVX and XVID. play DVD. MP3, wma, etc. play back up games. run linux?

oh, if you install Linux on xbox, can you surf the web on TV? i guess on super low res however..

See these are the things I want to know.

All of these things are done with entirely different software applications. The mod chips enable you to execute these applications.

I understand that its like PC where you run software to run certain tasks. and Mod Chips are there to "bypass" the original "bios" of xbox. SO what you mean is basically all the mod chips are same except bigger memory (for storing multiple bios) installation difference, ease of update and price?

 

[jcovercash]

Originally posted by: MustangSVT

Originally posted by: CZroe

Originally posted by: AMDman12GHz

Originally posted by: MustangSVT
So, once I get it set up right, there are no difference between mod chips?

functionally what is the difference between X2.3lite and XBIT or apple? the prices are different but couldnt they all do the same things?

Play DIVX and XVID. play DVD. MP3, wma, etc. play back up games. run linux?

oh, if you install Linux on xbox, can you surf the web on TV? i guess on super low res however..

See these are the things I want to know.

All of these things are done with entirely different software applications. The mod chips enable you to execute these applications.

I understand that its like PC where you run software to run certain tasks. and Mod Chips are there to "bypass" the original "bios" of xbox. SO what you mean is basically all the mod chips are same except bigger memory (for storing multiple bios) installation difference, ease of update and price?

Thats what I have understood.

Josh

 

[Fiveohhh]

some mod chips have different specs. some more rom than others, the new OZXodus one, has an "OS" app built into it to further enhance it. some have external programers some have solderless points. you can find all the info you want to know about chips at xbox-scene.com

 

[parsley007]

your friend personally, i would just go with a tsop flash instead of a modchip. but i don't want to play on live, and on newer xboxes (1.2 and up i believe) you can't go on live with a tsop flash.