Modding an XBox

[aphex]

So as im sure 99% of you know by now, im getting an XBox

I keep hearing about how it seems that most of you mod them, and i just wanted to find out some more info about modding in general.

1. What is the success rate? (i.e. Is it common to kill the XBox in the process?)
2. What is the difference between all the different mod chips? (also, do the solderless ones work just as well?)
3. Does the XBox have a higher rate a failure later down the line?
4. Is it worth it?

Sorry for my extreme newbness as my modding has been limited to computer cases, never got into the real stuff

 

[Francodman]

http://www.xbox-scene.com/

 

[LordSnailz]

First decide if you want xbox live or not, if you don't care about xbox live then go with TSOP method. This does not require a modchip. If you do care about xbox live get a mod chip. I went with a cheaper less known modchip but it's been working like a champ.

Can't really comment on the life of the xbox after the mod, but it's been 6months and no issues. It also depends on how well the solder points are done, and whether moving or shaking the box would create a faulty connection.

If you're new to soldering, get someone experience to do it. There's still a lot to do with with the xbox once it's modded if you like to tinker around with it.

Have fun!

 

[BillGates]

Originally posted by: Francodman
http://www.xbox-scene.com/

I concur on this - but yes, it's well worth the effort.

 

[hevnsnt]

Originally posted by: aphex
So as im sure 99% of you know by now, im getting an XBox

I keep hearing about how it seems that most of you mod them, and i just wanted to find out some more info about modding in general.

1. What is the success rate? (i.e. Is it common to kill the XBox in the process?)
2. What is the difference between all the different mod chips? (also, do the solderless ones work just as well?)
3. Does the XBox have a higher rate a failure later down the line?
4. Is it worth it?

Sorry for my extreme newbness as my modding has been limited to computer cases, never got into the real stuff

1. 100% if you have someone do it that has done it a million times (it is not hard at all)
2. Unless you plan to use live, do a TSOP (unless it is a 1.6) If it is then we can chat.
3. No.
4. It is not worth NOT doing it.

 

[lokiju]

xbox-scene is your best friend, but I'll tell you now, if you're looking for a solderless modchip you want to try and find an older xbox, the version 1.6 motherboard can't use a solderless adapter at this time.

I've done a few installs so if you have any questions feel free to PM me.

 

[Frew]

Originally posted by: BillGates

Originally posted by: Francodman
http://www.xbox-scene.com/

I concur on this - but yes, it's well worth the effort.

ahaha and thats coming from Bill Gates himself.

 

[KeyserSoze]

Yeah, I need to do this, just need to make sure I'm ordering a chip that can work with XBOX Live, IF possible, so that it can be turned off. I haven't done enough reading yet to see if this is possible. I really want to mod, AND play XBOX Live!

Ugh.





KeyserSoze

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: hevnsnt

Originally posted by: aphex
So as im sure 99% of you know by now, im getting an XBox

I keep hearing about how it seems that most of you mod them, and i just wanted to find out some more info about modding in general.

1. What is the success rate? (i.e. Is it common to kill the XBox in the process?)
2. What is the difference between all the different mod chips? (also, do the solderless ones work just as well?)
3. Does the XBox have a higher rate a failure later down the line?
4. Is it worth it?

Sorry for my extreme newbness as my modding has been limited to computer cases, never got into the real stuff

1. 100% if you have someone do it that has done it a million times (it is not hard at all)
2. Unless you plan to use live, do a TSOP (unless it is a 1.6) If it is then we can chat.
3. No.
4. It is not worth NOT doing it.

I havent purchased an XBox yet, so i guess i would likely get a 1.6 then. What does a TSOP do?

 

[pancho619]

Just got my xbox last week as well, had the same questions, I'll be visiting the xbox-scene site tonight. Thanks aphex for starting this thread Thanks all who replied.

 

[alm99]

What is TSOP?

 

[hevnsnt]

TSOP is the bios on the motherboard.. Basically you will use the XBOX own's chip as a modchip.

 

[BamBam215]

TSOP is the onboard bios. You can reflash and overwrite it with a hacked one thus after the flash, you can take out the modchip. Or you can just boot from the modchip bios and not touch the onboard on in case you want to use xbox live (since XBL can detect hacked bios)

 

[alm99]

are you going to do this yourself?

 

[imported_FishTaco]

Let me just add that there is a new solderless mod chip for v1.6 Xbox.

spider chip

I haven't used it, but my guess is it would only be slightly more complicated than older version solderless mods.

I personally wouldn't use a solderless mod, but not everyone feels the same about solderless, so look at the different options and make up your own mind.

Mod chips are only going to differ by how you can flash a BIOS, whether the chip will allow the connection of extra LCD panels or control modules. Xecuter3 is the fancy top of the line chip with lots of options. SmartXX and Xenium also support external text LCDs.

Some chips can be flashed from a PC via USB or parallel port or network connections (ftp, http, specialized pc program). If the chip can't be flashed directly from a PC then it'll probably be flashed by burning a CD with a BIOS of your choice.

 

[Ninjo]

I don't know if this is right or not, but my friends brother modded his xbox and he got an Super Nintendo emulator and games on the xbox. Can you do that with a TSOP flash?

 

[imported_FishTaco]

Originally posted by: Ninjo
I don't know if this is right or not, but my friends brother modded his xbox and he got an Super Nintendo emulator and games on the xbox. Can you do that with a TSOP flash?

What you can run on your Xbox has nothing to do with how it's modded. Soft mod or mod chip, they can both run the same stuff. The only difference is that a mod chip can be disabled, but a softmod is running all the time. So yes, you can run a Super Nintendo emulator from your softmodded xbox.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: FishTaco
Let me just add that there is a new solderless mod chip for v1.6 Xbox.

spider chip

This post was brought to you by ATOT® and Syringer®.

 

[Falloutboy]

if you plan on going on live get a mod chip and if you aren't comfortable soldering find aomeone to do it for you. I found a guy in my town that did it for 20 bucks for me (for that price I couldn't afford risking doing it myself) just go on xbox-scene and thier is a forum for people looking for help with modding thier box and look for someone in your area

EDIT: and oh yeah its so worth it to mod your xbox. I use my box for almost everything in my hometheater.

 

[mrrman]

I prefer the solderless option and never had a problem to date...as more chips become available the choices are from simple to complex..modchipman.com has a good selection..I use the X2.3b lite +

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: LeadFrog

Originally posted by: BillGates

Originally posted by: Francodman
http://www.xbox-scene.com/

I concur on this - but yes, it's well worth the effort.

ahaha and thats coming from Bill Gates himself.

Yep. Read the tutorials/FAQs and sign up at the forums.

- M4H

 

[Nocturnal]

The newer XBoxes made after Feb of 04 are a bitch to mod. The box does not stop working after awhile unless you did a bad job of soldering and the contact points fell off or something. Also, I had NO prior soldering experience, EVER. I went to Radio Shack and purchased a 20watt soldering iron and some solder. I successfully soldered my mod chip onto my XBox. People were wanting $150-200.00 just to mod the box I said hell no and I'll do it myself. My box is a version 1.4. Like I said, the newer XBoxes are a bit of a bitch to mod.

 

[crawford]

Im going to do this real soon also, except im just gonna buy the parts and there is a guy in my area willing to install a hard drive and a mod chip for $35.

 

[Nocturnal]

crawford, I'm telling you and anyone else, as long as your box is manufactured prior to Feb of 04 you can do it yourself. Have you ever updated software/drivers on your computer? It's super simple. But if you do not feel confident enough then I recommend going with an experienced installer.

 

[LordSnailz]

Originally posted by: Nocturnal
crawford, I'm telling you and anyone else, as long as your box is manufactured prior to Feb of 04 you can do it yourself. Have you ever updated software/drivers on your computer? It's super simple. But if you do not feel confident enough then I recommend going with an experienced installer.

$20-$35 is nothing compared to the trouble you would have to go through. But that's just me.