Are you kidding? Don't update it! Jtagging is great. Also, Jtagging a console means No xbox live. Cause MS can see jtags and will ban them in about 24 hours if not less. The whole point of jtagging a console is to unlock the homebrew meaning that the entire security system of the xbox is overthrown and anything could be run on it. There are homebrew applications, games, even have your games play completely without a disc in the drive. Also, you can use any type of hard drive you want without all the fangled flashing of it anymore. And honestly, its not really about getting your cpu key, that's just a key that you use to decrypt your nand. And basically what happens when you Jtag a console is that you do update your dashboard but you dont burn your efuses in the CPU which when burnt will block the jtag hack completely like in the 8xxx or 9xxx dashboard consoles. Therefore, freeboot and xbr use virtual efuses that are just software emulated that protect the real efuses from being burnt. Also, yes you can unban your xbox from live, its called swapping Keyvaults but honestly a keyvault for a jasper is gonna cost you like 80 dollars and being on live with a jtag is bannable really fast. Also, with jtagging you dont limit yourself past the fact you wont be able to play xbox live but you do get other perks. Hope that helped.enderzero said:Thanks Braveheart - but looking on ebay it seems that JTAGable boxes are going in the $140-160 range. Doesn't seem that makes a whole lot of sense to then turn around and but a $200 non JTAGable I would have to flash up. But i do appreciate it.
A couple quick questions about JTAGing:
From what I have gathered, the main point of JTAGing (aside from getting you CPU key in case there is something cool coming down the line later) is so you can flash your NAND back to the exploitable version and run homebrew, correct? And it appears that the only real homebrew right now is for XBLA-hacking. Correct?
With the release of FreeBoot you are able to flash the NAND and then boot into the latest kernel in order to play new games without actually updating your dash, is that correct?
You can also do things like unban your box if it is banned, correct?
So a solution like the Xecuter Nand-X is really just a shortcut for the JTAG and NAND programming found in this tutorial, correct? It doesn't actually have a second NAND on it the way the first modchips did because FreeBoot negates the need.
Is all of this correct? Am I missing anything here? I'm just trying to get a full understanding of the current landscape for modding my box so I can play brand new games without limiting what I can do with it down the road.
It seems the most comprehensive path would be to JTAG the box, Flash the NAND to the exploitable Kernel, and run FreeBoot to play newer games.
Any input on this is much appreciated. I looked around but haven't found a place where these things are this clearly spelled out. Thanks.
Well, I do the DIY method since I got my usb reader for 30 dollars from a guy in Canada. Then the diodes and wires are extremely cheap. I don't like the NAND-X because it still requires soldering and it really just tries to simplify a process that already is really easy. I mean the soldering is really simple if you know how to do it. I mean the NAND-x still requires soldering. But in my instance since I do my own jtags and offer it as a service it's much easier for me to just do it via my means cause the NAND-X only comes with one quick connect set and I need more than one for my customers. So I just use the DIY diode method since I know how to do it cleanly and professionally.enderzero said:Thx SMKFACE - Question for you:
Read on a few other threads you aren't a fan of the Nand-X because of doing it with home made diodes and a USB programmer. But after buying parts and the programmer you're still looking at around $25. For the extra $15 more you get a bit easier solder install correct?
Any other downsides to the Nand-X (maybe versus a dual nand solution like the Cygnos chip - or are they even still making that?)?