Soon to chip, need advice

[bliaker]

Hey guys,

i live in Australia and i am going to 'take the plunge' so to speak and mod my xbox with an xecuter chip as it seems it is the highest quality.

I am planning on going for the 2.6 (as it is the cheapest) but i have a few questions.

ok here we go.

1. What is the difference between 2.6 and 3?
2. Does it have a bios that i can use evox with?
3. Does it support having a bigger hard drive (and if anyone knows, what kind of hard drive is best)

thankyou for bearing with my noobiness,

bliaker

 

[Big_Whoopin]

1. The install of the two chips is identical except that the X3 has an interface between the power switch and the motherboard, allowing you to toggle the mod from there. 2.6 is a 1MB chip that gets divided into two banks and the X3 is a 2MB chip that I believe can be divided into up to 8 banks. X3 has a 256KB backup chip so if you do a bad flash on the 2MB portion you will still have a way to recover. Also, all the Xecuter BIOS for the X3 can be customized at boot time by holding down a button. All the features that you may read about the new X2CL BIOS can be pulled off directly on the X3 BIOS without a config file. (I'm pretty sure this is how it works, haven't had the opportunity to work with one of these myself.) In short, the X2 is the ceaper way to go but the X3 has the extra bells and whistles.

2. It will not come with a BIOS that supports EvoX, or any other unlicensed code. That would be illegal. You can, if you choose to do so, flash on a BIOS such as the fine X2CL (5035 is current version) that will allow you to run EvoX and any other dashboard. I'd recommend checking out both Avalaunch and UnleashedX.

3. Yes, as far as I am aware all of the mod chips do. I think it really boils down to being a BIOS feature rather than a chip feature. X2CL is configured by default to provide you with the normal Xbox partitions, and the new partition F will get everything that remains. There is a file in the BIOS package that will explain this. I'm currenly running a 160GB Seagate myself, but preference probably pans out the same way it does in computers. I'd suggest looking at the drive compatibility chart on x-pec, especially if you want to get a hard drive that you can lock. This is required to boot without the mod enabled. http://xboxdrives.x-pec.com/ Check Xbox-scene for tutorials on HDD installation and formatting.

-Whoopin'

 

[bliaker]

Thankyou for the detailed reply, i still think i will go for the 2.6
Just a side question, is it hard/risky to flash the bios? what are the variables that result in failure, is it human error or software/hardware?

thankyou, bliaker

 

[Big_Whoopin]

Not hard at all. The current versions of FlashBIOS, which should be loaded on the chip you buy, support flashing via HTTP. Open up a web browser, point it to your Xbox's IP, tell it the file you want to flash and let it do it's thang. Done, BIOS installed. On a fresh box you can alternately load from disc, but that adds into the mix that you need to know what type of media your box can read and to be sure that you burn the disc correctly.

Generally the failures are human error, and the majority of that group is people who have jumped in without clearly understanding what they are doing. I would suggest if you come to any point in the process where you are even the *slightest* bit unsure of what you are about to do next, stop. Look for clear directions or ask someone for advice. Be detailed with what you have done thus far and what you intend to do next. It's better to have to ask a few questions and be successfull then to screw something up and have to beg for help.

The only hardware failure I can think of isn't even really a chip related hardware thing. Loss of power (or network connection to the box) while flashing. Sometimes this is human error too. A bad install could leave you unable to flash the BIOS until the install is corrected. I don't consider this a failure, just a setback.

There are a lot of good tutorials at xbox-scene, plus useful information and directions in the sticky posts around here.

-Whoopin'

 

[bliaker]

once again, thanks for the help. I'll search around for detailed instructions

cheers, Bliaker

 

[bliaker]

Another question, what does the CE mean on the end of x2.6CE?
how does it differ fron just plain old x2.6?

Oh also, my xbox version is 1.00.5838.01
does that come under v1.0 to 1.5? i guess it does but better safe then sorry
thanks agen

,bliaker

Edit: also sorry for double posting

 

[Big_Whoopin]

Honestly, don't know what the difference is or what the CE stands for. I just know it is the current version out there and being carried by most (if not all) of the retailers. I'd need to dig back in the forums to find out. Was away for a bit after I installed my 2.3, didn't really get back into it until the X2CL BIOSes hit. (I know the CL there is for Config Live)

Not sure where you found that version number, but I wouldn't trust it to be the actual Xbox version. Use the guide here and see what you come up with - http://www.xbox-scene.com/versions.php

-Whoopin'

 

[bliaker]

i'm like a charity case , lol

ahh so my xbox was made in week 39 of 2004 so i guess it is a 1.6.
The solderless kit for that and the chip is $90 so it's getting out of my budget.
How hard is the kit you have to solder?

thanks, bliaker

 

[Fantmx]

You have to open the Xbox up to mod it anyway, so you may as well open it up to determine the version. Going to by manufacture date is not 100%. Soldering isn't bad if you know how. If not, you should find someone that does. Plus, a solder installation is more reliable than a solderless.

 

[Big_Whoopin]

If you still want to mod but don't want to go it on your own, check in with Rookio. http://www.teamxecuter.com/forums/member.php?userid=85069 He's down in Melbourne, no idea if this is local to you. He does repairs and installs and seems to know his stuff.

-Whoopin'

 

[Catalyst]

You know, Rookio is in Austrailia and he modds xbox's all the time.

You should look him up. If you check his posts in this forum you'll see that he's one of the best guys here... besides me of course


Why not spare yourself the hassle and get it done profesionally the first time. No muss no fuss!

 

[bliaker]

hehe i would but...i'm all the way over in Adelaide (couple of 100k's away)

edit[

There is a place around me but they do Aladin chips (www.gamefix.com.au)
I know this is an xecuter forum but has anyone had much experience with them? also. They charge quite a bit really, i'd save $100 doing it myself

i could get them to install the chip for $95 and put in my own hard drive with evox installed (there are so many guides im sure there would be no trouble)

bliaker

 

[bliaker]

bumpity

 

[Big_Whoopin]

bliaker, check out this guy. Post is only about 3 months old, listed his location as Para Hills, Adelaide. Maybe this is local?

http://www.teamxecuter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32146

Found that by just going into the installer's forum and searching for Australia.

-Whoopin

 

[KrayzieFox]

I am in the same situation as bliaker here. I would like to mod my Xbox to be able to backup the 14 games I have right now, and that is ALL I wish to do. I have been reading like crazy trying to find out exactly what is different between X2.6 and X3, and since I'm not the most computer/modding savy person ever, I got lost pretty fast when going down the list of features of X3. I would like to save money if possible, so since X2.6 costs almost half as much that would be my chip of choice.

I didn't mean to hijack this thread by any means, and I did try searching for my answer first, but I am a comple noob to the modding scene and I feel pretty overwhelmed at the time. So all I want to know is if X2.6 will allow me to copy my games to my HDD first, then use Qwix + Nero to burn like X3 is supposed to. Any advice/support will be much appreciated!!!

 

[Big_Whoopin]

KrazieFox, check out this thread - http://teamxecuter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36252

-Whoopin'

 

[KrayzieFox]

Man, I really did search too hoping I would find that exact info. I knew somebody had to have asked a question like mine, but I guess I just wasn't lookin in the right places and searching for the right terms. Well anyway, thanks a lot for leading me in the right direction, your help is appreciated as promised .

So I think I'll be getting the X2.6, is this all I need?
http://www.themodchip.com/usa/product.php?productid=16208&cat=5&page=1

 

[Big_Whoopin]

#10 and #20 Torx drivers. Tools/supplies to solder with or a solderless adapter. A mod BIOS, X2CL 5035 is recommended. The ability to burn a compatible disc or a network connection to flash the chip. The ability to burn a compatible disc with a dashboard or other FTP server/install script that will boot and enable you to access your HDD.

Anyway, besides a few tools there is nothing more to buy really.

-Whoopin'

 

[KrayzieFox]

#10 and #20 Torx drivers. Tools/supplies to solder with or a solderless adapter. A mod BIOS, X2CL 5035 is recommended. The ability to burn a compatible disc or a network connection to flash the chip. The ability to burn a compatible disc with a dashboard or other FTP server/install script that will boot and enable you to access your HDD.

Anyway, besides a few tools there is nothing more to buy really.

-Whoopin'

I got all the tools already, I opened my Xbox to clean the lens before so I already know how to do that part. Soldering is one of my favorite things to do, so that's no problem either, but I am confused on the BIOS. What I'm gathering is that the chip doesn't come with its' own BIOS but you get to choose which one you wish to use, and I'm guessing you can just find them on various Xbox sites and upload them into your console? Also, when uploading/flashing the BIOS, can you use a regular CAT5 connection through a broadband router, or is a direct crossover connection with the PC recommended?

And once I finally manage to get all this setup, would you recommend using DVD-R or DVD+R discs for backing up. From what I heard the DVD-R are better for movies and the DVD+R are better for games and data and such. Do you know much about that?

 

[Fantmx]

The chip comes with a different bios in each bank. They are different versions of FlashBIOS. As the name implies, FlashBIOS will allow you to flash a new bios onto the chip. You can download that new bios, along with most other Xbox related software from Xbins. Here is an article to show you how to use it.

You will be fine with a standard Cat5 cable through your router. Make sure DHCP is enabled.

The best way to backup games is by putting a new, large harddrive in. That way, you won't have to get up to switch games, and the load times are considerably shorter.