I am going to buy an Xbox next weekend and was thinking about installing one of the above mod chips in it. Could someone please tell me exactly what additional functionality these chips give you. For example, do they allow you to install your games on the hard drive rather than inserting the disk every time?

Also what is the difference between the two?

Any info would be much appretiated.

Cheers

[buzlightyear]

Both chips are very similar, they allow you to copy the games to hard disk once you have the correct software installed, Boxplorer for example. Ive only ever used Xecuter chips and everything works fine, if your going to go X box live make sure the chips is disabled and using a original game not the copy. There is even a non solder option available if you dont want to get your board messed up.

[H4r7y]

like buzz says, ive only used an xecuter, and all has been well up to yet.
i think theyre pretty much offering the same thing anyways.
if you want hidef,run games from HD or to turn it into a linux machine then either of them will do.

Thanks for the replys.

Do the chips allow you to play DVD-R disks?

Could someone also please tell me what I need to do to connect to a reciever to to play games in 5.2 sound?

Thanks again.

[H4r7y]

it will allow play back of dvd-r.
youll need to get an advanced scart lead for the xbox or one of the cheaper alternatives, any that have optical out.

[explicitlyrics]

both chips do exactly the same effectively. The xenium is normally a tenner chepaer though so may be the right move. The xboxes i chip now are all xeniums as it is virtually impossible for the user to f*** up by flashing the wrong bios etc....
There is a lot you should know before you even attempt an xbox mod - check out xbox-scene.com for all the info you could ever want.

explicitlyrics

I took a look at the guides you mentioned and they look like they are going to be very helpful.

One thing in particular came up. Would you be able to advise which version motherboard will be installed in the crystal Xbox?

Thanks

[explicitlyrics]

the crystal xbox is definitely a 1.6 unless you have one of the really old crystal xboxes which came out in v limited numbers a year or so ago (then its a 1.4 as far as i remember). 1.6 is the only one that DEFINITELY needs soldering if you go the modchip route, the others you can use a no solder adapter with but that costs a fair bit.
The D0 point which is the only hard one if you choose to solder is about 0.75mm diameter. This sounds small and it is but you just need the tiniest amount of solder to stick it so it doesnt take a second really. If you choose to solder I would advise finding an old PCI card or some technology component and practice soldering before going onto the xbox.
I hope this doesnt put you off coz a modchip makes the xbox so much more functional than a softmod but is a bit more of a challenge at the start.

I don't have the Xbox yet. I am trading my PS2 in for one on Saturday.

I quite fancied the crystal Xbox but if it is easier to mod a black Xbox I will probably go for that. Would I have any problems with using the solderless chip on any of the black Xboxes? I really don't want to go down the route of soldering.

What should I look for as far as software is concerned once the Xbox is chipped?

Again - Thanks for the help.

[explicitlyrics]

You will be wanting
Evox Dashboard (Or AVALaunch some people prefer).
An X2 4981 or 4983 bios
XBMC (the media player)
Any emulators you wish
Any games you wish (Open source of course )
Hope this helps

explicitlyrics

Evox Dashboard (Or AVALaunch some people prefer).
An X2 4981 or 4983 bios
XBMC (the media player)

What does the above add, where can I get them from and will the chip work without them?

Cheers

[explicitlyrics]

the x2 file is a bios for the chip that makes the xbox more 'functional'.
the xbmc makes your xbox a multimedia player that can play absolutely everything.
the evox/ava dashboard allows you to run various things without having to put in cd/dvd.
They can be found in many of the sources for other dodgy files...