Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 12:35 am Post subject: mod chip advantages
what are the advantages of putting a mod chip in your xbox vs softmodding it. i am a newbie and am just trying to get a feel for things here
thanks alot
impwiz V.I.P. Lifetime Xbox Version: all Modded: everything
Joined: Aug 30, 2005 Posts: 1070 Location: Detroit
Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 2:10 am Post subject:
This just about sums it up. Props to nknave for the most complete faq about chips vs. softmods that i've seen. _________________
italian_ice Xbox-HQ Elite Member Xbox Version: 1.4 Modded: Xenium Ice
Joined: Jun 10, 2006 Posts: 341 Location: USA
Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 10:44 pm Post subject:
Just to throw my two cents into the mix, not that the link that was provided doesn't give great info as it definitely does, but I'll try to give you some advice that may be more understandable if you are a beginner modder.
Your Xbox basically runs like a PC. It has the basic components like power supply, fan, dvd drive, hard drive, RAM, built in networking, Nvidia graphics..etc..
The noticible difference between your Xbox and your PC, besides the power, is the OS (operating system). The Xbox doesn't have a windows or Linux environment to assist you in loading apps, saving to the HD, etc... Everything the Xbox is allowed to do is handled via the Bios. Bios stands for basic input output system. It is what sets all the rules for your Xbox. It tells your machine what it can and cant run, save, and pretty much do.
The bios that MS (Microsoft) provides you was modified by people smarter than I and given to us to enjoy. Basically, if you do a TSOP flash you are overwriting the MS bios with an upgraded version. Depending on the version Xbox you have will dictate what bios you use. This discussion is for another day
When you successfully have the upgraded/hacked bios on your machine you are now less limited in what you can do. For instance, you can add a new Dashboard to your C: partition of the HD. The default dashboard is the screen you always see after your machine boots. You have basically four options. Settings, Music, Xbox Live, and Memory (albeit not in that same order).
A new and imroved dash, let's say Evolution X Build 3835 has many more options. Such as: Play games from HD, Launch Applications, Launch Emulators, yada yada yada.
TSOP flashing can limit you from logging into Xbox Live, although you can install a switch and have dual booting from what I remember but I am unsure how to do this as I have only TSOP flashed once and that was to actually reverse a TSOP flash for a friend so he could install a chip.
Softmodding is basically tricking your Xbox into allowing you to change your dashboard to a hacked dash versus the MS dash. This is a very popular method because you do not have to have any tech skills like soldering. I personally never bothered to do a softmod, but a lot of people like it.
Installing a chip to me is the most stable mod of them all. There are both solder and solderless solutions, I prefer soldering though. Once you install the chip, the chip is then flashed with the hacked bios. Now you have a choice to how your machine boots. You can either boot it in normal mode, or hacked mode. This gives you more freedom as far as enjoying xbox live (keep in mind, you can easily get banned even with a chip...you need to fully be aware of all do's and donts when it comes to logging into XBL with a hacked machine).
If you prepare yourself and take your time soldering is quite easy. It's a minimal investment too. Irons and solder are very cheap.
Some disadvantages with softmodding and tsop flashing is, if you screw up...you have a lot more work ahead of you to get your machine back to square one.
Disadvantage with chip is, well if you aren't careful, you can burn certain areas of your board and end up needing a new one.
I have chipped many machines, all with soldered solutions and from the first one I ever did to the very last one I just did yesterday I have never had one go bad on me. I never picked up an iron until I chipped my first Xbox.
You are going to get a lot of opinions in regard to softmodding versus chipping. It just basically boils down to personal preference really. I just think chipping gives you more options in the long run.
I hope this info in conjunction with the link that impwiz provided you will give you the knowledge to make an informed decision in which way you should go (cough cough...chip...cough cough)
Good luck, just let us know if you have any other questions! _________________ Xbox 1.4
Xenium Ice
200GB HD
Refs: Pson, dbeal, impwiz
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