Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 12:51 am Post subject: Xenium Ice vs SmartXX v2 other suggestions?
I want to install a modchip into my xbox and I am really having a hard time deciding what modchip I should choose so I come to you all. I want to add a hard drive and and be able to play backups/emulators/and games off the hard drive. I have no interest in ever having xbox live. My xbox is v1.5. My question is would it be overkill for me to purchase a generation 4 modchip or should I just go ahead and buy one. I plan on either buying a Xenium Ice or SmartXX v2, but after your suggetions maybe I won't. Also, which OS do you all perfer the Xenium OS or the SmartXX OS. Also what BIOS would you recommed for each of the chips or do they all work equally well with each chip? I am fairly new to all of this and just looking for a little advice. Thanks in advance.
TheModGod Xbox-Hq Legendary Xbox Version: Xbox V1.0 Modded: SmartXX V2
Joined: Apr 18, 2004 Posts: 5303 Location: Greensburg PA
Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 1:05 am Post subject:
First off, the 1.5 Xbox is a rare breed. I am assuming you checked for continuity at the correct spots to determine if it was a 1.4 or 1.5. Out of all the machines I have ever modded I have only come across one 1.5 version.
Most people around here will tell you that I am a heavy proponent for the Xenium Ice mod chip. Regardless of how little or how much you want your machine to do, this is a great chip. The Xenium Ice is one of the easiest chips to deal with.
The OS though as of late has me quite concerned. Don't get me wrong, once the machine is installed it's smooth sailing, but from an installers point of view the Xenium OS has been buggy at best. A few things about it. First, TeamOxodus is doing a lot of updates to this chip. They claim it is to give us an more robust chip.... I think it's because ever since TeamOxzodus has left the design table their OS has been a big piece of poo.
The bugs are minor to major, but like I said...once the chip is installed and you turn it on, if you get the OS screen you wont' have any issues. Here is what I have discovered with this chip.
Little bug. For whatever reason the first time you turn on your machine after installation you may get a chip that has an amber LED and no audio or video. The eject light on your machine will blink green. This is nothing to worry about. All you do is press and hold the eject button for a couple seconds. The eject light will start to blink and the game tray will eventually eject.
When it does, close the tray and shut down. Now, turn on the machine with the power button and viola, you'll have the Xenium Ice OS menu. Enjoy.
Major bug I have encountered. I have had a few machines that just would not run with the Xenium OS. All I would get is the dreaded Retail Kernel Panic Error. Normally, when you get this error all you have to do is reset the clock to the correct time. However, I have now ran into times where this panic error will not go away. No matter what OS Version, no matter how many chips I try.
On with the SmartXX.
There is nothing bad that I have found yet with this chip. It has worked flawlessly on every machine I have used it on. Both chips have built in web servers which makes flashing your chip a snap. All you have to do is connect the xbox to your network/pc and pull up a web browser. Pop in your xbox's IP address and then go to town. The menu is very easy to follow.
I truly believe you should get a fourth gen chip. You may know what you want to do today, but you don't know what you may want to do tomorrow. It's best to have a chip that will give you options down the road and has great support.
If I had to rate the chips on a four star scale, I would have to say the Xenium Ice is 3.5 and the SmartXX is 4.5
You won't go wrong with either, but the SmartXX just nudges past the Xenium in everything from features to OS reliability.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
TheModGod
----------------------------
http://www.xbox-hq.com http://www.themodgod.com _________________ Good Deals: Death@Hand, funkydopenloven, StaticMind, Slamscaper, PorscheXboxter
Bad Deals: None Yet
Pending Deals: Vanguard
GTGene Xbox-HQ Member Xbox Version: Xbox V1.0 Modded: Xecuter3
Joined: Nov 11, 2004 Posts: 58 Location: Beach house on the moon
Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 12:41 pm Post subject:
While I am not as big or full time modder like TheModGod, I have modded 10 boxes in the last 3 weeks. All have been with the Xecuter 3 chip. This was a simple install... one pin header and 3 wires and flash the bios from the browser. Took less than 30 minutes start to finish. I have yet to have a box not boot the first time. TeamXecuter is constantly offering upgrades to their products to include a new controll panel and LCD.
Again.. just a different opinion.. TheModGod is THE man around here when it comes to modding boxes.. I just do it for fun. _________________ GTGene
V1.0 Xbox
Xecuter 3.0 mod chip
1959 bios and 2913(separate banks)
Evox Dash
XBMC
120gb Maxtor HDD
Logitech Wireless Controller
50" Sony LCD HDTV
custom-xmodz Xbox-HQ Freak
Joined: Aug 28, 2004 Posts: 796 Location: Wales, UK
Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 2:29 pm Post subject:
to be honest I like all the 4th gen chips as well as the older chips too.
I like the fact you get eveything with the X3, but smartXX is my fav with the cd and usb adapter etc, tho not many resellers have them yet.
DJH
|
All times are GMT |Page 1 of 1
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You cannot attach files in this forum You can download files in this forum
HQ Network: 8,636 | 
Guests: 1134 | 
Members: 2 
Forums 
