Main > Consoles
Xbox mod
TapeWurm:
--- Quote from: ChadTower on August 30, 2006, 07:51:51 pm ---
It probably does that because the Xbox loses its kernel time settings after being without power for a certain amount of time. The bios replacements don't handle that all that well.
--- End quote ---
I would have thought with it being plugged up it would have maintained the time. Such a minor annoyance but a big one for me.
ChadTower:
I've read in multiple places that it does not. Doesn't lose it right away but after a while it does.
BTW, got the machine, pristine shape. Tested tonight, works well. Tomorrow will crack it open and determine the motherboard rev.
shmokes:
Regarding LIVE, a mod chip can be disabled to allow you on LIVE, but you have to be using original game discs, of course. Backups or games copied to the hard drive won't work with LIVE and when you connect to LIVE using one you will be banned. So, if you don't plan on actually purchasing legitimate copies of games for this thing, don't let LIVE factor into your decision.
Additionally, setting up a hard drive can be a pain in the ass. I HIGHLY recommend a program called AvaNetPrepare. It's made by the team that makes the Avalaunch dashboard. It's incredibly easy to set up and it automates the process of formatting/partitioning the new drive as well as cloning the old drive over.
However, for a 20 GB drive, I'm not sure putting in a new drive is worth the hassle. It probably already has a 10 GB drive, which will hold all the old classics. Once you get into N64 and PSX emulation you need a bigger drive anyway. You can probably get an 80 GB drive for $30. Not only is it convenient to load Xbox games directly from the hard drive, it actually makes games better by substantially reducing load times. Additionally, with a hard drive you can just pop a disc in and rip it directly to the Xbox. I believe ripping a game to an ISO on a PC and then burning it to a disc is MUCH more complicated, not to mention that many games will only fit on a dual layer DVD+R so you either have to buy the still very expensive dual layer blanks, or you have to reauthor the game, stripping out non-important parts, which I don't even know how to do. And I might as well throw in one more "not to mention". Not to mention that Xbox DVD-ROM drives are famous for being finicky about media. Finding a brand and format (+r vs. -r) that works in your Xbox's drive can be an expensive exercise in frustration. You buy a spindle of Verbatim +R's only to find they don't work, so you buy a spindle of Memorex +R's, only to find THEY don't work, so you go with Verbatim -R's, which don't work, so you try Memorex -R's and BINGO. You've got it! . . . and a lifetime supply of blank DVD's that can't be used for your Xbox.
yalborap:
The big advantage of using an actual modchip if you don't use xbox live is that you can install things like little LCD screens that interact with it and can display stuff like the currently playing song in XBMC. Personally, as cool as that is, I've never really wishes I could do it for actual practical reasons, so I'm happy with my 25 dollar softmod that I can do again and again for no extra cost.
But that's just me, you might desire the little screen showing what song's playing.
ChadTower:
I don't care much about the little addons, but shmokes made some interesting points. I doubt that setting up a new hard drive is all THAT hard, though. Can't be any worse than the Tivo upgrades I just ran through. Many of the modchips I've read about have drive upgrade software built right in and can lock/unlock the drive with a couple of button presses.
That is good info on Live and real discs. I don't usually use copies other than backups of what I have so that probably isn't an issue. I just don't play enough to go ripping and looking for ISOs. About as far as I usually go is to download an ISO of a game I already have because I'm too lazy to research how to back the disc up myself.
I'll see what it has for a drive already. Manufacture date is 2004 so it's not very old.
BTW, shmokes, I've found that most of the drives in DVD players that are finicky about DVDRs are not finicky about DVDRWs. It's worth a shot.