Xbox mod

[Hoagie_one]

I also have the xenium gold.  It was pricey, but its quality

[ChadTower]

From what I can tell, the big selling factor for me is no dips.

[Hoagie_one]

roger on that.

[shmokes]

Personally, my favorite chips of the premium brands are Xecutor 3, followed by SmartXX, followed by Xenium.  Unless you're going with a solderless install, in which case I'd go with Xenium, follwed by Xecutor 3, followed by SmartXX. 

The thing that sets Xecutor 3 apart in my mind is all the optional products that they've released that work seamlessly with their chip, like the X3IR which allows you to turn your Xbox on and off with the controller or remote, which is really fantastic if it's going to be a media center in addition to a game console.  They also have the X3 LCD which is a nice plug & play LCD that you can cut a hole in your case and install, or you can just use their replacement front-panel with a premade hole that the LCD fits right into.  The SmartXX chip is just incredibly solid and uses some encrypted chip or something that has made it impossible or impractical to crack.  The upside is that to this day there has never been a SmartXX clone, where with Xeniums, if you buy from the wrong dealer, you could end up with a cheap ripoff that WILL get fried and stop working.

I've had all three chips and they're all solid, but my favorites have been the SmartXX and Xecutor, even though I've installed a lot more Xeniums, cos when I install mod chips for other people I'm uncomfortable soldering them because the extent of my soldering skills comes exclusively from the two Xbox's I've done a solder install on.  So, since Xenium has the best solderless solution that's what I've used most.  It's a fine chip . . . just not my favorite.  And the guy who runs the team Xodus, who make Xenium, is really really obnoxioius.

[shmokes]

Oh yeah, and in XBMC is really easy to get.  You can download the daily CVS build from Xbins, precompiled for your installation pleasure.  Google search "xbins tutorial" for step-by-step instructions to gain access.  This will also give you access to EVERY other utility available for the Xbox homebrew scene, including things like DVD2Xbox which lets you rip games to the hard drive and DVD_DongleFree or something, which lets you watch DVDs without buying the Xbox remote (Xbox Media Center also allows you do do this).

[pointdablame]

IIRC, XBMC is NOT on xbins, it has a seperate FTP set up for daily builds

[ChadTower]

Thanks for the info... that last post is pretty much what I just got via PM. 

I am not at all afraid of the soldering, so the LPC rebuild it will be.  I definitely don't want to be buying addons beyond the chip, though, so the Xecutor doesn't do much for me there.  Seeing as how my consoles feed into the home theater's AV receiver, and I'd have to either buy a $150 LCD remote or carry around 5 remotes with me to avoid having to walk up to the components anyway, I'm not worried about that.

The three big currently available chips seem mostly the same but do things in different ways.  It's the no addons and no dips that does it for me.

From what I saw looking into xbins, pointdablame is right.

[shmokes]

It's got a separate FTP set up, but you get login instructions and are given access to it by logging into xbins through mIRC.  If you try to connect to either FTP server without first logging into the xbins IRC server your FTP client will be denied access.

[shmokes]

Well, that being said, I'd probably go with the SmartXX or the Xecuter3.  All the chips use the Xecuter's BIOS for one thing.  That team just does more than most thers for the scene.  SmartXX, in my opinion, has the better chip from a hardware standpoint, between Xenium and SmartXX (hence the major problem Xenium has had with ---smurfy--- clones).  If you're not going solderless, I'd go with one of the others.  It'd be one thing if there were significant price differences, but since they're all basically priced the same, IIRC, even if you don't plan to buy extras the fact that you have that option if you ever change your mind should factor into your decision because it's an extra that you aren't paying for.  You wouldn't want to pay for it if the chance was low that you would ever use it, but if you're not paying for it you may as well have the option.

FWIW, another thing that impresses me about the SmartXX is that their newest chip actually supports the X3 (Xecuter) LCD.  Rather than develop a proprietary solution, they decided to just support Xecutor's add-on product and create kind of a standard for LCD addons.  This is really nice (though I don't recommend getting an LCD for the Xbox -- it's totally useless).  But I put an LCD on mine and it was 24 solder points (26, I guess, if you include the diode) and they were pretty small and easy to run together.  The X3 LCD is just a little cable that plugs direcly into the chip.

Also, the X3IR -- the gadget that lets you turn your Xbox on and off remotely -- works with any modchip.  It's just a little easier to install and configure if you have an Xecuter3 chip

[ChadTower]

Looked up the SmartXX... not bad at all.

GRR... the stupid chip comparison chart at xbox-scene is apparently way outdated.  This one wasn't on there.

[Santo8742]

I went with the Xecuter 3 and I've been very happy with it. When I started investigating I had no knowledge at all on how to do it. After wading through Xbox Scene for a couple of days I was able to figure it out. Its easy enough to get the chip soldered in there, Flash it with hacked bios from xbins, put a new 250gb HD in there, and then ftp all the programs and roms over to the xbox. I probably still have tutorials (including photos and step by step instructions on the exact places the solder points go on every version) and weblinks on my computer if you need anything.

[ChadTower]

I'm all set, thanks... now it's just a matter of choosing between those two chips and waiting until I have the funds to buy one of them.

[severdhed]

I have an xecuter 2 in one xbox, and an xecuter 3 in the other, i love my x3.  I also have the x3 control panel with LCD, not that useful really, but it looks cool.

as for powering on and off with the remote, that is an awesome feature.  i bought my IR mod long before team xecuter offered theirs, like someone else said, they work with any chip.  if you are using it for media center, you need this addon. 
(as for the remote control situation, i bought a one-for-all universal LEARNING remote at walmart for $20, it learns the commands from your other remotes, just like the $150 models.  I have mine controlling my DVD player, Playstation 2, Xbox, Onkyo receiver, DLP projector, and even my air conditioner... and as soon as i borrow my friends xbox 360 remote so i can learn the commands, it will control the 360 too....my point is, you can get a good remote without  spending a fortune)

[ChadTower]

You can get a functional remote for $20... you can't get a good one.  It so isn't worth the trouble when no one can figure out the Tivo commands because I had to map them to random number keys and such.  The Tivo is what makes universal remotes a pain in the ass.  They can use Tivo but there is rarely a good set of labeled buttons that make sense for Tivo.

[shmokes]

I agree.  Harmony is the way to go.  For the functionality that you really need (read: it doesn't have a three-hour learning curve) they are the only remote you can get without spending a fortune, and you still have to spend quite a bit on them.

[SithMaster]

they have the xbox remote for dvd playback for 5usd at tru.  you dont need it to unlock playback but if you want something wireless to control it thenmaybe its for you.

[ChadTower]

It's probably worth $5.

[shmokes]

Worth more than that even.  Functions like fast-forward, pause, skip, etc., are a pain in the ass to remember on a gamepad.  Even with a universal remote you'll need an Xbox remote to make it work because the Xbox doesn't have a built-in IR receiver.  You have to get a receiver dongle that plugs into one of the controller ports.  For $5 I'd jump on that.  I think I paid $25 or $30 for mine.

[crashwg]

It's probably worth $5.

It's the official M$ version that I purchased arround launch time for $30 (which they still are every where but toysrus) and has served me quite well.

I bought 4 when I saw them for $5! 

If nothing else the reciever is good so you can program a universal.

[yalborap]

It's probably worth $5.

It's the official M$ version that I purchased arround launch time for $30 (which they still are every where but toysrus) and has served me quite well.

I bought 4 when I saw them for $5! 

If nothing else the reciever is good so you can program a universal.

On the subject of the remote, I was wondering. Does it just send the exact equivalent of gamepad commands, or does it send special 'remote' commands that a program has to have particular support for?

[crashwg]

On the subject of the remote, I was wondering. Does it just send the exact equivalent of gamepad commands, or does it send special 'remote' commands that a program has to have particular support for?

The latter.

[JackTucky]

I can't find those remotes for anywhere less than $20.  maybe ebay....

-J

[Hoagie_one]

Anyonehave any info on teh IR mod for chips other than teh X3?

[crashwg]

Anyonehave any info on teh IR mod for chips other than teh X3?

Where to buy which also contains a link to intstallation instructions and a demonstration video...

http://sickmods.net/index.php?site=shop&cat=XERCs

[Hoagie_one]

too much soldering for me.  My soldering skills is akin to a 2 year old with paste and play doh

[ChadTower]

So practice.  It is the only way to improve.

It's down to the Xenium or the SmartXX but I have a couple of weeks before the funds appear.  I can choose by then.  Stuff like this comes out of my PB+J fund.  Every day that I bring PB+J instead of buying lunch I put $4 into the bucket.  Stuff like this comes from the bucket and the bucket funded the Xbox purchase.  It currently has about $25 in it.

[Hoagie_one]

So practice.  It is the only way to improve.

It's down to the Xenium or the SmartXX but I have a couple of weeks before the funds appear.  I can choose by then.  Stuff like this comes out of my PB+J fund.  Every day that I bring PB+J instead of buying lunch I put $4 into the bucket.  Stuff like this comes from the bucket and the bucket funded the Xbox purchase.  It currently has about $25 in it.

Thats pretty smart sir.

[shmokes]

The X3IR will work with any modchip, not just the Xecutor3, but it will require soldering regardless of which chip you use.  It doesn't look like it's very difficult, though.  Certainly not as difficult as soldering the modchip itself.

[shmokes]

It's down to the Xenium or the SmartXX

I prefer the SmartXX, but to be honest they're both good chips.  I've installed five or six Xeniums and haven't had trouble with any of them.  You should probably go with whichever one is cheapest. 

[ChadTower]

They're roughly the same.  The SmartXX seems to support more external devices while the Xenium has a few more OS features.

[severdhed]

the IR mod i bought required no soldering at all, it has been a while since i ordered it...i'll look tonight when i get home to see if i can find where i got it.

[Hoagie_one]

the IR mod i bought required no soldering at all, it has been a while since i ordered it...i'll look tonight when i get home to see if i can find where i got it.

Now thats what I'm talking about

[shmokes]

They're roughly the same.  The SmartXX seems to support more external devices while the Xenium has a few more OS features.

It's been a long time since I did any comparison, but that actually surprises me.  The SmartXX was the first chip I bought and back then it was the ONLY chip with a built-in webserver for flashing the BIOS right from your web-browser (no need to burn discs, which is a pain because of the finicky xbox drives) and the only chip with a built-in FTP Server.  Plus there were lots of Hard Disk tools, etc.  It had by far the most feature packed OS.  Xenium and Xecutor played catchup for a while and Xecutor actually did some cool things with LIVE BIOS, which lets you alter the BIOS right from within the OS, rather than using a utility to make a new BIOS and reflashing.  I didn't know Xenium had pulled ahead feature-wise, but I honestly haven't really paid any attention either.

[ChadTower]

Back to this.  Ordered an Xecutor 3.  Should be here next week.  All of the sites that have version info based on serial end way before the serial on my Xbox, so I assume mine is a 1.6... I'll open it up in a few days to be sure.

[ChadTower]

No longer assuming... it's a 1.6.  I can see the RAM chip.

[ChadTower]

Holy eff those solder points are small.

[shmokes]

It's funny the satisfaction it gives me to hear this coming from someone with a lot of soldering experience.  It's why people like me, who had no soldering experience whatsoever, feel so damned proud when they hit the power button after finishing the solder job to find that they actually, amazingly got everything right.

It really is difficult, even with pictures showing the scale, to convey just how damned small those little ---daisies--- are (not to mention how close the neighboring traces are).

BTW, I hope you're using the LPC rebuild board.  It should have come with your chip, but if not you can buy one for like $5.  You just need to get that in place and put your solder on the much easier points on the rebuild board and, if it works as it should, which it usually does, the solder will flow off the edge and right onto the point on the motherboard.  Anyway, use the board and not wires.  It REALLY makes the process easier.

[ChadTower]

Chip hasn't arrived yet.  I'll take a look at what comes with it, I was thinking of just rebuilding it with standard header pins and jumper wires.  It's worth waiting a day or two if there is something in the kit that makes this easier.  I could do it this way but don't have a magnifying light handy here.

[ChadTower]

Tutorial with the 1.6 rebuild PCB... that dude needs to work on the quality of his solder points.   

[leapinlew]

Chad,

I know you already ordered the chip - good luck with that. I've done both the hard and soft mod. For my uses - the soft mod was the way to go. I installed a larger hard drive and tucked away the original drive in case I ever wanted to restore. Mine only had an 8gig in it and it's not hard to find a lockable 20+ gig drive living in an older PC.

One mistake I made with my xbox was trying to do too much junk with it - kind of like a PC. When all the smoke cleared and after using media center, jukebox software, and emulators I settled on using the xbox to copy rented/borrowed xbox games and I run a few emulators on it.

Let us know what you do with yours once you have been using it for a while.