xbox mod newbie question

[big daddy]

ok, i read a bit on xbox scene and I'm still confused on getting a mod chip (and people seem to be friendlier to newbies here than there:-). 

I don't understand why they say "don't ask which modchip is better, because it all depends".  Why does it depend?  It seems it should be pretty straight forward question (now dashboards I can understand there being different preferences, but why would chips matter so much as to user preferences?  Seems they either work or they don't.)   I'm also concerned that I'm reading old FAQs etc and I may choose a chip that doesn't work on a newer xbox, etc.

Anybody have any suggestions for a guy who
1) doesn't have an xbox yet, so I'll be buying a new one with intention of modding it (so I assume my version would be a fairly late version).  What I would like to accomplish with the mod is :
a) put games on HDD to save loading disks and load access time
b) media server for movies, mp3s
c) emulators for snes, nes, etc
d)expand harddrive capacity for all of the above (adding a bigger HDD and maybe adding an extra HDD)
e)I will most likely NOT be playing XBOX live


2) Not really a "money is no obect" guy, but I can pay a bit extra for a mod chip so it doesn't have to be anything cheap
3)  wants to mod his own (meaning I don't want to pay $300 for an already modded one), but has limited soldering abilities.  I could solder one, but if there is a solderless version that has the same capabilities but is just a little more expensive, I could go that route.  Any limitations with the solderless kind (need to beware if it doesn't work with the latest versions of xbox?)
4) recommended bios to go with the chip

This whole modchip piece is the part I'm most worried about.  Once the chip is in place I can figure out the front ends, software, etc. 

[Chemixtry]

I too have been pouring over the stuff because i want a modded xbox. If you are nervous about doing it yourself you should check out the modchip installers in the forums section. I dont know where you are at but you might find a local guy to help you out. I know in Dallas there is a guy will install the chip(alladin advance) and a hard drive for $40 and has it done in a little over an hour. I think it is hard to give a good answer for which chip just like when people ask here which is the best joystick. Everyone has there preference. They all work but it depend on what you want it to do. I am pretty much looking to do the same stuff you are so I dont need a fancy chip.

[crashwg]

If you want to install the chip yourself DO NOT get a new XBOX, get a used one 1.0-1.5 or try to find a new one that is pre-1.6

My suggestion when it comes to a chip would be Xenium Ice.  It's about $10 cheaper than the xecuter chip and will do everything you need it to do.

As for solderless, not so great an option on a V1.0 or 1.6, the later having only the Spider Chip as an option, I can't realy comment too much on that since my xbox is 1.0 but I've heard good reviews from those with 1.1-1.5s!

Honestly, if I were you, I would try my damndest to get a 1.1-1.5 and do a pin header installation, it seems to have the best ease of installation to reliability ratio and that's a good thing.  If you end up getting a 1.0 it's not a whole lot harder to do the quick solder method which is what I did but if for some reason you want to remove the chip later in time it requires alot more work.

[clanggedin]

It's better if you get a pre-1.6, but if you happen to get a 1.6, then you just have to do a little soldering to get the Xenium to work.

As for using a solderless on a 1.0, it is possible, but you will have to reseat your solderless adapter pnce in a while. You can suck out the solder from the holes and it should work fine.

My brother has been searching high and low to get a used XBOX in the local area. He ended up picking up an XBOX from the local WalMart. He got one wothout games and only 1 controller, We think that he will most likely have a 1.4 or 1.5.

If you can get one of those XBOXS that come with no games then you might be OK.

[Paul Olson]

I think it is pretty unlikely that you can find a new xbox that is not a 1.6.  They have been out for quite a while now.  I have a 1.6, and it wasn't that bad.  Just a few extra wires to solder.  You will be limited to one choice for the bios with a 1.6, but it works well.  Any of the chips will do what you want to do.  I have Xenium Ice, and I am happy with it.  You can find all the info you will need if you read thru the forums at xbox-scene.  Everything you need to know to get everything running is already posted there.

Hope this helps.

PS  Get a magnifying glass, it will make soldering a lot easier.   

[Edgedamage]

Or you could get a smartxx chip which works on 1.6/1.6b boxes and really address the D0 GROUNDING ISSUE which all other chips seem to ignore. See here:
http://www.smartxx.com/news.php
Also you don't have to worry about clones/fakes with smartxx.
Link to all chip features: http://www.xbox-scene.com/modchips4_table.htm

[rchadd]

i successfully fitted xecuter3 modchip in version 1.6 xbox

i think it now comes with the LPC rebuild pcb as standard which greatly simplifies the soldering required to fit it.

[J_K_M_A_N]

I like the xecuter 3 because of the backup bios. It is more expensive but I thought it was worth the piece of mind. I believe there are other chips that offer the same but that is what I went with. (Basically because a friend of mine went with the same chip and it worked well.) I have read that the 1.6 isn't TOO bad but it is harder. Good luck.

J_K_M_A_N

[clanggedin]

AS OF TODAY THE XENIUM IS THE ONLY CHIP TO HAVE A SOLDERLESS ADAPTER FOR THE 1.6.

Get the Xenium and then you can get the Skryer too when it comes out.

http://www.teamxodus.com

[shmokes]

That's not technically true.  Those are not available and Xecutor actually announced the impending release of a 1.6 solderless adapter before Xenium.   So we'll see who releases there's first and who's is the better solution.  At any rate, as far as functionality goes, Xecutor is hands down ahead of everyone with all the cool peripherals they make that work with their chip.  If I were buying a chip today I would get an Xecutor without question.  As it is I've got a SmartXX which I personally think is superior to Xenium (though Xenium has caught up and added many of the features that SmartXX already had, such as on board FTP which GREATLY GREATLY GREATLY simplifies the process of putting all the software and on your box).

Anyway, I'd put them in the following order:

Xecutor 3
Smartxx
Xenium
The rest (Xchip, Spiderchip, Alladin, etc.)

[clanggedin]

Xeninum is the only one that will support a graphical LCD as of now. Neither the Xecuter nor SmartXX does that.

BTW the Xecuters 1.6 solderless will not work on any other version whereas the Xenium 1.6 solderless will work on all version 1.0-1.6

[Raven..]

I bought a new 1.6 last weekend and had it mod chipped tonight.  $45 total for the chip, install, and HD setup (my own 120G).  Well worth it!  This thing works great.  The only problem I had was in figuring out the software.  That's my fault because I am too lazy to read all of the tutorials, etc. 

This guy uses the Alladin Advance chip and installs all o fthe apps etc, in less than one hour.  Money well spent, and I didn't risk screwing up my new toy!