Smartxx xbox mod chip install.

[Edgedamage]

Well I finally did it yay. First thing with any mod chip install don't drink two cups of coffee before doing the install. And the soldering the D0 point (insert every swear word known to the English language here) to get an idea of the D0 size get the finest sewing needle and poke a hole in a piece of paper and you will see the hassle of working with it. Best advice USE THE ALTERNATE D0 point under the mother board! Well the box powers up now the software fun begins.

[shmokes]

Smartxx is the chip I got.  I couldn't be happier.  Great chip and WAY ahead of everyone else in terms of stability and features (the others are finally just now catching up after six or eight months and Xecutor is probably passing them now).

Anyway, point is, I DID use the underside alternate D0 and took a picture so everyone can see what you're talking about.  Keep in mind that this is the alternate, "easier" solder point.  The one on top is even smaller.  The penny is there for scale so you can see just how big this is (about the size of one of the letters in the word "Liberty"), and there are traces running along each side which you cannot let any excess solder flow over.  Definitely a pain in the ass.

All this while you hold the wire in one hand, the solder in the other hand and the soldering iron in your third hand.  Kinda tough.

[J_K_M_A_N]

I had NO problem with my D0 point. I just had a clip hold the wire I was going to lay down and I heated that up and added a SMALL drop of solder to that then I held that wire to the D0 point and reheated the solder for just a second. As long as it sticks, just cover it with electrical tape. It isn't like you are going to be pulling on it all the time. I know it isn't a GREAT connection because I didn't really heat the D0 point but it is sticking and it is taped so I don't think I will ever have a problem with it. But then again, who knows. Good luck.

J_K_M_A_N

[shmokes]

Yeah...actually I didn't use the three-arm method.  It just seemed too awkward 

I melted a tiny glob of solder onto the end of the wire first.  Then, in one hand I held the wire (with a glob of solder sitting on the end) and in the other hand I held the iron.  I heated the D0, then put the wire on top of it and reheated the solder and it flowed onto the D0.  It seems to stick well.  It had virtually no experience with soldering when I did this, so really anyone can do it, I think.

[Edgedamage]

Just wanted to say get a half decent soldering iron. I picked this one up for $70. I like the temp control saves from lifting up traces from using too hot an iron. Also I got the smallest tip I could get for it.

[Edgedamage]

Got the xbox setup the way I like it and I was able to do everything via FTP not a single disk was burnt. Xbox media centre is my favorite dash. Folks don't use those useless installer disks get to know what you are doing yourself take controll of your xbox don't let some lame installer disk do the work for you. Tip of the day: Backup backup backup everything you do!!