decision on which chip to get for xbox...

[Thenasty]

I am thinking of modding my xbox and need some info on which is the best chip available. I have now some scratch games and need to backup the rest and use the backup instead of originals.
I may like to upgrade the HD at some point.

I was looking at this XENIUM GOLD SP SOLDERLESS (v1.0 - v1.6B NO SOLDERING!)
but need some feedback before I move on forward. TIA for the advice.
 

[Thenasty]

I just finish reading SOFTMOD. Anyone use this MOD ? I might now go this route instead on the chips.
Any suggestions/opinions from any1 ?

[SNAAKE]

tsop flash is where its at. its basically the same thing as a chip except the bios goes on the motherboard itself. you only need a chip if you need to turn it off to play on xbox live. but tsop isnt easy unless you have access to another modded xbox so you can trasnfer the game save on the modded xbox, then put that on a memory card, load that save using 007,splinter cell or mech assult. same goes for softmod..you cant unless you have access to a modded xbox.

you can avoid tsop and softmod and just get a duox2 chip. they are cheap,easy to install and works great ! I can get you one for $20 shipped PM me. (100% BLANK/LEGIT STUFF HERE..I am sure captain floyd would be all of this thread)

[ChadTower]

I would definitely recommend a hardware mod. 

[Hoagie_one]

i have a xenium gold and like it very much

[DrumAnBass]

I am using a Xenium SPICE with a solderless adaptor in a 1.0 Xbox and it works great. Haven't attempted a soft mod yet but I may soon in helping a friend mod his xbox... I'll post my experiences with that once I attempt it.

[crashwg]

I've got 1 box with a xenium ice and 1 with a xenium gold.

Ice is installed via "quick solder method" which is fairly permanent
Gold in installed via "pin header" which is easier and is as easy as pull chip out and pop a new one on if the chip goes bad.

For those who don't know, the chips are pretty much exactly the same.  They look different and the gold has a more updated OS, but they both do the exact same stuff.

I recommend doing a pin header install.  The only hard part about it is the D0 wire and a little dab of flux makes that a not so hard thing to do.

My recommendation is based on you having a pre-1.3 mobo though since later revs. have become more complex of an install.  I have yet to mod something other than a 1.0 or 1.1 so I can't really give you much of an opinion other than one based on documentation that is readily available at www.xbox-scene.com

I repeat.... www.xbox-scene.com
you'll find anything you want that is xbox related there
I recommend the forums as they have more up to date info.

[ChadTower]

I just did an X3 CE and it was fine for someone with decent soldering skills.  If I do another I will not use the 1.6 rebuild PCB, though, I'll run wire jumpers instead.  The rebuild PCB didn't make it any easier and probably made it more likely to eventually fail.

[SNAAKE]

oh yes you DEFINETLY wanna avoid the rebuild board and do wire instead. use "wraping wire" from radio shack. you can actually stick the wire on the holes including the d0 point. make sure to resize the bios for whatever chip you are getting and make DOUBLE sure the bios is compatible. first time I flashed a board with x3 bios and killed it (then had to use a chip to bring it back to life)

[pointdablame]

I'd just get a Duo chip if it was me.  They are cheap and do damn near the same thing as every other chip unless you are looking ot do very specific things (LCDs or other mods, external flashers, etc)

If you just want a modded xbox, get a cheap duox (should be $15 or less) and just mod it.

[Thenasty]

thanx for all the input....
 I think I am gonna go with a TRUSTED SOURCE and go with SNAKES offers.

Snake:
Do I need to see the REV # on the XBOX ?
Is there anything I should be prepare for this MOD.
What type of tools should I have prepared ?

LMK how/where to ship $$$ to you. I thought you live in NY or something?

[SNAAKE]

check your xbox version here and PM me then I will send you high resolution picture/instruction for the duox2. http://www.xbox-scene.com/versions.php

- get a 15 watt soldering iron and the thinest tip from radioshack
- torx #10 and #15 bit
- wrapping wire from radio shack for the d0 point

and pm sent on the shipping