Xbox Versions- How To Tell?

[Red]

My local game store has a bunch of used Xboxes for cheap and I want to get a couple to do the TSOP mod on them, but how can I tell which version the Xboxes are? 

From what I've read, I don't want to get a 1.6 Xbox, is this correct?

Thanks.

[SNAAKE]

correct.

check the manufacturer date and avoid 2004 and above.

[Red]

OK.  But, how can I tell if it's a 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 Xbox? 

I want to install a large 500GB hard drive in it and from what I've read, I'll need a BIOS that supports LBA48 for hard drives larger than 250GB and to format any partitions over 250GB with 32kb clusters to prevent file corruption, do I have this correct?

I have the latest Slayer's disc 2.7 and XBPartitioner 1.1 and was wondering what would be the best BIOS to choose from the Slayer's disc 2.7 to accomplish this?

Thanks.

[SNAAKE]

get one that  was manufactured before 2004 and you wont get a 1.6. I forgot the name but you pick the very first bios from slyers disc which supports any size hard drive.

[Grasshopper]

http://www.xbox-linux.org/wiki/Xbox_Versions_HOWTO

[Red]

Great.  Thanks guys!

Now about the BIOS for a larger hard drive, any chance I can brick my Xbox if I choose the wrong BIOS?

[shmokes]

I've modded 1.6 Xbox's.  It's no big deal.

[Red]

I've modded 1.6 Xbox's.  It's no big deal.

Via the TSOP mod?

[shmokes]

Oh . . . no.  I only read the last line of the OP, LOL.  Carry on.   

[Grasshopper]

any chance I can brick my Xbox if I choose the wrong BIOS?

Theoretically it's possible. But the great thing about the original Xboxes is that you've still got the fallback position of being able to fit a modchip if you screw up the TSOP flash.

Personally, with modchips only costing about $20, I wouldn't bother with a TSOP flash. Fitting a modchip really isn't any harder. In both cases you've still got to completely dismantle the Xbox. In fact overall there's probably slightly less work involved in fitting a modchip as most modchips come preflashed. So you can avoid that step.

[Red]

Stay away from the 1.0s as well.

Why?

[Red]

Thanks for the info. pinballjim.

[Red]

Here are my choices for a BIOS so I can put a 500GB hard drive in my Xbox, which one(s) should I choose that have LBA48 support for large hard drives?  And what are the differences between them?

And does anyone know what this means- EVX *FC*  AVA *FC*

Thanks.


7) EEPROM / FLASH MOD CHIP or XBOX TSOP

...7B) FLASH MOD CHIP or XBOX ON-BOARD TSOP

.....7b1) Flash MOD or v1.0-1.5 TSOP w/ EvoX-M8 *FC* F:&G:
.....7b2) Flash MOD or v1.0-1.5 TSOP w/ EvoX-M8 *FC* F:
.....7b5) Flash MOD or v1.0-1.5 TSOP w/ X2-4977 *FC*
.....7b6) Flash MOD or v1.0-1.5 TSOP w/ X2-4981.06 EVX *FC*
.....7b7) Flash MOD or v1.0-1.5 TSOP w/ X2-4981.06 AVA *FC*
.....7b8) Flash MOD or v1.0-1.5 TSOP w/ X2-4981.67 EVX *FC*
.....7b9) Flash MOD or v1.0-1.5 TSOP w/ X2-4981.67 AVA *FC*
.....7b10) Flash MOD or v1.0-1.5 TSOP w/ X2-4983.67 OFFICIAL
.....7b11) Flash MOD or v1.0-1.5 TSOP w/ X2-4983.06 OFFICIAL

.....7b12) Flash MOD v1.0-v1.5 X24981.06
.....7b13) Flash MOD v1.6a-v1.6b m8plus_16.06
.....7b14) Flash MOD v1.0-v1.5 X2 4981.06 50%fan
.....7b15) Flash MOD v1.6 m8 plus 16.06 50% fan
.....7b16) Flash MOD v1.0-v1.5 m8plus.06 custom 66% fan
.....7b17) Flash MOD v1.6 m8plus 16.06 custom 66% fan

[Samstag]

I'd guess that an EVX bios would automatically load the Evox dashboard and AVA would look for Avalaunch.  Not really important since you can use whatever dash you want by replacing the original MS dash.

Its been a long time but most of those bioses look really old.  I think I use 4981 and that works fine for my smaller (250G) hard drives but I thought X2 was up into the 5000s now.  The .06 after some of them means you'll have one large F: drive while .67 means it'll make a 128G F drive (I think) and put the rest in G:.  I don't think either of those choices are going to work well with a 500G drive.

[Red]

I'd guess that an EVX bios would automatically load the Evox dashboard and AVA would look for Avalaunch.  Not really important since you can use whatever dash you want by replacing the original MS dash.

Its been a long time but most of those bioses look really old.  I think I use 4981 and that works fine for my smaller (250G) hard drives but I thought X2 was up into the 5000s now.  The .06 after some of them means you'll have one large F: drive while .67 means it'll make a 128G F drive (I think) and put the rest in G:.  I don't think either of those choices are going to work well with a 500G drive.

Thanks Samstag. 

Is Xbins the best choice for obtaining a newer BIOS that will work with large hard drives?

[Samstag]

Probably.  I haven't downloaded anything new in a very long time but I'd expect that's still the best place to get the latest stuff.