Topic: Softmod Or Chip (Read 353 times)

DazJWood · « **on:** March 30, 2006, 11:49:00 AM »

I'm sorry if this is a daft question that has probably been asked a million times before.

I have been researching the softmods and chips and am still not sure I know which way to go.
I modded my XBox about three years ago with an Xecuter 3 chip and its been working great ever since and I have had no problems at all with it. After reading up about softmodding there seems to be a myriad of different ways of doing it with various all in one solutions. It appears very confusing as to what the best option is. Also there seems to be loads of cases of people softmodding there XBox's then a little while later there XBox falling over somehow and failing.

Generally the only main problems with chipped XBox's seems to be the initial chipping. I am fairly proficient at soldering and am swinging towards chipping again because it seems a more reliable way of modding.

I am not concerned about XBox Live as I will be using the XBox to stream media from my PC. So I will be wanting to install a bigger hard drive also.

I realise that there are a few hardware modifications that can benefit from a chip being installed, such as the front panel add ons and IR mods. Although I know these can be done also without a chipped XBox, albeit with a little more modification. Other than this is there any advantage or disadvantage to choosing softmodding over hardware modding (via chip)??

Thanks in advance guys and excuse my probably obvious question, (I feel like I have researched this to death but seem no closer to a definitive answer lol).

Daz

deadparrot · « **Reply #1 on:** March 30, 2006, 12:02:00 PM »

It makes upgrading your HD infinatley easier if it's chipped, but softmods are much easier on your wallet!

krayzie · « **Reply #2 on:** March 30, 2006, 12:21:00 PM »

it all depends on personal preference. If you like as much stability as possible and easy recovery and hdupgrade go for the chip. If you are like me and don't like spending money for something that isn't necesarry and have a somewhat understanding on how to not screw up softmods (which are not that hard as a good softmod is nearly as stable as a hardmod) then go for the softmod.

sppyro · « **Reply #3 on:** March 30, 2006, 01:09:00 PM »

I have softmodded my share of boxes. I have only screwed up one box (which is still lying on my top shelf RIP, luckily it was my box). If I had a chip I would be able to fix it. However, I have not had time to buy and install a chip. A Softmod is so easy to install and readily available. It is true, a chip makes recovery of a messed up system a lot easier. However, with a softmod you dont need to have any soldering skills. I have also found that solderless chips dont always align with the contacts as they were designed to. One thing to remember when softmodding: Back Up, Back Up, Back Up your eeprom.

I recommend using Krayzie's Ndure Installer. Quite Possibly the best softmod installer out there (Kudos Krayzie).

-sppyro

chorizo1 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 30, 2006, 02:52:00 PM »

QUOTE(krayzie @ Mar 30 2006, 01:21 PM)

have a somewhat understanding on how to not screw up softmods

EXACTLY. that is #1 way to fuck up a softmod.

Here's some softmod tips:

1) DO NOT FORMAT ANY DRIVE especially E and C

2) DO NOT DELETE THE GAMESAVES FROM XBOX

3) DO NOT UNLOCK THE HDD--DO NOT UNLOCK THE HDD--DO NOT UNLOCK THE HDD

4) BACKUP YOUR EEPROM.BIN TO YOUR PC (it's useless if you leave it in the xbox and it messes up)

Rubber Chewbacca · « **Reply #5 on:** March 30, 2006, 03:30:00 PM »

on my xenium spice one of the pins broke off

so now im softmodded and i think it is a bit easier but not as good. modchips let me choose which bios to load and lets me go to my ms dashboard.

Epaige · « **Reply #6 on:** March 30, 2006, 03:54:00 PM »

QUOTE(Rubber Chewbacca @ Mar 31 2006, 12:37 AM)

on my xenium spice one of the pins broke off

so now im softmodded and i think it is a bit easier but not as good. modchips let me choose which bios to load and lets me go to my ms dashboard.

You can go to ms dash with ndure soft mod.

Rubber Chewbacca · « **Reply #7 on:** March 30, 2006, 04:07:00 PM »

lol
nvm

krayzie · « **Reply #8 on:** March 30, 2006, 09:43:00 PM »

and you can also select your bios if you wanted to.

This post has been edited by krayzie: Mar 31 2006, 05:44 AM

Neilor · « **Reply #9 on:** March 31, 2006, 04:27:00 AM »

I've had both, and to be honest with you I prefer the softmod, once you have the eeprom.bin it really doesn't matter what you do to the harddrive, you can recover. (Thank you Idots for XboxHDM)

The Harddrive upgrade is pretty straightforward, it might be a little bit longer, but how often do you upgrade your harddrive?

The same things that screw up a softmod can screw up a chipmod, if someone is going to format their C: or E: they'll still end up with a messed up mod... the only difference is all chips will recover with a boot CD/DVD.... but if you browse through the Evox forum, it's full of folks looking to create boot CD's after formatting a drive.... if someone is dumb enough to format their system, they're probably not up to the task of creating a boot disk...

The Lock/Un-Lock problem is still there with a softmod, but it is balanced by the Virtual C and EEPROM's which a chip doesn't provide.

This post has been edited by Neilor: Mar 31 2006, 12:30 PM

DazJWood · « **Reply #10 on:** March 31, 2006, 08:34:00 AM »

Sorry to be thick but what's the unlock / lock problem?

krayzie · « **Reply #11 on:** March 31, 2006, 08:38:00 AM »

QUOTE(DazJWood @ Mar 31 2006, 05:34 PM)

Sorry to be thick but what's the unlock / lock problem?

It's just that with softmods your hd needs to remain locked at all times. I don't see how this would be a problem though

Trusty Mutsi · « **Reply #12 on:** March 31, 2006, 11:38:00 AM »

QUOTE(sppyro @ Mar 30 2006, 09:09 PM)

One thing to remember when softmodding: Back Up, Back Up, Back Up your eeprom.

I recommend using Krayzie's Ndure Installer. Quite Possibly the best softmod installer out there (Kudos Krayzie).

-sppyro

How bad of a screw up can the backed up eeprom fix? I've been fortunate so far, but can it help even if you completely erase your C: drive, or screw something else up majorly?

BigSteel · « **Reply #13 on:** March 31, 2006, 11:38:00 AM »

QUOTE(Trusty Mutsi @ Mar 31 2006, 07:38 PM)

How bad of a screw up can the backed up eeprom fix? I've been fortunate so far, but can it help even if you completely erase your C: drive, or screw something else up majorly?

As long as you have the eeprom.bin file you can fix anything

DazJWood · « **Reply #14 on:** April 02, 2006, 04:03:00 PM »

Well I am still not too sure which way to go but softmodding does seem to have the edge at the moment.

Either way I want to change the hard drive and put in a bigger one. Can anyone give me a link to where an up to date hard drive compatability list might be. I have had a good browse round and I cant find one anywhere! I'm sure there must be though.

Cheers guys,

Daz

This post has been edited by DazJWood: Apr 2 2006, 11:05 PM

Author Topic: Softmod Or Chip (Read 353 times)