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Author Topic: Would Bios Affect Xbmc Performance?  (Read 251 times)

competes2win

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Would Bios Affect Xbmc Performance?
« on: April 05, 2008, 01:05:00 PM »

Hey, I hope this is the right place to post this question.

My question is simply whether or not a different bios can effect the performance of the program xbmc... I bought an xbox with IND-bios installed, I'm not sure what version sorry. this is the only box I have not modded myself, I bought this mainly because it has a ram upgrade. However I have noticed that xbmc runs much slower (in memory intensive skins, running at 720p) than it does on my other xboxes using the X2 5035 bios and the same skins/same resolution.... one of my 'good' xboxes is a v1.6, but the one with issues as well as the other 'good' one are both 1.0's , so the only difference between my bad one is the bios as well as the ram upgrade.  

thanks in advance for any info that can be provided...my first thought is that this is not a bios issue at all, but just thought I'd confirm. Thanks
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xess

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Would Bios Affect Xbmc Performance?
« Reply #1 on: February 03, 2020, 03:38:00 PM »

I have two xbox's in the house, a v1.0 (X2 5035) and a v1.6 (X3 3294), and I have noticed my 1.6 handles XBMC a little bit faster. Not sure if it's a bios issue tho, as I thought the bios was only used at boot up to check the hardware and start the relevant software running, ie XBMC. I always put it down to better hardware in my v1.6.
I take it all your box's are running the latest build of XBMC? Can the new box be flashed with 5035?
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competes2win

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Would Bios Affect Xbmc Performance?
« Reply #2 on: April 06, 2008, 04:56:00 PM »

QUOTE(xess @ Apr 6 2008, 05:38 PM) View Post

I have two xbox's in the house, a v1.0 (X2 5035) and a v1.6 (X3 3294), and I have noticed my 1.6 handles XBMC a little bit faster. Not sure if it's a bios issue tho, as I thought the bios was only used at boot up to check the hardware and start the relevant software running, ie XBMC. I always put it down to better hardware in my v1.6.
I take it all your box's are running the latest build of XBMC? Can the new box be flashed with 5035?


Ya, my 1.6 has the 5035 bios already and runs fine... though you are probably right that its most likely just the newer hardware. Yes, my xbmc is the latest release and both the same on each box. I think I'll just assume that it's the 1.6 that makes the difference, and not bother with reflashing the bios of my 1.0... I'm not sure how to do that anyways, upgrading to a new bios from a preinstalled bios that is. I've only flashed my chips when they were fresh, using xecuter flashbios... Thanks for the reply though.
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xess

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Would Bios Affect Xbmc Performance?
« Reply #3 on: February 03, 2020, 05:09:00 PM »

If you have a copy of AID (Slayers too, probably but I never use it) you can use that to flash, or you could make a "bios" folder on the root of C and ftp the bios over, then use the option in the Evox dash to flash.
I don't know anything about IND-bios, but I do know 5035 is one of the best available. It could be worth your while giving it a go.
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competes2win

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Would Bios Affect Xbmc Performance?
« Reply #4 on: April 06, 2008, 08:27:00 PM »

QUOTE(xess @ Apr 6 2008, 07:09 PM) View Post

If you have a copy of AID (Slayers too, probably but I never use it) you can use that to flash, or you could make a "bios" folder on the root of C and ftp the bios over, then use the option in the Evox dash to flash.
I don't know anything about IND-bios, but I do know 5035 is one of the best available. It could be worth your while giving it a go.


Thanks for the reply, Ya maybe I'll give it a go, I do have AID. One thing that worries me though is that while looking into the IND-bios I noticed it was a 256bios file, but I do know that 5035 is a 512..

 but I also know that I have one of the earlier Xecuter2.something in this particular xbox... and as far as I know all Xecuter 2's have 512 available... so I shouldn't have anything to worry about on this front should i?
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run088

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Would Bios Affect Xbmc Performance?
« Reply #5 on: February 03, 2020, 10:14:00 PM »

if that board has the ram upgrade it has those bios for that reason unless you know how to look for and edit them to perform with the ram upgrade you may render your xbox useless without adding a modchip if you flash the wrong bios.your saying you have a 1.0v with a 256 bios then your tsop has been split a 1.0-1.1 has a 1024 bios which is 4 banks of 256 if split but if this has been done there should be some type of switch or something to look for i would think.the later 1.2-1.5  with only 1 bank of 256 the 1.6v i dont know about i dont mess with them and consider them a lesser product made with lesser materials  to be able to market cheaper and have larger profits but this is my opinion and to each there own anyway thats off topic my point being it might be in your best interest to study about bios a little further before you kill your xbox.and the ram upgrade as well as the processor upgrade will not make your xbox perform any better than it came with xbmc it will only show improvement to those who use there xbox to run linux.

i

This post has been edited by run088: Today, 06:16 AM
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xess

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Would Bios Affect Xbmc Performance?
« Reply #6 on: April 07, 2008, 03:57:00 PM »

Have you opened it up to see what/if a chip is in it?
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competes2win

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Would Bios Affect Xbmc Performance?
« Reply #7 on: April 07, 2008, 07:37:00 PM »

QUOTE(xess @ Apr 7 2008, 05:33 PM) View Post

Have you opened it up to see what/if a chip is in it?


An xecuter chip, If I remember correctly It looks identical to my xecuter2.6's but doesan't have an external switch that I used for my other mods. I know that this chip can use 512 bios files...  looking at the supposed ind-bios that I have currentlly (ind-bios 5003) there are four .bin files in the xbins download, I have ind-bios.5003.06.bfm, ind-bios.5003.67.bfm, ind-bios.5003.06, and ind-bios.5003.67... are all four of these files used?

also is it possible to use a 256 bios file on a 512 bank... if it is than I should just be able to reflash with the 512 x2 5035 with no issues i suppose... Further, since the X2 is the most recent xecuter2 bios file I'm assuming it is 128mb ram compatible.

thanks for all the comments so far guys.
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run088

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Would Bios Affect Xbmc Performance?
« Reply #8 on: April 08, 2008, 12:29:00 AM »

You just are not going to be able to use just any bios you have a ram upgrade do not forget this if you flash the wrong bios the xbox will frag and become useless if you flash the wrong size bios you will render your xbox useless.Dont forget this please! Personally it is my opinion that it is unlikely that your bios are controlling the speed of xbmc.If it were me I would be more inclined to say maybe a dying hdd?Or maybe there are settings in xbmc that need to be set.it is widely known as I said xbmc will not use the ram upgrade to perform any better and often there are reports of it having adverse affects to xbmc performance
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competes2win

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Would Bios Affect Xbmc Performance?
« Reply #9 on: April 08, 2008, 01:35:00 PM »

QUOTE(run088 @ Apr 8 2008, 02:05 AM) View Post

You just are not going to be able to use just any bios you have a ram upgrade do not forget this if you flash the wrong bios the xbox will frag and become useless if you flash the wrong size bios you will render your xbox useless.Dont forget this please! Personally it is my opinion that it is unlikely that your bios are controlling the speed of xbmc.If it were me I would be more inclined to say maybe a dying hdd?Or maybe there are settings in xbmc that need to be set.it is widely known as I said xbmc will not use the ram upgrade to perform any better and often there are reports of it having adverse affects to xbmc performance


I understand, and thought that the bios probably didn't have anything to do with xbmc performance but thought I'd check here with you guys since you would know much better than I. Perhaps the speed is slower on this ram upgraded box but again I'm not sure if it's due to the ram or perhaps it being a 1.0? I have seen an improvement in xbmc outside of speed however, for example, in some of the memory intensive skins icons would disapear as memory would be used up, now I don't have that problem. like you said the slow down could be my hdd, although hopefully not since it's quite new, within a year, although it is 320gb and full.

Anyways, ya so I just won't update my bios... although the X2 5035 is supposed to be one of the 'best' bioses I certainly don't see a difference between anything else on my xbox that runs the 5035, except for the speed in xbmc, and like you said that's probably not a bios issue anyhow.

thanks everyone for putting up with me, I'll go now.
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run088

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Would Bios Affect Xbmc Performance?
« Reply #10 on: April 08, 2008, 08:50:00 PM »

I would not think it has anything to do with you having a 1.0v either.To be honest I believe the 1.0-1.1v xboxes are the best xbox versions made and here is why. These version xboxes have more area on oppertunity to expand than any other xbox with the 1024 sized tsop you can split into 4 banks of 256 and run 4 different set of bios as well as the empty ram slots you can double your ram with if you want to.Outside of this as the years passed and we saw different versions of xbox the fuctionality never got any better.Microsoft lossed money right off with the sale of xboxes. They sold them cheaper than what it actually took to make them. The idea was the profit in the sale of games.The first version of xbox like any other product has a limited amount of bugs thats because the product was never tested on that big of a scale. This any business knows is going to happen it is expected they just do there best to make there customers happy and do replacements and repairs.The second version of anything is most likely to be the best because the maker gets to see the flaws and makes the changes.By version 3 you most likely got all the bugs ironed out and its time to start finding ways to cut cost and make it cheaper.Following versions follow the same pattern.And I believe Microsoft would have built the xbox platform for the next generation of consoles had the xbox not have got hacked so quickly.I always thought those empty ram slots as well as other things would not have been there if Microsoft did not intend to use them .The 1.6v xbox to me is Microsoft giving the xbox its last attempt at security and conceding its future with the lack of the ram slots.
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xess

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Would Bios Affect Xbmc Performance?
« Reply #11 on: April 09, 2008, 04:21:00 PM »

QUOTE(competes2win @ Apr 8 2008, 07:11 PM) View Post

thanks everyone for putting up with me, I'll go now.

Giving up so soon? For me it would be time to experiment!
Why not stick one of your other chips with a 5035 in the upgraded box? I see no reason why the bios would stop the box from booting up. But if run088 is correct, and the box doesn't work, then you can just swap the chips back around and then we have a definate answer. Of course, don't use the chip from the v1.6.
Also you might want to read this and other topics of note here.

@run088 Do you have a ram upgraded xbox or first hand experience working with one? Why are you so sure it won't work?
My v1.6 is far superior as well as more reliable to any other xbox I have or worked on. It has never given me any problems, which is more than can be said for my v1.0...
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run088

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Would Bios Affect Xbmc Performance?
« Reply #12 on: April 09, 2008, 06:40:00 PM »

QUOTE(xess @ Apr 9 2008, 06:57 PM) View Post

Giving up so soon? For me it would be time to experiment!
Why not stick one of your other chips with a 5035 in the upgraded box? I see no reason why the bios would stop the box from booting up. But if run088 is correct, and the box doesn't work, then you can just swap the chips back around and then we have a definate answer. Of course, don't use the chip from the v1.6.
Also you might want to read this and other topics of note here.

@run088 Do you have a ram upgraded xbox or first hand experience working with one? Why are you so sure it won't work?
My v1.6 is far superior as well as more reliable to any other xbox I have or worked on. It has never given me any problems, which is more than can be said for my v1.0...

I never said give up only to pay more attention as to not kill your xbox.2 dont take my word for it about the bios for the ram upgrade. The info is here in the site search for it if you dont believe me.It is disturbing to me you give out your info without knowing what your talking about. And 3 it is your belief the 1.6 is superior your entitled to believe what you want.It is my belief as stated that 1.6v are junk and I sell them 1/2 price or to people I dont like. Thats my belief and I'm entitled to it as well.To be honest I would never bring that up and only did because you said that same thing before I got involved trying to help out.And feel its my duty to the site and what its about to try to correct people like you before someone listens and kills there xbox.
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competes2win

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Would Bios Affect Xbmc Performance?
« Reply #13 on: April 10, 2008, 01:29:00 AM »

And I really thank the both of you for the help. I feel you both gave good and proper advice. As for the last bit of advice I received it is a very good idea, and might just try it... although I am just leaning towards. not doing anything. Possibly when I have some more time (aka finish my thesis and graduate) i'll switch out the chips.

As for the 5035 bios working with the ram-upgrade I know that it is compatible. My biggest issue has always been whether my bios would fit on my chip, however as I said i'm a 100% sure that my chip is an earler Xecuter 2 chip and therefor would have a large enough bios bank... but I am unsure about how these banks are split. or if they are 'split' at all...  for example, if I had initially 1MB of storage but the previous owner 'split' it to 4x256 and thereby making it non-compatible with a 512 bios... again i don't know if this is what happens, because admittedly I don't know anything about flashing/ upgrading my bios... my experience goes as far as soldering an xecuter 2.6 and then using the pre-installed flash bios program to flash an x2-5035 bios to the chip.... That's what i've done in the past with two other boxes. This is my first ram-upgrade and the first xbox I didn't mod initially myself.  

As for the little debate about the 1.0 vs. 1.6 comparison: My opinion is this. Simply, put the 1.0 shouldn't be compared in this argument if anything then the 1.1 should. The little fan on the gpu dies in a lot of xbox's and can cause a lot of problems, so based on this fact alone the 1.0 is inferior in my opinion. As for the 1.1/all the other (older box's) I feel they are probably most likely on par with the 1.6. I have never had problems with my 1.6... The fact that microsoft most likely was able make the 1.6 version at a cheaper price is not necessarily indicative of a less quality product, but better technology and the fact that the hardware later in the xbox's life cycle was older, less cutting edge, and therefore more cheaply made. For all I know perhaps the 1.6 just seem to work better and seem to be more reliable because they are newer.
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run088

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Would Bios Affect Xbmc Performance?
« Reply #14 on: April 10, 2008, 02:02:00 AM »

I like the 1.0-1.1v for the reasons I stated but no one can possible win this argument either way.I just hate 1.6v for all there faults and weakness for modders and they suck to work on because there is no way to lower its security features without a chip and to do that you must do much more work cause of the lpc rebuild kit.No tsop chip,no epprom chip,no pic16 chip these are the biggest reasons why I hate them so much.Also it was a good idea to try 1 bank on your chip with any bios you want because you can always switch to the other bank if it dont work.I have no idea if the bios you want to use are compatible or not only that bios do make a difference.                 Check out blind samuria's post here    http://forums.xbox-s...showtopic=98909   Also when I was talking about your bios size in previous post I was refering to what is in your xbox tsop not your mod chip its bio size will most likely be different. Your best bet would be to find the correct modchip forum and find more about your modchip.You need to find out what size banks it has and if it takes a special designed bios for it to work.You really need to get feedback from either Chancer or LordVader129 I know either one of them could tell you easy as most of what I know I've read from their post.
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