So you've been buying from a reputable supplier. Or so it seems.
If you have a DuoX2 laying around, go grab it right now, and see if it stands up to the test of truth!
1)Solder Points (Best way to tell): DuoX2s are manufactured with 'gold immersion' technique. All holes and solder pads on the original are gold. If yours are not gold colored (ie if your chip has silver holes) then it is a CLONE!
2)CPLD: the square chip should still be readable.
Underneath the DuoX2 logo you should be able to make out: Xilinx XC9572XL Note: Our clone has the same CPLD.
3)AMD Chip: If your DuoX2 is labeled AMD, have a look under the letters. You can scrape them off if you're really curious, but it should have the AMD logo, and then read AM29F0806. If it doesn't have the AMD logo underneath the dye and a similar serial, then you've unknowingly bought a CLONE! Note: our clone is very hard to read, but top line says M29F980A
4) Three Lead Black SMD: Looking at the chip with the logo side up, on the right side of the chip there is a black SMD with 3 leads soldered to the board. It is labeled 2TY on our original chip. It is unlabeled on our clone.
5) Switch Bottom: On the bottom of the chip, you can see the bottom of the switch mechanism through a whole in the PCB. On our original chip, underside of the switch box is black with 3 small holes showing metal inside. On our clone, there is a whole in each corner and a small metal strip in the middle.
Pictures will be coming soon, along with comparisons to two other clones - 1 Blue Import and 1 White Cromwell/Flashbios
FOR SURE, THE BEST WAY TO TELL IS BY THE COLOR OF THE PADS AND HOLES!!! I have never seen a clone of ANY chip with gold pads.
It is possible that Team Omega have used different components in their production over time.
I hope that this is helpful, as alot of people don't believe that there are clones of these chips out there. If yo usee a chip such as the 'Aladdin XT 4032' with a headerpin along side a DuoX2, you've probably been sold a DuoX2 clone without you even realizing it. The reason that I say this is that the original Aladdin XTs don't come with a headerpin except a special white PCB production (info taken from the Xeno Team). The same manufacterers that sell the 4032s sell the DuoX2 clones. I know because I've been in contact with them :-)
I don't believe that it is fundamentally wrong to sell clones, but if they are going to be sold, they should be clearly labeled as a clone, knockoff (ie Matrix Infinity SE), or a liscenced varient (ie Aladdin EX). Most are perfectly functional, but it is the priciple. A clone doesn't have the same value, so why would you pay the same price as an original from Divineo? Let alone buy an untested smallscale production without a warranty of some sort.
Just wait for our store to open!!! MUAHAHHAH!
