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[swolsten]

QUOTE (gOoBaLL @ Jan 7 2004, 08:39 AM)

Personally, I don't mind it. If loading XoS is the only trade-off in moving everything to being solely software controlled then I'm happy. The thing I'm wondering about, though, is the amount of time it actually takes XoS to load. i.e. if you set 'bios load delay to 0, how much longer will it take to boot into games?

The OS is loaded from flash rom and has a max size of 1MB, a bit like the cromwell flash bios (althought thats only 256k). I cant see it taking that much longer to boot than a normal bios, its not like you need to mount any drives or init many hardware devices, all you need is screen, joypad and the flash rom its self.

Who knows what will be added to with XeniumOS in the future, still think its one of the best mod concepts around.

[gOoBaLL]

QUOTE

Hopefully it loads as quickly as the Cromwell BIOS.  Damn that thing loads fast!  The bootscreen seems to appear even before my finger has left the power button!

I hope that's the case, and I'm pretty sure it will be. The review led me to believe (due to it listing loading time as a con) that it would be signficantly longer.

I think I'll try and contact the review author to get a clarification....

[Puckster069]

Im still not sold on the idea.... i had posted in another thread that the OS is a turn off and still dont buy it yet.  Heres the problem with a supposedly "upgradeable" OS.  You have to rely on OzXodus to actually put out upgrades.  I remember when the Chameleon was first being hyped (and yes contrary to what people will have you believe it was hyped just as much as Xecuter chips) that Xodus hyped the fact that the cpld chip was upgradeable and they would be giving more information in the future on how that could be used.  Well suddenlt the next generation Chameleons came out where you could boot to the 512 first in mode 4 but us with the first release Chams were S.O.L and from what I understand all that took was updating the cpld chip which is supposedly something I should be able to do according to the sales hype.  But im still waiting for the method to be revealed to me.  So be careful when you buy into the "upgradable OS" hype because its only as upgradeable as the upgrades are available.  Plus I dont care how fast this OS boots up its still more time then me pushing the eject or power button to bring up different bios's.  Its still taking up 1MB of a 2MB chip that I have no access to accept to "upgrade" the OS.  Sure we will have no use of a 2MB chip for a bios i've heard the rhetoric before.... what was that famous quote by Bill Gates about RAM again?   Anyways I digress, it does indeed seem like an interesting chip, and my intentions are not to slam OzXodus in any way.  I am excited for both chips X3 and Xenium, hell I might just buy both to determine which I like best, however this forced OS bit is a sticking point for me.   And really people, external switches are only as ugly as you allow them to be, be creative, i've seen some pretty sweet setups with external switches that were not an eye sore.  Good luck OzXodus I hope this chip suprises me, because I love my Chameleon.

[swolsten]

I am convinced that even if the XeniumOS does add a few seconds to the boot time it is well worth the sacrifice.   And I think everyone should remember that this review is of a pre-production sample with a beta XeniumOS, I am sure that when the final release comes out it will have some extra features.  Best of all we can always upgrade the XeniumOS as many times as we want to keep adding new stuff.

[LepPpeR]

The following is a brief description of the componentry found on the XENIUM as seen in the recently released sneak preview photos.

* Removable D0 Connector - This connector and wire loom will allow the modchip to be removed without any desoldering when installed using the Pin Header option.

* Quick Solder + Wire Install - The XENIUM is able to be soldered directly onto the LPC bus by using the Quick Solder installation method, larger solder pads also cater for those users who wish to install the XENIUM using wires.

* Power (V1.5) - Primerily to be used for the solderless install of the Xenium into v1.5 consoles.

* Pin Header (+ D0 Control) - Female socket for the optional Pin Header or Solderless Adaptor installation methods.

* Emergency System Recovery - The XENIUM will never be rendered useless as a result of a bad flash or bad update, the flick of a switch to enable the XENIUM's inbuilt recovery mode. A solder pad on the underside of the device allows for easy installation of an optional external switch.

* Expansion Port, RGB LED & Dual SPI - Unlimited upgrade options are available for the XENIUM with it's dual Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) ports. An External Tri-Color (RGB) LED can also be installed for monitoring the XENIUM's Status.

* Controller - CPLD Controller.

* Status LED - Programmable ultra bright Tri-Color (RGB) Status LED.

* 2Meg Memory - 2Mb Flash Memory for a variety of different bios sizes.
[/QUOTE]

Official Site: http://www.ozxodus.com

[heinrich]

I don't know why its considered to be '4th generation', its a flashable lpc mod... just like the current chips.

[No_Remorse_666]

WOW, looks sweet can't wait to get my hands on one.  

[NeO529]

will there not be a switch for multiple bios'? if not then what is the point in 2mb bios chip?

[psibob84]

thats probably one of the things the dual spi capability can be used for

[MyUtopia]

QUOTE

I wonder why this chip is considered to be a 4th gen modchip? Has anyone heard about what features it might have? I'm not sure, but...

Expandability....

All the former chips (3rd generation and older) chips were not expandable hardware-wise (aside from the dumbest suggestion of expanding a Matrix with a Chameleon add on - LOL).

I am sure that an external LCD will be available for the Xenium as this has also been announced for the executor 3 chip.  It is not very difficult to add and the feature set that would be provided with this add-on would make it an attractive option to add at a later date.

Best Regards,
MyUtopia

[georgc]

we dont know what will come with the chip. Mabey a multi bios switch

[DCarnage]

Well, I'm still going to buy a Xenium.  Xodus has always been very professional unlike another large modchip company which flames forum posters for their opinions and gives false info.

[Arakon]

it's pretty likely that the new chip supports software bank switching just like the chameleon did.

[douceur]

QUOTE (Arakon @ Dec 27 2003, 07:15 PM)

it's pretty likely that the new chip supports software bank switching just like the chameleon did.

Yes, but if the booting bank were to become corrupted, wouldn't it be tough to switch by software?

[SecurityGuy]

QUOTE (douceur @ Dec 27 2003, 08:56 PM)

QUOTE (Arakon @ Dec 27 2003, 07:15 PM) it's pretty likely that the new chip supports software bank switching just like the chameleon did. Yes, but if the booting bank were to become corrupted, wouldn't it be tough to switch by software?

* Emergency System Recovery - The XENIUM will never be rendered useless as a result of a bad flash or bad update, the flick of a switch to enable the XENIUM's inbuilt recovery mode. A solder pad on the underside of the device allows for easy installation of an optional external switch.