For those who might be interested in upgrading their xbox to a 1.4ghz 128mb board from trusty, I thought I would make a list of reasons why you might want to (i.e. the stuff out there that is really improved).
10. Quake 3 Arena
This might not be high on anyone elses list, but for me this was a great one to test, as you can actually play this online, without a ridiculous amount of lag and stuttering. This was an impressive port that really pushed the limits of the old box, having it on trusty box just makes it run a whole lot smoother.
9. CPX3
All of the annoying little slowdowns are eliminated (super moves, going high in the air etc.) as well as this, my skin "Jazzy NYC" works a whole lot smoother (the music used to stutter a little when the screenshot previews were on). As well as this, Red Earth works flawlessly with music.
8. HQ2X filter
This filter is the one that I find really gives games an "HD Remake" look when used in 720p, unfortunately it is CPU intensive. Not a problem (on 2D PSX games like LOMAX it looks stunning)!
7. Killer Instinct 2 in 720p with filters
C-C-C Combo Breaker
6. Eliminates frameskipping in CoinOPS
Everything 2D runs full framerate, even with the software filter enabled (Daraku Tenshi working properly, and crystal of kings, as well as Outrunners, and all of the later SEGA stuff etc.). A few early 3D games are working fullspeed aswell (Virtua Fighter, STUN runner etc.)
5. Everything loads faster
I am not the most patient person you will ever meet!! (IMG:
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4. Awesome milkdrop presets!!
I am sure most people wouldn't care about this, but i am a sucker for those crazy visualisations (BP posted a huge pack of them on XBMC website a few years back, but some were around 10fps on the stock xbox). I love having all my music on my xbox with full album art on display!
3. SUPER SMASH BROS!!
Super Smash Bros is fully playable as of surreal 5.4, as in; NO graphical glitches and NO slowdown in 4 player matches. I FUCKING LOVE IT! (you have to enable frameskip though, simply for the break the targets because otherwise they run too slow)
2. Huge PS1 Library
If you want PS1 gaming on your box to be a similar experience to SNES, Megadrive etc, then you NEED a trusty box! as long as the game doesnt have any compatibility issues it will work fullspeed with filters. (great for spyro 3, crash bandicoot 3, gran turismos, wipeout 3 etc etc etc)
1. The future
I am hoping that with the current revival that seems to be going on with the xbox scene that a developer mightget their hands on a trusty box, and I am excited to see what would happen then!! (NullDC?!?!?!) who knows. A lot more is certainly possible with this hardware. (I am still hoping for a mednafenX Virtualboy, I expect that would have a decent shot at working on stock xbox anyway...)