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[Movax]

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1. What is the LPC, what is it for, and why is it that I can just remove the solder from there or even completely destroy it and there are relatively no consequences?

LPC is a serial data bus. It was probably used in manufacturing for programming a BIOS to the empty TSOP chip on the motherboard. If you damage traces on your motherboard the xbox doesn't need to operate it may still work.

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2. Why does a modchip "boot" from an LPC? I have gathered so far that one of the connections in the chip installation is to the BIOS of the motherboard, but I'm not exactly sure HOW that works or WHY it boots the LPC instead of just causing an error because the regular BIOS can't be booted.

It will only boot from LPC if you ground d0. See #1 for why it does this.

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3. At what point can I consider the LPC "destroyed" in that I literally can't install a modchip? Even if it looks really messy, that doesn't necessarily mean it's damaged beyond repair, right?

Almost anything can be repaired if you have the resources to do so.

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4. Why can't the modchip just be put somewhere else? I suppose this can be answered in points 1 and 2, but just in case.

You could put it anywhere you'd like if it works for you. Near the LPC or attached to a pinheader on the LPC is probably best.

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5. Why are there so many essentially empty "holes" in the motherboard with traces leading from chips to them? I don't understand the purpose of them at all.

They are electrical connections for various digital signals/power. The 'holes' are normally to connect to the other side or layers in the board.

[Movax]

You don't need to connect d0 to the chip actually - you can just ground it and the system will try to boot from the LPC bus. There is little point to booting stock, so you don't need to connect the BT point to the system either.(Connect to pin 9 on Doux2 for example).

[Xombe]

QUOTE(lualdi @ Jul 14 2012, 06:39 PM)

So in the case of a modchip, the LPC really is just a holder for the modchip and only the D0 and BT points actually matter for connecting the chip to the motherboard?

No, the LPC is the bus, which is where data travels.

bus

QUOTE(lualdi @ Jul 14 2012, 10:55 PM)

Would I be able to connect the modchip somewhere besides the LPC and boot it from there?

No.  The LPC is your only "way in," see.  If you've damaged it as described in your other thread, you'll likely need more skilled help, but without pictures it's not easy to say.

d0 and BT control whether and how the xbox boots.  Think of them as car "hotwires" of a sort.  As Movax said, there's no need of booting stock so you don't need BT.  Ergo, you'll always want the modchip "on," so you just ground d0 and call it good.  (Again, provided the chip is soldered to the LPC.)

[Movax]

Does the xbox still boot with the modchip off? If so, consider a TSOP flash or softmod.

[lualdi]

QUOTE(Movax @ Jul 16 2012, 01:47 PM)

Does the xbox still boot with the modchip off? If so, consider a TSOP flash or softmod.

I softmodded it yesterday.

I would have preferred to get the modchip installation right, but... it won't happen.

This thread isn't about that though, I just want to have a workable understanding of how this all works.