Hacking Others New glitch chip in development - the FreeRunner

[SylverReZ]

A new glitch chip is in the works from ArminAustin200 called the FreeRunner. It is meant to be a modern replacement for the now discontinued Xilinx-based glitch chips by using an Altera MAX V CPLD, and the PCB design was heavily inspired by Team Xecuter's CoolRunner Rev.C boards. It's going to be fully open-source and you can find the repository on his GitHub once it's been complete.

The following features have either been implemented or are still being worked on:

• RGH1.2 support for Falcon, Jasper, Tonasket, and Trinity consoles is implemented. Support for Corona is being worked on.
• Multi-NAND support for dual-booting on both phat and slim consoles.
• EXT_CLK support for Xenon/Zephyr consoles.
• It's possible that S-RGH could be implemented; however, this hasn't been decided yet.

Credits:

• ArminAustin200 (Design and Development)
• Octal450 (Assistance, Base for timing files/Multi-NAND logic)
• DrTrinity (Assistance)

Download

Attached are some videos that showcase the chip in operation:

Phat 360 (RGH 1.2):

Trinity Slim 360 (RGH 1.2):

 

[Andrew222]

What's the benefit of RGH 1.2 over RGH 3 for slims?

 

[SylverReZ]

What's the benefit of RGH 1.2 over RGH 3 for slims?

RGH1.2 uses a combination of PLL slowdown with RGH2 to achieve reliable glitching on the phats. Same for RGH1.2 V2 for the Trinity/Corona models. So, the reason for having RGH1.2 makes this glitch chip an all-in-one universal solution. That is the only benefit, honestly, and it's quite rare to see a glitch chip in a slim console these days.

When it comes to RGH3 on the phat models on the other hand (in particular with the Falcons, Jaspers, and Tonasket), while it is possible to use RGH3, the glitch accuracy isn't always the best so don't do it. Octal450 has explained the reason as to why here: https://consolemods.org/wiki/Xbox_360:RGH/RGH3#Reasons

 

[GalaxyRGH]

Questions about these chips.

1. Will these chips be manufactured here in the US?
2. How much would I singular unit be?
3. Would you ever plan to sell them as bulk? like a 5 or 10?
4. Would one be able to use Dirty Pico Flasher to flash one of these chips?

These do seem intresting!

 

[SylverReZ]

Will these chips be manufactured here in the US?
Would one be able to use Dirty Pico Flasher to flash one of these chips?

The FreeRunner will be released as open-source on GitHub meaning that anyone can build their own glitch chips. All it takes, is to send off the gerber design files to a PCB fabricator (i.e., JLCPCB), order and solder the parts, and program the chip. These chips aren't going to be sold commercially and made closed-source, it's completely FREE.

As for programming the glitch chip, since the FreeRunner uses an Altera MAX V CPLD, it's going to require either a dedicated Altera development board with JTAG or the USB Blaster.

EDIT: ArminAustin200 has confirmed that the FreeRunner will be programmable with the xFlasher 360 all-in-one flasher, created by Element18592. Furthermore, the J-Runner software is going to have FreeRunner support.

 

[GalaxyRGH]

The FreeRunner will be released as open-source on GitHub meaning that anyone can build their own glitch chips. All it takes, is to send off the gerber design files to a PCB fabricator (i.e., JLCPCB), order and solder the parts, and program the chip. These chips aren't going to be sold commercially and made closed-source, it's completely FREE.

As for programming the glitch chip, since the FreeRunner uses an Altera MAX V CPLD, it's going to require either a dedicated Altera development board with JTAG or the USB Blaster.

ok. thx for the info.

 

[Deleted member 756658]

The FreeRunner will be released as open-source on GitHub meaning that anyone can build their own glitch chips. All it takes, is to send off the gerber design files to a PCB fabricator (i.e., JLCPCB), order and solder the parts, and program the chip. These chips aren't going to be sold commercially and made closed-source, it's completely FREE.

As for programming the glitch chip, since the FreeRunner uses an Altera MAX V CPLD, it's going to require either a dedicated Altera development board with JTAG or the USB Blaster.

It will not require a dedicated development board or USB Blaster. It will be receiving JRunner integration and currently has support for the XFlasher.

 

[SylverReZ]

It will not require a dedicated development board or USB Blaster. It will be receiving JRunner integration and currently has support for the XFlasher.

Greetings, Armin. And, thanks for the clarification.

 

[Adran_Marit]

This is actually good news for the 360 scene especially as you can't get coolrunners anymore and there are limited matrix stock and whatnot

 

[15432]

When it comes to RGH3 on the phat models on the other hand (in particular with the Falcons, Jaspers, and Tonasket), while it is possible to use RGH3, the glitch accuracy isn't always the best so don't do it.

I made an update last year that improves RGH3 on phats using southbridge overclocking. So no reason to go for FPGA solution. Even rp2040/rp2350 is a better choice for glitch.

Here is yesterday's rewrite with additional checks against video configuration related freezes, so you could try & compare

 

[MopSec]

That's actually pretty cool

 

[Adran_Marit]

I made an update last year that improves RGH3 on phats using southbridge overclocking. So no reason to go for FPGA solution. Even rp2040/rp2350 is a better choice for glitch.

Here is yesterday's rewrite with additional checks against video configuration related freezes, so you could try & compare

I still thing a chip solution is good idea especially for the likes of xenon and zepher consoles, or those who have killed their pll point doing rgh3

in saying that, I know there was a PoC glitch with a rp2040 pico but haven't seen anything else since

 

[SylverReZ]

in saying that, I know there was a PoC glitch with a rp2040 pico but haven't seen anything else since

Don't know if you have seen this yet. There's currently a PoC RGH hack for the RP2040. I wouldn't say that it's reliable but use it at your own risk.

https://github.com/wurthless-elektroniks/pigli360-workbench

 

[Adran_Marit]

Don't know if you have seen this yet. There's currently a PoC RGH hack for the RP2040. I wouldn't say that it's reliable but use it at your own risk.

https://github.com/wurthless-elektroniks/pigli360-workbench

This is what I was talking about
PicoRGH

https://x.com/balika011/status/1496434572917100547?lang=en

 

[SylverReZ]

ArminAustin200 has finalized the PCBs and is now in the process of testing, and then releasing once everything has been confirmed working. He has posted in a Discord server photos of what the final PCB will look like (design may change).

 

[MopSec]

Any updates on this?

 

[SylverReZ]

Any updates on this?

I messaged him 2-months ago on Discord; he said that the hardware is finalized, but EXT_CLK is still being tested before it can get released (which I hope should be by next year). He's got school so not much free time to work on the modchip.

 

[SylverReZ]

ArminAustin200 releases the first demo of the FreeRunner using EXT_CLK.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

RGH1.2 uses a combination of PLL slowdown with RGH2 to achieve reliable glitching on the phats. Same for RGH1.2 V2 for the Trinity/Corona models. So, the reason for having RGH1.2 makes this glitch chip an all-in-one universal solution. That is the only benefit, honestly, and it's quite rare to see a glitch chip in a slim console these days.

When it comes to RGH3 on the phat models on the other hand (in particular with the Falcons, Jaspers, and Tonasket), while it is possible to use RGH3, the glitch accuracy isn't always the best so don't do it. Octal450 has explained the reason as to why here: https://consolemods.org/wiki/Xbox_360:RGH/RGH3#Reasons

TBH I have not had any issues with RGH3 on my Falcon. And since it's so quick and easy to install it's worth trying first IMO, but leaving the flasher installed (in my case a Pi Pico) so that you can easily change your mind later.

 

[Adran_Marit]

ArminAustin200 releases the first demo of the FreeRunner using EXT_CLK.

View attachment 548888

damn, any github or anywhere were orders will be taken?