Where to buy modchips for XBox?

[Lily]

Splych: There is an amazing solderless chip available if you don't want to softmod. Personally I always like to use chips, and the Xecuter 3 CE is amazing. It's a little expensive, but well worth it.

Consolesource.com is located in Oshawa, even though they post their prices in USD. You need to know what version your Xbox is, because v1.6 needs a different adapter. Xecuter 3 CE v1.0-v1.5 | Xecuter 3 CE v1.6. Refer to the guide here to determine the version of your Xbox.

The only thing mildly difficult about installing the solderless xapter is that you have to stick some pretty tiny wires in some pretty tiny holes.

I just thought I'd suggest this for you, since consolesource is a Canadian shop that actually carries the Xecuter 3 CE in stock regularly.

 

[Splych]

that's why i brought one on ebay with the softmod already installed, maybe try your luck and buy a softomded xbox on ebay....

btw Splych if you are going to attempt to softmod your xbox install xbmc it's the best you can get for the xbox.

if you want to transfer files to your xbox look out for FTP you will need a ethernet cable and the software FlashFXP to transfer the files.
Nah... Dad isn't going to let me... But I also have been wanting to do this for a while now... And uhh... Sorta new to this... Maybe names will help instead of short form names

Like... What's XBMC, FTP, FlashFXP and what they are... xDD

QUOTE(jalaneme @ Feb 27 2009, 07:42 PM) i think you will have to make the usb adapter yourself IE install/ make it, i did recomend you a alternative to use flash FTP instead without the need of a usb.

Aahh... I don't want to make anything ... ><

Maybe I will go searching for a pre-made one...

EDIT: @ lil ~ Don't want to use chips... Too lazy to wait for them to come ... xDD
And softmodding sounds easier since I can just load back-ups right on the hard drive.

 

[Lily]

Like... What's XBMC, FTP, FlashFXP and what they are... xDD

XBMC = Xbox Media Centre. It lets you play all sorts of video and audio files using your Xbox. You can also replace the default Microsoft dash with XBMC, and use it to launch all of your games/software/emulators/etc.

FTP stands for 'file transfer protocol'. It's how you transfer files to your Xbox once you've modded itl

FlashFXP is an FTP program. You don't have to use FlashFXP, you can use any FTP software. I recommend FileZilla, because it's free and works great with the Xbox.

QUOTE(Splych @ Feb 27 2009, 07:50 PM) EDIT: @ lil ~ Don't want to use chips... Too lazy to wait for them to come ... xDD
And softmodding sounds easier since I can just load back-ups right on the hard drive.

You can load your backups off the hard drive if you've modded with a chip or if you've softmodded. It doesn't matter.

 

[Splych]

Oh yea. I also didn't want to use chips since after reading about softmods, there was no need to open my XBOX.

I have found a few guides. And tomorrow, I am going to a mall... I am going to buy Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell. I read about it, and it seems to be the most stable. So that is the game I am going to look for tomorrow, and at the same time, a memory card.

 

[velocity37]

don't bother the compatibility is very shit, none of the roms every run properly.

Were you using the latest XXX build?

It includes three different N64 emulators, and three different versions of the Daedalus GPU plugin. Certain games will require specific settings to run optimally, and XXX isn't nearly as user-friendly as FDB release, which includes presets for many different ROMs.

Also, in order to copy files to the xbox over FTP, it first has to be running an FTP server... Meaning it has to already be running unsigned code, and thus won't work on a vanilla xbox.

QUOTE(Splych @ Feb 28 2009, 01:40 AM) Do you know where I can buy one of those XBOX to USB Adapters? And a USD to XBOX adapter? Sorry if I am asking too many questions or if I am rushing you... It is probably because I am in a rush too xD

There are many available on eBay, and a quick google search tells me there are e-tailers that stock them as well. I would recommend one that allows you to plug Xbox controllers into your PC. If you plug in your Xbox memory card into your controller, xplorer360 should read it.

The whole softmodding thing may sound complicated at first, but trust me, after a try or two it's as easy as cake. The hardest part is deciding your method of choice, and gathering the materials or preparing a PC for imaging purposes.

Once you have the game and a memory card with the hacked save, you can mod any xbox you come across within five minutes.

You might want to consider upgrading your xbox hard drive at a future time as well. The original drive doesn't give you all that much room to play with (8-10GB, of which 4GBish is usable). If you upgrade to even a 250GB PATA drive, load times will be significantly better than loading from their original DVD, and you can actually store a lot of games on the hard drive instead of having to load them from DVD-Rs.

 

[Splych]

EBay isn't a place I am going to buy at the time. Dad doesn't trust it after hearing about that car incident. I will google some more later.

I am going to EBGames... so excited ^^

Also, can I use any Tom Clancy: Splinter Cell game? Or does it have to be the original one? Since I read about it, and said this is the most stable one so far. And what kind of hard drive does the XBOX use? Does it use PATA? SATA? IDE? (PATA is something which I have never heard of...)

Sites would help too for both things (Hard Drive, and the adapters ^^)

 

[velocity37]

Also, can I use any Tom Clancy: Splinter Cell game? Or does it have to be the original one? Since I read about it, and said this is the most stable one so far.

And what kind of hard drive does the XBOX use? Does it use PATA? SATA? IDE? (PATA is something which I have never heard of...)

IDE should be considered synonymous with PATA, pretty much. PATA (Parallel ATA) is just the "technically correct" term. You can read wiki if you really want to know more.

1. Get any original you can. AUF/SC/MA should do. I've not had any stability issues with SID or Krayzie's loading over AUF, and I wouldn't expect you would run into any trouble with MechAssault. Once the softmod is installed, there's no difference whether you used AUF/SC/MA.

2. The Xbox uses a Parallel ATA hard drive. SATA to PATA adapters have been known to cause huge issues, so just stick with plain PATA drives. The only concern you should have about a prospective drive is whether it can lock or not. Since you'll be using a softmod, you must buy a drive that can lock. This isn't too much of a worry, as most drives can. Just to be safe, check the Xbox Hard Drive Compatibility Chart to see if the drive you're looking at has been reported to lock or not.

As for purchasing hard drives, there's always the 'ol reliable places (Newegg, TigerDirect, etc.) PATA drives are really being phased out though, so don't expect a bargain on them. At the time of writing, a 500GB Western Digital is going for ~$80 shipped on Newegg, while you can get a new 1TB SATA drive for just $88. The highest that PATA drives go is 750GB. These drives are pretty highly sought after though (I don't think they're manufactured anymore.) People bid pretty high for them on eBay, probably looking to maximize the capacity of their aging TiVo.

 

[Splych]

Okay. So tomorrow, I am going to look out for Tom Clancy: Splinter Cell since I read it is the most stable, honestly, I just feel safer with it.

I read the guide before. I read it today, when I was reading about it

==

So this is what I have so far...
- Softmodding Guide
- USB Softmodding (For Memory)
- XBox Converter USB Cable

The USB Drive isn't an issue, since I have a few here at my house. I will be going game searching tomorrow, since I am dropping off my older sister at a mall with her friends. So while I am there, I am going to visit EBGames for the game.

Is there anything I am missing? I already have the all the links for downloading the files and everything...

 

[velocity37]

Ah, modifying the action replay driver files, clever...

Nope, you should be good, though I would remove that link to the softmodding guide, because it contains a link to many rapidshares of not-so-legally built XBE files.

Other than that, just remember to backup your EEPROM to a safe place! SID should make you backup your EEPROM, FTP that over to your computer first thing. If you have your hard drive EEPROM, you can always recover from a failed/bricked hard drive, as you can make another drive with the same key. Ndure makes it very very hard to brick your drive though, with its virtual C and virtual EEPROM

 

[Splych]

I think I am just going to leave what I have there, without the links...

So it seems I good ^^

Just need to get the cable and game and I am good to go ~!

 

[Inferior_Design]

Who knew soft modding your XBox could be this complicated...

@ velocity ~ Do I need an action replay? Those are really rare now... And I read in some guides that you only need a X-Box Memory Card (Made by MS) or a Action replay. And if anyone knows where I can get a Memory Card (By MS) and an Action Replay in Canada, post here please xD

@ inferior ~ Thanks for the link. I am looking into it now and finding out which version of the XBox I have

No prob. I skimmed thru that tutorial and it seemed like a lot. Then again, I've written a couple of guides on Wii hacking, and those seemed like a lot as well, but the process was quick and easy.

Yeah $30 original 'box at a second-hand store called "Disc Replay." If they have Disc Replay or similar stores in Canada you might be able to find both the action replay and the memory card on the cheap. They buy and sell ANY used consoles, with prices better than Gamestop. I've been considering buying an Atari 2600 just for the hell of it.

 

[Splych]

Gah... I wish those kind of stores were here in my area. I live in a community that is still new. There are like... no second hand shops, or pawn shops.

The only store that sells old games would be EBGames. That is all I have seen... In my old community, I remember there being a mall called IceMan Games. They had all these used stuff, but that was when I was about 7 and I didn't really care about it yet.

Now, when I actually do care, I can never find the store... Closed down probably.

==

I think I decided on getting these things today:
- Tom Clancy: Splinter Cell
- The Memory Card (For XBOX)

Those things I know for sure, I can find at EBGames. What I am not too sure about is the XBOX to USB cable... I think I might buy one off of Console Source since they are based in Canada. Will get the product price matched, and then I will order it at a cheaper price. Then I am good to go~!

EDIT: Never mind about the Memory Card. Looks like I will need an Action Replay with it, so lets just go with the cable, and then I am good to go. I wonder if I can find a store that sells these cables locally... I would be surprised if EBGames did, which I doubt.

 

[jalaneme]

don't bother the compatibility is very shit, none of the roms every run properly.

Were you using the latest XXX build?

It includes three different N64 emulators, and three different versions of the Daedalus GPU plugin. Certain games will require specific settings to run optimally, and XXX isn't nearly as user-friendly as FDB release, which includes presets for many different ROMs.

thanks mate i wasted my time downloading that FDB version and it didn't even work, i tried for 5 hours and it wouldn't not boot, all i got was a black screen, so instead i re installed beta 4.95 instead, why did you recommend it if it doesn't even work?

 

[velocity37]

thanks mate i wasted my time downloading that FDB version and it didn't even work, i tried for 5 hours and it wouldn't not boot, all i got was a black screen, so instead i re installed beta 4.95 instead, why did you recommend it if it doesn't even work?

FDB goes to a blank screen if you have save files from the XXX release on your hard drive.

Go to the M$ dashboard and delete the Surreal64 save file.