Choosing an Xbox Mod Chip

Xbox mod chips allow you to run unsigned code by overriding the default Microsoft BIOS that comes with your Xbox when you purchased it. Just so we’re clear, a BIOS (Basic Input Output System) is the program that starts up your Xbox and communicates between the devices in the xbox such as the hard drive and graphics card. The BIOS is extremely important to your Xbox system. An xbox mod chip replaces the default Microsoft BIOS with its own hacked BIOS. The hacked BIOS will allow you to run unauthorized programs.

The next major advancement came around August 2002 when the original X-ecuter xbox mod chip was released. Although the x-ecuter mod chip offered no flash upgrade option, it reduced the number of wires required for installation to just one wire, plus 9 simple solder points to connect the actual modchip to the xbox board. This modchip was significantly easier to install than previous xbox modchips. People with no soldering experience could successfully install an X-ecuter mod chip. In addition to the features of the earlier modchips, the X-ecuter also allowed xbox modders to upgrade the standard Xbox HDD to 120+ gigs. This was a major advancement as it allowed modders to backup large volumes of their games and other Xbox programs to the actual Xbox HDD.

All of these first generation xbox mod chips were shipped with their own hacked BIOS to override the default Microsoft BIOS when the modchips were installed.

Around the same time the original X-ecuter mod chip was released, Microsoft threw a wrench in the xbox mod chip world by releasing a new version of the Xbox. This new xbox was named the Xbox version 1.1. Unfortunately, none of the original xbox mod chips (including the recently released X-ecuter) were able to modify the version 1.1 xbox successfully. However, within two weeks the v1.1 xbox had been cracked, and the code was available.

By September 2002 a new xbox mod chip hit the market. This new mod chip was called the “Matrix” mod chip. The Matrix was designed by a company called Xodus. The Matrix mod chip set a new standard because it was fully flash upgradeable AND it required no soldering during installation. Because it was flash upgradeable, this meant that the latest hacked xbox BIOS could be programmed onto the Matrix mod chip. This allowed for modification of a version 1.1 Xbox. It also meant that xbox enthusiasts interested in modding their xbox who were previously scared to do any soldering would have the option of installing a mod chip that simply clipped into place. Although this sounds like the ultimate xbox mod chip, there were (and still are) some complications with the Matrix mod chip. For starters it only shipped with a maximum 256K flash size. This has become a problem since the latest xbox mod chips (discussed below) have started to incorporate BIOS’s larger than 256k. Another problem was that the matrix mod chip did not come with a pre-flashed xbox BIOS installed. This meant that if you bought a Matrix mod chip, you had to find and install a BIOS yourself. Also, because the Matrix mod chip did not require soldering, there were frequent reports of the chip becoming dislodged. However, the biggest problem was that the Matrix manufacturer had a horrible distribution model. The Matrix mod chip was sold exclusively through a company called Easybuy2000. I read a lot of reviews from unhappy Easybuy2000 customers who bought a matrix modchip and didn’t receive it for weeks (or months), if ever. Also, from what I understand, all of the Matrix mod chip resellers had to purchase their inventory through Easybuy2000. This made the supply of Matrix mod chips problematic. For this reason, I would not recommend purchasing a Matrix mod chip from Easybuy2000.

Fortunately, the X-ecuter team released its newest mod chips in January, 2003. These chips are called “X-ecuter 2” mod chips and are available in two flavors. The first is an X-ecuter 2 LITE. The second is the X-ecuter 2 PRO. Both LITE and PRO mod chips are flash upgradeable and both mod chips can be installed without soldering by using an optional pogo pin adapter. Both chips are also capable of modifying a v1.1 Xbox.

The biggest difference between the LITE and the PRO is that the LITE includes a pre-installed BIOS when you purchase it and the PRO does not. Additionally, the PRO version supports more features associated with BIOS flashing. However, the BEST feature of the X-ecuter mod chips is that the manufacturer (Team X-ecuter) also writes its own BIOS. This means that when you purchase an X-ecuter 2 mod chip, you’re getting a mod chip that includes a BIOS written by the same company that engineered the chip. This is a major advantage of the X-ecuter 2 mod chips over Matrix mod chips and others. Another major advantage is that both versions of the X-ecuter 2 ship with 1MB of memory versus only 256k on the Matrix mod chip. This is an important consideration because as the Xbox hacking scene develops, BIOS sizes will increase. The X-ecuter mod chips offer an additional layer of “future-proofing”. Also, the distribution model for the X-ecuter is much better. Essentially, individual X-ecuter resellers purchase their X-ecuter modchips directly from the manufacturer. This means that there are a lot of places where you can purchase an X-ecuter 2 mod chip. The supply and support of X-ecuter mod chips is superior to the Matrix mod chip.

Xbox Mod Chip Options

There are many older xbox mod chips: Xtender, EnigmahX, OpenXbox (PC-BioXX), and several others. You probably don’t want one of these older chips. The older modchips are more difficult to install, and don’t have the advanced features or support of the newer mod chips. There are only two brands of modern xbox mod chips: X-ecuter and Matrix. These mod chips are shipped in two forms: with BIOS and without BIOS.

With BIOS
The X-ecuter v1.0 xbox mod chip and the X-ecuter 2 LITE modchips both ship with a BIOS pre-installed on the modchips. This means that when you receive either of these chips, you won’t have to worry about flashing either of these modchips with a BIOS such as the X-ecuter BIOS or EvolutionX BIOS (not to be confused with the EvolutionX dashboard discussed here). You can just install these mod chips, and your xbox will be modified.

The x-ecuter v1.0 mod chip is older and will only modify an xbox v1.0 console (manufactured before August 2002). The X-ecuter 2 LITE will modify either an xbox v1.0 or v1.1 console. The X-ecuter 2 LITE is also flash upgradeable, and the X-ecuter v1.0 is not. Also, both the X-ecuter v1.0 and the X-ecuter 2 LITE can be connected to the xbox by simple soldering. However, if you don’t want to solder there is an optional pogo pin adapter for the X-ecuter 2 LITE.

Without BIOS
The two types of Xbox mod chip available without BIOS are the Matrix and the X-ecuter 2 PRO. These mod chips require a BIOS be installed (flashed) to the chip before the modchips will function. To most xbox modders, these chips are actually preferable because there is increased support for upgrades. There are currently two major Xbox BIOS developers: X-ecuter and Evolution-X. A BIOS from one of these developers must be flashed to your Matrix or X-ecuter 2 PRO mod chip before your mod chip will function properly.

The Matrix mod chip was released in September 2002. The Matrix mod chip is flash upgradeable. However, it only supports a maximum of 256k. There is a strong possibility that within 6 months, the Xbox BIOS will actually be larger than 256k, and thus a Matrix mod chip will be useless. To compensate for this, the Matrix manufacturer (Xodus) has created an add-on called the “Chameleon”. This is a 1-meg adapter to the Matrix mod chip. This should allow the Matrix mod chip to support future xbox BIOS’s, but so far the adapter is untested. The Matrix mod chip is easy to install since it uses pogo pins. However, it is much more difficult to install on an xbox v1.1 than a v1.0 due to the configuration of the new xbox. Also, some modders actually prefer to solder their chips into place, and the Matrix xbox mod chip does not support this option. Perhaps the biggest problem with the Matrix Xbox mod chip is its only authorized distributor, Easybuy2000.com. This company has received quite a bit of bad publicity in the xbox scene for being unable to supply promised xbox mod chips to customers. Additionally, Easybuy2000 was recently busted by Canadian investigators for selling DirecTV hacking equipment. This has caused quite a few problems for the Matrix mod chip team, and the future is uncertain. Some mod chip experts speculate that Easybuy2000 actually funded the Matrix mod chip project, and when Easybuy2000 goes down, so goes the product. This rumor is unconfirmed.

The X-ecuter 2 PRO is the latest and greatest xbox mod chip to hit the scene (Released Feb. 2003). It is fully flash upgradeable and supports 1 meg memory (as opposed to only 256k on the Matrix). The X-ecuter 2 PRO has a wire adapter than can be soldered onto the Xbox or installed with an optional pogo pin adapter that requires no soldering. This is a cool option because those who prefer to solder can do so, and modders who prefer not to solder are not required to. Another cool feature of the X-ecuter 2 PRO is that it comes with an external on/off switch. This is perfect for using Xbox Live (more info on xbox mod chips and xbox live here). Perhaps the biggest advantage of the X-ecuter 2 PRO is that its developer (Team X-ecuter) also codes its own proprietary software. This means that you can mod your xbox console with a mod chip and a BIOS developed by the same company, whereas with the Matrix, you would have to use a BIOS developed by a 3rd party (such as Evolution-X). Also, the X-ecuter distribution model is much better, since all resellers purchase their chips directly from the manufacturer.

Both the Matrix and Xbox mod chips have the capability to successfully modify your Xbox. However, I recommend the X-ecuter 2 PRO. This is the mod chip that I have installed in my own system. The x-ecuter 2 PRO is the chip with the most support, and it is the chip that is most likely to withstand future mod chip deterrence features by Microsoft since team X-ecuter not only engineered the mod chip, but it also writes the software that the mod chip uses. This mod chip offers two installation options (solder/no solder) and an external on/off switch for built in xbox live compatibility. The X-ecuter 2 PRO is also easier to purchase on the Internet since there are more resellers.