Q.? Modding the box! The pros & cons, your opinions would be appreciated.

Brainbug71 · 12-03-2004, 22:50

Hey folks,

I've been looking into modding the box and as yet am still unconvinced.
It's one of the first boxes so well out of the warranty.

So i spoke to Caspar on the subject and below is his reply.

I would like to hear what others have to say on the matter also.
Thanks people.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caspar

Hi m8,

I'm not sure you'll get an unbiased opinion anywhere, unless they simply don't care about the point your making or question you're asking...

Anyway, my opinion depends on the reason why you want to get one done...

1. Playing imported games, I think this is the only 'legal' reason for having them chipped.

2. Watching downloaded films.

3. Playing downloaded games.

4. Installing Linux and use it as a:

a. FTP/HTTP servers!
b. Use it as a PC gaming server!

5. Install a huge harddisk and use it as a dedicated backup machine...

I'm sure the list goes on...

As I say it depends on the reasons and gap your trying to fill. Non of the above serves any needs in my book cause my PC does the job just fine.

Neil · 13-03-2004, 09:35

Caspar has summed it up pretty well there, but just to add-you can also play 'backup' games, & there are a wealth of apps out there designed to run on modified XBOXs such as XBOX Media Player which will pay all your DivX/XviD films, a 'dongle free' (I.E you don't have to use the remote) DVD player that is also region free, so you can watch any imported DVDs on it.

There are loads of other apps out there, but those are the main ones that people use.

The downside is XBOX Live, there are varying reports out there that say there are now chips that can be 'turned off' prior to going on Live, so that your modified XBOX won't be detected. I'm still slightly sceptical about that, & if Live is your thing then I think considering the price of the XBOX now that you may as well just buy a new one just for live & modify your old one.

HTH.

Avatar · 13-03-2004, 11:47

The brag factor is quite high too

"my Box has a 200Gb Hdd and a 1.4 Ghz cpu in it" is kinda a thing alot of boxers like

tbh though, i am thinking of getting a box at last ( i know worked for Xbox europe and doesnt even have one ^^) and when i do ill be getting a pre-modded one mainley so i can put linux on it.

Caspar · 13-03-2004, 11:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avatar

The brag factor is quite high too

"my Box has a 200Gb Hdd and a 1.4 Ghz cpu in it" is kinda a thing alot of boxers like

"Yeah, but it disabled my Xbox Live functionality when I forgot to switch off the chip!

" ... swings and roundabouts me thinks

Caspar · 13-03-2004, 11:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avatar

tbh though, i am thinking of getting a box at last ( i know worked for Xbox europe and doesnt even have one ^^) and when i do ill be getting a pre-modded one mainley so i can put linux on it.

LOL, not the best advertisement from an Xbox employee, not a user and when you do become one you're going to mod it to put Linux on it!!!

Avatar · 13-03-2004, 12:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caspar

LOL, not the best advertisement from an Xbox employee, not a user and when you do become one you're going to mod it to put Linux on it!!!

EX! my venture into the gaming world was not a nice one.

i would never go work for them again.!

Neil · 13-03-2004, 13:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avatar

The brag factor is quite high too

"my Box has a 200Gb Hdd and a 1.4 Ghz cpu in it" is kinda a thing alot of boxers like

tbh though, i am thinking of getting a box at last ( i know worked for Xbox europe and doesnt even have one ^^) and when i do ill be getting a pre-modded one mainley so i can put linux on it.

Bit pointless changing the CPU (for games anyway), as they are all coded to the standard XBOX hardware.

The_real_dj · 13-03-2004, 15:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caspar

"Yeah, but it disabled my Xbox Live functionality when I forgot to switch off the chip!

" ... swings and roundabouts me thinks

With the latest bios though xbox live is disabled anyway!!! There is no way to go live with the chip switched on!!!

I would agree its definatly worth doin!! Got alll my games installed on it as well as the media center thingy with lots of films.

Its a lot better just switching it on and playing rather than hunting around for games!!

Also just got hold of some emulators, currnetly got a SNES with 900 games and a mega drive with 1000's of games!!!

Really is worth doing!!

Caspar · 13-03-2004, 17:22

Yeah but like I said at the beginning...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caspar

As I say it depends on the reasons and gap your trying to fill. Non of the above serves any needs in my book cause my PC does the job just fine.

kRAyZZed · 13-03-2004, 18:24

emmm yes but xbox live has not only started checking for any abnormal bioses but now also scans the hard drive and if any abnormality is detected then you can get banned from xbox live. In my opinion there is no legit reason to mod an xbox, the ppl that say there are are obviously only out to play "backup" games (btw it is now illegal to even make a backup of a game you own) and thus rob the developers and retailers of any money. You obviously dont realise how much hard work goes into creating a game and throughout the process, playing copied games in my opinion is just as bad as if you went into a shop and stole the game of the shelf....

and as for using your xbox as a media center, that is what a pc is for, dvd player even......

and those ppl who said they wanted bragging rights with their faster xbox, sure your clock speed may be faster - no games take advantage of it mind and using non-standard hardware also cause sever instability in your machine

Tricky · 13-03-2004, 18:47

What is the advantage of flashing your BIOS? - How do you do it if you have an excuter lite

The_real_dj · 13-03-2004, 19:05

kRAyZZed currently i have what is possibly the cheapest pc in in existance running all my music, films games and linux!! why pay Ã‚Â£250 for one of these dvd players that plays divx when your xbox can do it with a Ã‚Â£50 upgrade??

dont knock it till you have tried it!!

kRAyZZed · 13-03-2004, 19:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_real_dj

kRAyZZed currently i have what is possibly the cheapest pc in in existance running all my music, films games and linux!! why pay Ã‚Â£250 for one of these dvd players that plays divx when your xbox can do it with a Ã‚Â£50 upgrade??

dont knock it till you have tried it!!

who said i hadnt tried it?

but if you think that stealing is a good thing then go ahead, as that is what you are ultimately doing, i look forward to the day when your hdd gets scanned and you get banned from xbox live...

edit: you said you used it to play your music, movies and games then? of course naturally you legally own all of these and you mean playing them using your xbox? :P, its ppl like you who are making the prices of games, dvds and music cd's so high as the developers have to have a higher profit margin to make up for all those ppl illegally acquiring their intellectual property

The_real_dj · 13-03-2004, 19:14

lol suppose thats the risk!!.

But i must stress as far as im aware i am not stealing, i buy all my games from town just like every one else!!
The fact that i dont have to lug them round to my mates all the time is a bouns!!
The only thing i do at the mo that i consider dodgy is download the new series of 24 from the states!! couldnt wait for it over here!!

kRAyZZed · 13-03-2004, 19:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_real_dj

lol suppose thats the risk!!.

But i must stress as far as im aware i am not stealing, i buy all my games from town just like every one else!! The fact that i dont have to lug them round to my mates all the time is a bouns!!

yes but you are making a backup of your games, which under current uk law IS illegal, and carries up to 6 months imprisonment per disc you make a backup of...