The XenoGC is the first modchip for the GameCube to take advantage of Tmbinc’s and Cheqmate’s
discovery which exploited the DVD assembly’s data port. The chip itself is a solder based
solution with six points that must be soldered directly onto the data port and some points
around it. It is a very small chip measuring in at around the size of one of the keys on
your keyboard.
Features Compatible with All Regions & All Versions Direct Boot of DVD+-RW Media Supports Multi-Disc Games Supports Action Reply Region Free Loading Super Easy Wireless Install No Need to Remove Mainboard PAL/NTSC Region Force Installation Control LEDs Switchable Read Setting Adjustment / Error Retry Switchable Audiofix Anti-Static Packaging Very Low Price Selfbooting Homebrew Linux Discs
Contents
XenoGC Modchip
Installation
To install it you will have to gain access to the bottom of the DVD assembly and this will
require you to remove the top half of the case, power/fan housing, controller ports and
then the metal shielding on the drive. To do this I used a GameBit to remove the top half
of the case, a normal Philips head screwdriver for the eighteen screws housing the various
components and then a micro mini Philips head screwdriver to remove the six screws holding
the shielding in place.
Once this was done I located the DVD’s bus and put the chip on top of it matching the
diagrams available on the XenoGC’s webpage. I did noticed that it was not a firm fit and
that when I was going to solder it on I would have to make sure it was in the right
location otherwise I could possibly damage my Cube.
Next I took out some flux and put some on each of the six solder points. The cool thing
about the XenoGC is that you don’t need to mess with any wires as you solder it directly
onto the board, but if you mess up or want to remove it you are going to need some
de-soldering braid. So it’s a win/lose situation depending on what resources you may
have around your house.
To avoid soldering onto the wrong points I pushed the chip up and right at the same time
so it was exactly in the correct position and then soldered one point on each side of
the chip. When soldering you do not want to apply the solder directly to the chip per
the traditional ways. What you want to do is put a small amount on the end of your
iron before you even get near the chip. Due to the size of the chip and the fact there
are many points really close to the ones you’ll be soldering onto you want to use the
least amount of solder as you possibly can. If I didn’t do this some solder could get
underneath the chip and connect to other points.
I finished up soldering (it took 34 seconds total) the rest of the points and then
proceeded to put the GameCube back together. To make sure the chip was working
correctly I didn’t screw in all of the twenty four screws. I put four to hold the
shielding on, the four to hold the controller port on and then two for the DVD
assembly. I left the power/fan housing lying out and then turned on my system
with a homebrew disc in it.
Usage & Conclusion
Everything worked fine and it quickly booted the chip. Infact it booted it without
having to spin up and down like some other solutions do. Since it’s a “no frills” chip
and comes with no onboard GUI there wasn’t much to test other then the various button
combinations you can use when booting that will do such things as display your GameCube
version, toggle the DRE/Audio fixes and some other miscellaneous things. Please see
the Mod That Cube -FAQ- for a complete overview of the button combiniations and
for installation material.
Other then the size of the chip and the fact it has no onboard GUI it’s a solid solution
that gets the job done. Additionally, if you do want to run different BIOS on it that
does contain a GUI you can create a disc with one on it and then boot it up. I’d say
for its price it’s worth buying and sure beats having to mess with the
softmod solutions.
Positives
Price Ease of Installation No Wires Required Rich Feature Set Transparent Booting
Negatives
Physical Size Have to Solder No Frills Chip No Onscreen GUI No Cool Sticker :(
Product(s) were received from the website above. ISO-420 will always link back to whomever sent the
product(s) *respect*, but please remember that the reviews are independently written by our staff
and are not subject to alteration by whomever supplies us with the review product(s).
Compatible with All Regions & All Versions
XenoGC Modchip
Price
Physical Size
