Wasabi Review

Written by hitman43 / Translated by Jones23
May 2008

German Review: http://www.modcontrol.com/tests,detail,61.html

Introduction

The Wasabi modchip is the fourth modchip for Wii consoles with D2C chipset, and it's the first D2C modchip which can be installed with only 9 cables.

It's also possible to install the Wasabi in old Wii models with DMS, D2A or D2B chipsets and it can be upgraded via DVD.

The popular JTAG programming has been turned down, but the chip still sets high standards with it's onboard flashrom and Recovery Mode.

It's unfortunate that the chip can't expand it's full potential, cause the better known chips from Team Wiikey (D2Pro) and Infectus (Argon) will soon have all the features of the Wasabi and additionally USB update feature and JTAG programming of the Actel.

Features

It's the first chip that works on all drives, from DMS to latest D2C drives (including GC2-D1A).

It's the first D2C compatible chip that is upgradable from DVD.

It's the easiest chip to install on D2C: only 9 wires, only 3 of them connected to a pin/via.

It's the easiest chip to install on DMS and D2B as well: No need to use a dremel or super-glue with "cut-pin" drives, and there's no pin/via to solder even with the latest D2B boards.

It's the first D2C compatible chip that is as clean as DMS/D2B drivechips: full control over the drive's firmware, no physical patching on the lines while the games are running. That means perfect stability, more control, and no stress on the drive's components.

Best of all, it's the first chip to include a decent amount of flash memory (128KB) for firmware and data storage.

Direct boot of Wii and Gamecube original, import, and backup discs
Supports all chipset versions: DMS, D2A, D2B and D2C (including D1A)
Supports all regions, configurable via jumpers
Fully upgradable from DVD (no external programmer required)
Only 5 wires on DMS, D2A, D2B
Only 9 wires on D2C (only 3 of them soldered to pin/via)
Very easy installation on "cut-pin" drives
On-board flash (128KB)
Integrated Audiostreaming fix for GC games
Excellent media compatibility (supports DL media)
Works with SMG and SSBB
Flash recovery mode
Two LED for easy installation troubleshooting
Full firmware control even on D2C chipset
Drivecode symmetry between all chipset versions
Compatible with all GC and Wii homebrew programs
No extra wires required for region override
No external switch required

Contents

The Wasabi modchip is shipped in a small antistatic bag.

The team behind the Wasabi is using only high quality components.

The flashrom is a SST and the logic unit is a ACTEL, which has proven to give a constantly good performance.

The curcuit board looks very sturdy and well made.

All components were installed nice and clean.

The solder pads are golden and perfectly placed.

You see that the hardware is really shining.

Installation

Installing the Wasabi chip is really easy, maybe even too easy for a profesional modder since there is absolutely no challenge.

The chip can be installed within 20 minutes including disassembling/reassembling the Wii.

The 3 solder points on the drive chip are not too bad, only 2 points are directly next to each other.

I still wouldn't recommend the installation for solder noobs, because you can destory the console without enough knowledge.

Power and ground wire should be thicker to ensure a good current supply (that's also true for all other chips).

The manufacturer's diagrams were used for installation. I'm pretty sure that there are alternative points, but due to the low cable count it would be a waste of time to look them up.

A bridge must be set for PAL/US/JAP consoles.

Like any other chip you should isolate the Wasabi after finishing the installation (double sided tape is sufficient).

The cable for recovery mode is optional and not needed to make the chip work.

Usage

Status LED:

Like on the D2CKey or D2Pro modchips there's a status LED on board.

I think it's the dumbest thing one can solder on a modchip, cause the chip fits so well in the console that you won't even see the chip itself.

Well, you know we could argue about that, but you cant argue about the functionallity of the LED.

The status display of the LED is working flawless.

If the chip is installed correctly, the LED will flash red and then light green permanently.

If it's permanently red or constantly changing between green and red, then something's wrong with the installation.

If all cables are soldered 100% correct, but the LED is still permanent red, then you got a chip with timing problems.

This problem can be easily fixed by soldering a 47uF capacitor between the K and GND points on the chip.

Update function:

The update function can't be tested, cause there is no update for the Wasabi modchip yet.

Only a picture and an announcement that the chip can be updated via DVD are floating around the internet.

Despite that, DVD updates are outdated are pretty needless since the highend XBox1 modchips.

Since that time chips that can be updated via USB or network have become more and more popular and even cheap chips like the XChanger for XBox could be updated via network.

For Wii there are the CycloWiz and various open source modchips which can be updated without a DVD.

People who are crying for DVD upgrades are standing in opposition to the latest developments.

JTAG programming has pretty much established and stands for long-term safety for the users.

Another disadvantage of DVD upgrades is that only sectors can be patched and a complete programming of the Actel is impossible.

Wasabi - It boots!!!!

The Wasabi works as well as all other D2C modchips, despite the low cable count.

Imports are said to work as well as with other modchips, but I haven't tested any.

Homebrew software which is started in GameCube mode works perfectly, Wii homebrew is started in a different way, which makes all drive modchips redundant.

Backups can be started through the disc channel and are booting fine.

Backups which were patched with AutoBoot feature had some problems that didn't occur with Argon or D2Pro.

This problem (black screen, console had to be cut from power supply) only happened when the console wasn't in the Wii menu and besides that everything could be booted fine.

The following software was tested:

- SDLoad (Homebrew)
- Resident Evil 4 (GC original)
- Resident Evil 4 (GC backup - Verbatim media)
- PES 08 (Wii original)
- PES 08 (Wii backup)
- WiiPlay PAL (Wii original)
- WiiPlay PAL (Wii backup - Verbatim media)
- WiiSports PAL (Wii original)
- WiiSports PAL (Wii backup - Verbatim media)
- Zelda Wii PAL (Wii original)
- Zelda Wii PAL (Wii backup - Verbatim media)

Like descibed above everything worked fine with the Wasabi, cheap media and dual layer media were not tested, but they too shouldn't give any problems.

The chip has GC audiofix and games like SSBB and SMG are said to run flawless with the Wasabi.

Conclusion

There's not much wrong with the Wasabi chip, but it's a bit bitter that this chip, in opposition to the D2Pro and the Argon, can't be updated via USB or JTAG programming.

The chips hardware is manufactured well and justifies it's price, the features are exactly what was promised. Despite good technology (ACTEL logic chip, Flashrom by SST) the chip is already out of date and has timing problems when initialising the drivecode in some consoles, meaning that the console doesn't recognize the chip (but there's a way to solve that problem).

Worst thing is the missing JTAG programming. If there will be another drive with a different drivecode, the DVD upgrades will be pretty useless. A completely new chip would have to be released.

It won't be much of a problem for the avarage user, but no one knows how future system updates will react to a modchip.

All in all the Wasabi is a good and stable chip which does what it's supposed to do and everyone who thinks that it's the best solution for his interests won't regret buying this modchip. But all those who want a bit more should get an Argon or a D2Pro.

Negatives

Update only via DVD
no JTAG programming
no USB interface
timing problems
out of date
4 weeks and still no update
Led indicator not visible when console is reassembled
some features relocatable, cause Imports and Wii Homebrew are working without a modchip

Positives

compatible with all chipsets
high quality design
only 9 cables in D2C consoles
updatable via DVD
ACTEL technology
SST Flashrom
LED indicator
boots Homebrew (GC Homebrew)
boots imports
boots backups
FlashRecovery

Links

Wasabi Website
Wasabi - German Review

-=[ Wasabi Review Discussion Thread ]=-