Xchanger v2.5 Review

Written by Brakken
January 2006 Introduction

Welcome to my review of Team Xchanger's newly released v2.5 of their XBOX modification chip. The Xchanger chip promises to be a solid solution for booting unsigned code on your console. It is based on a small form factor design and boasts 512Kb onboard RAM plus a backup BIOS so you cannot flash it and get stuck with an unworking chip. Moreover, it is a soldering chip using either a pin header for the earlier XBOX consoles or a direct soldering solution for the newest ones.

Features

Easy 1.6 Installation (Direct Installation)
New User-Friendly PCB Design
Improved XBox 1.6b Function
USA/JAP/PAL Xbox Support
1024K (1MB) Onboard Flash
Software Selectable Flash (256K or 512K)
Onboard Operating System (OS)
Fully Functional Skinable Boot Menu
Network Flash for Bios Files
Network Flash for OS
Only 1 Wire to Solder (and 8 LPC Pins)
Emergency Recovery System (ERS)
Quickboot (Eject Button)
Direct Linux boot
100% Legal (Linux based)
Easy Disc Flash Function (EDFF)
Resetproof
Stealth Mode (for XBOX Live)
HDD Lock/Unlock
PAL/NTSC Toggle
LED Menu
LFrame Friendly
Flash Upgradble
Highspeed Lattice CPLD
Fully Compatible With 3rd BIOS

Contents

Xchanger v2.5 Modchip
USB -> XBOX Adapter
Pin Header
Logo Sticker

Installation

One must remember that research is always the key to a successful installation. So I hit up Xchanger's homepage and downloaded their installation diagrams for both the v1.0 - v1.5 and v1.6 - v1.6b XBOX consoles. The major difference between the two is that you must use the included pin header to solder the chip into the v1.0 - v1.5 consoles while on the v1.6 series all you need to do is place the chip on the bottom of the motherboard and solder it directly onto it. Additionally, if you are modding a v1.6b you must bridge two points on the chip using a wire to make it boot into a special Operating System just for that version.

Even though solderless solutions are sometimes a little easier to install I prefer to solder my chips in as the latter can sometimes come loose which will render your XBOX dysfunctional. The main reason I see solderless chips coming off is the moving of the console. Say you bring it over to a friend’s house or visit a competition to get down on some LAN play you have to physically move the console around and it would really disappoint you to end up at your destination and have your console not booting.

After looking over the diagrams I was still left with the need for more information and found it on Xchanger's download page. XOR had created a guide for earlier versions of the Xchanger and one could still use this guide to get their new Xchanger v2.5 up and running.

I set off to install the chip and took apart my XBOX and then proceeded to identify the console. Due to its chipset layout and the fact it uses Samsung labled RAM I was going to be modding a v1.6 XBOX. The XBOX v1.6b (sometimes called v1.6d) uses Hynix labled RAM instead of the Samsung. The RAM can be easily identified by the imprinted text on it.

Due to the fact I am modding a v1.6 I won't have to mess with the pin header and can solder the chip directly onto the bottom of the motherboard. So I flipped it over and located the place to put the chip. Surprisingly, the Xchanger fit snug in its position and barely moved which is going to make for easier soldering. The fact that the chip installs onto the bottom of the board therefor rebuilding the LPC impressed me as I didn't have to mess with any LPC rebuild boards and/or mods.

Xchanger's page recommends tinning (adding solder) to the points before installation, but I opted to put the chip over the points and then cover both sets of points on the chip and motherboard with some flux. I put some solder onto the tip of the iron and then soldered on two opposite points (to secure the chip into place). Once this was done I once again put some more solder on the end of the iron and secured the last of the smaller points. For the larger ones I used the normal way of soldering and applied the iron to both points and then touched the solder to the iron and let it flow down to connect them together. Due to my experience with fitting chips it only took me 34 seconds to solder in the chip, but if you're less experienced it could take up to five minutes.

  Usage

That was it for installing the hardware part. I reassembled the console and got ready to update the Operating System and then flash the chip with a 3rd party BIOS. I first downloaded the updated BIOS for Xchanger's webpage and then booted my console. I was greeted by its older Operating System and navigated my way from the main menu, to advanced, then to flash and then tried a network flash. For some odd reason the Operating System wasn't detecting my network nor grabbing an IP address from the router so I decided to burn the Operating System onto a CD-RW disc. I once again went from the main menu, advanced, then to flash and picked to update the Operating System from the CD/DVD option. The chip ejected the DVD tray and asked for me to put in the disc and to press "A". So I did and this time it worked. It took a little bit to flash the Operating System and then reset the console.

After rebooting I went through the menus and unlocked the Hard Drive. You must do this to put your own files on it, but it must be locked in order to play on XBOX Live. So you can lock/unlock it anytime you wish from the Operating System itself. I would recommend if you're planning on using XBOX Live and running unsigned code to use at least two hard drives in your console.

Now it was time to put a BIOS on the chip that would actually allow me to boot into a dashboard so I could use the XBOX to its fullest potential. Sadly, the network support would still not work, but I believe this had more to do with my network setup then with the chip's Operating System. So once again I put the BIOS of my choice on the CD-RW (along with a 100MB dummy file ) and flashed the chip. At first I wanted to test the Operating System's protection so I flashed it with a BIOS made for a < 1.6 console and the protection worked fine as it tried to boot the BIOS and then brought me back to the Operating System's main menu.

Next I flashed it with a 256k BIOS made for the v1.6 console and it booted fine, but due to the fact I had no homebrew on the hard drive all I got was the default Microsoft Dashboard. Next I tried a self modified version of the X2 v5035 BIOS, but it would not flash. If you're planning on using this BIOS you will have to use its external configuration file and leave the original intact.

Due to the fact I could not FTP into the XBOX over my network using the Operating System I had to find and run Slayer's BIOS install disc. Once I ran this I backed up my EEPROM (system settings) and then left it at the main menu and FTP'd into my console, backed up the entire C drive and then transferred over XBMC (XBOX Media Center) which I was going to use for my new dashboard.

I then reset the console and XBMC loaded just fine. Next I installed some applications, emulators and tools and went to town. Everything worked as it's supposed to. Another nice feature of the Xchanger is its ability to "Fast Boot". This is where the chip will skip the Operating System and boot directly into the BIOS. You can do this by powering on the console with the DVD Eject button instead of using the power button.

Finally, I tested out the included USB adapter using various editions of Linux and it worked fine. I could enjoy sitting back with my keyboard and typing instead of having to use the virtual keypad you navigate around with the controller. It makes life a heck of a lot easier.

Conclusion

When everything is all said and done the chip was easy to install, functions per its specifications and works fine. Though it lacks some features of other chips this is justified by its lower price tag. If you're looking for a quick, inexpensive and easy solution for your XBOX console and don't mind having to solder a little bit I'd pick one of these puppies up.

Positives Competitive Price Quick Installation Two BIOS Banks Quick Boot BIOS Direct Linux Boot USB -> XBOX Adapter Nice Sticker :)

Negatives DHCP Issues Only 512Kb Flash Solder Only Solution

Links

Team Xchanger's Homepage


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