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There are several xbox mod chip installation options. The most popular modchip install methods are: 1) the pin header installation, 2) the wire installation and 3) solderless modchip installation. Methods one and two each require some soldering. This tutorial is not designed to be a step-by-step guide to installing your exact modchip, but rather to give an overview of the different installation options. The actual process may vary slightly depending on the modchip that you purchased. Most Xbox modchip retailers include mod chip installation instructions on their websites for each different type of mod chip.
Most modchips today are shipped with a set of pins. This set of pins is called a "pin header", and it is designed to plug into a set of holes that are open on your Xbox motherboard. You have to solder these pins into place on the xbox motherboard, but the soldering is really easy. Basically, you just solder the pin header into place on the motherboard, and then you attach the xbox modchip to the pin header once it is soldered into place. The connections that the pin header makes to the motherboard allow your modchip to interface with the Xbox hardware. Once the modchip is plugged into the pin header, then there is a single wire that must be soldered to a small point on your Xbox motherboard. This is called the "d0" point, and it is the cause of much frustration because the hole on the xbox motherboard that this wire must be soldered into is VERY small. But, do not fear. It's surprisingly easy to get the wire soldered into the hole.
The wire installation method
Basically with this method, instead of soldering a set of pins into the holes on the motherboard, you must solder wires into the holes. The wires are much more cumbersome to work with than the pin header, and each wire must be soldered carefully so as not to touch the others. This really isn't a problem with the pin header installation, but it can be a huge problem with the wire installation method. Once the wires are soldered onto the motherboard, you plug in the other end of the wires to your Xbox modchip. Also, like with the pin header installation, you still must solder a final wire to the d0 point. There is really only one reason why someone would want to use the wire method to install an Xbox modchip, and that is because the mod chip is being installed on a version 1.0 Xbox. Unfortunately, it is problematic to use the pin header installation on a version 1.0 Xbox because the holes on the motherboard are prefilled with solder, so you can not stick the pins through. In later Xbox versions, Microsoft left the holes open. Because it can be a pain in the ass to remove the solder from the holes in order to stick the pin header through, it may be easier to just perform a wire installation. Other than this scenario, I really can not think of another reason for using the wire installation method.
No solder mod chip installation
Not surprisingly, I think many people would prefer to keep soldering irons far away from their precious Xbox hardware. For this reason, a totally solderless installation method is possible with some modchips such as the Xecuter 2 Plus, X-Bit, and Xenium. Instead of connecting the mod chip to the Xbox by having to solder pins into place, spring loaded pins are used to secure the mod, with a screw. While this may seem like a fantastic solution, the reality is that, at least in the past, many people experienced more problems connecting these solderless modchips than other mods which require soldering. The reason is because it was often difficult to get the spring loaded pins into position. This was especially true with the older Matrix modchips. From what I understand, the Xenium solderless modchips are easier to position into place. I have only installed one Xenium mod, and it was really simple. However, I think that there is a greater chance that the spring loaded pins will fall out of position if the Xbox is moved when a solderless installation option is used as opposed to a pin header installation for example. Also, these no solder mod chips are more expensive than the alternative, and as such people who want to spend less money modding their Xbox should probably go with the solder installation method. On the other hand, if you don't have a low wattage (15w-30w maximum) soldering iron at your disposal, then I wouldn't necessarily recommend going out and buying one just for the purpose of using a mod chip that requires a solder installation. Rather, if you didn't already own one of the low wattage soldering irons, then you should probably just purchase a solderless mod chip.
Note: If you have a version 1.5 Xbox, then you will be required to solder any xbox mod chip that you purchase. On version 1.5 Xbox's, you will have to install two additional wires to supply 3.3volts and Ground to the chip.
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