Where
to buy:
* EasyBuy2000
(official
Xodus
reseller)
: $14
(adaptor
with rivets)
- $54
(chameleon
+ adaptor
with rivets)
(worldwide
shipping)
Official
Xodus
website:
* http://www.xodus-chip.com
What's
in the
package:
* solderless
adapor
* screw
* 11 rivets
(you need
only 9)
What
you need
to install
it:
* a v1.0,
v1.1,
v1.2 or
v1.3 xbox
* a TORX
10 and
20
* clear
diagrams
of "d0"
point
for your
xbox version
* a modchip
(chameleon)
* brains
and a
bit of
patience
;)
Install
the Modchip:
Some might
wonder
why our
review
is so
late.
Well it's
'cause
there
was a
production
fault
on the
final
version
of solderless
adaptor
that caused
problems
on all
xbox with
LPC holes
(points
not filled
with solder).
The fix
has now
arrived
and it's
called
'rivets'
and they
are shipped
with the
adaptor
at no
additional
cost.
These
'rivets'
are small
pins you
can put
in the
LPC holes
so the
pogopins
make good
contact.
Also a
small
part of
the platic
between
the LPC
points
and the
screw
has been
cut out
so it
fits 100%
on v1.2/v1.3
(it touched
a capacitor
before).
What's
special
about
the chameleon
solderless
adaptor
is that
it uses
a so called
'spring-wire'
for the
"d0"
point
instead
of a pogopin
on other
solderless
modchips/adaptors.
This is
a hard
wire you
can bend
into the
right
position
so it
goes exactly
on the
point
you want.
First
you have
to make
sure you
know the
exact
location
of "d0"
on your
xbox.
(you can
use our
pictures:
for v1.0/v1.0,
for v1.2/v1.3)
Then you
have to
bend the
adaptor
"d0"
"hard-wire"
so it
will comes
on the
right
position
when you
place
the pogopins
on the
LPC points.
Then,
if you
have an
Xbox with
LPC holes,
place
a rivet
in each
LPC hole
used by
the adaptor
- nothing
complicated
here.
After
that you
just remove
the screw
near the
LPC-points
and place
the pogo-pin
on the
LPC points.
That part
is also
very easy
- the
LPC points
are big
and close
to eachother,
so you
really
can't
do this
wrong
(no 'aligning'
necessary).
Pick up
the "d0"
spring-wire
and place
it exactly
on (or
"in")
the "d0"
point.
(don't
push it
into the
point
tho, it's
a via
... and
I'm sure
you don't
want to
break
it).
The
solderless
adaptor,
screw
and rivets
Underside
of the
adaptor
Rivets
in the
LPC holes
chameleon
installed
on adaptor
Testing:
I'm NOT
reviewing
the Chameleon
modchip
here,
just the
solderless
adaptor
...
About
the adaptor
itself
there's
not much
to test
...
I tried
shaking
my xbox
and the
d0 'spingwire'
seems
very stable.
(more
then when
using
a pogopin
for "d0")
The pogopins
on the
LPC-points
seems
quite
stable
too ...
I don't
think
they will
disallign
easily.
POSITIVE:
+ The
price
of the
adaptor
alone
is OK
($14)
+ Installing
a modchip
for people
who can't
solder
has never
been so
easy
+ No 'aligning'
difficulties
to get
'd0' right.
+ Adaptor
looks
very stable
on the
points.
+ Adaptor
can also
be used
in combination
with some
cheapmods
(if they
use exact
same points
as chameleon)
NEGATIVE:
- Issues
on v1.1/v1.2/v1.3
consoles
(non-filled
LPC points)
... rivets
added
at no
additional
cost solve
this issue
though
- Still
have to
solder
point
E/P/A15
if you
want all
chameleon
features
(you don't
have to
though)
XanTium
20 August
2003
