Xeno GC Modchip Review/GUIDE

Written by Brakken of ISO420
January 2006

Make sure to check out XboxModder999's Review of the XenoGC!

Introduction

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 :(

Links

Official XenoGC Webpage
Mod That Cube -FAQ-