XeniumMods v3.xx SneakPeak!

[sixspeed]

2 hours ago, NeMesiS said:

In regards to the HDMI mod, one option is to continue Ryzee's OpenSource project:

XboxHDMI-Ryzee119/src at master · Ryzee119/XboxHDMI-Ryzee119 · GitHub

Quote: "This is a 'working' but unfinished prototype. I don't plan to improve this further."

Quote: "This should only really be a starting point to make something better."

Obviously, this will need some work...

 

But we have a second option...

I’m tempted to order a board to two with components to tinker with. Although I’d need some assistance on the programming end. 
 

Really want to help push a secondary hdmi option in any way.. 

[big F]

1 hour ago, Bowlsnapper said:

An OS is being worked on? Like, X3 status?

Hopefully Linux/unix based to avoid any M$ copyright shinanigans.

[Bowlsnapper]

38 minutes ago, big F said:

Hopefully Linux/unix based to avoid any M$ copyright shinanigans.

Honestly, does it really matter? Linux/Unix based OS platforms tend to have major problems... like 3rd party controller support. I want this to work WELL. Having MS involvement to any degree is not a consideration of mine. In fact, if anything, it probably means it has a more solid foundation. The X3 had a pretty functional menu. I'd like to see more of that, updated for our time and tech. It would help with setting up Open Source HDMI, setting up new HDDs, 128MB support (somehow)... I just mean new features of Xbox modding. I would LOVE to see a new ConfigLive... Instead of trying so hard to revive the obviously dead X3.

MS hasn't given a shit about their work being used with the Original Xbox since the late 2000s... IF that. Remember, if people hadn't created the mods they did and got MS started with that cat and mouse game, the X3 would never have existed in the FIRST place. I'm glad they did; we were a minority back then, anyway.

Sorry. Didn't mean to sound like an ass. I guess I'm a bit opinionated about that.

[NeMesiS]

Compromises have to be made...

 

Don't forget the XeniumOS has to play well with the firmware, so there will be limitations.

From what I know XeniumOS is based on cromwell (unix).

GitHub - XboxDev/cromwell: A free, legal BIOS replacement for the original Xbox

 

 

Huh... It would seem that cromwell still see's some development with the latest release being in 2022

 

 

[Bowlsnapper]

17 minutes ago, NeMesiS said:

Compromises have to be made...

 

Don't forget the XeniumOS has to play well with the firmware, so there will be limitations.

From what I know XeniumOS is based on cromwell (unix).

GitHub - XboxDev/cromwell: A free, legal BIOS replacement for the original Xbox

 

 

Huh... It would seem that cromwell still see's some development with the latest release being in 2022

 

 

Compromises have to be made... Which firmware does the bios have to play nicely with? I don't understand that one. Care to elaborate?

If Cromwell, the basis for XblastOS was updated in 2022 and it still doesn't even support component cables... then that's a perfect example of what I'm afraid of. It performs limited functions, and, since it should require very little code relatively, it should be a bios that is practically perfect, considering the fact that it doesn't even run .xbes. But the fact that those bioses have so many problems does not speak well of them. 

I don't think Cromwell is necessarily a good example to follow if we're talking about creating a new OS... possibly for Cerbios, which is what I would personally like...

I very much wish I could code...

[Dempsey_86]

7 hours ago, NeMesiS said:

I am only one man so I have a limit as to what I spend my time on.

 

I think the OGXbox community as a whole could do things a lot better than I can on my own.

For example in regards to Xenium based modchips we got the OpenXenium Firmware by Ryzee119.

Now we got people working on new OS and we have the team working on Cerbios.

 

In regards to the HDMI mod, one option is to continue Ryzee's OpenSource project:

XboxHDMI-Ryzee119/src at master · Ryzee119/XboxHDMI-Ryzee119 · GitHub

Quote: "This is a 'working' but unfinished prototype. I don't plan to improve this further."

Quote: "This should only really be a starting point to make something better."

Obviously, this will need some work...

 

But we have a second option...

One man is steering the ship, but you have the whole community behind you. I think everyone wants to see a 2nd big hdmi mod with support for multiple chips and bioses. 

For the software side, I did tests with my HD+ modded console with cerbios. This runs fine if you stick to 480p games. When you run 480i only games its another story. (not with all because colin mcrea rally 3 runs and that game is a 480i game)

Edit: I think the makemhz XBOXhdmi is based of the ryzee119 project

Edited June 28, 2023 by Dempsey_86

[big F]

6 hours ago, Bowlsnapper said:

Honestly, does it really matter? Linux/Unix based OS platforms tend to have major problems... like 3rd party controller support. I want this to work WELL. Having MS involvement to any degree is not a consideration of mine. In fact, if anything, it probably means it has a more solid foundation. The X3 had a pretty functional menu. I'd like to see more of that, updated for our time and tech. It would help with setting up Open Source HDMI, setting up new HDDs, 128MB support (somehow)... I just mean new features of Xbox modding. I would LOVE to see a new ConfigLive... Instead of trying so hard to revive the obviously dead X3.

MS hasn't given a shit about their work being used with the Original Xbox since the late 2000s... IF that. Remember, if people hadn't created the mods they did and got MS started with that cat and mouse game, the X3 would never have existed in the FIRST place. I'm glad they did; we were a minority back then, anyway.

Sorry. Didn't mean to sound like an ass. I guess I'm a bit opinionated about that.

You have to remember that the core os for the original build is based on Windows 2000.  Much of that code is still actively being used in the depths of M$’s current os offerings.  To get anywhere with it would require a certain amount of reverse engineering or decompiling of work they still very much have active patents on.  Fine if it’s just a few people messing around, but if it gets popular then M$ will hear about it really quickly.  They have a department that just prowls the net looking for any IP breaches, and a law dept with ready to go lawsuits. 
The company I used to work for had a team both tech and lawyers doing this in their own building that half the staff were unaware of its existence.  They are a similar size to M$, and thought nothing of spending a few million to flatten some internet firmware hacking upstart.

 

Edited June 28, 2023 by big F

[coldasijs]

18 minutes ago, big F said:

You have to remember that the core os for the original build is based on Windows 2000.  Much of that code is still actively being used in the depths of M$’s current os offerings.  To get anywhere with it would require a certain amount of reverse engineering or decompiling of work they still very much have active patents on.  Fine if it’s just a few people messing around, but if it gets popular then M$ will hear about it really quickly.  They have a department that just prowls the net looking for any IP breaches, and a law dept with ready to go lawsuits. 
The company I used to work for had a team both tech and lawyers doing this in their own building that half the staff were unaware of its existence.  They are a similar size to M$, and thought nothing of spending a few million to flatten some internet firmware hacking upstart.

 

This also the reason why Dustin is very vocal that his Stellar Bios is based on reverse engineering . It might still be a lie, but you don't want the hounds sniffing around.

 

[big F]

1 hour ago, coldasijs said:

This also the reason why Dustin is very vocal that his Stellar Bios is based on reverse engineering . It might still be a lie, but you don't want the hounds sniffing around.

 

100%. Reverse engineering is a-lot easier to explain away compared to straight up decompiling.

Done a bit of both in my time and it all stopped when the IP holders asked WTF we were up to. Then they made sure all our online presence went bye bye so interest in what we were doing also disappeared. A few compulsory firmware updates and the door was shut for us. 

if he has any sense he’ll keep to that line of “vocality” so M$ only pay him a passing glance.

Edited June 28, 2023 by big F

[Bowlsnapper]

3 hours ago, coldasijs said:

This also the reason why Dustin is very vocal that his Stellar Bios is based on reverse engineering . It might still be a lie, but you don't want the hounds sniffing around.

 

Yes, Dustin never wastes an opportunity to state that, because he needed a reason people would believe for him not supporting any bioses when HD+ was the only thing around and he was raising money for Stellar: only one bios on the planet has non MS code and it was just the only one he could stand to use.

That, we know, is a lie, so the only logical conclusion to draw (in my opinion) is that he didn't wanna give people the freedom to use whatever bios they wanted with HD+. He wanted them to use Stellar... And now that it's out, he's gone ahead and moved critical components of the HD+ over to the Stellar, making his HD+ useless without it. Big surprise, huh? That sure didn't take long, did it. Hints to me what was in his head and what his priorities were. If he were about US and not the money, and the bios decision were genuine, then why would he pull an Apple that rapidly after Stellar was released? I'm pretty sure I know what his reasons were for blocking Cerbios from being supported with his HD+... and every other bios besides Evox.

Dustin has been "very vocal" about it, because he's a greedy FUCK and wanted to trick people long enough to make some money...

He succeeded. Sorry, but I don't respect that. I don't think it was just to keep MS away. They KNOW it was a lie... Because they're fuckin Microsoft, so why would that work and why would it be the actual reason he did it?@coldasijs @big F

Thank god an OPEN SOURCE solution is coming (as far as HDMI is concerned)... Fuck Dustin.

[Bowlsnapper]

3 hours ago, big F said:

You have to remember that the core os for the original build is based on Windows 2000.  Much of that code is still actively being used in the depths of M$’s current os offerings.  To get anywhere with it would require a certain amount of reverse engineering or decompiling of work they still very much have active patents on.  Fine if it’s just a few people messing around, but if it gets popular then M$ will hear about it really quickly.  They have a department that just prowls the net looking for any IP breaches, and a law dept with ready to go lawsuits. 
The company I used to work for had a team both tech and lawyers doing this in their own building that half the staff were unaware of its existence.  They are a similar size to M$, and thought nothing of spending a few million to flatten some internet firmware hacking upstart.

 

Dude... they've been aware of bios development for years. I haven't heard of people going to jail for coding this stuff. They don't even  have to prowl very hard... It's been surface level for decades. Team Xecuter only got in trouble after fucking with Nintendo... their SWITCH. Lol. WAY after they had done all their real work.

What money are they losing by us doing this? Why would it be worth it for them to pay people to organize an effort against the coders of the community... and how would it make them LOOK? I don't think they'll do it. There's no reason for them to and plenty of reasons for them NOT to.

Look, Dustin's full of shit, F. Look at the points I just made. I'm not usually one to toot my own horn and talk about how prescient I am, but I'm not wrong about this one. MakeMHZ took motivation, good engineering and problem solving skills and used them for evil, basically. LMAO. That's obviously an exaggeration but you probably get my point. I do not support him and will NOT buy his shit. He's gone against the grain way to hard for me to be okay with it.  

I see that you have experience with companies getting shitty, first hand. I do read what you're posting and I HEAR YOU... but it's pretty late in the game, man. 22 years after launch? When was the last time they showed that they cared?

Maybe I'm being ignorant. If that's the case, show me!

[NeMesiS]

14 hours ago, Bowlsnapper said:

Compromises have to be made... Which firmware does the bios have to play nicely with? I don't understand that one. Care to elaborate?

No... The CPLD Firmware has to play nice with the OS

There's no restrictions in regards to bioses with XeniumOS.

 

14 hours ago, Bowlsnapper said:

If Cromwell, the basis for XblastOS was updated in 2022 and it still doesn't even support component cables...

I'm not sure what's the best way to put this. (as I just woke up)

Cromwell just gives you the tools like Linux command line.

XBlastOS or XeniumOS is the GUI like the many different Linux distributions.

 

I don't think chewbecca ever implemented support for component cables with XBlastOS.

So, it's due to the OS not Cromwell from what I understand.

 

Best thing about the Xenium modchip and the OS is that you can sell them without any preloaded bioses.

 

12 hours ago, Dempsey_86 said:

For the software side, I did tests with my HD+ modded console with cerbios. This runs fine if you stick to 480p games. When you run 480i only games its another story. (not with all because colin mcrea rally 3 runs and that game is a 480i game)

 

480i seems to be an inherit issue even with Ryzee's firmware.

Quote "480i does not work reliably. Use a force 480p BIOS"

480i is meant for CRT TV's as it's interlaced: Interlaced video - Wikipedia

 

I would think that MakeMHz bios patches also forced 480p.

Can it handle 1080i? I don't know of any games that support 1080i but I'm

sure that XBMC dashboard can be set to 1080i for some testing.

 

It's possible that your copy of Colin Mcrea 3 has been patched?

And this is another option we could take, instead of pacthing bioses

the games default.xbe can be patched. In some cases even to 720p.

There's a huge thread about it over at EmuXtras:

720p Patches thread - www.emuxtras.net

 

Started to question it the ADV7511 even supports interlaced video.

Couldn't find the information I was looking for so I asked ChatGPT.

 

Quote: "Yes, the ADV7511 by Analog Devices supports interlaced video input.

The ADV7511 is a digital video encoder that supports various video formats,

including interlaced video. It is designed to convert digital video data into a format

suitable for transmission over High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) or

Digital Visual Interface (DVI) connections."

[Bowlsnapper]

@NeMesiS ... Oh yeah. I've selected the resolution for Linux several times. I forgot that that was the actual Linux bootloader. Thank you for attempting to be polite, as that was pretty stupid of me.

I mean, if it works and doesn't have bugs, then I guess there's no logical reason to have an issue with it... but it's gonna be a lot more work and it'll take longer to take Dustin on. I wish I could code and contribute to a bios menu (boy, I say that a lot, don't I)... instead I'm bitching in a forum thread about stuff I would like to see and how I would like it done... Pathetic. lol.

Forgive my earlier ignorance... 

[NeMesiS]

Don't stress mate...

 

Time vs. Money.

We could create a firmware on the cheap by the combined efforts of the community but would take time.

Alternatively if we could get enough money together, we could hire a professional coder.

 

I have a background in the Contruction industry, even the biggest company's sub-contract other businesses.

For example a builder might have a few laborer's and building supervisors but almost all of the works are

sub-contracted out to specialised trades such as plumbers, carpenters, electricians, etc.

 

For me it makes sense to do things this way too, I get my PCBs made and assembled by Elecrow.

I have a supplier that does my cables, and another that's great for finding hard to get components.

Edited June 29, 2023 by NeMesiS

[NeMesiS]

Well if you wanted to try and patch M8 bios yourself...

There's the force 480p patch, 128mb RAM support patch.

Titan patch for larger HDD's if you really wanted to.

Then I think we need a patch for NKpatcher. 

NKpatcher also allows booting of .XISO's

 

As for iND-BiOS 5003, it already supports 128mb RAM.

I think it might already have NKpatcher...

Which leaves us with a force 480p patch.

 

I fallen way behind on Cerbios so I'm not sure what it supports.

I haven't played around with bioses for a while so I'm going by memory.

Edited June 29, 2023 by NeMesiS

[Bowlsnapper]

46 minutes ago, NeMesiS said:

Don't stress mate...

 

Time vs. Money.

We could create a firmware on the cheap by the combined efforts of the community but would take time.

Alternatively if we could get enough money together, we could hire a professional coder.

 

I have a background in the Contruction industry, even the biggest company's sub-contract other businesses.

For example a builder might have a few laborer's and building supervisors but almost all of the works are

sub-contracted out to specialised trades such as plumbers, carpenters, electricians, etc.

 

For me it makes sense to do things this way too, I get my PCBs made and assembled by Elecrow.

I have a supplier that does my cables, and another that's great for finding hard to get components.

This was my exact thought. I think only a few of us are organized enough to work together, and fewer of us know how to code. I don't, and it pisses me off every day. Alternatively, we could just hire a guy to build a bios... although that would actually require money, more than we all have collectively, and it would lack soul... I think we should just improve upon Cerbios since that's getting a TON of work right now, anyway. It's moving along GREAT as features are being added. I'm partial to the whole damn ISO obsession (I'll never understand it) but It's come so far in such a short amount of time. I think we should take the Xenium design, add an EEPROM and create a chip/Bios standard that Cerbios could lead in, meaning that the chip would support certain advanced bios features in the same way the X3 did and can accomodate those features/instructions. We should somehow create a "Cerbios ConfigLive" and create a REAL successor to the X3, instead of trying to bring it back to life. It seems that R3DUX will never be more than a fun project to construct with very rare and expensive parts. So I personally give up on that one. 

What do you think @NeMesiS? I think it's beyond time to do this... I just wouldn't know how to even get started trying to organize the right people. I don't even know who knows how to do what!

Reading your newest post, Cerbios has much more than any other bios out there right now by a LONG shot. And yes, there are some solutions out there for RAM and video output, but they are too scattered, haphazard, disorganized, and incomplete to say that they truly cut it. They're not an all-in-one solution and we have to choose a bios based on which features we want. I think a bios like Cerbios deserves the power/reputation it has earned and could potentially earn even more with the extra effort to consolidate all these desired features which can be shut off in the configuration menu if the user chooses. The idea is that they have the FREEDOM to choose that.

[NeMesiS]

6 minutes ago, Bowlsnapper said:

This was my exact thought. I think only a few of us are organized enough to work together, and fewer of us know how to code. I don't, and it pisses me off every day. Alternatively, we could just hire a guy to build a bios... although that would actually require money, more than we all have collectively, and it would lack soul... I think we should just improve upon Cerbios since that's getting a TON of work right now, anyway. It's moving along GREAT as features are being added. I'm partial to the whole damn ISO obsession (I'll never understand it) but It's come so far in such a short amount of time. I think we should take the Xenium design, add an EEPROM and create a chip/Bios standard that Cerbios could lead in, meaning that the chip would support certain advanced bios features in the same way the X3 did and can accomodate those features/instructions. We should somehow create a "Cerbios ConfigLive" and create a REAL successor to the X3, instead of trying to bring it back to life It seems that R3DUX will never be more than a fun project to construct with very rare and expensive parts. So I personally give up on that one. 

What do you think @NeMesiS? I think it's beyond time to do this... I just wouldn't know how to even get started trying to organize the right people. I don't even know who knows how to do what!

I think we got to many topics going at the same time...

I was referring to hiring a coder for the HDMI mod firmware...

In regards to bios I think the 2 biggest things we need is NK patcher and force 480p patch

EDIT: Then test the bios with the xboxhd app to see if it passes

Edited June 29, 2023 by NeMesiS

[NeMesiS]

So... I'm about to place the order for a proto batch of flex cables.

 

I'm thinking about doing an extra cable to tryout EMI shielding.

This is very expensive to do a small batch with but I assume in larger

quantities the rate should get better. 

 

I was thinking the bottom side only should do.

Should I give it a try?

 

[Dempsey_86]

2 hours ago, NeMesiS said:

 

Can it handle 1080i? I don't know of any games that support 1080i but I'm

 

Enter the matrix is a game capable of running at 1080i

 

2 hours ago, NeMesiS said:

It's possible that your copy of Colin Mcrea 3 has been patched?

No, I only run untouched xiso and cci made by repackinator. These have the best compatibility. 

 

2 hours ago, NeMesiS said:

 

And this is another option we could take, instead of pacthing bioses

the games default.xbe can be patched. In some cases even to 720p.

This is not a good route to go, this can cause problems with insignia. also not every game can/have a patch. Having aa patched bios is the most clean route to take. (my opinion)

 

 

[Dempsey_86]

7 minutes ago, NeMesiS said:

So... I'm about to place the order for a proto batch of flex cables.

 

I'm thinking about doing an extra cable to tryout EMI shielding.

This is very expensive to do a small batch with but I assume in larger

quantities the rate should get better. 

 

I was thinking the bottom side only should do.

Should I give it a try?

 

This is not the flex for the encoder chip right?

edit: or is this just an generic example picture?

Edited June 29, 2023 by Dempsey_86

[NeMesiS]

That image was just an example I found on google of the EMI shielding (in black)

But, Yes for the flex cable that attaches to the encoder.

Edited June 29, 2023 by NeMesiS

[Dempsey_86]

19 minutes ago, NeMesiS said:

I was thinking the bottom side only should do.

Should I give it a try?

 

Thats something you will need to test. In the makemhz discord they always say the flex is not soldered good when there is little solder on top of the flex when people have image problems.

 

btw that flex looks premium 

 

Edited June 29, 2023 by Dempsey_86

[Bowlsnapper]

21 minutes ago, Dempsey_86 said:

Enter the matrix is a game capable of running at 1080i

 

No, I only run untouched xiso and cci made by repackinator. These have the best compatibility. 

 

This is not a good route to go, this can cause problems with insignia. also not every game can/have a patch. Having aa patched bios is the most clean route to take. (my opinion)

 

 

See, I am of the opinion that ISOs are annoying and don't give you the flexibility of having access to your files. I have the origins image and the newest version of Cerbios. Colin McCrae works fine. I attribute that to Cerbios being awesome and having bomb compatability.

I argue that there is no practical purpose to having "Untouched" ISOs anymore. They are obsolete. If there is a purpose to them, I would like to know, if you don't mind spending the time to tell me.

[Bowlsnapper]

[Dempsey_86]

8 minutes ago, Bowlsnapper said:

See, I am of the opinion that ISOs are annoying and don't give you the flexibility of having access to your files. I have the origins image and the newest version of Cerbios. Colin McCrae works fine. I attribute that to Cerbios being awesome and having bomb compatability.

I argue that there is no practical purpose to having "Untouched" ISOs anymore. They are obsolete. If there is a purpose to them, I would like to know, if you don't mind spending the time to tell me.

Colin mcrae rally 2005 can run 480p, I was talking about Colin mcrae rally 3, this is an 480i only game.

for the folder vs xiso debate, it's the other way around, folders can give problems with some games. I gave you the advantages of xiso in the cerbios thread some days ago so I wil not go over it again. If you want to hear another plus for xiso: games that run from folders must be patched in a lot of cases to run properly. This is done by dvd2xbox with the acl patches. While these games do run they can cause problems with insignia if you want to play online.