Connectivity Kit

[cyantific]

Just wondering if you need to buy a connectivity kit for a BenQ or Samsung drive? Seems like they help for hitachi more than anything? Also, some guy tried to explain to me that none of his consoles have been banned because he uses the connectivity kit. Not sure about that one. Can someone help me understand the reason to purchase a connectivity kit if you don't own a hitachi drive?

[parminder]

hi, an xbox flashed using connectivity and one without will have no difference on whether it flashed it same or not both will be the same and both can get or wont get banned so connectivity kit doesnt really change anything, personally i bought a connectivity kit which is a good idea for any of theses drives as it will make it simpler to flash.

[cyantific]

hi, an xbox flashed using connectivity and one without will have no difference on whether it flashed it same or not both will be the same and both can get or wont get banned so connectivity kit doesnt really change anything, personally i bought a connectivity kit which is a good idea for any of theses drives as it will make it simpler to flash.

Why does it make it simpler to flash? I've read the tutorial by textbook 2008 and it seems like all i would need to purchase is the VIA sata card, well, depending on which drive I'll have in my xbox. It just seems silly to spend $18 for a one time use, unless I need to reflash later on?

[Jman 31]

Mainly it helps if you don't want to flash your drive with the 360 power. I use one with and old pc power supply and don't use the 360 at all.

[parminder]

while flashing with the connectivity kit the any drive could be put in mode b and it reads and flashes quicker, some people werent able to flash a drive using the power from the xbox itself as sometimes it wont read even after using via card so to make that simpler they use connectivity kit. i personally used connectivity kit in mode b to flash all the various xbox drives.

[Jman 31]

The only one you should need to be in mode b for is the Hitachi as far as I know.

[CoFree]

the biggest thing with using a kit.it gets you away from using the power of the 360.
i wont power the dvd drive with the 360 just in case M$ gets a hair in the back side,and starts keeping up with the console powering on without the dvd drive hooked up.
that could set a red flag and bit you on the ass down the line.

[cyantific]

the biggest thing with using a kit.it gets you away from using the power of the 360.
i wont power the dvd drive with the 360 just in case M$ gets a hair in the back side,and starts keeping up with the console powering on without the dvd drive hooked up.
that could set a red flag and bit you on the ass down the line.

Ahhh. That makes some sense.


So, I need all of these things to my knowledge:

*Unlock Tool Kit (~$9.00)
*Xeno Connectivity Kit (~$18.00)
*SYBA SY-VIA-150 PCI SATA / IDE Combo Controller Card

There's also the SY-VIA-150R and the Rosewill RC-212 PCI SATA


Perhaps instead of purchasing the unlock tool kit, I should use a paperclip and just buy a Torx 10 screwdriver for cheaper than $9?


If you have any advice or knowledge of cheaper prices please let me know

[sadalius]

I use everything on that list. Well, except that I use an Xecuter V2 connectivity kit. It has a built in power switch to turn on and off the drive anytime you want. There are plenty of alternatives for a person that is only going to flash their own drive and only plans on doing it once, or just the occasional update, but if your planning on doing your own and all your buddies, have your buddies chip in a little and get whats going to make your life the easiest.

Whether you use the stuff that will make things the easiest, or if you use a paper clip to open the case, thats all up to you and you can do the same exact thing either way. To me, I can open a case with a good stiff paper clip or a jewelers flat head screw driver in about 10 minutes. With the unlock kit, about 2 minutes. Thats not including taking off the warranty sticker though, that take a couple minutes just by itself. I could get by with the cheaper version connectivity kit too, but then I would either have to use a separate power supply or use the 360 as the power supply, which I don't want to do.

Any way you go, you should be able to accomplish the same thing. So its a choice of spend a little money and save a little time. Or save some money, but spend a little extra time. Just have to weigh out which is more important, time or money.

[cyantific]

I use everything on that list. Well, except that I use an Xecuter V2 connectivity kit. It has a built in power switch to turn on and off the drive anytime you want. There are plenty of alternatives for a person that is only going to flash their own drive and only plans on doing it once, or just the occasional update, but if your planning on doing your own and all your buddies, have your buddies chip in a little and get whats going to make your life the easiest.

Whether you use the stuff that will make things the easiest, or if you use a paper clip to open the case, thats all up to you and you can do the same exact thing either way. To me, I can open a case with a good stiff paper clip or a jewelers flat head screw driver in about 10 minutes. With the unlock kit, about 2 minutes. Thats not including taking off the warranty sticker though, that take a couple minutes just by itself. I could get by with the cheaper version connectivity kit too, but then I would either have to use a separate power supply or use the 360 as the power supply, which I don't want to do.

Any way you go, you should be able to accomplish the same thing. So its a choice of spend a little money and save a little time. Or save some money, but spend a little extra time. Just have to weigh out which is more important, time or money.

What site do you recommend purchasing the Xecuter V2 from? And won't the Xeno do the same thing? Is the Xeno what you meant by the cheaper connectivity kit?

[sadalius]

This is just one site that has the xecuter conkit v2: http://www.mod-chip.com/en/xbox_360_con ... kit_v2.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The difference is the xeno kit doesn't have a power switch to turn on or off the drive from the connectivity kit itself. You would either have to use an AT power supply or use the 360 as a power supply to be able to turn on or off just the drive itself. Everything else is the same, mode b for pre-78 hitachis, eject, molex connector, power cable to connect to the 360 drive, etc.

The xecuter kit is more expensive is all that I meant by that. I wasn't trying to say that the xeno wasn't any good by calling it cheap. When you get to looking at xecuter products, you'll find that they are generally more expensive on all their stuff as compared to others.

Here is a pic with the power switch circled in red

[NeoRio]

Hey buddy, I had all your same questions when I set out. I have gone through 4 360s since then and have learned a lot about the flashing process.

IMHO you don't need the "opening tool"...you can do it just fine with a nail and a torx 10 screw driver and a "plastic key" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPvUCYcHnGQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) I have become pretty good at opening the box and leaving no marks at all.

You will not quite grasp the "need" or "convenience" of having the Xecuter Connectifity Kit V2 until you flash your drive. During the flash process you need to power your drive on and off about 4 or 5 times. If you don't have a "power switch" on your Connectivity Kit (the Xeon doesn't have a power switch...neither does the Xecuter Kit V1)...you will need to power your computer down (if you're connected to your computer's power supply)...or your 360 if you're getting power from the 360. That in itself is a big deal as you will find out when doing the deed.

So basically, what you should get (even if you're only gonna flash this one box of yours...and down the road just flash it with each new FW update) is the SATA controller ($12?), the Connectivity Kit V2 ($20?)...and that's it. I also bought the Talismoon Whisper Fan for better airflow...and the DVD anti-scratch pads to put in my drive...but you don't need those to flash your drive.

Regards

[MsK]

Lets ge this straight - you do not need a connectivity kit to flash your xbox... you can do it without.

But.. if like me & many others here you have flashed many it's "the right tool" for the job

Even if you don't flash many boxes or only just the single unit but you want to equip yourself with the right tools for the job then the connectivity kit is part of the essential/recommended line up - alongside of course the via6421 card.

Yes you can do it on other cards / yes you can do it without the kit.
(I have tried & tested various other methods/boards/tools etc. with success - so no problems there)

The question is > do you want to arm yourself with the right equipment before you proceed or do you want to enter the realm (& sometimes headache) of using various other methods & tools?

you decide - simple

[CoFree]

NeoRio
very nice post man.
well done.

[Jman 31]

NeoRio
very nice post man.
well done.

Yep, glad to see you giving back! Good job man.