Finetuning Installs - Occasional Non-Boots

[cubistproject]

Hello and thanks for looking!

I've been fitting chips for quite a while now and I've probably done 30-40 PS2s (and maybe 60 Xboxes).

I've never had a problem that I havn't been able to fix as far as an install (other than loosing SMDs off of motherboards and one broken BA chipleg on a v9...)

Anyways, I occasionally find that I'll install a modchip, and it won't start the chip 1/20 times. I'll get a red screen...

This very ocassionally happens, but everything looks pretty good - I've minimalized cabling crossover, I use larger gauge wire on ground and 5V (but I usually only use kynar for 3.3 lines - could that be an issue?.) All wires are shortened as much as possible. I insulate the chip from the casing after with electrical tape.

I'm a little confused - could it be the chips that I'm using? I'm a cheapmod fanatic. Most of my installs have been the Magic 3.1U (originals). And the NH7 (super cheap cheapmod).

Here is a picture of an install I did today with a Saintess Universal (a great chinese chip!) This one doesn't have any boot issues, but looks live every other install I've done.

So yeah - what's the verdict? Must be my chips?

Thanks in advance!

Example of my install

[cubistproject]

No one knows what low boot rates could be from?

Please let me know!

thanks

-Jay

[cubistproject]

Here are some pieces of a PM I received from a friend at http://www.fixnchipz.co.uk

"[...]The PS2 problems you are having I feel you may not solve. It is a problem I have come accross amny times with many chips on these and it seems to be a problem with chipping these. I have noticed the ones that are worse are the version 7 onwards. the early ones seem to be fine. Judging by the pictures there is nothing at all wrong with your install work. I have also had people ring me to repair or rechip their machines because of this problem, even when the chips have been installed by a reputable installer. I never re-chip them because more often than notthe problem is still there afterwards.
Its strange because some machines work 100 percent yet the odd few have intermittent boot to the chip. I am not a fan of PS2 due to poor build quality and Poor lasers.
If people with xbox machines and Thomson drives think they have problems they oought to see the number of PS2 with dodgy lasers at only a year old.
Regards
Mick" (Chancer, PM on XS)

-cubist
http://www.cubistchips.com

[T07N]

LOL, that's a bad chip.

[cubistproject]

Are you sure?

Do you never have occasional non-boots?
This doesn't seem like a coding issue to me.

It has happened with original Magic3.1Us, among other chips.

I've never seen this problem on a v3 or v4, nor have I on a v12.

[N£TM£ÇH]

low quality modchip and low quality install.. you have to jeeo the wires away from screw holes and ground points.. a pinched wire will cause the modchip to malfunction.

[cubistproject]

Thanks for your brutal honesty.
:-P

[fasman]

Theres two reasons why your chip is failing 1/20 times.

1 Both Magic 3.1U and NH7 are clones,there based off of the magic Ice code(ice isnt the bad thing,the cheap hardware they use are),try using a matrix infinity(not matsix infinity SE or Modbo) or crystal chip,remember you get what you pay for.

2 your wires are too long,you can have a look here at some other peoples installs and get more or less a idea how its supposed to look.

[cubistproject]

Thanks for your time, Fasman.

I'm not too sure wire length is the problem - some of the installs in the pics have MUCH longer wires. They're just glued down so they look pretty and neat, but this wouldn't be better for signal routing. I have a V7 here which was booting 19/20 times and I just ripped out the NH7 that I had in it (not the NH9, the NH7). I put in a Matrix Infinity SE and it works like a ****ing charm now. I looked at some of the install diagrams and used them to shape this install a little bit. I also got the wires away from the board edge in this install, so their not being squeezed by the casing's ground legs.

Latest Install: http://www.cubistchips.com/installs/...s/DCP_0027.jpg
(I didn't use glue, so don't expect those super straight wires in the 'photo shots')

You PS2 modders have WAY different ideas of a clean install than the Xbox modders do. I mean, respect - you kids have it way harder than those kids. But I've just been 'trained' to try not to cross wires, let me know if I should try to be even more direct with my routing. I appreciate the critique and your time in clarifying this issue.

[zombietime]

Thanks for your time, Fasman.

I'm not too sure wire length is the problem - some of the installs in the pics have MUCH longer wires. They're just glued down so they look pretty and neat, but this wouldn't be better for signal routing. I have a V7 here which was booting 19/20 times and I just ripped out the NH7 that I had in it (not the NH9, the NH7). I put in a Matrix Infinity SE and it works like a ****ing charm now. I looked at some of the install diagrams and used them to shape this install a little bit. I also got the wires away from the board edge in this install, so their not being squeezed by the casing's ground legs.

Latest Install: http://www.cubistchips.com/installs/...s/DCP_0027.jpg
(I didn't use glue, so don't expect those super straight wires in the 'photo shots')

You PS2 modders have WAY different ideas of a clean install than the Xbox modders do. I mean, respect - you kids have it way harder than those kids. But I've just been 'trained' to try not to cross wires, let me know if I should try to be even more direct with my routing. I appreciate the critique and your time in clarifying this issue.

Unless I'm reading it wrong you don't seem to like neat installations? A neat job shows pride in your work and is usually a more successful install.