Using Actionreplay/Gameshark with a modchip?

Howdy fellas, I am actually quite new to the PS2 scene at all (I just purchased my first PS2 a few weeks ago) and am wondering how a chip modifies your console's abilities to change variables within the game (I.E.- cheat)?

I think to use it without a modchip, you have to use something like a swap disc combined with a USB toggle or something like that? Or is there a newer way? Anyway, that's beside the point- I'm wondering how a modchip installed would affect that. Do certain chips have features built in to use cheats right off the bat? Or do they allow for booting of a cheating disc without the use of an additional USB toggle or other attached device?

I apologize, it might seem childish, but I just completed FFX and I'm in no rush to waste another 60 hours on the sequel without some assistance.

I have a Crystal Chip on a v15. (0040)

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me!

you shuldent have problems booting AR/CB with your crystal chip. DMS with Toxxic os has built in cheat codes

From my own experience, the Crystal Chip has successfully booted and run AR Max EVO and Codebreaker v7. I've heard that the newer versions of Codebreaker (v8-v9.2) do not work with the Crystal Chip due to some wierd protection, but they do work with Matrix Infinity and others.