A new Mod Chip Player in town - Crystal Chip

[Da Brass]

Well....I just received some interesting news about a new Mod maker that has done something a little different than all the rest of the other makers out there. The Crystal Chip is using the Actel Pro Asic Plus FPGA at it's core, 18-wires for V1-V7, 19/20 for V8+, an extra wire to run RW media (if the console supports it), and an on-board oscillator.

However, what seems to set this apart from other chips are its features and design:

- Made to boot ONLY Homebrew software
- PCB has Solder Pads for all the points on both sides (except Ground and 3.3V) so you don't have to route wires around or over the PCB
- 4 Ground Pads so you can ground the chip best to how it's oriented
- Custom "Glitch Logic" builtin to autodetect/filter problematic wires (which also eliminates ground bounce issues)
- 3 Different Boot modes (Firmware Upgrade Mode, Recovery Mode, Hardware Sleep Mode)
- Recovery mode utilizes an Internal ROM, instead of External Flash, so that you will always be able to boot up, even if the EEPROM is removed or corrupted.
- Ability to boot directly from Mem Card on System Startup

The most interesting feature about this chip is that it uses an Open-Source API so that developers can write their own firmwares which will interact with the Crystal Chip.

We've also been told that the installs have been tested with 2-foot long wires to test it's stability in the harshest of conditions.

Lot of interesting stuff from this new mod maker. You can read all their details on their web site:
http://www.crystal-chips.com.

Seems like this chip will be on sale relatively soon as their list of distributors is pretty full and the Installation Manuals are up as well.

We have samples on the way and there will be a review forthcoming.

[EntwinedWS]

Its so odd following the PS2 scene now, hearing about Homebrew chips coming out..but it brings me to a question. Isn't it still illegal? Its circumventing protection in order to boot homebrew/unsigned code. I'm not a lawyer nor do I pretend to be one, just curious as it STILL sounds like the chips themselves could be subject to lawsuits. I hope thats not the case and this scene can finally get where the XBox scene has been for quite a while, but I'm sure I'm not the only one with questions or doubts about this.

[Freak]

Am I the only one that really doesn't care... I don't know about everyone else but I don't want a chip that just does homebrew. I want a chip that can do everything!

[w1ze0ne]

My guess is that it will a "mysterious" firmware released that will allow to play Backups.
Just like the DMS4 and the Up and Coming Homebrew Matrix Chip.

Just my guess though.

[2Clak]

If you only ship the blank chip, the manufacturer cannot sue for circumvention infringement. It is up to the purchaser of the chip to install the software needed to boot whatever executable they wish.
Even a chip such as this with its own onboard API is legal because it interfaces with a blank chip, so still does not circumvent any protection as sold to the end user.
Sony wouldn't go after Joe Shmoe, it could only sue the end user for infringment on titles it owned the copy right to.

[EspI69]

sweetttttttttttttttttttttttttttt i want this chip bad , cant wasit for the reviews, booting off memory card is sweet....and u can program fireware and the chip so u could make it play back ups if u really wanted to... damn... sounds good , plus its a new maker so hopefully they know what they are doing ...so far it looks promising

[Unfinity]

Actually, even a blank chip can be illegal. If a device has no proven use other than to be programmed so that it will boot backups, you'd better believe the courts will rule against the chip. Alot of people seem to think they can pull the wool over the law's eyes by simply putting up disclaimers or "changing their colors" from making warez chips to making "homebrew" chips. That shit simply isn't going to fly when it comes goes to court.

I hope this chip really does stay legit, there's alot of good homebrew software available and I for one think it would be nice for people in UK/EU/other places where modchips are illegal to be able to still access these apps.

Also, as I've said in the DMS4 thread, many countries provide laws which allow you to circumvent copy protections for the purpose of inter-operability. This means that if you have to bypass copy protections in order to get your stuff to work, you can. That doesn't mean you can bypass protections for the purpose of playing copies and such though. So provided these chips actually stick to booting legit software, they should be okie dokie with Johnny Law.

[foundmy]

Well, the product is real... And is easy to upgrade, from testing it via the USB cable works great. homebrew products we tried a couple and no problems. There is some more features to be announced.

Its a really interesting product and well might even open up other avenues of homebrew utilities and Operating systems.

Installation was easy, you only need to use one of the four gnd points makes it a neater installer. tested with 30 gauge wire-wrap wire for all points.

btw: we will be taking pre-orders shortly.

[T07N]

sweetttttttttttttttttttttttttttt i want this chip bad , cant wasit for the reviews, booting off memory card is sweet....and u can program fireware and the chip so u could make it play back ups if u really wanted to... damn... sounds good , plus its a new maker so hopefully they know what they are doing ...so far it looks promising

It's nothing new though... Booting off the memory card is a feature that exist with the DMS3 and Matrix Infinity already. This chip doesn't bring nothing new to the table. But how much are they charging for this chip?

[HypERSoniC]

what's the difference between booting a backup game elf and a homebrew elf? how can it tell? lol. there isn't much point in these "homebrew only" modchips. i could understand if it had a linux bios (turn ps2 into linux box) with one step.