| Revision as of 07:07, 1 October 2005 edit80.57.63.12 (talk)No edit summary← Previous edit | Revision as of 07:39, 1 October 2005 edit undoBerkut (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users2,384 edits rv blankingNext edit → | ||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| ==Softmod in terms of PC hardware== | |||
| A '''Softmod''' is the act of using software to modify hardware such as a ] or ] in a way that can unlock or enable disabled features, usually pipelines. Cards that can be modified using software to faster versions (without regard to clock speed) usually contain much of the same hardware. Softmodding a card should not include changing the video card's bios, as that's considered a bios flash. There are only 4 current softmods that can be done, a ] 9500 NP to a 9500 Pro (128 bit) or 9700 (256 bit), a Radeon 9800SE (with 256-bit L-shaped memory layout on the PCB) to a Radeon 9800 Pro, a ] 6200 to a 6600, and a GeForce 6800NU to a 6800GT. The act of a softmod usually enables pixel rendering pipelines, though may also include other enhancements. A softmodded card may not always reach the same performance as the real card it has been changed to, but the difference should be very little; and generally not noticeable. The softmodding is not guaranteed to always work, sometimes the pipelines have been disabled for a reason e.g. A defect which when enabled produces ]. | |||
| ==Softmod in terms of the Xbox== | |||
| Softmod is also a term used to refer to modifying a ] without the use of a ]. | |||
| Softmods for Xbox include a font exploit installed through exploits in savegame code for '''', '']'', and '']'' which allows an additional option to be added to the Xbox Dashboard, usually for booting ]. The Font-hack works by exploiting a buffer overflow in the Xbox font loader which is part of the dashboard. However, since the Xbox requires the clock to be valid and the dashboard itself is where you set the clock there is problem if the RTC backup capacitor discharges. The Xbox will detect that the clock isn't set and therefore force the dashboard to be loaded which then promptly reboots due to the buffer overflow exploit. Upon restarting, the Xbox detects the clock is invalid and the process repeats. The latest font exploit, named Über Xbe Exploit (UXE) does not suffer from the clock loop problem. | |||
| An alternative to font-hacks are audio hacks, which do not cause the afore mentioned clock-loop problem. The audio hack works similarly to the font hack, by exploiting another buffer overflow but this time in a index file used in the custom soundtrack system. The exploit is triggered by going into the audio menu which avoids the problem with the font exploit. However, there are rumors that certain audio hacks may cause the custom sound track function in some Xbox games to no longer be usable, and there are rumors to the contrary. | |||
| One final method of softmodding is to actually reprogram the onboard flash chip in older revisions of the Xbox. It does require the Xbox to be opened and the write enable pads to be shorted but no hardware needs to be purchased or installed. Once the pads have been shorted, it is possible to overwrite the stock BIOS with a modified one by using one of the gamesave exploits. However, Microsoft is more easily able to detect such softmodding due to the inability to disable the modified BIOS and will ban the user's Xboxes (not their accounts) from ]. | |||
| All softmodding of Xboxes is considered a violation of warranty and runs the risk of rendering an Xbox almost unusable, if not performed properly. There are still lingering questions of legality. | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
Revision as of 07:39, 1 October 2005
Softmod in terms of PC hardware
A Softmod is the act of using software to modify hardware such as a video card or sound card in a way that can unlock or enable disabled features, usually pipelines. Cards that can be modified using software to faster versions (without regard to clock speed) usually contain much of the same hardware. Softmodding a card should not include changing the video card's bios, as that's considered a bios flash. There are only 4 current softmods that can be done, a Radeon 9500 NP to a 9500 Pro (128 bit) or 9700 (256 bit), a Radeon 9800SE (with 256-bit L-shaped memory layout on the PCB) to a Radeon 9800 Pro, a GeForce 6200 to a 6600, and a GeForce 6800NU to a 6800GT. The act of a softmod usually enables pixel rendering pipelines, though may also include other enhancements. A softmodded card may not always reach the same performance as the real card it has been changed to, but the difference should be very little; and generally not noticeable. The softmodding is not guaranteed to always work, sometimes the pipelines have been disabled for a reason e.g. A defect which when enabled produces artifacts.
Softmod in terms of the Xbox
Softmod is also a term used to refer to modifying a Xbox without the use of a mod chip.
Softmods for Xbox include a font exploit installed through exploits in savegame code for MechAssault, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, and 007: Agent Under Fire which allows an additional option to be added to the Xbox Dashboard, usually for booting Linux. The Font-hack works by exploiting a buffer overflow in the Xbox font loader which is part of the dashboard. However, since the Xbox requires the clock to be valid and the dashboard itself is where you set the clock there is problem if the RTC backup capacitor discharges. The Xbox will detect that the clock isn't set and therefore force the dashboard to be loaded which then promptly reboots due to the buffer overflow exploit. Upon restarting, the Xbox detects the clock is invalid and the process repeats. The latest font exploit, named Über Xbe Exploit (UXE) does not suffer from the clock loop problem.
An alternative to font-hacks are audio hacks, which do not cause the afore mentioned clock-loop problem. The audio hack works similarly to the font hack, by exploiting another buffer overflow but this time in a index file used in the custom soundtrack system. The exploit is triggered by going into the audio menu which avoids the problem with the font exploit. However, there are rumors that certain audio hacks may cause the custom sound track function in some Xbox games to no longer be usable, and there are rumors to the contrary.
One final method of softmodding is to actually reprogram the onboard flash chip in older revisions of the Xbox. It does require the Xbox to be opened and the write enable pads to be shorted but no hardware needs to be purchased or installed. Once the pads have been shorted, it is possible to overwrite the stock BIOS with a modified one by using one of the gamesave exploits. However, Microsoft is more easily able to detect such softmodding due to the inability to disable the modified BIOS and will ban the user's Xboxes (not their accounts) from Xbox Live.
All softmodding of Xboxes is considered a violation of warranty and runs the risk of rendering an Xbox almost unusable, if not performed properly. There are still lingering questions of legality.