Pros and Cons of Softmodding vs. Mod Chips

I have a softmodded xbox at the moment, and would like to know if it would be worth it to switch to a mod chip. What difference would it make? I for sure will not be playing xbox live, and I know that is one of the main reasons people like mod chips.

So what would be the advantages or disadvantages of switching to a mod chip, and what is a good relieble chip.

 

Softmodding is cheap and it works. The main problems with it are people who dont know what they are doing. I commonly get the "I deleted some random files on C: and now it dont work", and "I unlocked my hard drive just to do it without knowing what it does and now it dont work"...lol

With a chip you dont have either of these problems. As far as relieble, any brand name chip (Xecuter, Smart, Spider...etc) are pretty much the same as far as reliableness. The difference is in the features. I love my X3 because I can boot to the chip and ftp, not having to use a boot cd and have to worry about whether the drive will read the media I burned it on.

The only disavantage of switching to a chip would arise if you didnt know how to solder. If not get an old board that you dont care about and experiment with it.

 

Well, I know not do go deleting system files, that are required. Even if I did I have a backup, so I can simply reformat the harddrive with the files and eeprom.
The only thing I don't like is the fact that I can't run any xbox backups that I burn onto dvd+r/rw. Now if I purchased a modchip and installed that would this fix my problem?

 

that should fix your problem i run games directly off my hd that i have ripped there.i also use cdrws to put new skins on there and that works fine

 

Now is there a way to just flash my xbox, without a mod chip? If so would this make softmodding more stable or less?

 

Disc problems are related to dvd drive. No modchip can fix the bad drives, you have to do that yourself by tweaking the POT or changing the drive. You can flash the TSOP if your xbox is below v1.6, this would accieve the same thing as having a modchip though.

 

Hey don't forget with modchips some of them contain solderless adapters,might want to consider this also.