Tinker Mods Blog | Original Xbox
Recent Posts
Original Xbox softmod Vs. hardmod, which is better?
An age old question, softmod or hardmod?
This is actually a funny topic to me sometimes. When I see people ask this in modding groups and forums the discussion can get pretty heated. It's like a "time to grab your popcorn" moment when I see someone ask this because everyone has their own opinion on whether or not the softmod is better than the hardmod. However, the answer is subjective. There is no right answer to this question. The reason for this? It's all about perspective.It's about what you want from an original Xbox
Look, in MY PERSONAL opinion the softmod vs. hardmod debate will always go to the hardmod. But, I'm a modder, I mean just go browse this website for a bit. I've done this a long time and I have a lot of experience. For me and for anyone else out there in the same boat, we usually want the best. No expense spared. No task too difficult. No idea too impractical. That's why these debates make me laugh sometimes because, that doesn't apply to everyone. It doesn't consider experience limitations, it doesn't consider cost limitations, it doesn't consider time restrictions, and it doesn't take any consideration into what each person wants from a modded original Xbox console. That's why the real and always true answer is... it depends. It depends on what you want and what you can manage. So instead of going back and forth about whether or not softmods are better than hardmods. Lets break it down by category so YOU can make an informed decision about what would best fit YOUR needs.Popular features are key
Notice I said POPULAR features not ALL the features. This is a really important point in the softmod vs. hardmod debate. The key features people want from a modded original Xbox console are old school emulation, homebrew, game preservation, and media center capabilities. It doesn't matter if you want to buy a hard modded original Xbox or a soft modded one. They will BOTH accomplish that goal and they they do it equally well. Well...kind of. If you get into the technical aspects of this, a hardmod can open more options that can make some of those features better. However, we are talking about technical things there. In a generic, general sense, most people will be fine with the performance either way. So don't get caught up on wanting every single possible feature. Just think about what you really want out of the console.Considering the cost
Cost is a big part of this as a hardmod will always cost you more than a softmod. ESPECIALLY, if you are building your own original Xbox console. A hard mod requires the purchase of a mod chip. There are some lower end mod chips that will run you 20 bucks and then there are the high end ones, then there are the rare ones. Those can push up as high as 100 dollars. Then, you have to consider the cost for other parts you way want to get so you can fully utilize that mod chip. You start adding LCD screens on the faceplate and high end custom switches and you're talking about a build that would cost you $1k if you were just buying it straight up. That isn't practical to the vast majority of people looking into an original Xbox mod.For a little perspective here, If you were to get a Softmod original Xbox like this one without any extra features you won't spend much more than a hundred bucks. Even if you added a ton of features like an upgraded 2TB hard drive with a custom case mod you still won't spend more than a few hundred on it. Good luck spending less than that on a chipped and hardmodded console, and don't hold your breathe if you want one of the nicer ones. If you want to build this yourself, then you also have to consider the skill needed to make that happen.
The skill requirement
This is another major aspect of the softmod vs. hardmod debate. This applies to you if you want to build your own, or if you want to buy one straight up.To add a little more perspective here, You can get a ready to use softmod kit like this one for under 40 bucks. A kit like that requires zero technical knowledge. Just follow a few quick steps and then the software does the rest for you. No soldering skills required, nothing. Even if you buy a basic softmodded OG Xbox from someone else, it will not cost you that much because it doesn't take that much to do it. You could learn how to softmod right now and start offering them for sale to make a couple bucks on the side. It really is that easy.
But for a hardmod? No way. For starters installing a mod chip is automatically more complicated than a soft mod. You have to have soldering skills. You have to have some software knowledge. It some cases you need to have extra equipment so you can flash the bios, the list goes on and on. Every feature you add requires more research, more time, and more cost. Essentially, performing a hardmod on an original Xbox is not for the weak of heart. That automatically makes this option less accessible than a softmod. Also remember, even if you don't build it yourself, the person who did build it had to take the time and have the knowledge to do so, and you'll be paying for that knowledge and skill.
Now let's get technical
This is where the script gets flipped. This is also the main point anyone makes when having the softmod vs. hardmod debate. If you want the CRAZY features, if you want to get REALLY hardcore about it, then you have to hardmod. Due to this being very technical, I'll just go through some of these features breifly to make the point.If you want to do a RAM upgrade and double the onboard RAM from 64mb to 128? Hard mod is required. If you want one of those LCD screens built into the front of the console that give you live readouts of the console status while you game? Hardmod required. Want to make the console more resilient and minimize the chance of bricking the console? Hardmod required. Want to flash the bios for complete freedom in customization options? Hardmod required. Want to add better compatibility for emulation? Hard mod required. Want to turn this into a media center machine that can handle 720P and sometimes 1080i video quality? Hardmod required.
It's these reasons that make the hardmod superior on a technical level. You just can't max out what the original Xbox can do without hardmodding it. You can even turn this into a Linux PC (Kind of) with a hardmod. The hardmod opens up the full potential of the console and there is no way around it.
