How do modding and the Xbox 360 relate?
The world of game consoles has alwas been a home to modders. Consoles are set box devices that are ... dimensions and specifications. They generally don't change over the machine's lifespan.

Modding is the way people sometimes manage to get more life out of the machine and ignite their interest again in a console after several years of use. In the case of the Xbox brand, modding has evolved into a business that sees additional hardware installed and software programmed into the base unit that Microsoft sells.


What types of modding exist for the Xbox 360?
The Xbox 360 is a new console and generally new machines do not launch with complicated modifications ready and waiting as modifcations are usualy created by 3rd parties. In the case of the Xbox 360, there are currently three main modifications. One is a mere cosmetic change that consists of stickers and vinyl. Another is also a cosmetic change, but it involves interaction with the hardware. Finally, there are risk factors of dramatic hardware mods that could affect how the machine functions.


What does vinyl/stickables modding mean?
The term vinyl or sticker modding means that, via some websites and stores, you can find simple attachable mods for the Xbox 360 that come sized to fit. You simply apply them to the Xbox 360 unit. Think of them as clothes for the 360. DecalGirl offers a wide selection of vinyl for many home consumer electronics.


What is case modding?
Case modding is a much more technical way of modding then simply applying a vinyl skin. It involves opening up your Xbox 360 case and separating it from the contained hardware. Either you or a designer then draws out a design on the side of the machine and uses a proper tool to cut out that design, making the insides of the machine viewable.

Case modders can also install colored lights inside to make it glow and even change the color that glows around the power switch. There are also mods for the controller that can change the color of the grey base and even the color of the light surrounding the guide button. LLamma offers step-by-step instructions for doing these procedures.


What is hardware modding?
Hardware modding refers to tampering with and changing Microsoft’s standard, out-of-the-box specs. This generally includes modifying the CPU clock speeds, adding additional RAM, and installing different ways to cool the machine. Further, even more technical forms include installing chips that allow games not compatible with the preset DVD format to be read, as well as software enhancements to the dashboard not included in the shipped unit.


Is it true that some types of mods are illegal?
Yes, it is absolutely true. The only legal mod for the Xbox 360 is one which can be applied to the outside of the case, without tampering with the case structure or contents. While you may not be prosecuted for doing your own case mods, paying someone to do it for you is illegal, as is tampering or changing the hardware and its specifications. It is illegal to take part in a business or to profit from infringing on trademarks and copyrights.


Does modding void warranties?
Yes, certain types of modding will void your warranty. Any opening of the hardware case without a licensed technician will void any warranty you have standing for the machine. It is important to understand when deciding to mod your X360 that you might void your warranty. Should things go wrong, you will have no way of replacing your machine via warranty.


What happens if the CPU clock speed is increased?
The Xbox 360 is not the same as a PC. While many people do increase clock speeds of PC CPUs and GPUs with seemingly no problems, you must understand that the software used and made for the Xbox 360 are made with its factory settings in mind and will be only compatible with those settings.

If you adjust your clock speed, games may start to become full of glitches. Your system may overheat and crash, and you may find that certain options in the machine, such as online support, will not function if it detects your modifications. The same can be said if you were to replace the RAM chip of the system with a larger chip. The games are not designed to be compatible with that amount of memory and would most likely crash.


Are there drawbacks to adding additional fans for cooling?
Yes, of course there are. Fans draw on the machine's power supply to function. This may be updated at later times, as it’s not known how many watts the power supply uses for the Xbox 360 or how much excess it has. Adding any new piece of hardware may drain the amount of available power which all the hardware pieces receive, which will result in crashes and considerable instability.


What types of modding are recommended and not recommended?
Again, modding of a set box unit such as the Xbox 360 is a crime against trademark and copyright laws and is punishable in a court of law. As long as a person does not illegally tamper with said trademarks and specifications, it is acceptable. That means cosmetic changes to the outside of the machine, such as the above mentioned vinyl skins, are the only ones we recommend.


Are faceplates considered a mod when you change them?
While you are modifying the appearance of your machine when you change the faceplate, you are not in any type of infringement for Microsoft’s trademarks. This mod is designed into the package in an effort to give the consumer easy access to modding and customizing the machine. Feel free to change and remove faceplates as you see fit, as long as the replacement fits Microsoft’s specifications.


Is placing the machine into a third party peripheral such as a fan base considered a mod?
No, it is not considered a mod. It's just a peripheral, the same as a controller. However, if your machine is damaged by the device, or while in the device, then you will have voided your warranty in most cases.


How do you run homebrew apps on the X360?
Currently there is no known method to run homebrew applications on your Xbox 360. All applications that are run on the Xbox 360 must be digitally signed before they will operate. There needs to either be a known exploit or an outside hardware device to skip this protection.

There have been a number of small seeming breakthroughs in developing a method of running homebrew apps on the Xbox 360. One of these was the discovery that it was possible to run burnt demo kiosk DVD’s in the Xbox 360. So far this discovery hasn’t materialized into a working exploit that was patched in the latest Xbox 360 Dashboard update.


What modding chips exist?
While there were initial claims by various previously unknown teams that a working Xbox 360 mod chip has been completed, no actual modchip has as yet surfaced. A number of more established teams that developed modchips for the original Xbox are working on an Xbox 360 modchip. This includes Team Xecuter, SmartXX, and Team Xodus. So far none of them have released an actual modchip on the market (See http://www.team-xecuter.com/ for the latest 360 modchip!!!)


Can the Xbox 360 play DVD-Rs?
Very recently, “The Specialist” from xboxhacker.net discovered a way to make the original Xbox DVD drive ignore media checks by modifying its firmware and thereby allowing users to run backups off burnt DVD-R disks. It was thought that it might be possible to repeat the same results with an X360. This exploit has not been verified, as “The Specialist” has decided not to release it to the general community for fears that it will promote piracy instead of homebrew dev.


How can you back up saved games on the memory card or hard drive?
It's all explained on the backing up saved games page.

See also

• Compatability FAQs
• Graphics FAQs
• Hardware FAQs
• Troubleshooting FAQs