Best mod-chip for the GameCube? Qoob Pro?

[Strolls]

Hi there,

I bought a Panasonic Q a couple of months ago and am just getting around to getting it chipped. I did some homework on this before, and I was pretty sure that the Qoob Pro was the way to go.

I think I'll probably use this guy for the modding, as I exchanged a few messages with him on another forum and he seems to know what he's doing - the PAL DVD-playing mod on the Q is pretty fiddly and I think he's capable of it. But he only sells the Viper mod-chip - does anyone know why this might be?

I can easily buy the Qoob Pro from ChipSpain and get this guy to fit it for me, but I'd like to know that that's the right thing to do before I embarrass myself by ignoring his advice & ordering the wrong chip.

I really like that the Qoob allows you to force progressive scan in all games (I think?) and it's kinda cute that it also allows play of MP3 CDs (again: I think?).

Thanks for any help or advice,

Stroller.

[gunrock]

For a standard cube, the Qoob SX is really all you need as it does away with the USB interface and other stuff. It can force 480p but it only works on some games not all (same for Qoob Pro).

In your case, with the Panasonic Q, I've no idea which mod will work with it...

[sj33]

Strictly speaking, the Viper Extreme is the most advanced mod, as it has a USB interface... but nothing ever used it, so this is sorta a moot point.

Gunrock is right though, you only really need toe Qoob SX. The Qoob Pro has more memory, allowing you to flash stuff like the Action Replay, themes and whatnot to the mod... if that doesn;t interest you, get the SX as that has all the inportant features including 480p.

The SX does not have built-in Mp3 playback, I don't know if the Pro has. You can run Mp3's on the GC by booting GCOS though.

[EvilBoris]

I'm not sure if there are any chips other than the PAL DVD chips that came out years ago, that will only give you the ability to play US/JPN games though.

[Shinebi]

My setup is Lik-Sang Q (si it already had the region-free DVD mod, along with the JAP/US game mod and MP3 playback from CD). I removed the game mod and made it default US, so the memcards don't act up every time. Installed a regular Viper (wich works fine for me, shame it's not XXX? MB for the progs), there's only limited room for 1 prog eg ripper, MP3 playback from DVD... and only has got the parallel port for flashing (which you can also do from DVD).

Also I made my own RGB cable for optimal visuals and 50 Hz PAL in color for games (Thanks to some guys here on the forum for helping me!)

I think the only advantage with the USB versions is that you don't need to buy a BBA for ripping?? (so this might save you some money and time to track 'em down)
The regular Viper has got the options to force screen to PAL 50 Hz, PAL 60 HZ, NTSC and autodetect, but this is ONLY for the chip's menu!
(I don't know what the exact situation is with Qoob, I've heard alot, but don't make any decisions on what people say they THINK they know )

So if your only worry is to play imports go for a regular version, as it should be a lot cheaper now than the USB version imo.

[Strolls]

Thanks for all the replies, guys!

In your case, with the Panasonic Q, I've no idea which mod will work with it...

I believe the Q simply has two boards inside: one is for DVD playing, apparently the same as that inside the Panasonic RV31 player, and the other is a standard GameCube board. I believe that others have used both Viper & Qoob modchips with the Q.

Stroller.

[Strolls]

Strictly speaking, the Viper Extreme is the most advanced mod, as it has a USB interface... but nothing ever used it, so this is sorta a moot point.

The Qoob Pro has USB, too. I thought this was - in both cases - just for flash upgrading the firmware on the chip?

Gunrock is right though, you only really need the Qoob SX. The Qoob Pro has more memory, allowing you to flash stuff like the Action Replay, themes and whatnot to the mod... if that doesn;t interest you, get the SX as that has all the inportant features including 480p.

Well, the difference in price between the Qoob SX & the Qoob Pro is only ?11, so I figure I might as well just get the better one. For all the hassle of modding, the extra ?6 or so is nothing.

The SX does not have built-in Mp3 playback, I don't know if the Pro has. You can run Mp3's on the GC by booting GCOS though.

Ah, well. I'm pretty unlikely to use that anyway. It would have been nice for "completeness", but forcing 480p on games is more important to me. And I do intend to tinker with GCOS.

Thanks for your help,

Stroller.

[Strolls]

My setup is Lik-Sang Q (si it already had the region-free DVD mod, along with the JAP/US game mod and MP3 playback from CD). I removed the game mod and made it default US, so the memcards don't act up every time. Installed a regular Viper ...

Thanks for your reply. It's helpful to hear from someone who has modded their Q themselves. Did removing the old JAP/US game mod remove the ability to play MP3s, or is that part of the DVD playback mod? It's really unclear if the Q might even have had that facility when it was shipped from the factory.

I borrowed a Panasonic Service Disk and removed the region lock on the DVD player the other day, and the Jap/US games & PAL DVD-playback kit arrived in the post from http://dvdchips.co.uk/ this week, so I'm eager to get on with it.

Stroller.

[Shinebi]

Now that you mention it, I'll have to try that one out once more. After I did remove the old game mod, the DVD player was still region free.
As for the MP3 play back, I didn't get it to work after removing the mod. Initially I thought it was due to the fact that the CD's used were already very old, even didn't work in some other players. I'll burn one today to try it out.

The Q's couldn't play MP3 when they were shipped from the factory, but could play VCD (I don't think they could play S-VCD though, but a lot of sellers claim this, also that the original version can't play regular VCD's.
Check here for instance: http://www.wolfsoft.de/shop/product_...xi-tuning.html)

Good thing you borrowed the Service disk, as some internet companies rent it out for a lot of money!

I'l report one of these days for compatibility with MP3.



EDIT:: on that link you've got, it says to play MP3 also with the Pana mod, that's what I think too, should be strange to have it on the Power button

[Shinebi]

...also I hate the fact that a lot of installers claim that when they've installed the full Q-mod you now can:

- finally play VCD
- finally play CD-R
- finally select an English menu for the Panasonic part
- switch from JAP to US for games by pressing the remote power button?????

All of these things are standard out of the box, and I couldn't select the US mod with the remote. Even when you've last powered down in Panasonic part and want to boot in Gamecube mode, the mod CAN NOT go to US by holding the power button.
First you HAVE to boot in Gamecube mode (JAP), power down, and then power up again with the power button held to get the US mod working...ft:

So if you're planning on installing the chip, removing the mod was a lot easier to navigate the console.

[chaoticjelly]

Qoob SX is really good

[sj33]

The Qoob Pro has USB, too. I thought this was - in both cases - just for flash upgrading the firmware on the chip?

The Qoob Pro only has this for flashing. The Viper Extreme actually had a proper USB port which could be access directly, perhaps for a USB HDD.

However, nothing ever surfaced to make use of it.

[Shinebi]

VERY HEAVY BUMP

Did removing the old JAP/US game mod remove the ability to play MP3s, or is that part of the DVD playback mod?

Well, after browsing through some old threads, I just thought of trying a "factory made" MP3 disc on the Q, it still works. Just for those who might still wonder...