OpenXenium
OpenXenium is a fully open-source modchip for the Original Xbox. Its hardware designs and firmware are freely published, which means anyone can study, build, or buy a board, and the community can keep it maintained long after commercial chips disappear.
What makes it appealing
- Open hardware so the design is transparent and reproducible.
- Multiple BIOS banks letting you store and switch between several BIOS images.
- On-board recovery that helps you reflash if a BIOS becomes unusable.
Installation overview
Like other modern chips, OpenXenium mounts on the motherboard's LPC header. On most console revisions this is a direct fit. On a 1.6 console the header must first be rebuilt by adding the missing component, after which the chip installs the same way.
Configuration
OpenXenium is typically managed through an on-screen menu and optional physical controls, allowing you to select which BIOS bank boots. This flexibility makes it a favorite for users who want to keep a stock-compatible option alongside a modified one.
Good for tinkerers
Because everything is open, OpenXenium is ideal if you value long-term maintainability and the ability to update firmware yourself. Pair it with a quality BIOS image and a recent hard drive setup for the best results.
As always, back up your console's EEPROM before installing, and confirm your revision so you know whether header rebuilding applies. The high-level install steps are covered on the modchip installation page.