Qoob Personal Review

[Johnneke]

Hello folks,

I recieved my qoob sample today and I want to share my findings with you :)

1st of all the installation was a breeze, if you can install a viper you sure as hell can install a qoob to. The design of the qoob is much more thought of then with the viper, the qoob fits perfectly and the cables are just long enough to have a perfect installation. My Gamecube laser is completely in original state for this review! Well after installation was done it was time for flashing the qoob with the latest bios release. I have to say that its a breeze as soon as I plugged in my qoob on the usb port my pc detected the device and the qoob flash software could be used. Also handy is the led on the qoob that will go on on plugging in your qoob on the pc so you can see everything is ok.

First game I tested was Eternal Darkness which has audiostream issues on the viper (I didnt audiofix it or anything) Well as promised by the team behind qoob the audiofix works great, finally I can enjoy those games with crap audio :D Alien Hominid was also tested and also working perfectly. A big issue about the ViperGC 1.0 bios is that it cant play dvd+r media, well I went to the store to get a few rather cheap platinum +r media and also 1 samsung +r for testing. The media my other games are on is ritek g05 full size, I also have some mini princo's & memorex laying around (the cmc memorex ones) and I will test these to, just to see if something interesting comes up (the princo's & memorex arent working properly on the viper). Time for putting the Platinum +r media to the test with eternal darkness. Unfortunately I'll have to say it isnt booting my +r media, it just spins for a while and then gives disc read error at the qoob bios screen.

I'll update as soon as I did some more testing today, as for now I would say if you got a viper already dont buy the qoob but wait till gcos or cobra implements the audiofix. Its not worth it to pay 70$ just to have it next week. But if you still would like to buy a modchip for a unmodded cube be sure to buy a qoob since its clear that the development team is fast and did some fixes no one else was possible to do before. Also the design is much more efficient or in brakken's language, this one has sex appeal ;)

UPDATE: I just downloaded the rc5 from eurasia and flashed my qoob with, and YES its in fact true the qoob DOES play +r media just fine now ;) So folks, this is a great extra feature if your looking at a chip since no other chip features this.

Make the count for yourself, +r media and streamfix. I cant believe people actually claim qoob stole the drivecode for direct boot, those people should get some common sense cause qoob in fact has more features that mentalcube couldnt even figure out for himself yet, and even if they would have stolen the drivecode for direct boot they have proven themself that they would have the knowledge to figure it out for themself imo!

[nonzero]

Nice review

[QuimbyDogg]

Sounds good, I'll be waiting to hear other peoples reviews--but this sounds rather positive.

I keep going back in forth in my head between buying a Qoob, buying a Max Drive Pro, and just waiting until something better (like IDE interface support :P) comes out...

[Xboxmodder999]

So none of your dvd+rs direct boot?

Oh, and could you upload a picture of the bios screen, I'm interested to see what all the options are.

[breeza]

Quick question:

The picture on the qoob site shows the usb connector board attached to the main chip. Can it be connected and flashed in this state or do you have to link the two with the crappy FCC cable?

[Xboxmodder999]

It looks like it needs to be connect to it with the fcc cable. Becuaswe where you break it off has not traces going through it.

[Xboxmodder999]

Whoops, double post.

[tX_ram]

What version of the bios did you use?

[warbirds]

Thanks for the review, it seems they have the same bios issue's as Cobra... I would love to see some screen shots of the bios in action.

[Xboxmodder999]

Originally posted by warbirds
I would love to see some screen shots of the bios in action.

Same here.

[cubenoob]

Originally posted by breeza
Quick question:

The picture on the qoob site shows the usb connector board attached to the main chip. Can it be connected and flashed in this state or do you have to link the two with the crappy FCC cable?

you can flash the qoob even without beeing installed and thats a nice feature too

[Johnneke]

Originally posted by breeza
Quick question:

The picture on the qoob site shows the usb connector board attached to the main chip. Can it be connected and flashed in this state or do you have to link the two with the crappy FCC cable?

Yes your supposed to put your usb controller port on the bottom of your cube but the fxx cable is working properly and you can easily and safely guide the fcc cable to the place, its not that I can say this from the viper, I'll post some pictures of the bios tonite to for all you peeps, stay tuned

[Xboxmodder999]

Originally posted by cubenoob
you can flash the qoob even without beeing installed and thats a nice feature too

The Viper GC is the same way;)

I keep my gamecube cover unscrewed, and programmer and flex cable plugged into my PC. Then when I want to flash my chip, I just take the cover off my gamecube unplug the chip from the gamecube and plug the chip into the flexcable and flash.

[zanza]

the 3d sticker included in the box,as they say on their site,has a LOT of sex appeal!!!

[Johnneke]

Pics..

[Johnneke]

.

[Xboxmodder999]

Not very interesting, it works though:)

[Johnneke]

..

[Johnneke]

Yes the cobra bios certainly has way more features then the qoob bios, but what the qoob lacks in features it makes up in the ease of use, you just boot with your media and it starts automatically, no button pressin' needed :D I find this a good feature for people who just want to insert+play

[tef89]

Cobra has that too :)

[Artlover]

Originally posted by Xboxmodder999
The Viper GC is the same way;)
I keep my gamecube cover unscrewed, and programmer and flex cable plugged into my PC. Then when I want to flash my chip, I just take the cover off my gamecube unplug the chip from the gamecube and plug the chip into the flexcable and flash.
I wouldn't say this is an absolute rule. My Viper will not program unless it's in the cube & turned on. If it's not, I get that "not connected" message. Actually, there was one time right after I rebooted my PC that it saw the chip outside of the cube, and I quickly started to program it, but half way through it stopped and didn't see the chip anymore. Atleast till I plugged it into the cube again. Other's have tried this too with the same lack of results. But yet still others have tried and it worked.

Maybe has to do with the power output levels on the LPT port and the differences between different computers?

The Viper's inconsistantcy between users is annoyingly fustrating since there shouldn't be any reason for it. I still can't get cobra1.0 to work with the programmer connected & attached to the PC. If I disconnect the PC from the programmer, or the programmer from the viper intirely, it works fine. But others have no problems with everything connected.

I have to wonder about manufacturing quality. Considering the early runs of defective units, incompatable viper/programmer sets, and my programmer missing solder joints. Seems like it could be suspect. Anyone know where these things are being produced?

[Xboxmodder999]

Artlover, it's the opposite for me.
I have troubles flashing it when it is connected to my gamecube, it always says it cannot be found. As soon as I unhook it though, it flashes with no problems.

Cobra has that too

Only if you hold down the X button, and you have to set it to do that. I don't have a problem holding the X button though.

[Johnneke]

Originally posted by Xboxmodder999
It's the opposite for me. I have troubles flashing it when it is connected to my gamecube, it always says it cannot be found. As soon as I unhook it though, it flashes with no problems.

Rather weird is this, since the viper needs the gamecube to be powered on for flashing normally, doing it the way its ment to be I have to say the qoob does a much better job at it

[Xboxmodder999]

Originally posted by Johnneke
Rather weird is this, since the viper needs the gamecube to be powered on for flashing normally, doing it the way its ment to be I have to say the qoob does a much better job at it

Alot of people can flash it the same way as me, I guess it has something to do with your computer.

[Johnneke]

Originally posted by Xboxmodder999
Alot of people can flash it the same way as me, I guess it has something to do with your computer.

Yeh ok but the viper isnt ment to be flashed that way ;) so I'll stick with the comparison as the way it is ment to be

[Xboxmodder999]

Sounds good;) , I'm just telling you that a lot of people can flash it this way, wether it is supposed to flash that way or not.

Oh, do you have the newest release of the Qoob bios flashed to your chip?

[raz]

Originally posted by Xboxmodder999
Only if you hold down the X button, and you have to set it to do that. I don't have a problem holding the X button though.

Thats false, you can set the option in the configuration menu so that the cobra starts in direct boot mode, no need to press any button ... you put the disc in and power on the cube.

raz.

[Xboxmodder999]

Originally posted by raz
Thats false, you can set the option in the configuration menu so that the cobra starts in direct boot mode, no need to press any button ... you put the disc in and power on the cube.

raz.

Oh, thanks for correcting me:D I'll set it up that way, I thought you the only way to do it was to set the X button to direct boot.

[raz]

np i was surprised myself you didn't know that tbh :) btw you're welcome ;)

raz

[Xboxmodder999]

Yup it was right there "Default Boot Option", lol.

I must of just not noticed it when I looked there, even though I set X to direct boot, which is right below it:rolleyes:

[Johnneke]

Originally posted by Xboxmodder999
Sounds good;) , I'm just telling you that a lot of people can flash it this way, wether it is supposed to flash that way or not.

Oh, do you have the newest release of the Qoob bios flashed to your chip?

I do have the latest qoob bios release candidate v4 from their official site, I heard about a release candidate 5 but where is it?

[tX_ram]

http://forums.maxconsole.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4851&perpage=15&pagenumber=2

third post from the bottom

[Johnneke]

Originally posted by tX_ram
http://forums.maxconsole.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4851&perpage=15&pagenumber=2

third post from the bottom

Already flashed it ;) check the update on the first post for the results on my +r media test :D

[hiaaa]

Does it have cheat code function?

[WaggonerW]

I'm interested in the disk test function. I would like to see that included in the Cobra BIOS too (although it has become less important for me since I haven't seen a DRE since Cobra V1.0). Has anyone tried it yet?

[Johnneke]

Originally posted by hiaaa
Does it have cheat code function?

No cheat code function included..

Ad for the media testing, it works just fine ;)

[tipsylenny]

Originally posted by Xboxmodder999
The Viper GC is the same way;)

I keep my gamecube cover unscrewed, and programmer and flex cable plugged into my PC. Then when I want to flash my chip, I just take the cover off my gamecube unplug the chip from the gamecube and plug the chip into the flexcable and flash.

Are u sure that u can flash the viper chip without it being attached to the cube? From what i've heard the chip must be plugged in the cube in order for it to get power supply and thus recognized.

[tipsylenny]

sorry guys i missed the other posts concerning this issue:D

[Xboxmodder999]

Originally posted by tipsylenny
Are u sure that u can flash the viper chip without it being attached to the cube? From what i've heard the chip must be plugged in the cube in order for it to get power supply and thus recognized.

LOL, yes I'm sure. I have done it to my own Viper GC about 10 times, and for all my customers Vipers before I install them. My parallel port must be giving it enough power to flash, because it works.

[tipsylenny]

Originally posted by Xboxmodder999
LOL, yes I'm sure. I have done it to my own Viper GC about 10 times, and for all my customers Vipers before I install them. My parallel port must be giving it enough power to flash, because it works.

Oh good to know that! I had major problems flashing mine when it was in the cube but no matter what i did it did'nt recognize the chip. I'll try your method and see if i have any luck;)
thanx for the info!

[Mako]

Where did you purchase your Qoob for this review? I see that one site in the US to purchase http://www.foundmy.com but it doesn't look like the most reliable site. Anyone use them?

Thanks in advance.

[Xboxmodder999]

I'm also thinking of getting one from them. I looked resellerratings.com and there are not very many reviews for it. The ones that are there, they all got their stuff, just not packaged well. They also said there wasn't any damage to the stuff, dispite that bad packaging, so I think I will probably get it from them.

[Cedy]

Johnny, u should've posted this review FIRST at our dutch site...:confused: ....@ www.ngcforum.com......

but ok...