I am thinking of getting a Konig cable (to improve the graphics (I currently get faint diagonal lines) and give me the option to connet surround sound) is this the best solution?

I'm also going to get a modchip (my xbox is currently (evox) softmodded).

Is there a particular mod chip you'd reccomend of I should avoid? (I am in australia if that matters)

My xbox will ONLY ever be used for xbmc, I've no intention or desire to use it for games (no xbox live)
I am happy to solder chips in place if that's the best option.

I have another (1.8 in (for quietness and lower heat build up)) hard drive ready to go into the box, but it doesn't support locking (already got it ready with xboxhdm)

what version xbox do u have

it's an old 1.0

Tsop flash the 1.0, no mod chip needed. Will work with unlocked hdd. No need to prepare hdd with xboxhdm once xbox is tsop flashed.

What is konig? Get the MS HD AV pack if possible.

Konig is a third party cable manufacturer. I use this Konig cable on two of my boxes, and it's excellent - and when I bought mine it was a lot easier to get hold of in the UK than the MS HD AV pack (UK=PAL=no HD as far as Microsoft are concerned!!). I haven't tried the optical audio output yet 'cos I haven't got round to buying a new amp.....

And I'd second the TSOP flash recommendation - I did my 1.1 Xbox about three weeks ago, and (apart from an error on my part which a little concentration would have easily avoided!!) it was far easier than a chip install, and free!

I'll definately have a go at flashing the TSOP.

Is there a tutorial/guide you'd reccomend?

What do youreccomend I flash the TSOP with?? (type/version software)

I used X2.5035 (x2_5035_vOld_512k.bin), because it allows you to change the bios config from a config file on the xbox HD rather than having to edit the bios file and reflash it.

I read loads of tutorials (paranoid!), and used bits from all of them, but I couldn't find a recent one that matched what I was trying to do and was easy to use.....

However, once I got the basic steps sorted, it was actually very easy.
- softmod your xbox (loads of tutorials on that! Use Krayzie or Kingroach)
- solder the two bridges (pictures here, but ignore the flashing method described)
- create a 1Mb bios file from your chosen bios (I used x2bm)
- flash the bios. I used the net flashing utility in Resctoox first time round, but have subsequently also used the Evox dash method (install Evox dash as an application, put the bios in /EvolutionX/BIOS, run Evox, select "Flash BIOS" from the menu, pick your BIOS from the list) and both work fine.

Hope this helps.

Thanks

I'll have a go