Nintendo-Scene

First off, I’d like to thank the wonderful people at DriveKey who were kind enough to send me a sample to review.

This chip was tested on a D2A, D2B, D2C, D2C2 and D2E. All Wiis tested were NTSC.

Website: http://www.drivekey.com

Installation manual: http://www.drivekey.com/how-it-works/

Technical Details:

* Works on all Wii drives (DMS, D2A, D2B, D2C, D2C-2, D2E, D3/d2nothing)
* Works on all Wii regions (USA, JAP, PAL, KOREA)
* Fully configurable via on-chip config menu. Just go to disc channel and press eject 3 times to load!
* Compatible with D2B “cut pin” drives
* Compatible with D2E “epoxy” drives (no need to remove epoxy)
* FPGA fully updatable via JTAG external programmer
* JTAG software automatically downloads individually signed updates from DriveKey server
* SPI fully updatable via DVD
* Plug-and-play 2 minute installation
* No soldering necessary
* No external PC/laptop needed
* Direct Boot of Wii original, import, and backup (copied) games
* Direct Boot of Gamecube* original, import, and backup (copied) games
* Supports multi-disc games
* Supports dual-layer discs
* Fully configurable update blocker
* Fully configurable region override
* Enable/Disable DriveKey via the config menu
* Config option to autoboot Wii discs (insert the disc, the game will load immediately!)
* Transparent stealth operation
* Integrates proven D2CKey Intelligent Code Modifying System
* No awkward USB interface - just insert DVD and play!
* Supports, SMG, SSBB and other ‘problem’ titles
* Ultra-low power consumption; does not interfere with normal Wii operation

The DriveKey is a new direction in modchips for the Wii. For those who haven’t been following what’s been happening, a quick history lesson:

First there were the homebrew chips, simple to install, 5-6 wires.

Then came a few mass-produced modchips, like the Wiikey, and the CycloWiz, some of which had quicksolder, as opposed to wires.

The Big N caught on, and changed the security, and out came the D2C. Soon after we had the D2Key, with it’s 26 wire installations. This quickly dropped to 19, then 15, then 13, then 9.

Chip makers soon figured out the D2C, and were eventually back down to 6 wire installs.

Then came the “solderless” solutions, which actually involved soldering the chip to a device that sat on top of the drivechip. It made things easier, but it was only metal touching metal, and had potential to come loose. And it still involved some soldering.

And now, we have the DriveKey. It is a true solderless solution, and is installed between the Wii and the DVD drive. As the site explains:

Drivekey sits on the bus between the Wii motherboard and the DVD drive. It transparently monitors all data transmitted. When a backup disc is inserted DriveKey emulates an original game disc by transmitting and patching necessary data. DriveKey has full control and can read the entire DVD media.

Performance Review:
This review will be done a little different than my other reviews for 2 reasons: First is that installation is exactly the same for all types of drive chips. The second was that my wife made fun of how excited I was when the sample arrived, so I made her install and test it to prove a point.

As stated, my wife did the installation and review. For reference, my wife is not particularly skilled with electronics. I once let her try soldering a point on an xbox modchip I was installing. She bridged 2 of the LPCs together.

I disassembled the Wii for my wife, gave her the modchip, still in the package, and the Wii and said “Go!”. After a few minutes, she opened the packaging the DriveKey came in, stared blankly at it, and the Wii and asked “What now?”. I suggested maybe the DriveKey website for instructions. She quickly found them and got to work.

Installation of the DriveKey is a breeze. Disconnect the drive, attach the DriveKey to the ribbon cable clip that says “drive”, connect the ribbon cable that came with the DriveKey to the Wii, then attach the other end to the ribbon cable to the DriveKey, where it “wii”. Check that the toggle switches are set to your region, and you are good to go. It took my wife a total of 5 minutes to install the chip.

It booted everything we had to test it with, including all imports and “trouble games” like SSBB and SMG.

Final Thoughts and Comments: Grade: A ++

This is the future of modchips for the Wii, in my opinion. If my wife can install this in 5 minutes, anyone can install this chip. It is well designed, and is solidly built. The ribbon cable clips are made of strong plastic, and have a tight grip on the cable when clamped down.

I was also impressed with the built in configuration menu. Most modchips require you to burn a config disc to change the setting. With the DriveKey, you simply press the Eject Button 3 times and a red led lights up on the chip, and the Wii sees a gamecube disc in the drive. Start the disc, and you are shown the configuration menu for the chip. I can autoblock updates from imports and autoboot games when the disc is inserted.

I cannot speak highly enough of this modchip. It will likely change the way modchips are designed in the future for the Wii. Bold statement, to be sure, but when my wife can install it in 5 minutes and there is no soldering necessary, how could chip makers not take this route in the future. No need to worry about different installations for different drive chips. No removing epoxy. Just clip it in and you are done.

I highly, highly recommend this modchip to anyone modding their Wii in the future.

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