Hello,
You can always find a person in your hometown that installs the chips at pretty decent prices.
Installing chips in an XBOX console for sure is 10x easier then a PS2. I have my PS2 modded. I had someone else do it since I wasn't going to risk messing up my system when it came to connecting 23 wires to the board.
I agree with what KingCobra says - better to go for a sod chip over a no sod chip.
-SlickVic78