Taking the Aston Simba as an example, the 24C08 eeprom holds the version number of the STB (and boot and application currently being used). This allows boot and application files relevant to the receiver version number to be correctly flashed to RAM.
For instance, version 104, means it is a Simba 201, S*ca embedded only. Version 106 means it is a Simba 202, S*ca and V*access embedded.
So in the Simba 201 you could reprogram the eeprom to version 106 to change it to a Simba 202 (I've done it), except that you wouldn't have the second card reader and LED channel indicator panel.
Llew