Differences between FAT ps2 motherboards and DEV9 interfaces

Hi, i've read seomewhere in this forum that tere's some differences between DEV9 interfaces on the ps2 motherboard.
In particular, the consoles ranging from GH-015 to GH-023 with CXD9686xx have some issues with some network adapter chipset, like CXD9624...

Unlike the latest FAT V10-V11 or GH-026\GH-027 wich have none of these issues, because of the new fixed CXD chip.

Can someone more expert (@l_olivera, @sp193 or someone else?) can explain me which are those issue?


Thanks

 

I don't actually know, as I was always quoting l_Oliveira.

The DEV9 interface is an expansion interface. The chip in question here is the SSBUSC (SS-bus Controller), which I understand as the chip controls access to most peripherals on the console.

Some (random) consoles have the CXD9686, although I have to say that I was more inclined to think that it's not actually an issue because SCE never documented such a problem. I ended up agreeing with l_Oliveira because it seemed likely after one user on PSX-scene found a newer network adaptor to be compatible with his console (while his older network adaptor gave issues with its ATA interface).

To begin with, no actual tests were made to determine whether the CXD9686 indeed resulted in worse ATA device compatibility, when connected to certain SPEED (expansion) devices. The PlayStation 2 retail ATA driver does not issue an IDENTIFY DEVICE command to get information on the connected device, so compatibility could be already slightly worse because of that. The users did not even use the same HDDs.

 

Ah ok, thanks sp193.
So at least shuold be an ata device compatibilty issue, and not a speed transfer issue, right?
Maybe l_olivera can help resolve this mistery!? XD

 

That being said, it's not actually known why there are compatibility issues with certain ATA devices. Or if there's actually a definite pattern.

FYI, the "fixed" chip that you're talking about is the CXD9611. It's actually used in even the first SCPH-30000 revisions. The CXD9686 is used randomly across all models and regions, even in the SCPH-50000.

As it's randomly used across console revisions, I find it hard to definitely say that it's a flawed chip. If it was really flawed then SONY would have probably introduced workarounds and/or cease the use of the flawed chip in later console models.

But it was written that there were some early US (And European? I don't really remember) units that were recalled because their expansion interfaces had some problem. I don't think that SONY ever documented what the problem was, but they handled it by displaying an error code (881) when DNAS software is run on such unsupported sets.

 

hmm ok!
thanks as always sp193

 

There's "revisions" on the CXD9611 chip.

A, B and R, for example.

A and B seem to be identical function wise. I believe R would be found on late 3900x up to early 5000x (before they merged the SSBUC with the SPU2).

Funny enough, if your console malfunctions when used with a older network adapter using the CXD9624 chip you can always look for another network adapter made with the newer chip (CXD9731). Apparently the newer chip has fixes in it which make it better in compatibility with all the expansion bay port variations.

That's what SP193 was talking about.

Last model having a real SSBUC chip was the slim with speed chip (GH-035/GH-032). After that all the stuff was moved inside the IOP.

 

ok! thanks as always l_olivera