This is a simple guide I came up with for identifying original-sized PlayStation 1 models by behavior and external appearance, so that you don't get scammed by motherboard swapping. Also, it's just interesting information in general. Note that I don't know how to recognize a Video CD PlayStation (SCPH-5903) this way, because I've never used one. Laser Unit Position The first thing to notice is the postition of the laser unit with the door open. SCPH-5500 and later models all have the laser unit in the 3-o'-clock position; earlier models all have the laser unit in the 10-o'-clock position. This pattern still applies with special models. As far as I have seen, the 10-o'-clock models always have composite video jacks whereas 3-o'-clock models never do. The only specialty model with a 3-o'-clock laser unit is a Midnight Blue system (SCPh-7000W), as far as I've seen. The SCEA Test A very important thing to check for all purported specialty (non-retail) models is whether the copy protection system displays the SCEx protection string. This check is really easy: boot a legitimate game and watch the boot sequence. On the second screen, the black one with the license string and the PS logo, look for "SCEA tm", "SCEE tm", or "SCEI tm" shown below the license message. If an SCEx tm logo is shown, the system is a retail model. This is irrespective of whether the system has a mod chip: modded PS1s still show SCEx tm, and even when booting copies or imports. Note that for imports, you can see a mismatch between the license string and the SCEx tm: the SCEx always shows the system's region whereas the license string shows the disk's. Special models never show SCEx, no matter what disk is inserted; even legitimate disks won't show it. This is true for Debugging Stations, Yarozes, and Midnight Blue models. Import-Only Test Yarozes and Midnight Blue models boot imports, but do not boot copies/homebrew CD-Rs. Only Debugging Stations can boot CD-Rs. Note that Yarozes and theoretically Midnight Blue systems can use mod chips, and in that case function almost iidentically to a Debugging Station. A modded Yaroze still doesn't show the SCEx tm string. Distinguishing a modded Yaroze from a Debugging Station can be done using the "PSX ROMid" disk with raw CD controller commands, but that is way more than I'll go into here. Distinguishing a Yaroze from a Midnight Blue is easy: Midnight Blue models are based on SCPH-700x, and thus have their laser unit at 3-o'-clock. Distinguishing the Three Debugging Stations DTL-H100x models are blue, AC-powered and do not have the region label on the back right of the top. They have ROM 2.0 typically. DTL-H110x models are blue, DC-powered and have a region label on the top back right of the unit. They have ROM 2.1 typically. DTL-H120x models are green and AC-powered. I don't know their ROM version.
Good start, I might add that the colorful blotches have a different pattern depending on the model perhaps some screenshots of the bios screen would be of benefit. The SCPH-5903 uses a PU-16 board which is configured in the same manner as a PU-7/8 board of the SCPH-1001 http://dcusb.newmail.ru/20122011/PSX/IMG_8898.JPG http://zonadepruebas.org/backup/modules/smartsection/item.php?com_mode=flat&com_order=1&itemid=433 I would love it if someone could shed some light on that little sub-board, it almost looks as if Sony had planned that from the start.
All Playstation 2 mainboards have a similar connector for a small PCB too - even the first version (SCPH-10000 GH-001). It seems indeed that they have always planned to allow all their boards (Not just Playstation 2, but the Playstation) to be upgradable. So far, that connector on the Playstation 2 mainboards seem to have only been used on the SCPH-15000 (GH-003) and arcade consoles.
Actually, that's the SCPH-18000 on "A-CHASSIS+" (Early motherboard with updated BIOS and built in DVD player ROM) design. But indeed it's GH-003. Edit: Regarding the pictures posted by Tokimemofan, the daughterboard seems to contain the actual MPEG decoder chip, a pair of EDO DRAMs and a microcontroller. The small QFP looks awfully similar to the mechanics controller that goes on these models. Also the big chip looks awfully similar to the the large chip that combines the CDROM bus interface, error correction DSP and SPU on a single chip, which is used on later PS1 consoles such as SCPH-9000 or the PSOne.
DTL-H1100 always shows SCEI string and can play any imports and CD-Rs. DTL-H1001H doesn't show SCEx string but can also play any imports and CD-Rs. I don't remember about DTL-H1000 but I know it can play CD-Rs from any region but can play originals only from NTSC/J region. I don't know about DTL-H1001 and DTL-H1002.
Pre 5000 models also have "POWER", "OPEN", and "RESET" actually written on the relevant buttons... Later models still have "RESET", but the other two were replaced with generic CD player type symbols. Early Japanese 1000 series have s-video output, and 4 felt foot pads, later US and PAL 1000's have two felt and two plastic pads, and 5000 onward are all hard plastic. Twilight, my DTL-H1001 plays CD-R and originals from ALL regions, I think only the Japanese one was restricted... Was the Japanese TEST PS2 the same also? I seem to remember reading it was.
My Japanese TEST PS2 (DTL-H10000) is the same, only reads japanese originals for ps1 and ps2, no imports or unpatched backups for ps1 or ps2. For my particular model, I was told this was because the international protection strings hadn't been implemented yet, apparently this TEST was too early.
during the move I chucked out three old PS1 to the bin and they all had s-video. Guess they must've been Japanese 1000 series then... My PAL TEST PS2 reads all regions although was told wouldn't read the backups unless master patched(?).
