Modbo 750 and three PS2s - HELP!

Okay, so I've finally traced down a genuine Modbo 750 (1.93 firmware) and I've got a small problem - I have about three PS2s and I don't know in which one should I solder the chip.

These are the models:

1. SCPH-30004R, v5, GH-015 motherboard
2. SCPH-50003, v9, GH-023 motherboard
3. SCPH-75003, v14, GH-041 motherboard

I'm not sure which one should I go with. A part of me would choose the v5 because it already has the points dipped in solder from some previous mod. Another part of me would go with the v9 because of fast loading times. And the last part of me would go with the v14 because of being small and easier to carry.

So, which one to mod? For the record, I do know FMCB exists, but I'd want to create a FMCB/ Modbo combo. I usually had a pretty nice outcome out of this.

 

Pick whichever one you're most likely to play PS1 games on, FMCB the others. HDD support w/ OPL > burning stuff.

 

As the v14 is a Slim I'd be more partial to pick that for practical usage. No on board Network Adapter hookup for an HDD, USB loading is slow, so the only discless method you'd have via OPL for reliability would be streaming games from an SMB share.

 

Well, it's down to one of the fats, since I might be getting a Network Adapter and a 160GB Seagate, although I'll still play discs. (as weird as it sounds)
Gotta decide which one though, as I know the v5 is older and doesn't fry lasers, but at the same time, v9 has a faster loading time (on par with the v14 actually) and then there's the Matrix PIC fix. Will see once it arrives here I guess.

Also, I do need the PS1 feature because with FMCB + PSXLoader ELF it will run games in PAL regardless of their region (i.e Crash Bandicoot 1 will run in PAL even though it's marked as NTSC)

 

I don't think you should use this as a metric. I don't think there is supposed to be such a difference because all PS2 models were designed to have similar specifications.
If your GH-015 is giving problems, perhaps the CD/DVD subsystem needs maintenance.

If you're referring to the video mode, you can use PS1VModeNeg. Nearly all PS2 console models were essentially the same.
But if you're going to modchip the console anyway, you don't need PSXLoader...?

 

I decided I'll go with the GH-015 v5. The CD/DVD drive is okay (although I've never seen a KHS-400c with orange PCB), it reads every kind of disc, and it looks like it was previously modded (patch points have solder on them already) and the only point that looked like it was screwed (two component ends soldered together) was the SCEX point, although I can run PS1 discs fine. I'll fix that when I install the chip.

As for PS1VModeNeg - I tried it and I don't really like it. Even with a modchip (I tried it on a Magic 3.1 modded 30004R/v5) it won't run NTSC titles on a PAL console unless I do the swap trick.

Now for a few questions - anything I should take great care of after I get the Modbo? I know the usual stuff such as the fact it's the "original" design of Modbo 4.0 and that it's not upgradeable. Other than that, I'm pretty happy they used the stock 1.93 firmware, full with Matrix logo.

And since I'm dissasembling the console - can I use an v10 fan while at it? I'd want to make it quieter, because the fan it uses now is pretty loud.

 

must be the chip then

 

Do you have a network adapter yet? Because with one installed (or maybe having a HDD in there is the relevant bit, not sure) the fans will be constantly set to max speed. So noise levels are sth you might want to look into before deciding between the phats.

 

I should mention the chip ran NTSC games fine without PS1VModeNeg?

rso - that's why I am asking if it's okay to swap in a v10 fan which more silent into the v5. I want to go with the v5 and have heard people who swapped in v9/10 fans into older machines (v7 mostly) but I want to know if that's okay in the long run.

 

Oops, missed that.
Not sure how interchangeable the fans are between models if you intend to salvage one, but whatever you do, do not buy a crappy replacement from china. I did, and right out of the box it was just as loud as the fifteen-year-old Sony model.

 

Don't worry. It's a genuine AVC 7v fan.

 

You need to put your modchip into PS mode. If you cannot do that, then your modchip isn't suitable for this.
PS1VModeNeg only deals with fixing the video mode. Whether you can boot imported games or not, is dependent on your modchip.

Why not just go with the SCPH-50000 series? No need to do any modding to the fan.

It's not just the fan that is newer, but the power consumption of the console is generally lower too.

If your modchip already has a function to correct the video mode, then you do not need PS1VModeNeg.

 

The modchip that I used (Magic 3.1) does boot PS1 games. The thing is it won't boot them with PS1VModeNeg, even though it's in PS1 mode.

I've already had the v9 pop a laser in front of my face. Better safe than sorry. I'll probably fix that and have it as a unmodded machine with FMCB.

Magic 3.1 does NOT have a function to correct the video mode. (in fact, the only ICs on that chip is a SX28 chip and a clock generator (most likely) It's one reason I'm going with a Modbo 750.

 

So I guess, the problem that you have is with PS1VModeNeg always detecting the disc as a PS2 CD-ROM? Is there a mode to force PS mode for the modchip?
It's still a problem with your modchip's design though. But at most, I could probably change PS1VModeNeg to accept PS2 CD-ROMs too (given that PS1DRV doesn't check whether it is a PS or PS2 CD-ROM)...

So you do have another fat console? Why not get the slimline then? Since you want to use discs, you don't need FMCB nor the HDD unit.
Slimlines probably have better designs for the optical drive, plus they are newer (less wear and tear).

If you go with the SCPH-75000 series and newer, its PS1DRV module is universal. Unless PS1VModeNeg cannot determine the region with SYSTEM.CNF (I guess, a handful of games are like that), the compatibility list for the corresponding region should be used too. I can't vouch for how modchips do correct the video mode though.

However, the SCPH-75000 has a slightly worse compatibility rate than the SCPH-77000 series and later. You need to check if any of the affected titles do concern you.

If that chip will do what you want, good for you.

 

There's some weird juju definitely going on with the Magic 3.1, since if I load uLE on it with the disc in, it will say CDVD= PS1 CD, so the chip clearly switched to the PS1 mode successfully. What I don't get is why would it not load NTSC games on PS1VModeNeg, since if I try running them normally (so without PS1VModeNeg) they will boot up and work, although in 50Hz, regardless of their region (PAL,NTSC-U/C/J)

I want to use both the disc drive and the HDD unit, so I can back up my games to the HDD using HDLoader.

 

So what actually happens? What do you see?
If you have not seen PS1VModeNeg work, it should (at v1.10) display some messages at boot before the PS1 logo appears. If no disc is inserted, then it will wait for a valid disc to be inserted.

If you saw no messages, then something else is wrong here. I did test it with wLaunchELF, but uLaunchELF v4.42d should work too.

So you want to do everything, with 1 console? I see.

 

What happens is that it will show the PS1VModeNeg messages, then proceed loading the disc. I watched both a PAL and a NTSC disc - the moment the NTSC game freezes on PS1VModeNeg is just after resetting the drive, before the actual PS1 logo will show and the disc will still spin (at 2x speed) but that's it. No more lens activity after it speeds up to 2x. PAL games will simply load as usual.

An same effect is produced if I try swapping a NTSC PS1 disc on a unmodded PAL machine just after the blue Sony mist goes away.

To put it more simple - somehow through PS1VModeNeg, the PS2 will act as a unmodded machine, and won't load NTSC discs, even though it's chipped,and stay on a black screen. If I simply load the game WITHOUT using PS1VModeNeg, it will detect the NTSC game, show the PS logo, and then load the game.