Playstation 2 TOOL HDD compatibility question

So I've been wondering (since I've been trying to find some ps2 pcmcia cards) that if I used a Development PCMCIA card, is there a possibility that I could still use a retail BB Unit? I know I normally need an DTL-H20400, but I was wondering if I could use a (much more common) SCPH-20400 unit. Trying to find a dev unit is not only harder, but since it's a development unit, it's too expensive under normal circumstances.

Thanks for any answers in advance.

 

They are identical, yes.
I don't think the HDD stand (the one that fits to the bottom of the hdd and gives it its own little beveled stand) shipped retail though (if you care about cosmetics)

 

Alright. Thought I'd ask before buying an expensive DTL unit.

 

As defor says, they are identical in every way that matters, apart from the label, an extra plastic stand with twist in metal fasteners, and the PCMCIA ethernet connector is at the end of a short cable and not actually in the card like the retail PCMCIA. I run two DTL HDD on my SCPH-10000 one for linux, the other for games, I also have a retail PCMCIA card and I can swap n change without issue..

 

Ok. I'll look out for one for my T10k since I don't have any SCPH-10000 models.

 

Just to confirm so there is no doubt here, The retail SCPH-20400 can be used on a T10K TOOL like one would normally use the DTL-H20400?
With the only thing different being its missing the little stand and label?

 

I am using the SCPH-10190+SCPH-20400 with my DTL-T10000HJ.

It would make sense, since the DTL-H10010 can be used on the DTL-H10000, which is physically similar to the SCPH-10000.

 

I thought TOOLs didn't have a letter after the end of the "serial number", unless you meant the TEST, or you have a unique TOOL.

 

You mean the model number? There was the DTL-T10000, which were exchanged for the newer DTL-T10000H that could support the HDD unit. According to SCEI anyway.

For my TOOL, it was from Japan, hence the J. US TOOLs have an A.

 

Mine has no H, but it has the PC Card slot, so it I believe was sent in to SCEI and converted to an H, or is an H model but just doesn't say that.

When I said that, I was meaning the J, but it's odd, since mine doesn't have an A or a J or a different letter. Thinking about it, it probably is a J, since when I put in Sonic Heroes, it started in Japanese, so I figure it's a Japanese board.

Thanks for the info. I'll be able to go looking for HDDs without spending too much on a DTL card or HDD unit.

 

I thought the H model had the DVD emulator installed by default?

 

Mine doesn't have a DVD Emulator.

 

But yours has no H, so thats no surprise if that's the case.

 

I have a H that doesn't have the emulator so I don't think all of them came with it.

 

The DVDEmu was an extra option from SN Systems and was not standard at all.

The H was just to tell the "v2" models since they came standard with the PCMCIA and support for PS2 side HDD while the none H afaik are original kits that where sent in to SCEI so they could have the PCMCIA and HDD capabilities added on.

Mine is a none H but it does have the PCMCIA slot with a little H sticker under it.

This is just my assumptions so if someone that knows more could clarify it would be nifty.

 

According to the teardown guide, the DTL-T10000 already had the PC CARD slot, although the number of parts there was different. I remember @unclejun mentioning that it's already functional.
So it is possible that SCEI's idea of "functional" is different. Perhaps the older TOOL's MECHACON wasn't capable of being used with DNAS...

The T10K has no OSD configuration, so games will default to Japanese.
The documentation did describe how to "change" the settings with the OSD library.

If you got your TOOL from America, then the chances that it was issued from SCEA are probably pretty high.
TOOLs don't have regions. So it is also a pretty good question as to why they started to add lettering that seemed to indicate the "region" that the TOOL was for.

The backplate of my DTL-T10000H J mentioned that it'll "only" run on 100V, so I was hesitant to plug it in at first until I opened it to confirm that the PSU accepted 100-240V. That is one difference, but it doesn't seem like something that warrants a specifc model number.

No, it was an optional thing.
My DTL-T10000H has no DVD emulator board installed.

It's a very good question as to why there is this distinction. So far, we have a few confirmations that the PC CARD interface is functional on these older models.

 

Well I sure hope the PC CARD slot on my tool is functional, I would prefer to be able to interface with the HDD with it than not be able to, with how load times can be a pain to deal with, especially if I were to buy one and find that it didn't work.

 

I think it was @fate6 who told me that his could interface with the PC CARD network adaptor, so you should be fine.
But in the first place, gaming on this thing is... more of a "because I could" since it wasn't quite meant for convenient gaming. You know, OPL doesn't work on the TOOL without extra help, unless you are referring to some other method to play games?

 

Could always put a games disc in it

I assume he wants the HDD for games that give an HDD install option and yea mine seems to work but I don't have an HDD to attach to it, network seems to work at least.

 

Even so, it doesn't boot discs automatically and it's going to be a pain to repair if it breaks. Well, if it is really what he wants, it's fine I guess.