Playstation PS1 drastic laser unit replacement

Hey all !
Many threads in the forum talk about Playstation PS1 laser unit replacement, I think you would probably all agree to say that this part of the console may be the first one to give way (as long as you use the Playstation as it's expected to be used !!!).
Rather than buying a cheap chinese replacement laser unit, I'm just wondering if replacing the laser unit by a standard CD-Rom drive (PC) couldn't be an alternative ??? Never had problem with them ! Of course I'm not talking about fitting the CD-Rom drive into the shell (!) but just finding a solution to have it recognized by the hardware, using I/O parallel or soldering wires to the motherboard ?...
Does it make sense or... ? Has anyone ever tried to do this ?
Thanks for reading !

 

PSIO may be close to that, they did consider hard drive connection to the board that is connected to PSX parallel port. It was scrapped in favor of using SD card instead.

Unless you have ethic issue with ripped PSX ISO, running them off SD card with PSIO card would probably be easier than replacing broken laser system.

 

I've just visited psio.com.au and I must say that this project is brilliant. It's easy to guess how difficult that development is. It's a little bit different from the idea I had but I should be in the first to pre-order my PSIO cartridge !
Also still interested by coupling a standard CD-Rom drive to a PS1 ! Maybe that would be easier to replace a laser unit by another [different] laser unit (less aesthetics !...) ?

 

I wouldn't get your hopes up about PSIO really, the people responsible are currently at odds with each other and last time I checked were sniping and bickering amongst themselves. I think that project is dead as fried chicken I'm afraid.

 

Buy a new laser and you solve your problems
Never had any problem with cheap chinese laser, only few times i've had adjust the pot for better reading.

 

@ Xeauron : I hope the project is not dead but to be honnest I decided not to make donation as I can't be sure that I'll get something working at the end... I'd prefer wait and see what's going to happen with this but I'm definitively very interested by the thing !!!

@ master991 : Buying a cheap chinese laser unit is what I've recently done from eBay but for some reason CD-R discs don't load correctly sometimes. Maybe it would just need an adjustment ?
The second point is lifetime -and in that point of view, PSIO is a very interesting solution-, I would have been very confident with 'made in Japan' laser units but from China, you can buy the best but also the worse... What I'm trying to find is a long-term solution to keep the PS1 working, replacing a specific component by a standard one.

 

There was an argument about them taking donations for a project at the stage it's at being fraudulent. Though I don't know all the details to be honest, I'm sure there's a thread on here somewhere with more info on it about this project. I would find out if the project is still alive and well from a reliable source before considering donating, otherwise you may as well burn your money or go out to a bar and treat a random stranger to a few drinks, at least that way you'd see what's happening to your money.

 

It is still alive, they got a batch of PCB a few weeks ago and showed picture of proto board populated with components. I haven't heard a word since then.

There was a thread about them being a scam, it was killed by a moderator as it was becoming nasty flame war.

 

Well, even not being familiar at all with electronics & programming, it's easy to guess how difficult (long) that kind of project could be. I've seen this site weeks/monthes ago and it has been updated since my last visit. I used the 'contact' page from their site to get in touch yesterday, asking how (but also when) I could order or pre-order the cartridge and I had the answer this morning ! I suppose there is someone taking care of all of this then... Unfortunately, there is no option for those who didn't donate to pre-order the cartridge at the moment, and 'You will have to wait until the final version is ready.'. This is the answer I got. Will wait then !... That may give me enough time to get this CD-Rom drive connected to my PS1 ;-)

 

When you buy a new laser passes age before it die again at 100%
Also the price of new unit it's very cheap and i think that in a couple of years CD-R became rare (the quality of CD nowdays are pure shit compared 5-7 years ago )
So buy a new laser and enjoy

 

I donated a minor amount to those guys back when they had no idea how they were going to pull it off, and I don't regret it. I'm amazed the project made it this far considering the lone hardware developer did it in his spare time, and it's nice to see they have some prototype PCBs made up now. It'll be cool (if and) when it sees a proper release. No rush.

Supposedly the device will be able to stream ISOs from a PC using the USB connector. That'd be how i'd have it set up.

 

@ master991 :
You are right... About CD-R, I always buy 'made in Japan' discs (JVC) but fitting a standard CD-Rom drive was mainly to read the original PS1 discs I've got ! I also found that idea very interesting in the way that you wouldn't have to 'clip' the disc in the console but basically use the tray. I also have the fat & slim PS2 consoles and I must say that I really HATE the crispy sensation I've got when I put a DVD in the slim model, I always use the fat model !
What I'm going to do is just wait & see if I've got someone who could help me here but... I may buy a spare laser unit in the weeks to come if the job appears to be too complicated !...
Do you think I should adjust the laser unit I put into my modded SCPH-5502 ? Did you use this : http://dogbreath.de/PS1/LaserAlignment/Laser.html ?

 

That guide it's absolutely useless, specially for your model.

 

PSIO may be the only hope for allowing a PSX console to not require any future laser replacements. However, the price may turn off casual retro-gamers.

There needs to be an "everdrive" model for the PSX, too. Have some competition in this .

 

Hey,
@ master991 : Might you have informations about laser unit setting for the SCPH-5502 please ?
@ madhatter256 : Are you saying that the PSIO cartridge is going to be bloody expensive ? (I'm a casual retro-gamer !) Of course an 'everdrive' for the PS1 would also be a very good idea but I do appreciate to have the option to play my discs. Having both would be the nice solution...
But I'm still very interested by replacing that PS1 laser unit by a standard CD-Rom drive...

 

For settings of laser of scph 550X series you need an oscillator and, using a psx original game, you can tring to set the optimal value rotating the trimmer on the laser flat. All the procedure can be find on the service manual
I hope and i'm very happy if someone a day can build a real alternative to Cd reading on the psx

 

Thank you for your answer, I must say that I've never been curious enough to read the manual (only 3 buttons on the console !!!) but anyway I don't have an oscillator at home...

 

no! manual of psx =\= service manual!

 

Yes, that's for sure ! Could you please help me to find my head ?... ;-)

 

This PSIO sound awesome, first I ever heard of it to. From the sound of it it probable could resurrect my old PS1 where the power connector to the laser got torn off the board. Hope this doesn't brake the bank when it is completed.