PS2 Hardware: CHIP REVISION(s)

Some interesting info I was collecting here:

Values generated by the PCSX2 ROM dumper on the GH-001 SCPH-10000:


[EE]
CPUrev=0x2E14 EE = CXD9542GB
FPUrev=0x2E12
BOARDid=0xFFFF
VU0MEMsize=4KB;4KB (*)
VU1MEMsize=16KB;16KB (*)
GSrev=0x5508 GS = CXD2934GB
GSMEMsize=4MB (*)
ICache=16KB
Dcache=8KB
MEMsize=32MB


[IOP]
CPUrev=0x0015 IOP = CXD9553GB
ICache=4KB (*)
Dcache=1KB (*)
MEMsize=2MB
BOARDinf=0xFF
SPU2rev=0x06 SPU = CXD2942R
SPU2MEMsize=2M (*)
CDVDmecha=0x00010200 CXP101064-605R (605R is the FW rev)
CDVDmeka=0x--
DEV9rev=0x0020 CXD9566R (PCMCIA type DEV9)
SPDrev=0x--
SPDcaps=0x--
SPDmac=--:--:--:--:--:--
USBhcrev=0x00000010
iLinkports=2
iLinkspeed=400
iLinkvendor=0x00A0B8
iLinkdevice=0x600100
iLinkSGUID=0x--------


(*) values are not detected

Values generated by the PCSX2 ROM dumper on the GH-003 SCPH-18000:


[EE]
CPUrev=0x2E14 EE = CXD9542GB
FPUrev=0x2E12
BOARDid=0xFFFF
VU0MEMsize=4KB;4KB (*)
VU1MEMsize=16KB;16KB (*)
GSrev=0x5508 GS = CXD2934GB
GSMEMsize=4MB (*)
ICache=16KB
Dcache=8KB
MEMsize=32MB


[IOP]
CPUrev=0x0015 IOP = CXD9553GB
ICache=4KB (*)
Dcache=1KB (*)
MEMsize=2MB
BOARDinf=0xFF
SPU2rev=0x06 SPU = CXD2942R
SPU2MEMsize=2M (*)
CDVDmecha=0x00020200 CXP102064-005R
CDVDmeka=0x--
DEV9rev=0x0020 DEV9 = CXD9566R
SPDrev=0x--
SPDcaps=0x--
SPDmac=--:--:--:--:--:--
USBhcrev=0x00000010
iLinkports=2
iLinkspeed=400
iLinkvendor=0x00A0B8
iLinkdevice=0x600100
iLinkSGUID=0x--------


(*) values are not detected
Values generated by the PCSX2 ROM dumper on the SCPH-18000 with GH-008 motherboard:


[EE]
CPUrev=0x2E20 EE = CXD9615GB
FPUrev=0x2E20
BOARDid=0xFFFF
VU0MEMsize=4KB;4KB (*)
VU1MEMsize=16KB;16KB (*)
GSrev=0x5515 GS = CXD2944GB
GSMEMsize=4MB (*)
ICache=16KB
Dcache=8KB
MEMsize=32MB


[IOP]
CPUrev=0x001F IOP = CXD9619GB
ICache=4KB (*)
Dcache=1KB (*)
MEMsize=2MB
BOARDinf=0xFF
SPU2rev=0x06 SPU = CXD2942R
SPU2MEMsize=2M (*)
CDVDmecha=0x00020200 CXP102064-005R
CDVDmeka=0x--
DEV9rev=0x0020 DEV9 = CXD9566R
SPDrev=0x--
SPDcaps=0x--
SPDmac=--:--:--:--:--:--
USBhcrev=0x00000010
iLinkports=2
iLinkspeed=400
iLinkvendor=0x00A0B8
iLinkdevice=0x600100
iLinkSGUID=0x--------


(*) values are not detected

Values generated by the PCSX2 ROM dumper on the SCPH-30001 with GH-006 motherboard:


[EE]
CPUrev=0x2E20 CXD9615GB
FPUrev=0x2E20
BOARDid=0xFFFF
VU0MEMsize=4KB;4KB (*)
VU1MEMsize=16KB;16KB (*)
GSrev=0x5515 CXD2944GB
GSMEMsize=4MB (*)
ICache=16KB
Dcache=8KB
MEMsize=32MB


[IOP]
CPUrev=0x001F CXD9619GB
ICache=4KB (*)
Dcache=1KB (*)
MEMsize=2MB
BOARDinf=0xFF
SPU2rev=0x07 CXD2942AR
SPU2MEMsize=2M (*)
CDVDmecha=0x01020600 CXP102064-102R
CDVDmeka=0x--
DEV9rev=0x0030 CXD9611R (expansion bay type DEV9)
SPDrev=0x--
SPDcaps=0x--
SPDmac=--:--:--:--:--:--
USBhcrev=0x00000010
iLinkports=2
iLinkspeed=400
iLinkvendor=0x00A0B8
iLinkdevice=0x600100
iLinkSGUID=0x--------


(*) values are not detected

The CXD codes were added by me looking at the boards themselves.
Is there anyone here interested on that kind of information ?


Edit: fixed a typo on some info

 

This kind of information is always interesting, l_oliveira, which version of (phat) ps2's would you suggest is the best in build quality based on hardware components and general hardware design/layout?

 

I may not be as qualified as l_oliveira, but for me the 390001 and 30001R are the best in built quality, better parts, reliability...

 

Better than 5000x?

 

LOL

The 5000x is the utter piece of crap from the Playstation 2 product line.

And the worst part about it is that they were intentionally rigged for breaking apart by SONY itself.

Sony put flaky resistors on the IOP address lines so they would get shorted if there were a modchip installed.

At least they thought about how burning the laser coils could put a fire at someone's home so they asked the manufacturer to rig the motor driver chip (Sanyo LA6507) to burn "a leg" if the coils short circuit. This is the source of majority of DRE issues on that model.

All PS2s are built with the "blow if modded" mentality. It got worse and worse starting at the 30001R (GH-015) and the 5000x and 700xx were the peak of flakiness. After SONY Computer Entertainment got sued in the USA they had to stop that. So they took it easy on 7500x onwards.

I'd recommend the 7900x or 9000x but if you want it to last, please do not mod it ... lol

But on my personal account I particularly like the 10k-18k range and the early 2000ish expansion bay models ("V1", "V2" and "V3")

 

Are slim PS2's more reliable than Phat models? I want to get one that will last me a good time, thought of buying new, it will not be modded.

 

Ah well, neither of my 5000x are modded so they're fine.

Also, does anyone know if a DTL-H30001 shares the same laser as SCPH-30003 and 30004? I pulled a coulple from my spares and would like to know if they're usable - for future reference.

 

7500x and up are. Even more if you keep them original.

Segasata:

Depends on what "chassis" your DTL unit is based on.

It could be a "B-Chassis", a "C-Chassis" or a "D-Chassis"

There's KHS-400A for A-chassis, KHS-400B type 1 for B and C-Chassis and KHS-400B type 2 for D-Chassis.

400B type 1 and 2 are different by the metalic fin that touches the limit switch. All original KHS-400A and KHS-400B units (this exclude China-refurbished lasers) use the old laser diode and *WILL* have the *WHITE* plastic ring on their lens.

Original lasers from SONY with the yellow ring on the lens use the new laser diode. That apply to KHS-400C only. 400A or B with yellow rings on their lens have been serviced by third parties.

 

There's a D in a circle on the back so I assume it's a D-chassis.

Thanks for the information - I think I'll grab a couple of that specific laser before prices soar or whatever just in case.

Both the laser I have on my lap are 400B and both came from D-chassis PS2 - so I think I should be okay, correct?

 

D-Chassis = V4 on modder's lingo.

Yes if both came from same type of chassis they must work.

Some adjustment may be needed.

At the service center they have an test "jig" and diagnosis/adjustment software that makes most adjustments to the motherboard so you don't need to tinker with the laser pots.

You may need to if you use just your hands and a screwdriver, though... :thumbsup:

Edit: I have a UK 50003 and it bears a D in a circle as well. I think it's some kind of safety certification instead.

 

Well, the first PSTwo models (V12, V13 and even some V14) had a very high failure rate. The laser would die, the driver controller would overheat / shorted even on unmodded consoles.

I know some people that bought PSTwo's and two weeks later if was already dead.

Modchip companies even made a fix for it, an extra small board that was added to the console. Some like these:

http://www.modchipstore.com/PS2-V12-Diode-Fix-MFD-16206.html
http://modchipstore.com/PS2-V12-Neo-Fix-Xii-MFD2-16205.html
http://www.discoazul.com/neo-fix-xiv-pstwo-v12-v14_po.html
http://www.discoazul.com/neo-fix-v12_po.html

People with unmodded consoles had to do that, or the console would keep dying on them.

 

I've never heard of cases that bad - but I guess it could happen.

 

My V12 is still going strong! It was MODDED consoles that required the romeo mod. :nod:

Anyway, I don't like slim. :110:

 

Honestly I've never seen a V12 need extra fans or further mods if the owner didn't add a modchip.

Here in Brazil modders HAD A UGLY HABIT of stealing the screws from the consoles so that could count as another reason for increase on faults.

I aways say that the engineer who designed the PS2 spent ten years of his life studying on world grade engineering course while the average "technician" here spent usually four years on middle school and thinks he knows more than the Japanese engineer who designed the PS2. "There's no need for such screws"

SCREW THEM !OH:

 

That's great.

Unfortunately i saw many V12 and V13 needing the fix, days or weeks after they were purchased. 90% of them were not modded at all.

 

I too remember even the V9 5000x models needing the Pin17 lift romeo mod.

I have a 5000x (only once used the laser on it to read a disc, it's HDLoader'd now) and a 9000x non-modded but I would eventually like to have one capable of reading dvd-r.

P.S. does anyone else find it shockingly convienient (planned) that Sony ended the PSTwo's just as they ran out of SCPH numbers in the 10000-90000 range? I guess there's room for a few 9000x or maybe even 9x00x if they needed to.

 

This post allow me to ask some things about diferent revision of PS2.

It well know it exist some game wich have bugs when are played on some revision of playstation 2 (firt version of GT3, Star Ocean 3, some Konami's games...). Why these games does not work on some ps2 revisions ?

In early stage of PS2 life (2002 - 2003), I read that some PS2 after 10k have a lack of a few components for cutting costs. It result of incompatibilities or glitch on few games. Why ? What is these missing components ?

 

There's no missing components. Actually, there's a BUG on the 1st version of the EE chip (it's a known issue and is documented on the official SDK)

And some games had a slight bugfix on the code to play. It was later fixed in the version 2.0 of the CPU (CXD9615GB) which also had a smaller core and ran at 1.8v instead of 2v of the CXD9542GB. That's the excuse they had regarding "overheating.

No PS2 ever overheated, they just stopped making the expensive, flawed CXD9542GB EE chip in favor of the CXD9615GB EE chip. That was around August 2000, which is the timethey were readying for the North America release of the PS2.

So there's no NA PS2 with the old, buggy CPU. The EE CPU bug is of particular interest to developers due to the fact that ALL TOOL units and all TEST units based on "A-Chassis" (DTLH-10x00) units use the old CXD9542GB as CPU. :thumbsup:

Edit:
On a more recent time (2005) changes made to the IOP to remove the DEV9 device (and completely null the possibility of adding hard drives to SLIMS) caused a issue with the PS1 emulator and some select PS2 games also stopped working on SLIMS newer than SCPH-7500x.

 

SCPH-15000 with the add-on bios is the best one right?

 

No SCPH-15000 has the add on bios as far I know. I think you mean the GH-003 SCPH-18000 (A-Chassis plus) which has the old motherboard but new bios with DVD driver built in, connected to a small circuit board on the internal bus expansion port.

The internal bus expansion port is used, for example to connect the "COH-30000" (Don't ask me what that "COH" mean I don't know lol) PS2 board with the custom Namco board on System 246.

While I like that system a lot, it's hard to say which one is the best. I like the sturdy construction of the 10000 series. The 18000 units have that and a bios that is compatible with homebrewn software. The 10000 isn't very compatible with homebrewn due to it's earlier bios.