This is my first time looking into modding a PS2 and I am looking for some advice. This is going to be a console that I am gonna keep and I really do not want to find out later that I should have got a certain version for some reason or the other. If there is a version console that is known to be way better then another that is what I am looking for. Like someone told me before that I want a version 7 motherboard. But why I do not know. Also what is the best mod chip that was released for the PS2. I have been told by a few people the DMS4 PRO SE is. But is there a better chips out there? I am looking for a mod chip packed with features and options. Below is what I currently have and wanted to know if I have any consoles that fit what I am looking for below. SCPH 39001 date code 2B SCPH 39001 date code 3A SCPH 35001 date code 1B DTL-H30001 debug TEST console SCPH 70012 date code 4D SCPH 75001 date code 5C SCPH 79001 date code 7D (silver slim) DMS4 PRO SE mod chip (not a clone) MODBO 4.0 mod chip v1.93 with the extra 8 resistor PCB
The SCPH-39001 model is the V7. The earlier models V1-V4 were more difficult to mod and a couple of the later models (V9/V10 SCPH-5000x and V12 SCHP-70001x) required laser fixes. As far as mod chips are concerned, I think it's hard enough to find someone that actually has them for sale much less be choosey about the feature sets. I think anything besides a modbo chip will fulfill your needs. If I remember correctly, the modbo chips had this bug that would render the chip broken if you attempted to change some of the settings.
You have a debugstation (DTL-H30001). You can play imported games with that one without modding. If you want to play burned discs, just patch their images with a master disc patcher before burning. As with all your consoles, use high quality discs like Verbatim DVD-R discs that were manufactured by either Taiyo Yuden or Mitsubishi. The SCPH-75000 and SCPH-79000 series slimlines that you have should be quite reliable if you want to play with discs. The only problem with using them is that you can only boot discs, since they cannot have a HDD unit connected. Don't bother with the SCPH-70000 series because its laser is prone to getting fried, even if you don't modify it. The ultimate way to play games would be to just use FMCB, get a network adaptor for one of your expansion bay sets, and use OPL to play games off the HDD unit. Since the CD/DVD drive isn't used, the console will last for as long as its electronics will last. If you want to go a step further and get a really Sony-like experience, use HDLGameInstaller to install your games to the HDD unit. Install a hacked HDD OSD (browser v2.00) update along with FHDB, and you can then boot the games directly from the HDD OSD as if you downloaded them from the PSBBN. With FHDB installed on your HDD, you don't need a memory card with FMCB installed in order to start homebrew software.
What about the 77000 series?Are they the same as 75000 or 79000? I agree on having FHDB on a PS2,due to saving LOTS of space for game saves on the memory card.In fact,I hate not having a network adapter,since that would save me lots of headaches for not having enough space for games.
I have been running free MCboot from slot 2 on the memory card port. You can direct everything to boot off that and a thumb drive for all the .elf files. Then a memory card in slot 1 for normal game saves. Most games are directed to save to slot 1. This way I can keep all the stuff separate. I think I am gonna mod the Phat PS2. The slim sound like a pain in the butt to deal with and to install a internal hard drive I would have to buy that case. I like to have the hard drive internal and the Phat is perfect already for that. I always prefer a hard mod to a soft mod and when I got the chance to get the DMS4 SE PRO I figured that should be the push I need to do it! I am glad that I asked these questions because I did not know that only the v12 can support the internal hard drive and they have laser issues. So that helped me decide to go with the Phat model.
It appears to be a more refined version of the SCPH-75000, at least from the manufacturing process point of view. With FHDB, you can store everything on the HDD unit. Suit yourself, but the only real reasons why a modchip is better is because you can boot imported/burned PlayStation games and use the original PlayStation 2 discs. It's not really a "soft-mod" anyway, since nothing was actually modified. I think that it's more of an exploit because it's leveraging on the OSD update mechanism of these consoles to run homebrew software. Modchips may also interfere with the way some software run as well. Plus after FMCB, FHDB and OPL came out, they are no longer mandatory for playing imported/burned discs. The SCPH-70000 series does not officially support the HDD unit. It may have the electronics left over and you can "add" a HDD bay to it, but that will be only useful for homebrew software, and for ATAD-patched games if you use a 28-bit LBA disk. Its boot ROM does not contain support for the HDD, which means no direct booting to the HDD. Since it is a slimline with a different DVD player design, the HDD OSD will not support it either. But if you're not ever going to bother with the HDD OSD, then this will do as well.
