here's the story, since I had lots of broken PSX units in the past I made the choice to stay away from PS2, which in time I found out was as easy to brake as the PSX. but recently a friend game me a trashed PS2 which I was able to fix and is now fully funcional (PAL SCPH39004 i think). since I've been out of the loop all these years I have a few questions I couldn find a decent bit of information about it, just modchips,bootcd's, etc and even these werent detailled, just "z0mg this chip/boot cd will run everything, even xbox and GC discs!!!1" so here are a few questions: best ways to play imports? any simpler way of running both psx or ps2 imports without having to solder 20wire modchips or using stupid cogswaps? any simple region/50/60hz mod for it? any particular detail/bug about the 390004 model? does it still have that awfull "green" bug when playing back dvd's? can the PAL model really output PAL60 as advertised in some games? i tried a few pal60 games and they look low-def like NTSC and show up in b/w, is sony shitting me and just calling NTSC=Pal60hz? what can I do with those USB ports besides using the eyetoy? do all the models have the same BIOS/firmware with the same layout and features? if there is no other option for imports then what is the best modchip method? those cogswaps just seemed silly, but I found a few bootcd's which used a HDD or even an external USB, any info on those? Feel free to add any other bits of info about the PS2 that I forgot to add/ask and you guys find useful
I'd like to know if there's any way to run homebrew on a unmodified PS2 without any special discs or other stuff, like using disc swapping or similar.
best ways to play imports? Get MAXMEMOR32, it's a memory card like modchip (inserts in the memory card slot just fine), which lets you load backups and imports for both PS2 and PSX, still, I just do swap for everything which aren't original PAL games. any simple region/50/60hz mod for it? No idea but I think that no. any particular detail/bug about the 390004 model? does it still have that awfull "green" bug when playing back dvd's? That only happens with RGB cables IIRC. My PS2 (and my friends PS2s too) can playback DVD's perfectly over composite, we used it always since DVD players we're really expensive can the PAL model really output PAL60 as advertised in some games? Eh, no idea. I don't hate PAL50 that much, I've been using it all my life with the Mega Drive. what can I do with those USB ports besides using the eyetoy? You can plug into it an optical mouse and play with the laser. do all the models have the same BIOS/firmware with the same layout and features? I think so, because I have a really new PSTwo and my friends launch month PS2's look like they have the same BIOS. if there is no other option for imports then what is the best modchip method? Those bootCD's are HD Loaders, you've gotta get a PS2 BroadBand Adapter and an IDE 3.5" PS2 compatible HDD, and if you have a PSTwo, an USB HDD which isn't worth it anyway. Just get a modchip, MAXMEMOR or use Swap Magic (stupid cogswap).
Some games do support Keyboard/Mouse controls. Others support USB keyboard for online chat functions.
The best way to play imports and stuff without any chipping is a softmod. There is one for the PS2 but it can be difficult to set up the first time. It relies on a flaw with PSX games. Basically in short you put a special save file on a memory card. Then you put a PSX game in the drive. When the console boots it runs the xploit and you have a homebrew launcher (called a key launcher when speaking about PS2) You cannot run actual DVD-R discs or other reigon discs but you can run HDLoader from the keylauncher and run any PS2 games you want from a installed HDD in the back of your fat PS2. You can run ANY region games you want. I have a 80 gig in mine with MANY NTSC-J and NTSC-U games (and 1 pal game) The games load faster and run smoother in some situations. And best of all no disc swapping.
Heres a link to a site that will tell you all about the memory card exploit, including how to do it ( If im not allowed to post that here im sorry just remove it or tell me to remove it) www.exploitstation.com Also, you might want to look into the swap magic discs with the slide tool. cheap and effective.
The other posts are spot on. If you'd like more background information, it's called the PS2 Independence Exploit and it was developed by Marcus. R. Brown to run homebrew: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PS2_Independence_Exploit It's not perfect, but then homebrew isn't supposed to be
The PS2 can output either 50 or 60 Pal. Grab a copy of 'Alone in the Dark' (PS2 version) then you will get the option to select which the game will be displayed in. Not noticed it on many titles tbh, but that is one that rattles off the top of my head as I am a 'AitD' fan and have to select each time I play it.
Thanks for all the replies! @andoba Yeah I think Im getting one of those MAXMEMOR32. How do these work? The system just boots of the memorycard or something? These can also be used with the HDD right? @devzone I have never seen a single PS1 game at PAL60HZ, only NTSC60HZ @PARRIS I also have a few borrowed games with that option but the thing is it seems fake.. its labelled PAL60hz but its really NTSC60hz When PAL60hz is selected I get a b&w picture (like any other ntsc game) and some scanlines are noticable (like any other ntsc game, because of the lower linecount of NTSC signal) the Dreamcast outputted true PAL60hz (higher refresh rate then regual PAL50hz and better definition/resolution then NTSC) and It would work fine on my tv's
Really will have to dig the game out and check as I've only ever had a colour screen appear on mine and my last TV never coped with NTSC so... The new TV displays which format it is running so effectively if I select Pal60 it would display NTSC on the top right corner if it's fake. Never noticed it do that, but you know what... must check tonight lol
You could simply use freevast/mcboot it's memor32 equivalent and it is free. You do need however a way to run homebrews on your (or someone else's) ps2 the first time to install it though
PAL60, PAL, NTSC, NTSC50,DTV can be forced using patches on the executable. PAL60 which is a standard NTSC signal with a Colour SubCarrier at the standard PAL frequency, NTSC50 is similar. There is probably 10-15 different BIOS/Firmware for the PS2.
