PS3 TEST Unit (DECHA00A) feature

I'm considering buying a PS3 TEST unit (model no. DECHA00A), from a fellow fourm member, but wanted to know the main features and differences between a TEST unit and a normal retail unit.

The main and only extra feature i'm aware of is the TEST unit allows you to play both retail and unsigned/beta/prototype builds of games, where as the retail doesn't. Is there anything else worth knowing about?

Also anything similar to the Xbox PartnerNet?

thanks

 

Here is basically what you can do with a DECHA00A unit:

- Run playstation 3 unsigned code
- Debug and develop playstation 3 applications
- Play playstation 3 retail and debug games
- Connect to both np (retail playstation network) and sp-int (dev playstation network)
- Play Playstation 2 games from any region (DECHA only)
- Play Playstation 2 masterdiscs (DECHA only)
- Have specific features such as bd-emu or disable hdcp

Here is what you CANNOT do with a playstation 3 debugging station:

- Browse the playstation store.
- Play blurays, dvds, sacds.
- Install retail packages. (this also prevents you from updating games)
- Use playstation home, life for playstation etc etc

Wether you want one of these should depend on what use you plan on doing with those, but forget about easely playing ps3 backups in any of these units, if this is what you want it for you will have better luck purchasing a retail unit and games for the same price.

Also updates for these units are not as easy to find as on retail.

 

thanks for that mate. A shame you can't play Blu-rays or install retail stuff on it, i was hoping it would let me do everything a retail unit does + extras

never mind, thanks again though

 

Some retail pkg's can be installed if you downgrade, and iirc you can watch BD films with linux.. and for sure dump them as i did the other day so i could watch one on my pc.

But it's all what you are looking for.... for some the pros outweigh the cons... but many find out it is far from what they were looking for.. (i.e. some super warez machine) lawl

But whatever the case may be it's my opinion they get put to good use vs. collecting dust on someones shelf :/

 

Sorry, never mind.. I followed this up in the Marketplace section.

 

How does the updating process work? Get a copy of the firmware from whatever source and copy to PS3 via USB? I suppose it is not recommended to connect to the dev network if you don't have a licence for your debug system? But if you do, would you simply download firmware updates?

 

there is no internet download on debugs except if you set it to your own server.

And yeah you just put the pup on usb and start it like on retails

 

Does a DECHJ00A(40GB) play BluRay or DVD movies?

 

Nope, does not.

LOL!
But kinda true xD

 

I imagine PS3 hackers and Blu-ray dumpers could benefit quite a bit from one of those...

 

Last question, has an Test unit same RAM as retail unit?

 

As far as I'm aware, the regular Test units have the same amount of RAM as retail ones. The only exception of the DECR-1400A, which looks just like a Test, but comes equipped with 512MB system RAM.

 

That's not a TEST, that's a dev kit.

-hl718

 

believe me they have

 

>>hl718

Yeah, I only mentioned it seeing as it comes in a near-identical shell to a non-slim debug now. I've not seen one in the wild yet though, but would certainly like to gets my hands on a unit!

 

They are expensive (~2500 Euros).
But indeed, they are "scaled down" Development Tools (the VCR like ones ), going as "Reference Tool" IIRC.

 

Wow, that's a pretty steep price! I expect they're quite hard to come by too, right?

 

Yeah, they don't get "lost" as much as debugs do.
Mostly 'cause usually they are only loaned, so the studio using them must return them eventually and SCE is more picky about those as they are about the debugs.... well and the price tag is likely a reason too....

 

Are there any significant differences between a normal PS3 Test unit and the newer slim equivalents? I assume that there's no PS2 compatibility in the latter, for example.