Time to mod the ol' PS2! (installing a mod chip)

A yaroze works for imports and a debug works for imports and backups. Or you can mod a retail.
For the debug and retail you have to be careful to get one that supports both 50 & 60 hz.

 

The good thing about PS1 is that it's not rigged. It's rigged on late models, but not in the same way as PS2s.

Late PS1s (SCPH-900x and PSOnes) have automatic laser power control. Constant SCEx patching will cause the automatic laser power control to overpower the laser (this happens on all PS2 units too but affects only the CD laser... PS2s using NEO2 swap chips or USB modchips would have blown up CD lasers but perfectly working DVD lasers after a while of being subjected to this abuse. I've repaired a couple of these.)

So while PS1s don't blow the coils, they have laser wear down problem if the modchip is poorly designed.

 

Hmm, I guess I'm only really attached to my PS1 games since my Final Fantasy games use the cooler-looking PAL cover vs the USA cover For my PS2, it wouldn't really mind having to buy them again, but there's the chance there might be a Japan-exclusive game I would want to play. I guess in that case I could use Free MC Boot. What modchip is a good one for the PS1?

 

For ps1 i suggest to you MaYuMi V4 for old fat psx and onechip for ltest psone (the little white model )
If you have an old scph 100X use mayumi V1 or Multimode 2.1
MM3 it's a copy-paste of mayumi but useses internal oscillator of pic (mayumi uses a pin of CPU (?) of psx to give a perfect sincronization of code)
You can burn code on pic 12C50X or pic 12F50X, works perfectly on either pics

 

Thanks for the tip master991!

Do you guys know much about the disk swap trick for the PS2? I see there's a disk called Swap Magic that lets you play imports, but it requires the use of a tool to force the drive tray open in order to change disks. Would this damage the console?

I also see there's another mod that involves plugging in an extra circuit board to the PS2 (http://www.modchip.ca/install/ps2/nosolder/nosolder.htm), does this work well?

 

They say that the swap trick will eventually ware out the tray motor, but I don't know if this has ever been proven. I use to have one and the compatibility was almost perfect iirc. But honestly, it's just a pain to have to swap a disk every time you want to play a game. Also, from my experience, SuccessHK/SuperUFO (the company who manufactures Swap Magic & HD Advance) makes poor quality disks. 2 of the four disks I have from them have a noticeable crack in the center of the disk that will eventually result in the disk shattering :O. Also, the CD-ROM version litterally took close to 3 minutes to boot most of the time and cause a huge amount of audible stress on the laser motor.

Overall, I don't recommend Swap Magic. Like others have said in this thread, these are your two best options:
1. Fat PS2 + Net. Adapter + HDD + HD Loader or HD Advance
2. Fat or compatible Slim PS2 + FreeMCBoot + ESR

 

Arugh, I'm really looking for a way of playing the original disks here.... I don't think there's THAT many USA-exclusive PS2 games (Katamari Damacy is the only one that comes to mind) so having the swap disks wouldn't be that inconvenient for the occasional USA-exclusive game. As to poor quality disks, what if you burned a copy of Swap Magic onto a good quality DVD-R?

 

PS2 more or less tied copy protection with the region code. It's impractical to defeat one but not the other. I think you'd need a swap trick to load burned Swap Magic.

As for games without PAL, IIRC...

Mega Man Anniversary Collection
Mega Man X Collection
Tales of the Abyss
Tales of Legendia
Xenosaga 1
Xenosaga 3
Inuyasha Feudal Combat
Inuyasha Secret of the Cursed Mask
Kingdom Hearts Re Chain of Memories
The Nightmare of Druaga
Grandia Xtreme
Grandia 3
Dawn of Mana
Mana Khemia 2

 

Hmmm, a few games there I wouldn't mind owning. Still, when it comes down to which will kill my PS2, modchip vs slide tool and Swap Magic, it sounds like Swap Magic is the better option. It also gives me the option of mod chipping it later if a solution to laser death is ever found. I assume NTSC games run at 60Hz when loaded with Magic Disk?

 

It should. Unless the swap disk runs a patch. PS2 doesn't associate in-game video format with either the console's origin, or game region code. Any instance of the same game disk is supposed to default the same mode on all PS2s.

 

That's a good point, I'll email the creators and check if NTSC games will run at 60Hz on my PAL PS2.

 

or you could sell your current PS2 and get a lower version that has less lasir issues
look for a 39xxx or lower if you can get a v4 youll be on easy street they are like tanks

that way you have the option for the modchip if at a later time you feel its needed
but OPL should keep you happy for a while

 

Oh? I thought it was only the latest revision (v13) that didn't have the fried laser issue? Do early models not have the issue as well?

 

the earlier modles have the issue but are much less prone to it like Olivia said
the V13 has it mostly fixed the v14 has it fully fixed

if you want the looks of the fat get one from v7/8 39xxx or lower they are much less prone because they are not deliberately sabotged
and the V4 is very rugged the V3 first American model is rather rugged too

just get rid of the V9+ console you have now it will save you many headaches later on

 

Oooooh, that would be ideal! Do all PS2s share the same model and revision combination? Like, if I wanted a V4, will an Australian PS2 with model numbers SCPH-30000, SCPH-30001, 35001, SCPH-30002, 35002, SCPH-30003, 35003, SCPH-30004, 35004 have a V4 mainboard? It seems like the earliest model we got in Australia was V3, but I should try and find a V4 right?

 

well they sorta share the same number scheme youll have to check this out to be sure
http://www.eurasia.nu/wiki/index.php/Ps2VersionTable

and there actuialy was a V1 to V2 in the usa but more then likely super rare
a V4 is rather uncommon but i suggest it due to its ruggedness
i have a V7 myself and love it to death

basically avoid the 5xxxx series like the plague

 

Best model to own if you're a collector:



-Models that are very well built but are of particularly difficult for servicing or modding:
SCPH-10000 (A-Chassis, GH-001)
SCPH-15000 (A-Chassis, GH-001, GH-002 or GH-003)
SCPH-18000 (A-Chassis plus GH-003 or AB-Chassis GH-008)
SCPH-3000x (GH-004 B-Chassis, GH-005 B-Chassis dash GH-006 C-Chassis to GH-007 C-Chassis dash, what pirates call V1, V2 and V3)
GH-004 and GH-005 have a function called "Automatic radial skew adjustment" or "Auto tilt motor" on own SONY wording which means the drive will "automagically" move the skew adjust (white gear) to a "sweet spot" that is saved on the eeprom. When turned on "Diagnosis" on the system dashboard the drive will move the radial skew adjust and will change the laser power accordingly to the disc. WHY SONY DID NOT PROGRAM IT TO AWAYS ADJUST THE RADIAL SKEW I'll leave up for you to imagine. Replacing the optical pickup changes the radial skew adjust and for these units the only way of properly adjusting it is changing the data on the EEPROM, which means you need to fire up SONY service software and have a PC tied to the PS2 through a service RS232C port.

-Models that are well built and are easier for servicing:
SCPH-3000x (GH-010 to GH-014 and GH-016 = D-Chassis)
SCPH-3000x (GH-015 F-Chassis , GH-017, GH-019, GH-022 all three are variations of the G-Chassis)



The sweet spot for someone who want the PS2 console to be highly repairable is a SCPH-3000x D-Chassis (V4) since you can "abuse" it as it can mechanically fit most laser models. It will work with most KHS-400B lasers without any modding (400A and early 400B will fit too if you mod the bumper to touch the limit switch inside of the PS2 unit) and KHS-400C lasers will fit it as well. Newer units will take only 400C lasers.

If you are not fiddling with the PS2 at all the best features are offered by the SCPH-5000x as the remote controller with power button is a great fun. And it can play games from the harddrive since it has a expansion bay.


Honestly I suggest you go using the HDD to play your games. Just save your precious originals from wear and tear by using the HDD loader software (I recommend Open PS2 Loader as I help them around).

 

thank you for clearing up the best of the best for PS2 modles

at least i wasn't to far off in recommending the V4
hopefully i didn't make you face palm to much >.>

 

@l_oliveira
Now you got me confused... I read in a different thread that SCPH-3900x was the best overall. Did I miss something?
Or were you just posting here the ones that are easier to repair?
Also, wasn't the SCPH-5000x a bad choice due to the laser frying faster?

I'm not questioning you, just trying to get a better understanding.

 

*Pirates* like them because they're the easiest model to mod. There's no particular reason 3900x units are better than the others.
Did I mention already that I hate modchips ? (several times already, no ? Before there were no options, now there's plenty of options for one to choose besides a modchip).

While you don't have the same level of freedom you have in a XBOX (all locks are software/signing based and once the bios lockdowns is out of your way the machine is pretty much all yours to take) it's very nice how you can do almost anything with a soft modded PS2.

I don't know if many of you are aware of the DVD player ELFs russian hackers modded for USB. That alone makes the PS2 a very decent hassle free region free DVD player.
For that purpose in particular units with auto tilt motor are the best, of course.

In a sense which unit is best depends on what you plan using the PS2 for.

Obviously if you plan to mod it anyway, you may want a SCPH-3900x.

Edit: Finally, SCPH-5000x only fry laser if abused.