The summarized DMS3 story [V5, V7, V8] (If you can't read all 200+ posts...)

[Rami]

The summarized DMS3 story so far [V5, V7, V8]:
This summarized DMS3 is for all the people out there that don't want to read all 200+ posts in the dms3 original threads ;-)

[Summarized at 02-23-2003 09:48 AM]
Original threads: http://www.ps2newz.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7492
& http://www.ps2newz.net/forums/showthread.php?threadid=7569
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Charlie: Here is the game test result for the DMS3 v1.1 tested on NTSC-J v8 model: SCPH-39006 BIOS 090 GH-022.

Please note that the update disk had to be created using specially padded files supplied by Divineo (who were very helpful). I used CDRWin to

burn special cue/bin files and the upgrade worked. The upgrade cured Region Free problems.

The DMS3 v1.1 performs broadly like Magic 3.1 on PS2 games. It does not perform to the standards of Messiah 2. No DVD-R would boot and nor

would some rips that wouldn't boot on Magic 3.x but did on Messiah 2. DVD9 and DVD9 backup were fine. Region Free worked fine. This unit

also plays PAL movies OK (because HK is a PAL region). MM16 support was fine.

The Controller modes appeared to work although I had no way of knowing if Sleep mode worked. I scored that as a fail because it booted a

backup game and did not reject an Region 1 DVD movie. Pressing EJECT for 1 second is a dodgy way of doing it and, of course, it ejects the tray.

You put whatever object you wish into the disk tray and press EJECT again. You expect backup games to be rejected ans with out-of-region

movies. Well that did not happen.

The Controller Modes needed the respective buttons to be pressed for 4 or 5 seconds from pressing RESET.

Xenosaga DVD9 NTSC-J Direct Boot------------------------100%
Xenosaga DVD9 NTSC-J Booted behind AR2/GS2--------------100%
Gran Turismo Concept DVD9 "Silver" NTSC-J Direct Boot---100%

FF X NTSC-U DVD original---------------------OK
GTA3 PAL DVD original------------------------OK
DOA2 NTSC-J DVD Original---------------------OK

GTA3 PAL DVD-R (Princo)----------------------RSOD
Tony Hawks 3 PAL DVD-R-----------------------RSOD
Headhunter PAL DVD-R-------------------------RSOD

EA NBA Street NTSC-U CD-R--------------------OK
Twisted MB Kalisto Rip CD-R------------------OK
GT3 Rip NTSC-U CD-R--------------------------RSOD
FIFA 2002 Rip NTSC-U CD-R------------------OK
Tony Hawks 3 Rip NTSC-U CD-R----------------RSOD
Woody Woodpecker NTSC-U CD-R-----------------RSOD

FF IX NTSC-J PS1 Original--------------------OK
FF IX NTSC-U PS1 CD-R------------------------OK
Syphonfilter 3 NTSC-U PS1 CD-R---------------OK
Spyro NTSC-U PS1 Original (Anti-Mod)---------NO - needs Jap Original in Sleep mode
Spyro NTSC-U PS1CD-R (Anti-Mod)--------------NO

AR2/GS2 GTA3 Orig. With Codes----------------OK
AR2/GS2 GTA3 DVD-R With Codes----------------NO - DVD-R

Toystory NTSC-U Movie------------------------OK
PAL Movie------------------------------------OK

MM16 Save/Load (GTA3 PAL Orig)----OK
Boot on EJECT--------------------------------OK
Always Boot on Reset----------------------OK
Switch off Mode------------------------------NO

My overall impression of DMS3 v1.1 on the v8 PS2 was one of disappointment principally for two reasons:

DVD-R did not work on v8 although the DMS3 site implies support (as at 21-Feb-03)

Some DVD rips on CD did not work; these work on Messiah 2 on the same PS2
Charlie:
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by tempuser
Just curious charlie, how did you fix the problem with not being able to update the chip?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's explained in the report. The BIN file needs to be larger or else it doesn't write a complete track or something like that. So there's a pdded

BIN file for this situation. Depends on your burner whether or not you need that.

================================================== ====================================
Aerick: SCPH-39001 v7 NTSC "MX" BIOS, SCPH-39004 v7 PAL

DMS3 v1.1(upgraded)

DVD-R(No clue what game this is, something jap): 100%
DVD+RW(Vice City): 100%
CDR(Misc games, some homebrew stuff): 100%
DVD Video(Some PAL videos): Get past the "region" stuff but says the TV type doesn't match, etc. Same thing you get with other region-free

stuff on NTSC players with PAL discs.
PSX(Originals/Import Orig/backup): 100%, don't know if any of the ones I tested are anti-mod or not, prolly not. PAL PSX game looked fine on

an NTSC TV.

Megamemory 16 works just like you'd expect a memcard to.

I haven't hooked my LA up to the I2C bus to verify the Macrovision removal but I played The Grinch(which is a horrible movie, IMO) US through

the VCR and with the mod disabled Macrovision kicks in(Screen brightness fades in and out), with it enabled it looks normal.

Memory card booting can't be tested until some apps are released.

The upgrade disc I was supplied booted fine the first time. When it boots up, it tells you to press X to upgrade to DMS3 v1.1. Upgrade took

about 15 seconds.

The results for the PAL v7 were the same as the NTSC v7 with the exception of DVD movies in that NTSC movies play fully on the PAL player,

which was expected.

Aerick: I also forgot to mention in my review that the Sleep Mode worked just fine. I tried upgrading the DVD player with the mod in PS2 Mode

and it would lock up a little ways into copying the driver. Put it into sleep mode and it worked perfectly. Not sure what would cause it not to

work for Charlie.
=============================================
LOD: DMS3 Review!

Console NTSC v5 w/050 Bios

The install was straight forward and took about an hour to do. First thing I updated the chip this went very easy for me I downloaded the file and burned the ISO with NERO. It took about 5 minutes total from download to burn to install. Not bad!

Observations: I did notice the PS2 takes a second or so longer to get video and sound and boot up. This may be the code the chip has to go through in order to start up correctly.
I was also able to boot DVD Movies by putting the chip in Sleep/Stealth mode.

Keep in mind this review was rushed to print in order to calm down the panic that has ensued upon PS2newz members about the DMS3. Also keep in mind it may be found later this chip has minor bugs. These are found by extensive testing on ALL versions and should be expected. As with ALL new chips for the PS2 this has happened. So stay calm and the coming weeks we will have the FULL results of DMS3 testing.

ALL DISKS ARE NTSC Except the DVD9
PS1 Original Sampler Disk --------------------------------------------------- Tested Working
PS1 Ready to Rumble 2 CDR -------------------------------------------------Tested Working
PS1 Tomba 2 CDR (Mod Protected) in PS1 Mode ------------------------ FAILED
PS2 Original CD Unreal Tournament ---------------------------------------- Tested Working
PS2 Original SSX Tricky DVD Game --------------------------------------- Tested Working
PS2 Metal Gear Solid 2 HK Silver ------------------------------------------- Tested Working
PS2 GT3 DVDR ---------------------------------------------------------------- Tested Working
PS2 DVD RIPS sometimes need a second tap of the reset after RSOD
PS2 SSX Tricky RIP Kalisto ----------------------------------------------------Tested Working
PS2 Tekken 4 RIP Kalisto ------------------------------------------------------ Tested Working
PS2 Spiderman the Movie Kalisto RIP --------------------------------------- Tested Working
PS2 The Thing Kalisto RIP ---------------------------------------------------- Tested Working
PS2 GT3 RIP Spun Down To RSOD ----------------------------------------- FAILED
PS2 Klonoa 2 CDR Unpatched EA Game ----------------------------------- Tested Working
PS2 Gran Turismo Concept DVD9 NTSC/J Original ---------------------- Tested Working
AR2 GS2 Support is enabled with codes Tested GTA3 DVDR
DVD Meet The Parents Movie Region 1 ---------------------Tested Working NO Skipping
DVDR Meet The Parents Movie Region 1 ------------------ Tested Working NO Skipping
DVD Region Free was not tested as if we care in the US.

=============================================
GothInTheBox: So the Megamemory card works with dms3, but does a zip drive? (the software that came with the card lets me use my usb

zipdrive as a memory card). Somebody should test
toohtaah: Are you talking about a standard zip drive or a special version for using w/ ps2 only?
GothInTheBox: Standard usb zip drive(zip 100). I am awaiting my DMS3, if nobody has tested this by then, i will do so and post the output
=============================================

[ThAD0oD]

lol, glad someone did that :)

[Flavour]

fyi on the v8 charlie has amended switch off mode=ok

[Narsete]

cazzo!!

[A Murder of Crows]

got a question for everyone.

I've been in love with modified systems forever, but recently with the PS2 and the XBox, there are really just too many choices out there (a good thing really), and too many board versions and revisions.

since joining PS2Newz, i have found myself in ownership at one time or another of 3 different PS2 mods.....the SBox, the Neo 4.1, and Messiah 2. And here i am, about to move on again and get a different chip for another system. Only wait as i did, i wasn't satisfied with the review of the chip i am interested in being used on the PS2 version i am thinking about getting.

What i want to find out is if a more comprehensive and organized collection of reviews would be appreciated....if it would be worth the effort, and who would assist in the project.

but that's just for starters...

My bigger idea is to have an easy to read table summerizing each chip running on each known revision using a number system. This would be the front page for a semi-searchable database, where you could search for a spesific chip or chip brand and see the results of the testing, or you could search for a spesific board revision and see how each chip performed on that board. You could also do a side by side comparison of only the chips you select, or only the PS2 versions you select.

All of the tests and reviews would be based upon a standardized reviewing guideline. This allows a more accurate comparison between the chips. the overall scoring system would be based upon the number of successful boots per set number of attempts. each successful boot would earn the chip one point. All points would be added up and then percentified against the toal number of possible points, giving the Successful Boot score. If more than 1 person reviews teh same chip on the same revision, both results would be viewable in thier original form, but the chip's Scores would be averaged between all reviews.

Extra features on a chip would be tested and the results factored in as well, leading to the Overall Performance score.

Part of the idea is to keep opinion *OUT* of the testing section and leave it 100% fact based, letting the testing results do the comparisons for the reviewers without the commentary.

Other features of the site would include reviews of the PS2 versions themselves, and possibily even a scoring system of some type for those, too. Also, burner and media reviews and products like Clips and sockets could be tested.

I know that there is already a review section on PS2Newz, but i haven't honestly found it to be as helpful as i would like, and really, when was the last time it was properly updated? I sat on the edge of my seat for awhile waiting for an extensive US v7 DMS3 review, and i didn't get it (though i do appreciate the review that was done). On top of that, sometimes reviews get lost in the shuffle.

Anyway, i wanted some feedback about the idea, especialy from the modders out there who send in reviews. I think the biggest obstical that an idea like this would face is the global standardization of the testing, as that would require a lot of common variables to be eliminated (everyone would have to use the same games and media when it came to backups, regions would have to be considered and compensated for, etc). I feel though that it is key to have, if nothing else, a standardized review form and a well organized, easy to use way to find the info you are looking for.

Without backing and support from people though, it's unlikely that this will get anywhere. I would like to know the interest level of everyone, the support, suggested guidelines for Successful Boot Score testing, ideas about the possibility of some sort of compensation for a formal review crew, and any other topic that is related to making something like this happen.


If there is enough interest in something like this, i will ask that this post be moved to it's own thread. Though i gave up modifying PS2s myself a year ago (i prefer modifying Saturn systems since you can create more personal modifications for it), i'd really like to be involved in a project like this, maybe by processing all the data. I'd also like to extend the review idea to other systems besides the PS2.