Total NOOB with a lot of questions

[pg6718]

I just finally got a PS2, never had time for it, OK you can make fun of me know!

I really have no idea how to mod it. It is a SPCH-70001 model. Since I'm new to EVERYTHING, I wanted to start out with adding an external HD, something 200GB + and making it work through the USB port on the front to load games.
Is this possible? I'm open to suggestions too. I know everyone has probably asked 100X + but I read all of the forums on this, and even the most basic, noob - sticky threads I do not understand.

I'm very good at following directions though, Step by step would be great. Any help would be appreciated.

[xmod]

It is a SPCH-70001 model

Its not called SPCH, its SCPH ..... n u're PS2 is v13 for your info...next time wherever you post, be sure to specify the version no(v13)....

I wanted to start out with adding an external HD, something 200GB + and making it work through the USB port on the front to load games

Since you have a v13, you can attach an external HDD to it... for this purpose you will need to buy a device called 'HD connect' or 'HD combo' with which you can connect the HDD...
Once you have it, connect your HDD to it and connect the combo to your Pstwo's USB slot...
Later you'll need HDLoader 0.7c 48bit patched version to format your HDD...search the forums or google on how to do that...

[dlanor]

Since you have a v13, you can attach an external HDD to it...

Correction:
All PS2/PStwo models can use an external HDD attached to the USB port, which is what this subforum is all about.

The special capability of v12 and v13 'slim' PStwo models, as opposed to the later models (though I'm unsure about v14), is that they can also use an external HDD connected through a direct IDE interface, similar to that used in the network adaptor for the old 'fat' PS2 models. This is because v12 and v13 have the same interface chip on the motherboard. The very latest models don't have that chip, so they can't have any IDE interface fitted.

for this purpose you will need to buy a device called 'HD connect' or 'HD combo' with which you can connect the HDD...

Correct, and that will create an IDE interface for connecting the HDD.

Once you have it, connect your HDD to it and connect the combo to your Pstwo's USB slot...

No, the 'HD combo'/'HD connect' kits have nothing to do with USB.

Later you'll need HDLoader 0.7c 48bit patched version to format your HDD...search the forums or google on how to do that...

That part is true for users of 'HD connect'/'HD combo'.

However, to get back to the original question, the following is ALL that you need to get started with using a USB connected HDD with any PS2/PStwo.

1: You'll obviously need an HDD with USB interface/USB enclosure
2: You'll need a computer to use in installing games to the USB HDD
3: You'll need a legal copy of USBExtreme, or some way to launch an illegal copy of USBExtreme or USBAdvance (ripoff version of same thing).

Part 3 above is the only tricky bit, which for most PStwo users means using either a mod-chip or the Swap Magic 3.6 boot discs (must be a legit disc, as burned copies don't work without mod chip).

Edit:
I almost forgot to add the most important part, about game compatibility...

USB connected HDD with USBExtreme/USBAdvance has very poor game compatibility. I'm no expert on this, but I'd say it's less than 20%, and even for those games there are always features that misbehave, like stuttering movie sequences etc. That is because USB interface access on the PS2/PStwo is much slower than corresponding CDVD access would be.

IDE connected HDD with HDLoader/HDAdvance has very good game compatibility. Again I'm no expert, but I'd say well over 80%, and for most of those games there are few side effects or none. There is even one great improvement common to all, in reduced loading times, as direct IDE HDD access is much faster than corresponding CDVD access would be.

Best regards: dlanor

[xmod]

Hey thx ronald for correcting me... as it is i din know much about pstwo's and usb HDD's, thx for updating my knowledge...