Chip for a v4 (xbox modder new to PS2's)

[pod564]

I'm a long time xbox modder, done at least 5 installs and I find it pretty easy. I recently got a PS2, a used V4, and want to mod.

How much harder is it than modding an xbox? I know there are more wires but are the points really that much smaller?

Also, since it's a v4, my options are slightly limited as some mod chips only work on the newer range. Upgrading the chip's bios, running dev mode, or whatever do not interest me. I just want it to be able to run backups with no problems.

I'm considering the Mars II MA-303 that mod-chip.com has on sale for $19.95. Is this a good chip for a v4? Installation aside, will I have problems with the chip as far as game compatibility?

Thanks.

[p3nnyw1sd0m]

I'd get the Duo 3 Gold, it seems good, and I had a Duo 2 GT in my Ps2 which I recently upgraded to a Crystal Chip 2.0 SLE.
Good Luck,
P3nnyw1se

[Hoyt]

Since I myself have used several Duo X 2 chips (both GS and Cromwell editions) on Xboxes I figured I'd try a Duo3 Gold on a V9 PS2. I was tickled to death with the simplicity and functionality of the thing.

You can enable DEV1 mode by holding down R1 at startup to launch your BOOT.ELF file from MC0 if you want or just turn on as normal and the chip will be enabled with ATAD patching to allow you to access a hard drive through the Sony 2.0 browser if you have the HDD utility disk to set it up.

I had to be careful with the tight fit of the RF shield because the wiring diagram I copied had the mod chip placed on top of an existing IC, but adding a couple of nylon spacers solved that problem.

I believe I paid $13.95 for the chip from foundmy.com so I think it is a great bargain as well.

[Anubious]

this is a mistake that allot of "xbox modders" make. xbox modding is so easy i can do it in 5 minutes not even. A ps2 is very difficult for people who have only done xbox mods, not including people whjo solder for a living or who are engineers, etc. i have seen it happen many times. "i can install an xbox modchip! How hard can it be to install a ps2 modchip?" Its hard. My very first install took me 2 hours and that was with practice on a board 1 month in advance. I have done many ps2's since then.

Let me cut to the chase. get a broken ps2 and practice. You WILL mess up if you have never done a ps2 before. If you don't feel like practicing then get a small ps2, as they are easier to modify. But the CDVD points are like doing 4-5 d0 points on an xbox.

Oh yeah pick up a crystal chip if you want functionality. DUO3 Gold is good, but it can give problems. I have in stalled 10-15 crystal chips problem free and everyone left me happy. but its a big price difference

- Anubious

[Hoyt]

You WILL mess up if you have never done a ps2 before.

That's strange, the CC 2.0 chip was the first PS2 modchip I ever installed, and it went in just fine. I would say that if someone can solder the D0 point on an Xbox then all they would need to do is get a good photo from norcalmods.com and repeat that process 20 times or so.

What I will say is much harder on the PS2 mods is getting the features you want and learning how to implement them. The CC 2.0 has a long list of features for certain. Where I had problems was which features actually worked and which ones did not. If the OP wants as many features as possible, the the time invested in learning to use the CC 2.0 is probably worth it. If all he wants to do is play games off of the hard drive then the CC 2.0 may be overkill if he is on a budget.

[jryan]

crystal crystal crystal crystal crystal crystal
Cryssssttttalllll Cryssssttttalllll
crystal crystal crystal crystal crystal crystal crystal
soz stupid song in me head badger badger check out http://www.badgerbadgerbadger.com/
very addictive
no seriously, go for this chip best of bread at the mo, you'll love it.

[Potman]

i mod-installed two xboxes easily with no problem.
like the post above said, i thought installing a ps2 with a modchip'd be easy cuz i have some experiences from modding xboxes, also i practiced alot of solderings on dead circuits. turned out i was wrong.
i damaged two ps2s
now im on my third ps2, dont want to try again, dont wanna screw it up cuz i wasted hundreds of bucks on ps2 consoles.
the difficult part of mod installing a ps2 is the chip's legs on the motherboard u have to attach a wire to, it's too freakin tiny, it's difficult to solder one tiny leg at a time. am gonna pay a professional guy to install it for me.
u need your hands to be as steady as a surgeon's, and u need your eyes to be focused like a hawk all of time.
i hope mod installing a gamecube's easier than this ps2 bastard.

p.s.
go for crystal chip 2.0 pro (or s.e.), researched alot, it's even better than dmc4.

[Hoyt]

Anubious has a very good point in that you may want to get a spare PS2 in case you have problems. I guess that's why I didn't worry too much about trying my install. I had two or three spare consoles of the same version number (they just had bad lasers in them).

What you could do then is get a spare broken V4 off of eBay and test it out (if you look at the description usually they boot up fine they just don't read disks). If it reads PS1 games (CDs) but not PS2 games (usually DVDs) then it is probably OK otherwise. You could then try to install your chip in the good unit. If you have major problems you could then just swap your DVD drive assembly over to the other PS2 and you would be back in action.