a little help with lots of custom

[inuyasha.rules]

im new to modding on the ps2. i work with computers all the time so i just need a few ps2 specific tricks. i ordered the matrix infinity, but i want to know, is there any specific trick to getting the mobo out? the right side near the cd drive seems stuck, and ive taken out all the screws i can see. im planning on doing a bunch of mods including custom case work. ill post pictures and give credit where its due, and you can take pride in saying you helped carve out this piece of art.
List of mods
1) custom fan. im going to "warp" the top of the case to slide in a 40X40X10 fan, as my system runs hot un-modded, just to be safe
2) an LED illuminated "PS2" logo, just behind the fan
3) matrix infinity mod chip
4) and if im feeling really brave, warp the bottom, add legs, and put in a laptop hard drive. if anyone has tips, or success with getting it to work right, please post or pm me.
PS2 slim version 12, Matrix Infinity "gren dot" neo fix XIV
thanks for helping make a happy modder

[GeToChKn]

Well you should have gotten a better laser fix other than the Neo fix, as they are basically diode fixes that don't really protect anything at all.

For the MB, take out the 4 screws on the laser and there should be one more screw under the laser. One in the joystick ports. Thats it for the top. Bottom has about 4 or 5 screws on it.

Make sure it's a V12, as this is the only one thats going to work with a Hard Drive, and then you either need to order a HD connect kit to use an IDE drive with hard drive loader, or a USB chassis to hookup a drive, then you're stuck with USB loader which is a lot more limited in what you can play off it, suffers performance issues from running off usb, etc.

Be careful soldering, practice first on an old pc board or something and try points like the ones in the matrix to get a better idea of soldering to vias, bios points, etc. Just cause you can do lights or an xbox chip, ps2's are a new beast if you're not used to points like that.

Also, get a better laser fix, figure out your hard drive solution. The small ps12's are alot more limited in what can be done for lights as they are small and there is only I think 8.5v going into the thing max. I've done some port mods and lights on the drive before though using the 5v from the USB ports. I believe even to do the HD connect MOD (v12 only) that you will have to provide external 12v and 5v power to the HD as the ps2 can't provide this.

[inuyasha.rules]

the neo fix was just a freebi with the mod chip. i also didn't realize you had to pull the dvd drive out too, but thats no biggie. i shoulda payed more attention to the pics of other peoples boards. as for the LEDs i was going to use surface mount ones on leads, and pull power from the main 8.5 into a voltage regulator off an old motherboard. i was considering going with usb for the fact of its only 4 wires to solder, but the ide method is faster, and has a bigger cable. so i have to compromise between great looks, and great performance. the problem with the HD connect mod is its designed for the hard drive to be external. as for the power, i was just going to use a laptop one, which also has the advantage of being a whole lot smaller than desktop hard drives.for now im running a little short on cash so the better laser fix and the HD connect will have to wait till after taxes are done. for now all im doing is the LEDs/fan (free parts from other hardware that died) and the mod chip. thanks for the warning on the soldering, ill probably go out and get a new iron, my old ones seen many a mod and is showing signs of its usage. if im lucky the mod chip will come in tomorrow, but the weathers shit here in wyoming so im not really counting on it. I'll post back an update with some pics once it shows, and i get the fan and possibly the LEDs in

[spedmetal]

@inuyasha.rules

The neo XIV is not a bad fix actually, as it incorporates the Matrix PIC fix and the diode fix. The Matrix PIC fix is what the Comsoft V4 was originated from. Anyway ... here is a guide on how to disassemble a slim PSTwo.

http://ccwiki.psx-scene.com/index.ph..._V12-V15_PSTwo

Some V15's don't have the screw under the laser. Also a V12 AND V13 will work with the HD-Combo/Connect.

[inuyasha.rules]

come to think aboput it, the diode fix might actually be a better idea than you think, just poorly implemented. cause if too much current passes though they will burn/explode if the load is great enough. so the question of it being good or not, is if the diodes will handle more current than the laser coils. i know id much rather replace a diode than the whole laser every time it locked up.

also an update on the hard drive. for now, im just going to use a usb to laptop hard drive adapter. until the mess of formatting issues is fixed. plus 4 wires is a whole lot easier to solder than 80, and i would still retain the all in one unit that im wanting to acchieve

[hawkbug]

come to think aboput it, the diode fix might actually be a better idea than you think, just poorly implemented. cause if too much current passes though they will burn/explode if the load is great enough. so the question of it being good or not, is if the diodes will handle more current than the laser coils. i know id much rather replace a diode than the whole laser every time it locked up.

also an update on the hard drive. for now, im just going to use a usb to laptop hard drive adapter. until the mess of formatting issues is fixed. plus 4 wires is a whole lot easier to solder than 80, and i would still retain the all in one unit that im wanting to acchieve

I'm quite happy with my neo XIV fixes. I've installed some in V12's, and so far no problems. My personal PS2 now is a V12 with a Matrix Infinity and a Neo XIV fix, and it works great.

[inuyasha.rules]

okay i had a bit of a mishap. i accidentally killed the conector in betwene Q and T (3rd one down on the right) on my version 12. can someone confirm that it connects to the 18th connector down just to the left of it? all counts are with the controller and usb ports facing you. thanks a ton.