New to ps2 modchips, need more info before buying.

[tomvs123]

I've been modding xboxes for a while with xecuter chips and am now getting into the ps2 scene. First of all, is there a chart or info page anywhere that shows the differences between all of the ps2 modchips? I have no idea which ones are newer or older and which ones have what features.

I've got a v4 PS2 and I was looking at the cheap duo and magic3.1 chips, but it looks like they require you to do some weird things to get your games to load (hold down eject, hold down certain controller buttons).

What chips do not require holding down buttons/eject like that, or do they all need you to do stuff like that?

I really just need to be able to load all US and japanese original games and backups. It would also be good if it could play dvds region free with no macrovision, but this isn't too important.

And are some chips not compatable with hard drives? Does this mean they won't work with Final Fantasy XI which comes on/requires a hard drive?

So what would you recommend? From what I can tell, the matrix infinity does everything I want without wierd button presses (clarify this for me if I'm wrong), but the price is kind of high. What other chips are comparable? I'm really interested in something around $30. A magic 3.1 can be had for $6, so if all modchips require weird button presses, what's the difference between it and $30-$40 modchips?

And if you know of a good cheap place to buy ps2 modchips, let me know. http://impactmods.com/ has some good deals on the older modchips.

[T07N]

For the $30-40 price range I can't think of a modchip that does what you want. I'm not completely sure but I think if you turn off this modchip I'm about to recommend you it will allow you to play FF XI. I think you should get the Matrix Infinity. It boots backups without all the "weird" press, hold, etc.

The Matrix Infinity as you can see from Impact Mods (great place by the way, ordered 2 duos from them without a problem, fast shipping too.) is only about $50 shipped.

By the way, boot games isn't that hard. You just turn it on like you normally do and the Duo would boot your games. Just a quick tap like you always do. Hold down reset until blue/purple light comes on if you want to boot DVDs and PSX games. It's pretty simple. It's a cheap solution for someone who doesn't want all the bells and whistles.

I hope you know how to install because PS2 are much harder to mod than an Xbox.

So yeah. Choose between the Matrix Infinity or the Duo. It's your choice.

Matrix = full of features
Duo = simple modchip that boot backups

[tiggersbowl1]

I second the opinion about impactmods.com. They have been great for me. I highly recommend them. The only chip that does boot all discs without any special operating procedures is the infinity chip. impactmods has it for $40 with $5 in shipping. Shipping is always $5 no matter how many chips you order, I think.

They have good prices on the duo chips, which are one of my favorite chips right now, with ease of installation and reliablity. But the first duo chips only work on versions 1-8, maybe just through 7. So, you might want to invest in just a few of these, but impact has a good deal for 10 packs of them.

But, as TO7N said, the ps2 is much harder to mod than an xbox.

Good luck.

[tomvs123]

Thanks for the info so far guys. I think I may end up trying out one of the duos just because it's so cheap.

Yeah, and the soldering does look much harder, but I think I can manage

Any more opinions or comments would be very appreciated.