new to ps2 modding

[pjfan281]

Hello all. I'm new to the whole ps2 modding scene. I have modded a whole bunch of xbox's before, but now at the reuqest of a friend I might venture into PS2 territory. From what I gather though, the process can be more difficult. I would appreciate if someone could help answer some questions:

1) how do you identify your ps2 version? (i went to the faq section where there is a link for this, but it says the page cannot be found).
2) what is(are) some good/fairly cheap chip(s) to use? are there any in the us? (i hear tons got shut down for legal reasons over the years, just wondering if overseas is only option)
3) where can i find more tutorials for those above chips?
4) what is the hdd size limit for use with hddloader? (120gb?)

[TechGuy]

You can find all kinds of sites that identify versions... I don't want to let any out in case that's a reason to ban me... But it involves the model # and production date code in the serial #.

Good chips... here comes the arguement. The majority of modders use a Matrix Infinity or Crystal chip. lol, Canada isn't overseas.

Tutorials...installs??? They usually come with, but on the chip manufacturer's website.

There are ways to get around that pesky hdd limit, but I believe the max HDLoader will read is 136GB. Check out the hdd section for that stuff.

[messiahfan2003]

1. http://norcalmods.com/version.html
2. For cheap chips you can get Duo2 SE or magic KX if you just want to play backups. Crystal and matrix infinity for those people who want to run hdloader on the MC. Crystal chip has an Xbox dash like app called boot manager and it needs a hacked firmware. The teams site has the instructions for making compiling it. You can try www.xmodds.com/ for the shop.
3. For tutorials and stuff we have a search feature but google is good. Most chip makers have websites.
4. With out 48 bit patch it would be 137 GB. If you use the 48 bit patch it would be over 2 terabytes. The v9 has the 48 bit patch.

If you are going to install a slimline v12 or v9-v10 consoles you have to use a fix called a romeo mod for v9-v10 or summ0ne fix with the albert35 comsoft which the v12 fixes are on the forum. The v1-v8 need no fixes. Try soldering a pc mobo before soldering a ps2. A ps2 is nothing compared to an Xbox. You can try the subzero fix for v12. It would be nice to search about these console fixes.
http://www.cyber-mag.com/station/laserV9.htm for romeo mod.

Sites for chips are

http://www.infinitymod.com/matrix/ for Infinity
http://www.crystal-chips.com/ for crystal
http://www.china-magic.com for magic V
http://www.duomodchip.com/ for duo

Sorry for the long post but it will give you lots of good info.

[HKPolice]

Can you please explain this 'boot manager' with the crystal chip? Does that make it better than other chips? How does Crystal compare to the matrix infinity for HDLoader and Using codebreaker/GS with HDLoader?

I've got a Duo2SE right now and it won't load codebreaker, and gameshark won't work with HDLoader

1. http://norcalmods.com/version.html
2. For cheap chips you can get Duo2 SE or magic KX if you just want to play backups. Crystal and matrix infinity for those people who want to run hdloader on the MC. Crystal chip has an Xbox dash like app called boot manager and it needs a hacked firmware. The teams site has the instructions for making compiling it. You can try www.xmodds.com/ for the shop.
3. For tutorials and stuff we have a search feature but google is good. Most chip makers have websites.
4. With out 48 bit patch it would be 137 GB. If you use the 48 bit patch it would be over 2 terabytes. The v9 has the 48 bit patch.

If you are going to install a slimline v12 or v9-v10 consoles you have to use a fix called a romeo mod for v9-v10 or summ0ne fix with the albert35 comsoft which the v12 fixes are on the forum. The v1-v8 need no fixes. Try soldering a pc mobo before soldering a ps2. A ps2 is nothing compared to an Xbox. You can try the subzero fix for v12. It would be nice to search about these console fixes.
http://www.cyber-mag.com/station/laserV9.htm for romeo mod.

Sites for chips are

http://www.infinitymod.com/matrix/ for Infinity
http://www.crystal-chips.com/ for crystal
http://www.china-magic.com for magic V
http://www.duomodchip.com/ for duo

Sorry for the long post but it will give you lots of good info.

[messiahfan2003]

BootManager is a program that loads elf files like infinity and DMS. It is also the Chips OS. I heard its great. I dont own a CC. You will want to get the hacked firmware which a ready to burn version is not avaliable. The Infinity does boot codebreaker for sure while crystal I dont know. I dont use GS for HDLoader. I hope this helps.