What is this mod chip?

I have a friend that gave me a PS2 that already has a chip installed. It is a V123 or model # SCPH-30001 has 10 screws on the bottom. He has no idea what the chip is but thinks it came from easybuy2000.com. I took it apart and the chip has 8 legs 12C508A pic. Any idea what this might be? Is it any good for todays use? I would like to add a hard drive to the unit for playing the games off of it. Will this chip work with the HD? If you need any more info I will do my best to provide it.

Thanks

sounds like a NEO2 Swap chip or something, get a Duo2 SE or something.

Will it work enough to put a HD in it? Very new to PS2 reading as much as I can about it.

does that chip require you you to swap in order to play backups or does it boot backup games directly?

I have no idea as I have no backups yet :) I just got back from picking up the online adapter so I can put a HD in it. But it is not reading the disc that came with the online thing just makes a clicking sound. Not sounding good

probably need to readjust you laser. does it do this with orginals ps2 games too?

It is the Original online startup disc the one that comes with the online adapter. I cleaned the lens with qtip and alcohol and it read the disc once but back to clicking. Can you recomend a good tutorial on readjusting the laser?

Thanks

here http://www.cyber-mag.com/station/laserPS2.htm

I removed the old mod chip and it seems to be booting the online startup disc. If it acts up more I will try adjusting the laser. Now off to more reading. Now I know this is off topic but maybe you can save me a little time of reading or prepare me for more reading. With this PS2 now with no modchip can I get the HD working? I have the online adapter, hard drive, memory card and an Original online startup disc. I have downloaded I think most the stuff that has been required hdloader hdl dumb and a few others things I have read. Now all these are not originals except my online startup disc. Can I proceed any further with what I have or will I need a modchip or something else? I would like to just boot off the HD and run the games from it.

Thanks

Thanks

well u need to get the fiels to the memory card some how or get a modchip or get an hdlaoder disc orig