What are the pros/cons of Matrix and Crystal?

[Microsoft]

I have a DMS3/v7 system, and plan to purchase an upgrade/backup. I am fed up with the lack of updates for the DMS series of chips (3&4). I intend to get a slim system, since that's the easiest route at this point.

What are the pros and cons of the Infinity and Crystal chips, and why would I pick one over the other? They both have a long list of features, but having used netiher, I am looking for some suggestions (facts please, not propaganda). I am looking for the best chip; price isn't a major consideration.

Where can I find a good store to purchase a pre-mod with my selected chip? Again, I am interested in quality, not cheap, but don't want to pay more than necessary.

[Jones23]

They're both great chips, but I think the CC is a bit better for a simple reason: the great BootManager it uses. BM provides lots of features and there's another update coming soon.

MI pros:

• 480p support for games

I don't know the MI very well, so I'm not sure if it has anything else, that the CC lacks. Maybe someone else can come up with some more.

CC pros:

• auto DNAS patch (play originals online without having to turn off the chip, play backups online without having to patch them)
• better homebrew support: MI can load one app from MC with R1 button and one app from HDD with L1 button. CC's BM can load all apps you install on the MC, HDD and USB drive and you can decide which button (except D-Pad, X, O) you want to use for each app.
• BM is fully customizable, if you invest some time to learn PBAT, which is a really simple scripting language. You can create own functions and menus, rearrange the menu structure and make it look and act like you want it to be.

I must admit that I'm the ultimate CC fanboy, but the above facts are real, not just propaganda. I only wrote up the differences between the chips, all other features like PAL/NTSC-fixes, DL support and autoboot discs are the same for both chips.

Just wait another week or two till the next CC software is released, perhaps some new features will make the decision easier.

best regards Jones23

[jenko]

MI can load one app from MC with R1 button and one app from HDD with L1 button.

I think MI have a program you install which lets you manage more apps by pressing triangle.

how dose the 480p feature work

[messiahfan2003]

For premods look at the vendors area. There will be a bunch of people who will do it.

[Jones23]

I think MI have a program you install which lets you manage more apps by pressing triangle.

Ok, didn't know about that. Just studied the MI FW readme and found that I was a bit mistaken:

from the MI FW readme:
LAUNCHING MEMORY CARD APPLICATIONS:
-----------------------------------

- Press TRIANGLE on joypad 1.
- If installed, the Infinity Manager will appear and show a list of
installed applications.

-or-

- Press R1/R2/L2 on joypad 1.
- This will launch the following applications according to the button pressed :

R1 : "mc0:BOOT/BOOT.ELF"
R2 : "mc0:BOOT/BOOT2.ELF"
L2 : "mc0:BOOT/BOOT3.ELF"


LAUNCHING HDD APPLICATION (DEV2 MODE):
--------------------------------------

- Press L1 on joypad 1.
- If correctly installed, the default application will be executed from the HDD.

So only what I said about the selectable buttons remains true, and that there are some more launch buttons.

how dose the 480p feature work

480p is the VGA mode:

from the MI FW readme:
VGA MODE
--------

To use your PS2 in full VGA glory you will need a compatible VGA monitor and an
external VGA adapter (either an original Blaze adapter or an homebrew one).
Before enabling VGA mode in the configuration screen, test the adapter and
the monitor with the original vga software to make sure they are working properly.

best regards Jones23