Relative Access Speed: USB, HDD, Network HD

[junebug]

Hi there,

I have been experimenting with access speeds with regards OPL 0.6 using a variety of storage media and I would like to know of the optimum speeds OPL 0.6 can read UDBAdvance ul* format data.

From my tests the quickest has been, in order:

(1) 8GB USB Key
(2) External 320GB UDB HD
(3) Wireless LAN Network Access

Can anyone supply details with regards to wired LAN and HDD (Using FAT PS2) speed and how they relate to the above.

Indeed, does OPL 0.6 read *ul data as quick as it can be supplied. i.e. I imagine a fast HDD inserted into a FAT PS2 will be quicker at loading games and running FMV, with no stuttering at all - even speeding up the game by minimizing segmented loading of menu screens, map screen etc, than running from a Wireless LAN?

Thanks

[dlanor]

First off, I think you should make a quick scan for spelling errors before finishing a post.
I understand how easily it happens, but there is no need to leave "UDB" where you meant "USB", for example.

(1) 8GB USB Key

This will vary extremely much dependent on the brand rather than the size.
And within each brand it is the model (design age) more than size that determines speed.

(2) External 320GB UDB HD

I don't understand how a USB key could win first place with a USB HDD only taking second place. That must be a truly rotten design.

(3) Wireless LAN Network Access

And I understand this even less. Here you are saying that LAN usage is slower than both USB HDDs and USB flash memories, even though my own experience is the reverse.

For me IDE_HDD beats LAN beats USB_HDD beats USB_stick, to keep it simple.
But I am using a wired LAN of course, so that could be part of the reason.
And the LAN unit at the other end is a fast PC running Windows XP, not some NAS unit.

Can anyone supply details with regards to wired LAN and HDD (Using FAT PS2) speed and how they relate to the above.

No, I don't think anyone can give details on the effective speed, because no standards exist for how such speed measurements should be made. But a relative comparison like the one I made above can be made by anyone having access to these media.

But the results of USB device comparison will vary more with brand and models than with the media sizes, though it is a natural consequence that the extreme sizes may be a little slower than a smaller size of the same model.

Indeed, does OPL 0.6 read *ul data as quick as it can be supplied. i.e. I imagine a fast HDD inserted into a FAT PS2 will be quicker at loading games and running FMV, with no stuttering at all - even speeding up the game by minimizing segmented loading of menu screens, map screen etc, than running from a Wireless LAN?

The IDE HDD core of the new OPL betas does not use 'ul*' files at all. Instead it uses exactly the same kind of installed game partitions as used by HDLoader, so that an existing HDL game collection can immediately be used with OPL, without adaption or changes of any kind. It is even possible to alternate between HDL and OPL, although it would make little sense now that OPL is superior.

When using OPL with an IDE_HDD the result is virtually identical to using HDL, except that a few problems have disappeared, thus making some new games playable (I can't recall which right now though). Other changes are that the DMA speed setting is now a per-game option, and that other OPL per-game options also apply to IDE_HDD though HDL never had them. (IGR deactivation etc)

Best regards: dlanor

[JNABK]

For me:

IDE_HDD (HDD) > 1TB USB HDD (SMB) > 1TB USB HDD (USB) {same USB HDD for both}

I havent used my flash stick in a while, so i cant compare it. I also cant see how USB is faster than a LAN connection, but i too have a wired LAN, so maybe that is the difference.

[b0by]

I use wired LAN with PC running Windows 7.
Hootech NetMeter shows sometimes even 1.5 MB/s upload at the network card linked at ps2 slim running OPL rev241. (as a comparation DVD speed 1x is 1.3 MB/s or something around there)
Anyway, the few games i played (onimusha 3, ace combat zero...) had smooth FMV, no stuttering at all.

[nickblame]

It is even possible to alternate between HDL and OPL, although it would make little sense now that OPL is superior.

alternate loaders or alternate ide hdd format?
Or as a standalone question, can the new opl store data in opl format aswell as hdl format in ide hdd? or is it just hdl format?

[TehJawknee]

alternate loaders or alternate ide hdd format?
Or as a standalone question, can the new opl store data in opl format aswell as hdl format in ide hdd? or is it just hdl format?

As I remember the discussion, your current format for HDL will work with the newer versions of OPL. With some tweaking, I'm guessing eventually even games that were once incompatible with HDL will work with OPL.

As for OPL format, I'm guessing it wouldn't need it in an IDE hdd since OPL format is designed to work in fat32 drives which have a 1gb cap on file size. HDL format would all be one file, so it would require less defragmenting for it to work.

[JNABK]

alternate loaders or alternate ide hdd format?
Or as a standalone question, can the new opl store data in opl format aswell as hdl format in ide hdd? or is it just hdl format?

Heres how it works:

OPL's Loaders are USB Games (USB), HDD Games (IDE HDD) and Network Games (SMB Share on LAN)

The Network and USB games loaders currently use the USB Extreme file format (ul.format).
The HDD Games uses the HDL compliant partitioning on a PS2Formatted IDE HDD, which IS what HD Loader/HD Advance use.

What dlanor said is you can use the same IDE HDD that your using in HD Loader and use it in OPL. This is what he meant by "switching loaders", he means HDLoader and OPL, so you can have an IDE HDD connected in your PS2 and use either without having to do anything but choose what program you want to use. But OPL is far more advanced than HDL, so why would anyone go back to HDL after using OPL?

[noetikos]

@JNABK: i was thinking that OPL can either substitute or be added along with HDL in the fmcb noobie package. what do you think?

[JNABK]

It would be a better choice to replace HDL with OPL, but since FMCB doesnt have it hard coded, so you would have to edit the CNF when installing and add it to the list as probably the best solution.

Simply replacing HDL in the noobie package with OPL renamed would be a little deceiving and might bring a lot of responses about it being the wrong app.

What I could do is place an edited CNF and OPL into the noobie package........

[TehJawknee]

It would be a better choice to replace HDL with OPL, but since FMCB doesnt have it hard coded, so you would have to edit the CNF when installing and add it to the list as probably the best solution.

Though this would be a good option, there may be people who will still need HDL in order to load their games into the HDD from the disc directly. There are those who can use winhiip, but not everyone can hook their console to a network. I would usually opt to install my games via HDL and I'm sure there are others who would do the same.

Since OPL as far as I know, doesn't have the install to HDD option yet, it may not be the wisest idea to flat out replace HDL with yet. Once the install to HDD function is available, I would totally back the migration.