USBUtil format ?

[resincake]

Hi, I have been trying to gather information on the most optimal conditions for an OPL (Latest rev - self compiled) configuration. So far, I have determined that a SMB connection, using a crossover cable is preferred for my slim v12. Now I am at the 'format' selection (DVD ISO or USBUtil Split format), and was wondering if thereis any slight performance increases in choosing to store my games (For SMB use) in either .ISO (In the CD or DVD folders) or the format that USBUtil uses on USB drives ?

Does anyonew have any ideas on this ? Personal experiences or presumptions, either way.

Thanks in advance for all advice offered.

:>

[windrider42]

I myself am still testing ISO format as opposed to USBUtil split format on my SMB and USB drive

So I can't really give you a good answer as yet. It is best to play the game for quite some time before saying it works. And I haven't had a lot of time to play lately.

I know I would prefer just to have the ISO in the DVD folder and play that way.

[resincake]

I myself am still testing ISO format as opposed to USBUtil split format on my SMB and USB drive

So I can't really give you a good answer as yet. It is best to play the game for quite some time before saying it works. And I haven't had a lot of time to play lately.

I know I would prefer just to have the ISO in the DVD folder and play that way.

If you arrive at a definitive answer on this topic, at any point during your tests, I'd be grateful if you could drop me a PM, or post here, with your opinion on preference (in regards to game performance). :>

Anyone else have any thoughts, or tests, regarding this topic ?

[dlanor]

If you arrive at a definitive answer on this topic, at any point during your tests, I'd be grateful if you could drop me a PM, or post here, with your opinion on preference (in regards to game performance). :>

Anyone else have any thoughts, or tests, regarding this topic ?

Yes, I do.

I have an extensive networked game collection which I originally installed by USBUtil/USBA methods, as required for early OPL revisions, which I have gradually converted into a collection of normal ISO files for the same games, with just a few duplicate games remaining in the USBA format for purposes of testing only.

At present my PS2SMB fileshare holds 3 such 'duplicate' entries in USBA format plus 33 ISO files in the "CD" subfolder and 192 ISO files in the DVD subfolder. Thus I now have 225 launchable ISO files and 3 launchable entries in USBA format.

Apart from some early 'hiccups' in the ISO access implementation I have never experienced any drawbacks whatever in switching over to use normal ISOs instead of the USBA format I originally used for all games. Nor would I expect any such drawbacks or problems.

The content of normal ISOs is the same content as in a USBA split file installation, the only difference being that the USBA method requires an extra calculation step in each indexing operation within an ISO file, to determine which of the split files contains that segment of the ISO file. So naturally the USBA format is slower than the pure ISO format, though not by very much. Still, that is the basic relationship, with the pure ISO operations being slightly faster and more efficient than the other. It is inevitable...


The one exception to the above is if you use a FAT32 drive for the fileshare, in which case you will be forced to use USBA format for all games whose total ISO size would reach or exceed 4GiB, which naturally includes all DVD9 games.

But with fileshares on partitions using filesystems like NTFS (under Windows) or Ext2/Ext3 (under Linux, which I don't use myself) there should be no such problems. Thus all my DVD9 games are installed as a single and simply ripped ISO file each in the same folder as for normal DVD5 ISOs. (And I use "DVD Decrypter" to rip both DVD5 and DVD9 ISOs from original disc.)

Best regards: dlanor

[resincake]

Thanks Dlanor,
that as clearly answered my question, with solid reasoning. ISO it is then. ;>

[offthewall]

For cd-rom games I still use usbutil, with some image burning programs I've noticed that the original 'mode 2' property isn't retained after it's read into an ISO.

[resincake]

I'm having that problem with a backup copy of Heroes of Might & Magic (CD), but it was when I first had my PS2 and so I made it a MDF image, and now my original disc is cracked and not even my PC DVD Writer will read it, and I cant seem to convert the MDF to ISO successfully, because, I believe, Heroes of Might & Magic CD uses a hidden LBA Table, or something similar. One day I'll have o read up on those LBA table things, thats if the image I made even picks up the hidden files, I'm not sure, I just know that if I mount it and convert the drive to ISO, then OPL doesnt load the game, stops on red screen. (I presume its to do with the LBA Tables), pity its quite a rare game else I'd just order another off ebay. ;>