Will the read/write speed of the USB device affect FMV stutter?

[rdoroana]

I've only recently discovered Open PS2 Loader as I was searching for a way to run NTSC PS2 games on my PAL PS3 (60GB launch model).

Following online tutorials, I tried getting the loader to work on different USB flash drives (four in total) but none of them worked (they were all different brands as well). In a last desperate move I used my PSP in USB mode and the loader finally booted up.

At this point, I tried running .hack//G.U. Vol. 1 (SLUS 21258) and it booted up fine, however, the FMV stutter was unbearable. I checked the compatibility list posted in the sticky (for version 0.7) and there was no mention of the FMV stutter.

I was wondering if the read/write speed of the USB device made a noticeable difference in the FMVs. The PSP USB mode seems quite slow to me (and the Memory Stick I have on the PSP isn't great either), however, I'm not sure if I want to invest in another USB flash drive, as the four I have previously tried didn't work.

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

[dlsmd]

I was wondering if the read/write speed of the USB device made a noticeable difference in the FMVs. The PSP USB mode seems quite slow to me (and the Memory Stick I have on the PSP isn't great either), however, I'm not sure if I want to invest in another USB flash drive, as the four I have previously tried didn't work.

its quite possible that it is the usb drive i have herd that some could give problems and that its a hit and miss for each drive

but dont take my word for it iv never tried loading games from a usb

[dlanor]

The access speed of a USB device can indeed have a very strong influence on FMV stutters and other speed related problems. This is particularly true of cheap (thus slow) flash drives, who never even come close to the theoretical speed limits of the old USB 1.1 standard (that a PS2 has) even though they are widely advertised as USB 2.0 devices.

They can get away with such claims only because they have a limited capacity for coping with USB 2.0 write bursts without losing data, thanks to some internal data buffering. But that method is no help at all when it comes to sustaining a high read-data rate over time. Cheap flash drives simply cannot do that, no matter how much they boast about their USB 2.0 compatibility.

But even top quality USB HDD drives that really can live up to the USB 2.0 standards will still have some stutter problems when used with a PS2, because the PS2 USB interface and its drivers only follow USB 1.1 standards, and even at its best that is not sufficient to match full 2x DVD speed, as used by normal DVD games on the PS2. So these problems will always be with us to some extent when using the USB interface. There is no help for it. Not now, and not ever...

Best regards: dlanor

[rdoroana]

Thank you for your replies.

As I mentioned in my initial post, I'm actually using a PS3 (which has USB 2.0 as far as I know) and not a PS2. Essentially, what I want to know is if I should attempt playing the game with a faster USB device or if that would just be a waste of money and not fix anything.

As you have both stated, the speed of the device can actually affect things so I might give it a shot. It would be great if someone who's actually played the game in question (.hack//G.U. Vol. 1) via USB could tell me if the FMVs were watchable or not.

Once again, thanks for the replies!

[dlanor]

Thank you for your replies.

As I mentioned in my initial post, I'm actually using a PS3 (which has USB 2.0 as far as I know) and not a PS2.

Even so, the PS2 emulator of the PS3 still uses a similar device driver system and emulates a MIPS CPU of standard PS2 speed, so many of the same speed problems will remain unchanged. All the more so the more perfectly true this emulation is. (Significantly raised device driver speed would represent an error in emulated PS2 timing.)

Essentially, what I want to know is if I should attempt playing the game with a faster USB device or if that would just be a waste of money and not fix anything.

'Faster' than what ? Without some reference it is impossible to say if it could help.

But speaking generally you can normally expect some improvement in going from a USB memory stick to a good USB HDD.

As you have both stated, the speed of the device can actually affect things so I might give it a shot.

It's definitely worth trying. And even a minor speed improvement can reduce the degree of stutters if not eliminate it completely, and that could be the difference between a game made unplayable by the FMV stutters and one where those are merely a little irritating. (Still not ideal, but at least playable.)

It would be great if someone who's actually played the game in question (.hack//G.U. Vol. 1) via USB could tell me if the FMVs were watchable or not.

That will have to be someone else than me, as I don't have that game.
And ideally it should be someone with a PS3, since it does have different timing than a PS2.

Best regards: dlanor

[gorePL]

Thank you for your replies.

As I mentioned in my initial post, I'm actually using a PS3 (which has USB 2.0 as far as I know) and not a PS2. Essentially, what I want to know is if I should attempt playing the game with a faster USB device or if that would just be a waste of money and not fix anything.

As you have both stated, the speed of the device can actually affect things so I might give it a shot. It would be great if someone who's actually played the game in question (.hack//G.U. Vol. 1) via USB could tell me if the FMVs were watchable or not.

Once again, thanks for the replies!

Sad news bro, VOL1 got stutter FMV in SMB too. its SOOO anoying that i need to skip them them game is playable but FMV not.
They play ok, but its like for 2sec it go back 1 sec something like that. You CAN get the stroy from them via SMB but its soooo anoying that you will just skip them at the end - but still good that this game is playable !