Need help. Getting a PS2 today.

[unknownperson5]

Hi there all! I had no idea there were non modchip solutions to modding the PS2 up until recently. I've done a little reading on these boards about the different methods but got a little lost and don't know which PS2 to get. I've been with the whole ps3 modding scene for a bit and recently felt the urge to replay some ps2 and ps1 games. I have a old YLODed 60gb Backwards Compatible ps3 that I was going to revive and use to play ps2/ps1 games, but heard that the fix would only last a few months and each time you fixed it, it would last less and less. So I checked out my local gamestop and saw they have a couple of both the original fat ps2's and the slim ones. Now I need to decide which one I want to get. I don't think I'll be able to see the model numbers though.

I mainly want a ps2 that can run ps1 and ps2 backups through a usb drive if possible. I'll settle for DVD backups if there's no other way. I would prefer using a slim so I can have the option to play online, but if theres any issue regarding the slim, I don't mind getting a fat and buying a network adapter via ebay or something. I have access to my friend's fat ps2 if need be as well as an action replay max and a bunch of original ps1 and ps2 games. I also don't mind running backups through the computer if all you really need is a usb cable or something (I think that has something to do with openPS2loader?). I wanted to know, will I be able to use multitap unhindered?

Can you guys give me some advice and/or pinpoint me to which tutorials I should use? I browsed through a bunch but am not sure which one will best suit me. Sorry for the disorganization but its 6:20 am here and I'm pulling an all-nighter. Thanks!

[LopoTRI]

I mainly want a ps2 that can run ps1 and ps2 backups through a usb drive if possible.

The answer is FMCB (FreeMcBoot) and OPL (Open PS2 Loader).
But it works on PS2 till SCPH-90004 8b. At "8b" you have 50% chance depends on the Bios you have.
And for PSX-games over USB, ffgriever had a emu called "PS2PSXe" with new preview (with sound now), and if you can wait, he brings another preview out with better compatibility....

Over USB the video-seq sucks, cause the PS2 has USB1.1, but games work fine....
With OPL you can play your games over network (SMB=Samba, shared folder from your PC) too...

Here is FMCB-Home....

Free McBoot Home

And over "Installation" you can read what method you want to use to install it....

And here you can find the newbie-package for FMCB. Scroll down where it stays in blue "The Free McBoot Noobie Package" and klick it...

Noobie Guide

[unknownperson5]

Thanks for the response! I don't want to take the risk with the slim so I'll just get the fat since all of their models work with FMCB. Playing games through the USB option doesn't seem too attractive to me now that I read the bit on the FMCB website. It says only 50% games work. Even if it's 100%, you said the cutscenes slow down which doesn't sound too good; shame it's only 1.1. If that's the case I'd rather go with burning dvds, I assume everything runs smooth that way?

How exactly does OpenPS2loader work? Do I have to connect my PS2 to my PC and run ISOs from my computer? And does it also play ps1 games?

Thanks again!

[LopoTRI]

If that's the case I'd rather go with burning dvds, I assume everything runs smooth that way.

Therfore you need ESR. you must patch with "ESR-Disc-patcher" your .iso and burn it to dvd. But there are some games incompatible too....

OPL is much much more than 50% compatible....

You can play games with OPL over USB-HDD, internal HDD (fat PS2), network.
If you want to play over network, you can connect it over router or with an crossover-cable with your PC.

And does it also play ps1 games?

with emu, yes, but with some bugs....

[unknownperson5]

Thanks for the info again. I'll try to have the option for all if I can get an internal hdd. What are the compatibilities of the internal hdd and network streaming anyway? Do they also have video cut-scene slowdowns?

Also, I heard of some trick to play ps1 games by stopping your motor in the middle of spinning a retail psx disc then putting in the backup and even though this can be bad for your ps2, there's something that stops the motor for you preventing any damage. Is this only for slim models or can the fat ps2 do it as well?

Sorry to be a bother again.

[LopoTRI]

Also, I heard of some trick to play ps1 games by stopping your motor in the middle of spinning a retail psx disc then putting in the backup and even though this can be bad for your ps2, there's something that stops the motor for you preventing any damage. Is this only for slim models or can the fat ps2 do it as well?

You meen the "Disc-control" in the config of uLE. If you set it to "on" then the Disc stops spinning after boot in uLE.
But if this works in a fat, sorry i don´t know it....

[unknownperson5]

Thanks again for your help.