Could someone please explain how PS2 modchips actually work?

[dandaman2234]

Hi Everyone,

I've been looking around on the internet and I'm finding it difficult to find a technical explaination of how PS2 modchips in general work.
If anyone knows of any websites or sources as to where this information can be found please let me know.

Thanks.

[Darkman-PSG]

it makes your ps2 play burnt ps1 and ps2 games along with emulators without any softmod... but you gunna have to let someone soldier in a mod chip for you

[TnA]

I guess that wasn't the intention of his question, but he rather wanted to know the methods used by modchips, to accomplish these goals...

[SP193]

While I do not remember where exactly I learned about how modchips work, I can tell you that you will probably get some more detailed and good answers by searching for information on those simple PIC-based modchips for the Playstation.

The protection system used by the Playstation 2 console is similar to the protection system used by the Playstation.

Both systems will attempt to authenticate the disc by reading data from the lead-in (?) area ("wobble data").

The Playstation will look for a code like "SCEA" for NTSC-U systems, "SCEI" for NTSC-J systems and "SCEE" for PAL systems.

Modchips work around that by patching the bus of the drive MECHAnics CONtroller (MECHACON) and manipulating the signals that get to sent to it (In other words, they try to trick the MECHACON into thinking that there is a valid code on the inserted disc - which might actually not have one).