Fat & Slim PS2

Hi,
I was talking with a shop assistant in GameZone (Local shop), and he was saying that the Slim PS2s actually perform slightly better (faster) in games, than the older Fat models. Now, I'm pretty sure he is full of it, or just doesn't have a clue about PS2s in general. However, I am only a newbie myself, with the PS2, and so cannot be entirely certain either way.

Through an unfortunate accident my Slim (70003) PS2 was dropped, and stopped reading any disc, or even registering a disc was in the drive (Tried Originals & Backups). The Disc is spinning ok, so I guessed my laser was shot, but upon replacing it with a new one, it still read no discs, so having another slim (Same model) that is missing the complete drive, I put the complete drive (with new laser) in that PS2, but it still wouldn't read any disc. After this I thought I'd just get a new one, and got lucky on ebay, managing to get a Fat PS2 for £15.

So, my question is, does the Shop Assistant know what he is talking about, or, like I presumed, is he totally wrong?

Thanks in advance for any answers offered, and I apologise for such a stupid question, but I really am not sure, so figured it'd be best to confirm it with those that know best. :>

On a side note, if anyone can offer a suggestion on whats up with my Slim PS2, that'd be cool (I know the main board is good and the laser is new).

i think some ps2's have a tiny bit faster EE clock. but the difference is marginal and doesn't really impact anything.

it is possible though that some performance improvements could be observed, because most slim ps2's have EE and GS in one chip. but i am no expert in ps2 internals.

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Originally Posted by resincake

Hi,
I was talking with a shop assistant in GameZone (Local shop), and he was saying that the Slim PS2s actually perform slightly better (faster) in games, than the older Fat models. Now, I'm pretty sure he is full of it, or just doesn't have a clue about PS2s in general. However, I am only a newbie myself, with the PS2, and so cannot be entirely certain either way.

Through an unfortunate accident my Slim (70003) PS2 was dropped, and stopped reading any disc, or even registering a disc was in the drive (Tried Originals & Backups). The Disc is spinning ok, so I guessed my laser was shot, but upon replacing it with a new one, it still read no discs, so having another slim (Same model) that is missing the complete drive, I put the complete drive (with new laser) in that PS2, but it still wouldn't read any disc. After this I thought I'd just get a new one, and got lucky on ebay, managing to get a Fat PS2 for £15.

So, my question is, does the Shop Assistant know what he is talking about, or, like I presumed, is he totally wrong?

Thanks in advance for any answers offered, and I apologise for such a stupid question, but I really am not sure, so figured it'd be best to confirm it with those that know best. :>

On a side note, if anyone can offer a suggestion on whats up with my Slim PS2, that'd be cool (I know the main board is good and the laser is new).

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It's generally false to say that FAT PS2s perform worse than slimlines... because they have a similar hardware configuration (Although the chips and PCB layout used varied from model to model).

If you want a FAT PS2... I'll recommend that you avoid the SCPH-5x0xx series if you want to play backups.
Beware that older FAT PS2s (SCPH-3x00x) have picky lasers (They can't read low-quality discs and DVD+R discs without wearing themselves out)...... (Use only high-quality DVD-R discs like Verbatim DVD-R!!)

If you want a slimline... just avoid the SCPH-70xx and SCPH-90xx series if you want to have the least problems.

The SCPH-700xx series has a lot of problems with it's laser unit... and the SCPH-900xx series (With BIOS v2.30) won't boot FMCB.

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My advice to you if you want to get a new PS2:

If you don't need the internal HDD and just want to play games off discs... just get a SCPH-750xx/SCPH-770xx/SCPH-790xx PS2. Otherwise, get a SCPH-3x00x series FAT PS2.
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BTW about your new laser: Did you "activate" it (Something about melting something called the "Anti-static point" ) and adjust it's pots?
Can you determine whether the PS2 even attempts to read the disc (The laser lights up... even if it doesn't move about)?

I think that you should have already got the right laser for your model (Different slimline models used different lasers)... since you seem to know what you're doing (Purchasing/replacing the laser).

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i think some ps2's have a tiny bit faster EE clock. but the difference is marginal and doesn't really impact anything.

it is possible though that some performance improvements could be observed, because most slim ps2's have EE and GS in one chip. but i am no expert in ps2 internals.

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The EE clock speed was was increased starting from 1 PS2 revision... but I think that it was before the SCPH-3x00x series. The increase was very marginal: From 294MHz to 299MHz.

Sony replaced the EE and GS chips with a single chip in slimlines to save space and to reduce manufacturing costs.

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Originally Posted by SP193

If you want a FAT PS2... I'll recommend that you avoid the SCPH-5x0xx series if you want to play backups...

... BTW about your new laser: Did you "activate" it (Something about melting something called the "Anti-static point" ) and adjust it's pots?
Can you determine whether the PS2 even attempts to read the disc (The laser lights up... even if it doesn't move about)?

I think that you should have already got the right laser for your model (Different slimline models used different lasers)... since you seem to know what you're doing (Purchasing/replacing the laser)...

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* Damn, I hope the Fat PS2 I have ordered off ebay isnt the 5x0xx series :/

* Yes, I did remove the Anti-Static Point with my Soldering Iron, before fitting, and I'm ceertain I fitted it right, I am a bit eletronically minded and have done similar things on both the Wii & Xbox, as well as a replacement laser on a reinds PS2. The only thing I can think of with my Slim PS2, is how the drive bay is sitting, or the little circuit board underneath the Spool (The circular thing that the disc fits on), but I don't know anything about that, or how to test it. :>

Thanks for the replies guys, fingers crossed that I dont have the 5x0xx coming. Do the 5x0xxx just not play backups at all ?

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If you want a FAT PS2... I'll recommend that you avoid the SCPH-5x0xx series if you want to play backups.
Beware that older FAT PS2s (SCPH-3x00x) have picky lasers (They can't read low-quality discs and DVD+R discs without wearing themselves out)...... (Use only high-quality DVD-R discs like Verbatim DVD-R!!)

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yeah, i had v4 console and it didn't read dvdr+ disks, only dvdr-. i'm pretty sure 5xxxx series have much superior and reliable lasers, though.

but i saved mine as much as i could, by using hdd, so i'm not really the person to speak on the subject.

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Originally Posted by resincake

* Yes, I did remove the Anti-Static Point with my Soldering Iron, before fitting, and I'm ceertain I fitted it right, I am a bit eletronically minded and have done similar things on both the Wii & Xbox, as well as a replacement laser on a reinds PS2. The only thing I can think of with my Slim PS2, is how the drive bay is sitting, or the little circuit board underneath the Spool (The circular thing that the disc fits on), but I don't know anything about that, or how to test it. :>

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I'm not to proficient and very knowledgeable about the PS2's hardware though. :(
Maybe some other member here who knows more can help to give you more tips on where you might have gone wrong.

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Do the 5x0xxx just not play backups at all ?

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No... sorry if I made it seem that way. :(
They can play backups like any other PS2 if a modchip was installed... but the laser in those consoles wears out really fast compared to any other PS2 when you don't use pressed discs. :crazy:

Hey, but it's actually not that bad. If you take good care of it... it'll probably just be as good as any older console.
That's why it's very important to use high-quality DVD-R discs.

On the up side... like any SCPH-3x00x console with a HD7 laser instead of the older KHD-400A/B/C/R laser installed... these consoles are not very picky at reading discs (They can read DVD+RW discs too... but don't use them to play games).

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but i saved mine as much as i could, by using hdd, so i'm not really the person to speak on the subject.

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If you looked in my signature... you'll find that I own a SCPH-39006 (With HD7 laser) PS2.
I had owned a SCPH-39001 before that 39006... but the laser unit got totalled and I exchanged it for the 39006.

That 39001 had a KHS-400C laser. It almost couldn't read any disc that I had burnt for my slimline PS2 (Mostly low-quality HP DVD-R discs)... except for those games burned on Verbatim discs and pressed discs.

It's weak laser (It seem to already be struggling to read pressed discs at time) got totalled after 1 day of trying to make it read my HP DVD-Rs and old CMC CD-Rs. :crazy:.
The moral here is to use good quality discs.

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i'm pretty sure 5xxxx series have much superior and reliable lasers, though.

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They do... as well as some of the late SCPH-3x00x consoles.

However, the SCPH-5x00x consoles seem lose their lasers/LA6505 chip faster than older consoles that have a BA chip.

A research was once done... and it seemed like some of the lasers were faulty when manufactured. The console's hardware seemed to not be well designed to prevent itself from being destroyed when a faulty/worn laser was used (The LA6505 chip blows easily).

Ah, thanks for clearing that up, I was worried in case the one I had bought was of that model, now I kinda hope it is, if it has a better functioning laser, just with a shorter lifespan when using crappy DVDs. I'm lucky in the fact that the local computer shop to me sells 50xVerbatim DVD-R for £9, thats only around.. erm.. 18p a disc, I cant complain at that, so really should never have a need to buy lower quality discs (Fingers crossed the small shop survives the recession ;>)

Oh, I was also reading that fat PS2s need a seperate network adapter, that surprised me, especially when I saw the ridiculous price £69 , luckily they seem to average about £25 on ebay, although they do seem quite rare, or sparse anyway. I did read you could plug an IDE drive into the Network Adapter though, so presuming its as easy as Plug & play, that'd make it worth the buy. I'm guessing OPL would run better on internal IDE than over SMB even. Though, on the PS2 wiki it says fat PS2s have an internal Hard Drive already, is that all fat PS2s does anyone know? And if so, what sort of sizes do they come in ? And, would an inbuilt IDE dr ive conflict with an IDE drive plugged into the Network Adapter ? hmm, seems Fat PS2s are the better choice really, or am I missing something about the Slims, other thsan the built-in Network Adapter and some say better lasers, though my v12 Slim proved otherwise for me :/ I did hear that the slims had 2 chips merged into one, where the fat PS2s have them as seperate chips, but ppl seem to be saying it was for spac reasons only and would not really offer any perceivable performance increase. Anyone know anytging about that ?

Wow, seems the Fat PS2s have brought up more questions for me than I thought it would, lol. Well, excuse my babbling, I do like to know the little ins & outs of the systems I use, you know ..

Thanks to anyone who has, or will, reply, I really do appreciate all answers offered.

Peace out.

:>

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Though, on the PS2 wiki it says fat PS2s have an internal Hard Drive already, is that all fat PS2s does anyone know?

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FAT PS2s have an optional Network Adaptor that also functions as a IDE HDD adaptor (The HDD gets plugged into the back of the Network Adaptor, and seats in your PS2's "Expansion Bay").

The Network Adaptor and HDD are both optional, and usually isn't sold with the FAT PS2 itself.

There isn't any "built-in" HDD either.

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And if so, what sort of sizes do they come in ?

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Official Sony HDDs are only 40GB in size.
You can use any other brand too - but games won't be able to access your HDD (The Sony HDD driver will reject "Non-Sony" HDDs).

Homebrew software are not affected by this "restriction" which Sony placed on accessing the HDD.

Just keep in mind that you have to physically modify your Network Adaptor if you use a Western Digital HDD.

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And, would an inbuilt IDE dr ive conflict with an IDE drive plugged into the Network Adapter ?

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There isn't one built in. The NA is the only HDD adaptor for an optional HDD.

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hmm, seems Fat PS2s are the better choice really, or am I missing something about the Slims, other thsan the built-in Network Adapter and some say better lasers, though my v12 Slim proved otherwise for me :/

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Well... the built-in NA, improved laser, lower weight and smaller profile were the only improvements the slimline consoles offered.

Newer slimlines don't share the issue which v12/v13 PS2s have - which was that the laser could blow if the MECHACON somehow crashed.

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I did hear that the slims had 2 chips merged into one, where the fat PS2s have them as seperate chips, but ppl seem to be saying it was for spac reasons only and would not really offer any perceivable performance increase. Anyone know anytging about that ?

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Generally, there isn't any performance gain.

Sony can't really replace the chips with any alternatives that offered any real performance increase anyway... or they may break some games that time certain events based on the speeds on certain hardware parts....

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Wow, seems the Fat PS2s have brought up more questions for me than I thought it would, lol. Well, excuse my babbling, I do like to know the little ins & outs of the systems I use, you know ..

Thanks to anyone who has, or will, reply, I really do appreciate all answers offered.

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No problem... we're all here to learn and to help others anyway. :D

I am new to your forum. I'd like to thank the makers for the membership and would like to apolgize up front for any stupid questions I might ask. I do have a older SCPH-30001 and I'm currently looking for a network/HDD adaptor. I would like to know if anyone would consider selling me one and would accept a U.S. Postal M.O. for payment and shipping?
I have just entered the PS2 world (i've had a couple ps1"s) and hope to venture into a PS3 soon.
I do mess with 360's and I'm currently working on a portable unit soon as well as building a PS2 portable.
Please let me know if anyone has one fer sale.:wow::wow:
Thanks and looking forward to hearing more on ya'lls site.