Modchip vs Swap Magic?

[*~*]

Since the only models that are available to me new are 9000X's, I can't softmod (even though I have the appropriate gear lying around...an AR MAX...), So now it's a toss-up between SMDs and probably a ModBo 4.

SMD's cost more, I gotta swap disks everytime I wanna play an import/backup. However, there's virtually no chance of something going wrong and doesn't dent my warranty.

A modchip means heaps of flexibility, I can just chuck in any old disk and it'll boot, and now I can get a ModBo 4 pretty cheap. However I'm somewhat inexperienced with soldering (I've only done jobs on small-ish PCBs like arcade sticks), so that would mean the $100 for the PS2 down the drain if I screw up...

Help meh!

[dlanor]

Since the only models that are available to me new are 9000X's, I can't softmod (even though I have the appropriate gear lying around...an AR MAX...), So now it's a toss-up between SMDs and probably a ModBo 4.

One of my own consoles is a recent SCPH-90004, with the new bios blocking FMCB, and for this I have chosen to use SwapMagic Coder v3.8.

SMD's cost more,

Not if you set any value at all on the modchip installation work required, and the risk that something goes wrong with it if you do it yourself. It doesn't take much you know. Another person in the same room, accidentally bumping into you at the wrong time could ruin everything, even if you did everything perfectly. And for anyone without perfect eyesight soldering to pins of modern ICs can be pure hell.

I gotta swap disks everytime I wanna play an import/backup.

Not necessarily. Even if you want to play backups on CDVD discs, you can do it via ESR and use ESR-patched backup discs, in which case the SM swap method is not needed. (I use no sensor blocking at all on my SCPH-90004.) But of course you have to insert the game disc in order to use it, so that 'inconvenience' remains

And if you use OPL (== Open PS2 Loader) you can also run PS2 games either from USB drives or from a Windows fileshare on a PC over LAN. For such cases you can simply let the SwapMagic disc remain in the console at all times (it's what I mostly do with that console).

However, there's virtually no chance of something going wrong and doesn't dent my warranty.

Which are both important factors to consider.

A modchip means heaps of flexibility, I can just chuck in any old disk and it'll boot,

Not in my world... A PS2 is just as picky about media quality with a modchip installed, and the quality requirement is likely to rise with age as the modchip will increase the aging rate of your CDVD laser.

and now I can get a ModBo 4 pretty cheap.

But it won't be 'cheap' altogether if anything goes wrong.

However I'm somewhat inexperienced with soldering (I've only done jobs on small-ish PCBs like arcade sticks), so that would mean the $100 for the PS2 down the drain if I screw up...

Precisely, which is why you should at the very least practice lots of soldering on scrapped circuit boards with similar pin density as the chips in a PS2. Because without such practice, giving near perfect results (not just visually, but verified free of unwanted short circuits by real multimeter testing), the risk of scrapping your PS2 console is high.

In the end there are only two real drawbacks of using SwapMagic booting instead of a real modchip:

1: Playing backups from CDVD drive will be less convenient, as you are always starting each session with a SwapMagic disc in the drive, which needs to be replaced by the game backup disc. This is regardless of whether you use ESR backups (without SMD sensor blocking) or the traditional SwapMagic swap methods. Both are equally inconvenient in requiring disc replacement at each game startup and each time you need to reboot after a game session.

2: Playing PS1 backups is something the softmod methods do not offer at all (as yet).

For me the above factors made me decide not to install a modchip in my SCPH-90004, but the final choice for your own console is yours to make. Hopefully this post gave you something to aid your informed choice on the matter.

Best regards: dlanor

[SkyNet]

I just wondering like what is better for fat ps2 version 9 or 10-----Swap Magic or modchip?
I am not talking about slide tool in ps2 fat----because I do not like that ---in order to use slide tool---we need to damage the disc tray. I like flip top cover for fat ps2. The only question like is there available flip top cover for fat ps2 version 10 ??????

If to look here:
PS2 Flip Top | PS2 Flip Top Cover | PS2 Flip Top Mod | Buy Ps2 Flip Top | Black Cover

It says that it is compatible with versions 4 to 8 of fat ps2. So question is: Can this Flip Top Cover to be used with version 10???? Does someone has experience with it ????

Also can someone tell me:
ModChip in Fat PS2----Does it damage laser?
Why so many people have damaged laser in Fat ps2----It is because of ModChip?????

So what is safer for ps2s lens-----SwapMagic or ModChip????

Also such question: Can SwapMagic boot Backups of Linux Kit??????

Actually I can play Games trough OPL and ESR, but the thing is that ESR compatibility is not 100%, like ESR can boot Backup of Linux Kit but it can not start the installation process---Pink screen at the end.

Also if to compare Modchip and SwapMagic---which one has higher game compatibility?

Can SwapMagic to be used to boot any Backup??? Like does SwapMagic have 100% compatibility with backups??? Can it boot any backup??? Did you notice that SwapMagic did not boot any Backup???

The most important for me in Fat PS2 Ver.10 --- to save laser. Because laser in ps2 fat is very difficult nowadays to fix.
So, please answer someone----Does SwapMagic save lens of PS2 Fat??? Does someone have experience with it????

What is better to have----FreeMCBoot and Modchip or FreeMCBoot and SwapMagic?????

Is it possible to install Modchip and connect it through plug with eighteen wires at the moment I need to boot backup outside of ps2 and then unplug modchip---in order to save lens?????

So question is--ModChip or SwapMagic??????

Thanks to people who can answer my questions.....