Phat PS2 buying guide

[cib3k]

Hi all, this is my first post here.

I want to buy a PS2. It needs to have an internal HDD (not an USB one), so it will have to be a Phat one. I'm leaning toward a V5 or V7 version, original or with a modchip. Now here's why I can't decide.

I've read this post ("Best" PS2 version?) which mentions the following:

The PS2 system was designed from scratch with one idea in mind: making sure that CDR/DVDR discs would ruin the system if used in them. The DVD driver controller (Mechanics controller or MECHACON for short) does the control of the mechanics of the drive, identifies which kind of media is inserted. It has been coded with intentional bugs which are meant to cause lockups if DVDR or CDR media with bad error correction data are inserted and that results on fried tracking coils or worn out DVD laser diode.

V5 and V6 units:

The firmware bugs on the older versions of the motherboard were "enhanced". The burnt coils syndrome/blown BA5815 problem started to become common.

V7 and V8 units:

Have the same issues with coils burning as the V5/V6.

V9 and V10 units:

...are where the thing started to get ugly. Unhappy on how people kept modding the consoles Sony yet again set traps on the systems. Along with upgrading the glitches on the mechacon processor firmware they this time took care to add flaky resistor arrays on the IOP address bus making up what would later be known as "golden disc syndrome".

My question is: do softmods or any modchip somehow bypass these bugs, so they won't cause me trouble with backup discs? I know that by having a HDD I won't be using much the DVD drive, but I still don't want to have any problems just waiting to happen.

Concerning modchips, I've read here (Best current mod chip ?) that...

the only real disadvantage/drawback of having a chip installed is that the lifespan of laser decreases. Voltage & laser diode modifications have to be applied as well in order to add an extra period of prolongation. This problem is quite particular with the v12 slim (perhaps with v9-10 too). The solderless chips are especially infamous for quickly frying a console.

Does this happen because the chips don't actually circumvent the bugs? If I get a modded Phat console, should I check that it also had laser fixes?

In fewer words - if you'd have to get a Phat PS2 today, you'd want it to be able to play PS2 backup discs (not interested in PS1) and you'd want it to be as reliable as possible - what would you get? I'm a bit overwhelmed by all the problems out there. Thanks.

[SP193]

Hi all, this is my first post here.

Hi. Welcome to PSX-scene!

My question is: do softmods or any modchip somehow bypass these bugs, so they won't cause me trouble with backup discs? I know that by having a HDD I won't be using much the DVD drive, but I still don't want to have any problems just waiting to happen.

No, these bugs and sabotage can never be addressed.
They're not really that bad... just use high-quality media (never use cheap DVD discs or badly scratched discs!!!).

Use Verbatim DVD-R discs, but make sure that they're made by Mitsubushi or Taiyo Yuden.

Concerning modchips, I've read here (Best current mod chip ?) that...

Does this happen because the chips don't actually circumvent the bugs? If I get a modded Phat console, should I check that it also had laser fixes?

Only if it's a v9-v12.
I believe that that "laser fix" that was mentioned in that post you linked to actually referred to the "Romeo fix".

It doesn't address any of the bugs and sabotage in the v9-v12 consoles, but only prolongs the life of the laser by reducing the amount of current fed to it (If you find out why the v9s have lots of problems with their lasers, you'll find out why reducing the current helps).

If you take good care of your console, and don't use cheap and damaged discs, you will have to worry less for your laser.

In fewer words - if you'd have to get a Phat PS2 today, you'd want it to be able to play PS2 backup discs (not interested in PS1) and you'd want it to be as reliable as possible - what would you get? I'm a bit overwhelmed by all the problems out there. Thanks.

I would get a console from the SCPH-39000 series. That was what I did (I got a SCPH-39001, but exchanged it for my current SCPH-39006 because the laser wasn't working well).

Just be sure to thoroughly test the console before really accepting it as a good purchase!!

The older SCPH-3x00x consoles had inferior laser systems compared to the newer consoles, and most older PS2s can't read cheap DVD-R discs and any DVD+R discs.

[cib3k]

Thanks for your answer.

So the idea would be to get a V7 PS2. Are there any reasons I should prefer one with a modchip over an original/softmoded one? From what I've read the softmods are good enough.

[SP193]

Thanks for your answer.

So the idea would be to get a V7 PS2. Are there any reasons I should prefer one with a modchip over an original/softmoded one? From what I've read the softmods are good enough.

You can't play Playstation games of an incorrect region, or from burned discs without a modchip.

With a modchip, it's really a simpler process to boot games (Unless you've set FMCB to automatically launch your game loader at the console's bootup, then only a button press would be required ).

Just pop the game's disc in, and it'll run.

[cib3k]

I've read here (Which mod chip to buy?) that....

The only things you can do with a hardware modchip that FMCB and its companion programs are not capable of are very few, and not really significant.

1: Boot PS1 game backups. This is the only thing softmod homebrews can not do at all.
2: Boot out-of-region original discs. But softmod homebrews can run the same games in other ways. Just not from the original discs.
3: Boot any-region backups without any patches. The softmod homebrew ESR needs a patch on each ISO before you burn the backup discs

That topic was about a V14 console, but doesn't it apply also to V7 Phat versions? Shouldn't I be able to play games from a burned disc if I patch the ISO before burning it?

[yoshi314]

I want to buy a PS2. It needs to have an internal HDD (not an USB one), so it will have to be a Phat one.

if you want to have internal hdd, why do you worry about the laser?

i only use the dvd drive in my ps2 to install games off original discs now and then. unfortunately i have more games than i can fit on 250gb hdd, so it's sometimes necessary.

btw why the hell are people saying "Phat" instead of Fat ?

[SP193]

I've read here (Which mod chip to buy?) that....


That topic was about a V14 console, but doesn't it apply also to V7 Phat versions? Shouldn't I be able to play games from a burned disc if I patch the ISO before burning it?

Yup, you can.
However, the only advantage a modchip has over using ESR is that you don't have to patch anything to run your game that's burned onto a recordable disc.

[cib3k]

Thanks for all your help, SP193.

if you want to have internal hdd, why do you worry about the laser?

As I said in my original post, I know that by having a HDD I won't be using much the DVD drive, but I still don't want to have any problems just waiting to happen.

btw why the hell are people saying "Phat" instead of Fat ?

Well, I'm new to consoles and I'm doing it because I noticed other people were referring to it this way.

[dlanor]

I've read here (Which mod chip to buy?) that....

----- old quote edited out ----- re: limitations of homebrew compared to modchips -----

That topic was about a V14 console, but doesn't it apply also to V7 Phat versions?

It applies directly to all fat and slim versions, except for the very oldest japanese-only versions (need extra support files to make it work) and the very latest v18 consoles with bios v2.30, which can never boot FMCB.

But even those can boot games off burned discs without a modchip, provided they are given sufficient help to do it. For the old ones this means using a modified FMCB install, with extra files making it work despite the missing bios files. For the v18 consoles you need some other homebrew boot method than FMCB, such as SwapMagic boot discs allowing you to boot uLE off MC or USB. ESR can then be used from uLE just as when booted by FMCB.

Shouldn't I be able to play games from a burned disc if I patch the ISO before burning it?

Yes, but we must again emphasize that this still only applies to PS2 games, and not PS1 games. (In an earlier post the term "Playstation games" referred only to PS1 games.) That limitation will change when ffgriever finishes a release version of PS2PSXe (his PS1 emulator for the PS2).

Best regards: dlanor

[cib3k]

Thanks all for your help.

I have one last question concerning the laser. When buying a used PS2, what's the best/fastest way to check that the laser is working fine?

I found a test here:

-Boot your system into your browser. If you have a modchip, disable it and enter your browser
-Using a DVD game (silver bottom), insert it into the system and pay attention to the bottom of the screen
-While the system is reading the disc it will pulse "Reading Disc"
-Disregard the first pulse and afterwards count the number of times it pulses Reading Disc

System Version | Pulses | Condition
------------------------------------------
Versions 1-7 | 8-10 pulses | Laser is fine
Versions 1-7 | 23-25 pulses | Laser is in need of cleaning or it could be faulty
Version 9+ | 4 pulses |Laser is fine

What do you think?