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Rofl_Mao
Posts: 3187
Location: Nederland
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 Posted: Thu, 15th Jul 2010 13:40 Post subject: [PS2] Which mod to choose |
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So I'm thinking about modding my PS2 to play a whole stack of downloaded ubercool games. The problem is there's a couple of options available, and I don't really know which to pick. I've been reading this forum, and every mod seems to have pros but also annoying cons. The two major options seem to be either playing off optical media, or USB/HDD.
My big question about optical media (burned dvds) is: will they ruin the PS2's laser! There's lots of talk on the internet about PS2's whose laser died after reading backups.
The benefit of optical media would be its ease of use. Just use a memory card with the Free McBoot exploit and the PS2 will read backups! No chipping required. Or use a swap disk like Swap Magic or Breaker Pro.
Then there's the apps to play games off USB or HDD, like HD Loader and USB Extreme. This won't strain the lens, but there's a lot of online folks moaning about poor compatibility. In the end it's the games that count, so if you can't play most of them... this option would be of little use.
So all this would boil down to two questions:
-Do backups really ruin the PS2's lens?
-Is the compatibility of HDD with games really poor?
If I could get some insight in these matters, then choosing a mod might be a little easier 
| Lopin18 wrote: | I think you played too much Fallout 3, Pedo Perk acquired.  |
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| Posted: Thu, 15th Jul 2010 13:56 Post subject: |
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1. No, it's an old wife's tale. My seven year old PS2 is still playing backups today.
2. Surprisingly not as poor as it used to be, most games are compatible - either by default or via patches.
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| Posted: Thu, 15th Jul 2010 14:21 Post subject: |
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-Do backups really ruin the PS2's lens?
- like any media with Black Surface [ like original DVDs have or CDs from PSone and 2] or burnable Surface all of those use up the lens... its not the media problem but sony cheap laser parts that they use... i would advice you to use this and then download and burn the HD loader 0.8c extension to use a HDD... or if your paranoid burn on burnable black surface DVDs but if you ask me : media is not the problem here, the burning speed it and it should be x2 or x4
-Is the compatibility of HDD with games really poor?
it works ok but doesn't work perfect on double layer games [0.8c version now works fine with those games, now even GOW 1 and 2 that where not possible to be booted from hd work perfect] more info on here with every game tested on the hd loader http://www.absoluteanime.com/hdloader.html and like always here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_Loader#HD_Advance
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Rofl_Mao
Posts: 3187
Location: Nederland
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| Posted: Thu, 15th Jul 2010 15:43 Post subject: |
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| sabin1981 wrote: | | 1. No, it's an old wife's tale. My seven year old PS2 is still playing backups today. |
That's interesting, are you also using quality media like Verbatims? I've heard discs with the Ritek G04 dye are the best.
| Lopin18 wrote: | | I think you played too much Fallout 3, Pedo Perk acquired. |
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Rofl_Mao
Posts: 3187
Location: Nederland
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| Posted: Thu, 15th Jul 2010 16:02 Post subject: |
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There seem to be a few options for playing games off HDD/USB, which raises more questions.
-The fat PS2 is compatible with a regular IDE hard drive, which is connected by the network adapter. However... said adapter seems to have become rare and expensive.
-The slim PS2 would use a USB drive. But the USB throughput rate is said to be slower than that of the dvd drive. Resulting in stuttering videos etc.
And there seem to be a number of apps to run games off a HDD.
-HD Loader, HD Advance, HD Extreme. What is the difference between all these?
-Via a memorycard exploit, Free McBoot
-And now there's a new HDD app, OpenPS2Loader. Which is supposedly better than HDA etc.
| Lopin18 wrote: | | I think you played too much Fallout 3, Pedo Perk acquired. |
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| Posted: Thu, 15th Jul 2010 16:03 Post subject: |
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omg, there were a few mods which caused the laser to die after 2-3 years. but those are ooooooooooold. so no need to worry. the easiest way to play backups is a modded memory card. easy to create if you know someone who owns a chipped console
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| Posted: Thu, 15th Jul 2010 16:43 Post subject: |
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| Rofl_Mao wrote: |
There seem to be a few options for playing games off HDD/USB, which raises more questions.
-The fat PS2 is compatible with a regular IDE hard drive, which is connected by the network adapter. However... said adapter seems to have become rare and expensive.
-The slim PS2 would use a USB drive. But the USB throughput rate is said to be slower than that of the dvd drive. Resulting in stuttering videos etc.
And there seem to be a number of apps to run games off a HDD.
-HD Loader, HD Advance, HD Extreme. What is the difference between all these?
-Via a memorycard exploit, Free McBoot
-And now there's a new HDD app, OpenPS2Loader. Which is supposedly better than HDA etc. |
you now question why USB on the PS2 is so fucking slow when you can normally stream HD data from any other USB on the ps3 or PC
the answer is simple PS2 has a SHITTY USB 1.1
USB 1.1 maximum transfer rate is 12Mbits/second
USB Hi-Speed 2 is capable of 480Mbits/second
when PS2 drive reads at 4x speed [5.54 MB/sec]
so no its not the USB 1.1 fault but the HDD emu , thats why some movies run like this ... and thats why there are so many HD emus out there |
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Rofl_Mao
Posts: 3187
Location: Nederland
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| Posted: Thu, 15th Jul 2010 18:24 Post subject: |
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| Hfric wrote: | | Rofl_Mao wrote: |
There seem to be a few options for playing games off HDD/USB, which raises more questions.
-The fat PS2 is compatible with a regular IDE hard drive, which is connected by the network adapter. However... said adapter seems to have become rare and expensive.
-The slim PS2 would use a USB drive. But the USB throughput rate is said to be slower than that of the dvd drive. Resulting in stuttering videos etc.
And there seem to be a number of apps to run games off a HDD.
-HD Loader, HD Advance, HD Extreme. What is the difference between all these?
-Via a memorycard exploit, Free McBoot
-And now there's a new HDD app, OpenPS2Loader. Which is supposedly better than HDA etc. |
you now question why USB on the PS2 is so fucking slow when you can normally stream HD data from any other USB on the ps3 or PC
the answer is simple PS2 has a SHITTY USB 1.1
USB 1.1 maximum transfer rate is 12Mbits/second
USB Hi-Speed 2 is capable of 480Mbits/second
when PS2 drive reads at 4x speed [5.54 MB/sec]
so no its not the USB 1.1 fault but the HDD emu , thats why some movies run like this ... and thats why there are so many HD emus out there |
I'm aware of the outdated USB 1.1 on the PS2. So the PS2's transfer rate via dvd is 5,5MB/s, which is about 45Mbit/s. That would explain the stuttering movies via USB.
But what about the more recent slimline PS2's, are they still fitted with slow USB 1.1?
| Lopin18 wrote: | | I think you played too much Fallout 3, Pedo Perk acquired. |
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Rofl_Mao
Posts: 3187
Location: Nederland
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| Posted: Thu, 15th Jul 2010 18:29 Post subject: |
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| Janz wrote: | | omg, there were a few mods which caused the laser to die after 2-3 years. but those are ooooooooooold. so no need to worry. the easiest way to play backups is a modded memory card. easy to create if you know someone who owns a chipped console |
I can get a premodded memorycard on Marktplaats (online fleamarket) for about €20. I know I shouldn't be paying money for it, but then again I shouldn't be playing downloaded games in the first place 
After reading all the information in here (thanks guys for contributing ) I think I'll choose the modded memorycard. The laser probably won't be damaged. In case it should get fried, I can always resort to the HDD or USB option.
The funny thing about the PS2 is the number of options for modding it. The Xbox 360 is a lot simpler: you either flash it or don't.
| Lopin18 wrote: | | I think you played too much Fallout 3, Pedo Perk acquired. |
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| Posted: Fri, 16th Jul 2010 13:04 Post subject: |
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| Rofl_Mao wrote: | | Hfric wrote: | | Rofl_Mao wrote: |
There seem to be a few options for playing games off HDD/USB, which raises more questions.
-The fat PS2 is compatible with a regular IDE hard drive, which is connected by the network adapter. However... said adapter seems to have become rare and expensive.
-The slim PS2 would use a USB drive. But the USB throughput rate is said to be slower than that of the dvd drive. Resulting in stuttering videos etc.
And there seem to be a number of apps to run games off a HDD.
-HD Loader, HD Advance, HD Extreme. What is the difference between all these?
-Via a memorycard exploit, Free McBoot
-And now there's a new HDD app, OpenPS2Loader. Which is supposedly better than HDA etc. |
you now question why USB on the PS2 is so fucking slow when you can normally stream HD data from any other USB on the ps3 or PC
the answer is simple PS2 has a SHITTY USB 1.1
USB 1.1 maximum transfer rate is 12Mbits/second
USB Hi-Speed 2 is capable of 480Mbits/second
when PS2 drive reads at 4x speed [5.54 MB/sec]
so no its not the USB 1.1 fault but the HDD emu , thats why some movies run like this ... and thats why there are so many HD emus out there |
I'm aware of the outdated USB 1.1 on the PS2. So the PS2's transfer rate via dvd is 5,5MB/s, which is about 45Mbit/s. That would explain the stuttering movies via USB.
But what about the more recent slimline PS2's, are they still fitted with slow USB 1.1? |
those slims are the catalyst for the "bitch hd Loader USB 1.1 my movies run like poo" war... now emus are made in the way they first prebuffer some of the data and then stream the whole thing out ... so those slow downs aren't visible
like i have told you get some one that will make you a Mcboot memory card after that use tutorials on the net to upload to your card HD loaders of any kind ... and thats it |
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Rofl_Mao
Posts: 3187
Location: Nederland
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| Posted: Tue, 17th Aug 2010 14:26 Post subject: |
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It's been a little while, and I have managed to obtain a soft modded Free McBoot memorycard in the meantime.
BUT: it doesn't work! It does however work flawlessly on the seller's console, a slim PS2. My model is a fat oldie: SCPH-30004, bought in late 2000.
What could be the problem? I've heard of different types of McBoot installations on the memorycard, something with 'multi'? Is there a different version of McBoot for the fat fossil PS2's?
If I check the browser screen and select the modded memorycard, the BEEXEC_SYSTEM folder doesn't show up. What is visible is the McBoot program and the two folders BOOT and SYS-CONFIG.
| Lopin18 wrote: | | I think you played too much Fallout 3, Pedo Perk acquired. |
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| Posted: Tue, 17th Aug 2010 17:43 Post subject: |
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| Rofl_Mao wrote: | It's been a little while, and I have managed to obtain a soft modded Free McBoot memorycard in the meantime.
BUT: it doesn't work! It does however work flawlessly on the seller's console, a slim PS2. My model is a fat oldie: SCPH-30004, bought in late 2000.
What could be the problem? I've heard of different types of McBoot installations on the memorycard, something with 'multi'? Is there a different version of McBoot for the fat fossil PS2's?
If I check the browser screen and select the modded memorycard, the BEEXEC_SYSTEM folder doesn't show up. What is visible is the McBoot program and the two folders BOOT and SYS-CONFIG. |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcTj3u1NtDg |
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Rofl_Mao
Posts: 3187
Location: Nederland
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| Posted: Sun, 22nd Aug 2010 20:19 Post subject: |
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| Hfric wrote: | | Rofl_Mao wrote: | It's been a little while, and I have managed to obtain a soft modded Free McBoot memorycard in the meantime.
BUT: it doesn't work! It does however work flawlessly on the seller's console, a slim PS2. My model is a fat oldie: SCPH-30004, bought in late 2000.
What could be the problem? I've heard of different types of McBoot installations on the memorycard, something with 'multi'? Is there a different version of McBoot for the fat fossil PS2's?
If I check the browser screen and select the modded memorycard, the BEEXEC_SYSTEM folder doesn't show up. What is visible is the McBoot program and the two folders BOOT and SYS-CONFIG. |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcTj3u1NtDg |
The softmod turned out just fine thankfully. There was something else going on: I have an SCPH-30004. Only a 'multi' installation will work; the regular install isn't compatible with that particular console for some reason.
| Lopin18 wrote: | | I think you played too much Fallout 3, Pedo Perk acquired. |
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Rofl_Mao
Posts: 3187
Location: Nederland
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| Posted: Sun, 22nd Aug 2010 20:25 Post subject: |
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But the laser is piss poor, it can't even read Taiyo Yuden discs. So I'm going to bypass the crappy dvd drive and cram an HDD in the expansion bay. I already got HD Loader stored on the memorycard and am curious about just a few other things.
-How do I install games to the HDD? In the same way as writing games to an external USB disk, using USB Extreme?
-Is the HD Loader compatible with some of the newer, big ass HDD's? 500GB would be nice, I could fit a nice games library in there
-Is it possible to connect the PS2 to the home network (using the network adaptor), and install games via the network?
-Am I right in saying the compatibility of the HDD with games is finally pretty good? A patch here and there seems to solve most of the problems
I can get my hands on the required network adaptor by the way
| Lopin18 wrote: | | I think you played too much Fallout 3, Pedo Perk acquired. |
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Rofl_Mao
Posts: 3187
Location: Nederland
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| Posted: Sun, 22nd Aug 2010 23:02 Post subject: |
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Found some answers to my own questions: load games onto the HDD using Winhiip. The HDD should be connected to your computer. And if you ain't got a rusty old IDE connection anymore, there are USB enclosure units for the disks. More here http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/369291
And a huge list with compatible hard drives, including the ones with larger capacities: http://ps2drives.x-pec.com/?p=list
| Lopin18 wrote: | | I think you played too much Fallout 3, Pedo Perk acquired. |
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sTo0z
[Moderator] Babysitter
Posts: 7449
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon, 23rd Aug 2010 01:12 Post subject: |
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| bushwacka wrote: | | Quote: | | -Is it possible to connect the PS2 to the home network (using the network adaptor), and install games via the network? |
yes, but it's a bit of work from what i've read |
Eh?
It's quite easy.
Just get hdl dumb (that's the name if I recall), install/run the server.elf on your ps2, run the PC .exe, choose ISO, hit go, ???, profit! |
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sTo0z
[Moderator] Babysitter
Posts: 7449
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon, 23rd Aug 2010 02:48 Post subject: |
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| bushwacka wrote: | well honestly, i didn't really bother with it, just slapped the few hundred gigs of ps2 games on it via winhiip and never looked back again  |
That works too. |
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Rofl_Mao
Posts: 3187
Location: Nederland
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| Posted: Sun, 12th Sep 2010 14:23 Post subject: |
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So it's been a while, I've been busy, and everything turned out fine. The reason McBoot didn't work at first is that I have a SCPH-30004. That kind of PS2 requires the 'multi' McBoot install, the normal one doesn't work.
The laser on my 10 year old PS2 turned out to be very poor and could not even read decent DVD-R's by Taiyo Yuden. So I opted for HDLoader 0.8c, which has great compatibility with almost any game. I managed to track down a network adapter on the online flea market, and a rusty old 120GB from my old PC appeared to be compatible with the whole setup.
Uploading ISO's from my MacBook even worked great, thanks to Xdumb. The HDL ELF is now configured to boot automatically, so I can now just switch the PS2 on, pick a game from a long list and play till I drop. The old *black bitch has still got plenty of life in her
*=no racist comment, I mean the console which is black
| Lopin18 wrote: | | I think you played too much Fallout 3, Pedo Perk acquired. |
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| Posted: Sun, 12th Sep 2010 14:29 Post subject: |
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Glad to hear it, man! The PS2 is still a cracking machine with some truly magnificent games - definitely worth it for any decent gamer to own one.
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