Best PS2 Modchip?

[DYNAGOD]

Ive already got a modded xbox, but now id like to move into a PS2 mod.
What is the best chip out there feature wise?
any help would be greatly apprciated.

[crashwg]

I have a DMS3 and I love it.  Highly recomended!  If you want to play PS1 games and DVDs on it too you should look into DMS4 though becuase with 3 you have to hold "o" while booting PS1 games and "square" for DVDs...

[Chemixtry]

I have a ps2 with a fliptop but I would like to get a new slim pstwo with a modchip. I've been reading on some forums on other sites that there has been reliability issues with the new pstwo. Anybody know anything about this?

[DYNAGOD]

ive got a brand new Gamecube with ikaruga and metrod prime,less than an hours on it..its just bored the crap outta me and ikaruga isnt a game, its some sort of software based torture device
my plan is to  trade it for a modded PS2, but i want to make sure i trade it for a ps2 that has a chip with the best selection of features..

[DYNAGOD]

i know xbox-scene.com well , is there ps2 scene type site?

[Dave_K.]

If all you are interested in doing is playing games off the HD, you don't even need to chip your PS2...similar to the xbox softmod approach.  All you need is the ethernet adapter, HD, and a memory card with the hacked hdloaderlite exploit.  Sad really...

[pointdablame]

If all you are interested in doing is playing games off the HD, you don't even need to chip your PS2...similar to the xbox softmod approach.  All you need is the ethernet adapter, HD, and a memory card with the hacked hdloaderlite exploit.  Sad really...

Don't go that route.... its not worth it IMHO.  the interface is not very nice, and many games don't work on it.

I have a memory card exploit running on my PS2 right now, and out of the games I have, Ratchet and Clank 1, Gradius V, Neo Contra, and a bunch of others don't work on the hdd.  You apparently have to hex edit some stuff to get Jak 3 working, and the new ratchet and clank does not work either.

Get a modchip, you'll be better off.  I gave this a shot cuz I already had an extra hard drive and the ethernet adapter, so it cost me nothing, but it isn't living up to my expectations at all.

[Dave_K.]

The modchip won't help you run these from the HD, so how is it "worth it"?  Whats not worth it to me is ripping/burning to DVDs (especially since I don't own a DVD burner ).  

[Pieman2004]

there is a ps2-scene.org similar to xbox-scene.com. I think they are sister sites or something like that. (<--I don't really know) But yeah if you just want to play games off the HD then I say just go with the memory card exploit. That's what I have going now and its great. If you wanted to play backups that don't work on your hard drive you can use another program for your memory card and a swap trick.

[DYNAGOD]

i have a 120 gb hard drive in my xbox, but ultimatley i burn most of my games to DVD and have a mere 3 games on my HD..
I like the finality of having them on disk..i copy the inlay and buy new boxes and i have duplicates of my games for manhandling at parties and such while my pristine masters stay in my bedroom.
I think i would likely want the same for my PS2..besides i havent a spare hard drive handy (its in my xbox ) and the cost of a new one would exceed the cost of a modchip..
my present PS2 doesnt work so well from a previous modchip install from a butcher installer. door doesnt close right ,makes all kinda noise, games dont load..he didnt even give me back the same PS2 i gave him or install the chip i gave him...total friggin nightmare that was..i ripped out the chip to get soime functionality and the thing has never been th same again..know what they say,touch the brain never the same..

i would do the install myself but the leads are so damn fine..
i have anice SMT soldering station too,but thats just a bit too fine of work for me..
figure im better off bartering my NGC with 2 games for one..

[Smack]

I've got a DMS3+ in my V7 and love it. I recently did an install with a Matrix Infinity and would prefer to do those.

The MI is much less picky about the wire routing. The DMS4 is supposed to be less picky than the dms3+, but dunno

After having done both, I personally would go with the MatrixInfinity. The solder points on the board are basically the same with the exception of the reset switch as opposed to the eject. (also the 3.3 location is in an alternate spot.) Also, they have the same features...ATAD patching, etc. (the MI does a direct boot of ps2 or ps1 without having to hold buttons down., I prefer the stealth mode activation on that one, yo know fo sure when it is disabled cause it shows on the screen.)

If you've got a V9 or V10, make sure you do the Romeo mod to protect the laser from toasting on you. (Had to do that on a V9 I modded for my friend)

If you've got a V4, go with the Matrix, the DMS3 is a NIGHTMARE on those.

I won't touch a V1, 2 or 3 cause you have to unsolder a power supply to get at the bottom of the board for the clock and scex point and that sucks (and solder to the dvd controller chip) Not worth the time, effort and risk... Trade it in for a later version.

Stay away from the psTwo for now, the lasers are blowing left and right on modded and unmodded machines. A fix is supposedly in the works, but I'd avoid it. (plus, there's not HD support with it!)

Just my 2 cents!

Smack
Boy, I've been away a while!

[Rahzel]

If you have a version 1-7 PS2 you can get a Magic V for about $30 USD(about $40 cheaper than the DMS3 or 4), and about $10 cheaper if you have a version 8-10. This chip is the best IMO, I did a lot of research when I modded my PS2 plus all of my friends'. It can boot PS1 Original/Ps1 Backup/PS2 CD/PS2 DVD/ DVD Movie Backups/Auto-Shutoff to play online with chip installed, ect ect, everything.

Also, if you modded your XBOX yourself then you'll be in for a suprise when you see how small the solder points on the PS2 actually are If you have a version 7 or later it will be easier for you, but below that ain't no fun

[DYNAGOD]

yea ive seen the how small and solder points and leads are.
i had a botched install and had to pull a messiah out of my ps2.
its never worked the same since.
i woudl not even dare to solder anything that small.i have a nice SMT soldering station with a pencil tip,but its just to fine of work for me.
and considering the present condition of my PS2,I really have no choice but to buy a premod.. the Ps2 i have now should be in a trash barrell after that fiasco

[rchadd]

will the current PS2 modchips work with the new PStwo?

[DYNAGOD]

supposedly yes... but i wouldnt chance it..
it was also stated above that the mods ar burning out lasers in the new slims

[Stingray]

If all you are interested in doing is playing games off the HD, you don't even need to chip your PS2...similar to the xbox softmod approach.  All you need is the ethernet adapter, HD, and a memory card with the hacked hdloaderlite exploit.  Sad really...

Or you can get HDAdvance on DVD. I never play games from the DVD drive anymore. Running them from the hard drive almost totally eliminates load times on every game I have.

-S

[DYNAGOD]

question,how do you get the games onto the drive if the drive is installed in your PS2?

[Rahzel]

I'm sure you need a PS2 network adapter and you transfer all your files directly to your PS2.

[crashwg]

question,how do you get the games onto the drive if the drive is installed in your PS2?

You can either load up the HDAdvance/HDLoader disk in the PS2 click Install/whatever it's called on HDAdv, insert the disk in the PS2, wait 2-10 min. 
OR... 
Take out the HD, place it into any windows PC run a program called WinHiip, copy games from disk or image to drive, replace drive in PS2.

Alternatively you can do the transfer thing Rahzel mentioned but it involves FTPing which I have absolutly no knowledge about so I have yet to atempt it...

[rchadd]

whats the fitting of PS2 modchip like? looks difficult

i see theres about 20 wires to solder 

maybe HDAdvance is a better option.

[Stingray]

question,how do you get the games onto the drive if the drive is installed in your PS2?

You can either load up the HDAdvance/HDLoader disk in the PS2 click Install/whatever it's called on HDAdv, insert the disk in the PS2, wait 2-10 min.

[DYNAGOD]

anyone have a reputable source for the hd loader.
im going to assume this isnt something you get at best buys as its un licenced..
anyone have a reputable online store where i dont have to worry about beging ripped off?

[Stingray]

ConsoleSource.com has both HDLoader & HDAdvance.

-S

[clanggedin]

I purhcased HDadvance from Consolesource.com. They are a great company and had quick shipping too.

[DYNAGOD]

which is the best of the two ,if thre is such a distinction?
i want to pick one up.

[Stingray]

I'm pretty sure that you'd want to go with HDAdvance. It's advertised as being compatible with more games. I just ordered a copy, but haven't gotten it yet. I do have HDLoader, but am hoping that HDAdvance will recognise a couple games that I installed but won't run with HDLoader.

-S

[Dave_K.]

HDLoader and HDAdvance are exactly the same thing with different skin/graphics.  So they are compatible with each others loaded games and formatted drives.  The only difference is HDLoader was being shutdown, and HDAdvance just released v2.0 which supports larger drives.  Thats it.  The list of compatible games remains the same.

[clanggedin]

HDadvance will let you run backups if you have a slidecard. I don't think HDloader supports backups.

[Dave_K.]

HDadvance will let you run backups if you have a slidecard. I don't think HDloader supports backups.

Is this an option in the HDA menu?  Or is this just a trick you can do with HDA if you have a slidecard or fliptop?

[DYNAGOD]

anyone had any luck with budokai 3 with the advance?
i guess ill pick that oe up since its the latest and greatest.
i just got the game and im in love, but the loading times in the game are ludicrous..
each match is only one round long, and you have to reload before every single round.. wears thin after a while..
but the graphics and gameplay depth more than make up for it..

[crashwg]

As stated before HDL and HDA are the same exact thing and acording to the compatability chart located here it's listed as working so I guess there's your answer.

[DYNAGOD]

awesome.
SOLD! 

[Stingray]

HDLoader comes on a single DVD. HDAdvance comes on a DVD & a CD. It's my understanding that the CD will recognise some of the CD based games that the DVD will not.

-S

[clanggedin]

HDadvance will let you run backups if you have a slidecard. I don't think HDloader supports backups.

Is this an option in the HDA menu?

[Stingray]

Just got my copy of HDAdvance from consolesource.com. Turns out the CD is for import & backup CDs.

-S

[TalkingOctopus]

So my understanding is that this is the thing to buy:
http://www.consolesource.com/ecomm/customer/product.php?productid=1927&cat=&page=1

Also, from what I've read, I will be able to play imports by connecting the ps2 hd to my computer and using the computer to load the DVD?  Do I have this right?

Thanks.

[crashwg]

So my understanding is that this is the thing to buy:
http://www.consolesource.com/ecomm/customer/product.php?productid=1927&cat=&page=1

Also, from what I've read, I will be able to play imports by connecting the ps2 hd to my computer and using the computer to load the DVD?  Do I have this right?

Thanks.

Precisely!

[TalkingOctopus]

This very tempting but also very expensive.  If I go for it, I will have spent more money on "modding" the ps2 than the ps2 itself. 

[crashwg]

Then again you can save a butload on games if you choose to do so...  Of course that would involve pirating games so it's realy up to you if you feel the game company deserves your $$$.

[DYNAGOD]

recomened taking a look at the game compatibility list on thier website beofre buying. not all games are supported and there may be some titles that are crucial to you making it not worth it..