Noob question about PS2 Hardware choice

[Mugen80]

I have an old phat PS2. The laser is going out. It is not reading some PS2 (original) Disks or PS1 (original) disks anymore. I have a modded PS1 as well.

So I would like to buy a PS2 (phat or slim) and mod it so that I can play my PS1 backups. My question is, is the phat or slim PS2 better to mod. Does it matter which one I buy?

I was looking at the DMS4 S.E. Lite. Im not looking to play DVDs.
Just play my PS1 and PS2 backups and maybe run a NES/SNES emulator on it.

I also saw some one mention that I could connect an external HDD and play my backups from there?

Thanks for any information guys!

:cool:

[Mugen80]

Anybody?... Bueller?

[Speedlock]

I have an old phat PS2. The laser is going out. It is not reading some PS2 (original) Disks or PS1 (original) disks anymore.

Or the laser is going out of sync, it does that with time. Have you ever adjusted the laser strength screws before?
(Also the laser could be dirty).

So I would like to buy a PS2 (phat or slim) and mod it so that I can play my PS1 backups. My question is, is the phat or slim PS2 better to mod. Does it matter which one I buy?

Ive never done a solder mod myslef, but i hear its a REALLY hard thing to mod a ps2, with like 17 wires or more and if you mess up somewhere, the ps2 goes toast when turned on. I guess that is why the premodded ps2s is always so expencive.

I was looking at the DMS4 S.E. Lite.
Thats a solderless "easy" chip if not mistaken, so in that case id suggest the old bulky ps2, as it is nice and easy to open up (normal screws and such). Ive never opened a slimline myself, but i cant see it being any easier.

I also saw some one mention that I could connect an external HDD and play my backups from there?


I suggest having a look at the HDAvance site as it explains both Internal IDE booting and External USB 1.1 Hdd booting, and about compatible Hdds and Games and how to copy games using special software on you pc to the ps2 formatted Hdd.
http://www.hdadvance.com

But just in case here is a short sumup:
HDLoader came first, then came HDAdvance , but since HDA is just a rip of HDL .. they are basicly the same. And both of them works pretty much equally well.

HDL & HDA: internal COMPATIBLE ide hdd connected to your old fat bulky using a NETWORK ADAPTER and the whole thing is booted by running the original ps2 disc containing the software. Good: games load FAST. Ingame action is not affected.

Usbextreme: use a external usb-hdd. Booting games is done by running the software from a original ps2 disc. Good: easy and fast to hook up to both ps2 and pc. Bad: Game loading is slooooow. Ingame action is not affected.

Getting games on the ps2 hdd. With HDL&HDA you also got the possibility to read and upload games on the ps2 to the hdd (swapping may be needed with backups). The ps2 is quite long about uploading a whole disc. Instead you can remove the IDE hdd and either hook it up to you pc (put it into a usb enclosure or use it internal on IDE cable .. a little pc techy tho).
Usbextreme is a lot more simple as you "just" hook up the external hdd using usb, but you still need to run the special pc software.
Note that either way, the hdd will never how up as a hdd in you pc as its in a special ps2 format.
Usbextreme is probably a little bit more "kids friendly" than HDL/HDA but its had to tell.

Most importent: Hdd booting really isnt worth it if the reason you get it is to boot games faster than backups .. the main reason to have a hdd is that then you got all you games in one place and dont have to look for that nonamed backup you cant remember where you put. Hdd booting is no where that faster compared to dvd+-r backups to justify it on loading speeds alone
(sure you may save 30 second here and there, but dont forget it took you 45 minuts to get the game on the hdd).

[Mugen80]

Thanks Speedlock! YOU ROCK! :cool: