PS2 Trimming and DD Replacement Discussion (Best PS2 Modchip

[SonyQrio]

I want to be able to boot games from a USB stick without a diskdrive.

Here's what I've got so far:

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The smallest cut:

This cut is assuming we find an IDE pinout for the 79001. Otherwise, we'd just have to relocate the disk drive AND keep the DD interface chip. But, as you can see. It can get pretty small even with that.

Explanation:

The circled regions are regulators. The top left is 5.0v for the left USB port. 5.0v will have to be wired back in from another regulator for the functionality of any USB device (obviously). The center bottom is for the optical port, which is unneeded altogether.

So, a lot of relocation will have to be done directly to the processor. I've traced the USBs out to the processor. I've also traced both of the DiskDrive lid switches, power switch, and first memory card out. I'll make a better diagram and document the relocation points for each as soon as I get better pictures.

 

[Zero]

Re: Best PS2 Modchip?

You don't really need a modchip if your goal is USB loading. Just find any way to boot up Open PS2 Loader. Easiest way would probably be to use FMCB.

Not sure if this is for a portable or not, but I have to warn you that IDE loading is still loads better in terms of compatibility and speed, especially with in-game movies.

 

[SonyQrio]

Re: Best PS2 Modchip?

I know that you can boot off of a USB stick without an modchip. But, most programs require a startup disk. I want to eliminate the disk drive altogether. Is there a way to do that without a modchip? Is there a solution that enables IDE loading from an SD card or equivalent?

 

[Zero]

Re: Best PS2 Modchip?

Read through the most recent threads in this forum. There's at least 2 of them where I talk about using a CF card to load up games via IDE, and I'm pretty sure Tchay mentioned in one of them that the disk drive isn't necessary. Just use FMCB and test it out.

 

[Tchay]

Re: Best PS2 Modchip?

I would love it if someone could post a pic of the motherboards that support IDE.

I have a working SCPH-90001 with me at home. It is the smallest board available but I believe it only can do USB loading.

IDE works with a hard drive if I understand it right. So I am curious which revisions support IDE.

 

[Prog]

Re: Best PS2 Modchip?

Someone should check out the Japanese boards for IDE pinouts because they have built in power circuits.

 

[Zero]

Re: Best PS2 Modchip?

IDE works with a hard drive or a CF card, which would be better for a portable IMO. The exact revisions escape my mind, but I can look them up again. I just remember they were the early slims.

 

[Tchay]

Re: Best PS2 Modchip?

IDE works with a hard drive or a CF card, which would be better for a portable IMO. The exact revisions escape my mind, but I can look them up again. I just remember they were the early slims.

Perhaps the boards look the same as the 79001? I can hope.

 

[SonyQrio]

Re: Best PS2 Modchip?

I have a 79001. Is it of any potential?

 

[Tchay]

Re: Best PS2 Modchip?

I have a 79001. Is it of any potential?

yes, sorry that was what I meant to type. 79001 is the smallest motherboard apparently. It is compatible to run games via USB via freemcboot (i think). The issue is whether it can also support IDE via hard drive which would run games much faster.

And if 79001 cannot, then we need to take a look at the smallest mobo that can and then see if its trimmable.

Now, according to raizer from bacland, USB plays his games nicely and you just need to "defrag" the game files properly. He says he's tested roughly 30 games and they run great. Not sure if he is ignoring video quality. I want my games to run smooth all the way though.

 

[SonyQrio]

Re: Best PS2 Modchip?

The 79001 board is pretty much as small as a gamecube mobo. Surprising stuff. There's actually a bit of wasted space in the slim's case.

You can remove about a half an inch of board from the top if you relocate power and video. There are some really convenient solder pads under each, so it wouldn't be a big deal at all. With a little bit of relocation (power switch, 7805 regulator for the usb ports, and usb port #2), it already looks completely possible to get a tad smaller than an uncut gamecube motherboard without any scans.

 

[Mako321]

Re: Best PS2 Modchip?

Don't forget the 9000, which has an internal PSU that you can remove and is pretty small if I remember right.

 

[Zero]

Re: Best PS2 Modchip?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStatio ... se_designs

Alright, so looking it up again it looks like they removed the IDE points in V14 (75000 series), so unless that's somehow inaccurate, it means we can only use the 70000 series for IDE.

The main issues with USB is compatibility (although Open PS2 Loader was supposed to help fix that a lot) and speed. Also, a lot of games might run fine, but all the in-game movies will be choppy or unplayable. Iirc I linked to a compatibility list somewhere in one of the previous threads.

Another problem we may have is that FreeMcBoot will not work on a PS2 with BIOS version 2.30 or higher, which from my understanding only applies to some of the 90000 series, so it may be a gamble to find the right one. This could just be circumvented by using a modchip to boot OpenPS2Loader on an incompatible 90000 series slim PS2.

Either way, I'll see if I can test out loading some games through USB on my own PS2 to see how the compatibility is first-hand and if it's improved.

 

[Prog]

Re: Best PS2 Modchip?

Someone should check out the Japanese boards for IDE pinouts because they have built in power circuits.

 

[Zero]

Re: Best PS2 Modchip?

We saw. Like I just said in my last post, Sony removed the IDE points in the 75000 series. (Ie: Before they made the ones with integrated power supplies).

 

[SonyQrio]

Re: Best PS2 Modchip?

Sony removed the IDE points in the 75000 series...

Yepp. It's all true.

 

[Tchay]

Re: Best PS2 Modchip?

I did some google imaging and it is looking like the SCPH-700XX are big motherboards. Meaning the motherboard is about the whole size of the PS2 slim case perhaps there is a small 700XX but I have yet to find it online...

My SCPH-79001 is slightly bigger than a gamecube mobo (as Sony pointed out). You can cut off the edge sticking out (this has been confirmed by some modders from benheck along with Raizer). And of course you can trim the golden edges. My goal is to get one of the dimensions down to 4" or 4.5" at the very most. 4" would mean we could build an Envision sized PS2 portable.

4.5" is very doable, but 4" will be more tricky. Now, this is all in vain if the USB compatibility is bad to the point where you can't enjoy the games :/

Zero, do you know what the IDE points looked like on the older revisions? Was it a long set of female pin connectors? I was just curious if there might be some spots on the 79001 that we could solder to and get a working IDE connection.

EDIT: okay, I just had an idea. The PS2 drive looks small and people online say that mini DVDs work with the disc drive. So what if we KEEP the disc drive, turn it sideways on the back of the portable case, use a modchip, and burn the PS2 games to mini-DVDs allowing for a small portable??? What do you guys think?

 

[Mako321]

Re: Best PS2 Modchip?

Only problem is that most games wouldn't fit on a mini dvd.

 

[Tchay]

Re: Best PS2 Modchip?

Only problem is that most games wouldn't fit on a mini dvd.

max GB is 8.8

According to wikipedia, dual layer mini DVDs can do 2.66GB on one side. Hmmm, I'm guessing you can't split the game in half if it wasn't originally meant to be? Is there any higher tech mini-DVDs out there???

 

[vskid3]

Re: Best PS2 Modchip?

Only problem is that most games wouldn't fit on a mini dvd.

max GB is 8.8

According to wikipedia, dual layer mini DVDs can do 2.66GB on one side. Hmmm, I'm guessing you can't split the game in half if it wasn't originally meant to be? Is there any higher tech mini-DVDs out there???

A shaved-down bluray?

2.66GB sounds about the same as the dual- to single-layer ratio for normal DVDs (8.8 to 4.7, 2.66 to 1.5 (IIRC)), I doubt you can do any better. Maybe there's a way to compress them like CSOs for the PSP?
How is the USB compatibility? It doesn't sound too bad from what's been said in this thread. I would keep looking into that and just go with it if compatibility is good enough. Slight choppiness in cutscenes would be better to me than not being able to play any game bigger than 2.66GB.