PS1/2 PS2 Best Modding Method For Me?

Lockstar91 · Sep 30, 2016

Hey everyone,

So I'm looking at soft-modding my PS2 slim and don't know what method is best for me?

I have a PS2 Slim and have some sealed games I'd like to play on my PS2 without having to break open the games original seals. I'd prefer if I could download the games online and simply put them on the memory card of the PS2 and play. Also it would be preferred if I could keep the PS2 in original condition, like no custom firmware being installed permanently)

So the question is, is it possible to do what I'm wanting with the PS2 Slim or would I be better of getting a PS2 fat, putting a 500gb hard-drive in, installing FMCB/OPL? I heard that the slim can only play games via USB (but it causes stutter due to the speed of usb1.0) or by burning disks (don't want to use the cd drive, as trying to preserve their lives). So I'm guessing the fat is my only option as I could install roms onto the hhd and play them via FMCB/OPL as said above?

But if anyone knows of a better method it would be appreciate as I'm not great with these type of things and could be missing something.

Thing I want

- Download roms via online and put on memory card/hard drive.
- No physically modifying PS2 (chips)/Installing home-brew permanently ect.
- PS2 Slim preferably
- Best game performance (no lag/effects)

Thanks

Vanth88 · Sep 30, 2016

With slims your pretty much limited to USB and Network. You'll want to install FMCB http://psx-scene.com/forums/official-free-mc-boot-forums/ and use Open PS2 Loader http://psx-scene.com/forums/official-open-ps2-loader-forum/. That's about all there is to it.

If you want to use HDD's you could buy a phat. You can even purchase a SATA network adapter to use sata HDD's with your PS2.

That's about all you can do without hard modding anything.

VincentBeasley · Sep 30, 2016

Vanth88 said:
With slims your pretty much limited to USB and Network. You'll want to install FMCB http://psx-scene.com/forums/official-free-mc-boot-forums/ and use Open PS2 Loader http://psx-scene.com/forums/official-open-ps2-loader-forum/. That's about all there is to it.

If you want to use HDD's you could buy a phat. You can even purchase a SATA network adapter to use sata HDD's with your PS2.

That's about all you can do without hard modding anything.

Side question, does OPL support Ps1 games as well?

Vanth88 · Sep 30, 2016

wolven9 said:
Side question, does OPL support Ps1 games as well?

I believe so. http://ps2home.freeforums.net/thread/163/list-popstarter-wip-games-launch

Lockstar91 · Sep 30, 2016

Vanth88 said:
With slims your pretty much limited to USB and Network. You'll want to install FMCB http://psx-scene.com/forums/official-free-mc-boot-forums/ and use Open PS2 Loader http://psx-scene.com/forums/official-open-ps2-loader-forum/. That's about all there is to it.

If you want to use HDD's you could buy a phat. You can even purchase a SATA network adapter to use sata HDD's with your PS2.

That's about all you can do without hard modding anything.

Might have to buy a fat ps2 then :/

Btw what do you mean by network? Heard people discussing it, but never understood it?

retrofan_k · Sep 30, 2016

Lockstar91 said:
Might have to buy a fat ps2 then :/

Btw what do you mean by network? Heard people discussing it, but never understood it?

I own 4 different ps2s including a slim. You have also have an option to use ESR patched discs, iso patched and then burnt to appear to the ps2 as a DVD movie, yet is boot able with ESR. This works on slims and phats if you fancy still using discs.

Tbh, you are better off with phat, throw in 2tb hdd and play with OPL. Don't even entertain USB. It's v1.1 on the ps2 and outdated and causes more hassle than its worth.

Lockstar91 · Sep 30, 2016

retrofan_k said:
I own 4 different ps2s including a slim. You have also have an option to use ESR patched discs, iso patched and then burnt to appear to the ps2 as a DVD movie, yet is boot able with ESR. This works on slims and phats if you fancy still using discs.

Tbh, you are better off with phat, throw in 2tb hdd and play with OPL. Don't even entertain USB. It's v1.1 on the ps2 and outdated and causes more hassle than its worth.

Thanks, will most likely be picking up a Ps2 fat then, will save alot of time and trouble by the sounds of things

civickm · Sep 30, 2016

Yes a phat is alot better, I picked one up at the goodwill last year for $5

DaFixer · Sep 30, 2016

Get also a 32mb memory card from Aliexpress for about 1.50 euro.
Works great with fmcb and enough space for all your games/homedrew apps.
Also a PS2 to HDMI converter works great

Lockstar91 · Sep 30, 2016

civickm said:
Yes a phat is alot better, I picked one up at the goodwill last year for $5

$5! Dam you got lucky, here in aus they are like $40-$100

civickm · Sep 30, 2016

Lockstar91 said:
$5! Dam you got lucky, here in aus they are like $40-$100

Yeah I figured it didn't work but it came with all the cables and one controller, plug it in put in a resident evil and boom played it for like 3 hours lol.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

MalayZN · Sep 30, 2016

why not get a modded ps3 and load ps2 games?

Zephir1991 · Sep 30, 2016

40 bucks for a PS2, with all cables and maybe a controller (in good condition) sounds good. You can do so much stuff with it. c:

Lockstar91 · Oct 1, 2016

MalayZN said:
why not get a modded ps3 and load ps2 games?

Why, because a modded ps3 will upscale games to HD, causing the image to be 4X upscaled and it just looks horrible.

Lockstar91 · Oct 1, 2016

DaFixer said:
Get also a 32mb memory card from Aliexpress for about 1.50 euro.
Works great with fmcb and enough space for all your games/homedrew apps.
Also a PS2 to HDMI converter works great

Noob question, but do the games only save to the PS2 phat HDD, while the saves go to the memory card?

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

retrofan_k said:
I own 4 different ps2s including a slim. You have also have an option to use ESR patched discs, iso patched and then burnt to appear to the ps2 as a DVD movie, yet is boot able with ESR. This works on slims and phats if you fancy still using discs.

Tbh, you are better off with phat, throw in 2tb hdd and play with OPL. Don't even entertain USB. It's v1.1 on the ps2 and outdated and causes more hassle than its worth.

Also do you need a PS2 network adapter to run a 3rd party HDD. Heard you needed one, but I don't see why you would?

retrofan_k · Oct 1, 2016

Lockstar91 said:
Noob question, but do the games only save to the PS2 phat HDD, while the saves go to the memory card?

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Also do you need a PS2 network adapter to run a 3rd party HDD. Heard you needed one, but I don't see why you would?

I'll answer both:

If you are using OPL you have the option to use virtual memory cards I.e use hard disk space for saves or use a real memory card. Note: some games require a card only, like Resident Evil 4, so in most cases use a real one for better compatibilty. The games are uploaded to the hdd via Winhiip (fastest way to do it) connected to the PC.

Yes, you need a network adapter to use a internal hdd on a phat. Use official Sony ones, not cheap knockoffs or will get issues.

Maxdiypower.com (ships from China but is a trusted site) do proper Sony ones that is modded to use SATA hdd's. IDE is harder to find now and more expensive. I use a 2TB in mine with that adapter.

Lockstar91 · Oct 1, 2016

retrofan_k said:
I'll answer both:

If you are using OPL you have the option to use virtual memory cards I.e use hard disk space for saves or use a real memory card. Note: some games require a card only, like Resident Evil 4, so in most cases use a real one for better compatibilty. The games are uploaded to the hdd via Winhiip (fastest way to do it) connected to the PC.

Yes, you need a network adapter to use a internal hdd on a phat. Use official Sony ones, not cheap knockoffs or will get issues.

Maxdiypower.com (ships from China but is a trusted site) do proper Sony ones that is modded to use SATA hdd's. IDE is harder to find now and more expensive. I use a 2TB in mine with that adapter.

Thanks appreciate the help!

DaFixer · Oct 1, 2016

retrofan_k said:
Maxdiypower.com (ships from China but is a trusted site) do proper Sony ones that is modded to use SATA hdd's. IDE is harder to find now and more expensive. I use a 2TB in mine with that adapter.

Yes I also get one off those Maxidiypower IDE to SATA upgrade kits, works very good.
I connected a 2.5 inch Sata HDD

@Lockstar91:
Also those 32mb,64mb and 128mb memory cards works great, but some games don't work with some games for some reason.

Lockstar91 · Oct 1, 2016

DaFixer said:
Yes I also get one off those Maxidiypower IDE to SATA upgrade kits, works very good.
I connected a 2.5 inch Sata HDD

@Lockstar91:
Also those 32mb,64mb and 128mb memory cards works great, but some games don't work with some games for some reason.

Just found a sealed 250GB IDE for $40AUD, is that a good deal?

And yer 3rd party memory cards are known to have bugs with 10% of the PS2's library.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extra question guys (Sorry want to be 100% sure before buying).

Can the PS2 Hard drive also play PS1 games? As atm my slim plays PS1 games off disk, but I'm unsure if this softmod will support PS1 games?

retrofan_k · Oct 1, 2016

Lockstar91 said:
Can the PS2 Hard drive also play PS1 games? As atm my slim plays PS1 games off disk, but I'm unsure if this softmod will support PS1 games?

You can use popstarter if you search for it to boot ps1 games.

Check a video about it.

PS1/2 PS2 Best Modding Method For Me?

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