PS1/2 Blank CDR's for Backups

[jasonr1023]

Hello everyone!
After finding out how valuable some classic video games can be, I've decided it's time to make backups and preserve the originals.
On price charting, silent-hill-trade-demo for example goes for $600 for the loose disc alone!!

So, I have a "game enhancer" that I previously used for cheat codes plugged into my ps1 parallel port, but I read that it will let me play backups.
I've tried burning Namco Museum v1 (which I own the original of) onto a disc at both high speed (52x) and slow speed (16x) and both discs fail.

I suspect it's the cheap CDR media on a spindle of 100 that I am using. (I am unsure who made those CDR's)

I've gone through the forums and there isn't anything recent about what brand CDR's to use for backups.
I've found on console copy world this info:
Top Vendor Factory Dye Color
1 Verbatim DataLifePlus Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation BLUE
2 TDK Reflex TDK BLUE
3 Philips Premium Silver Taiyo Yuden BLUE
Sony CDQ-BN / CN / BP Taiyo Yuden BLUE
4 Kodak Kodak GOLD
- but it's info from probably when the spice girls were popular.

These were mentioned in a post on this forum from 2016 - Verbatim CD-R 700MB 52X DataLifePlus White Inkjet Printable, Hub Printable - 50pk Spindle - 94755 - but I am unsure if it's the same product from 5 years ago even though the amazon page is active.

What is everyone using for CDR PS1 Backup media these days?

Much appreciated!

--Jason

 

[driverdis]

Hello everyone!
After finding out how valuable some classic video games can be, I've decided it's time to make backups and preserve the originals.
On price charting, silent-hill-trade-demo for example goes for $600 for the loose disc alone!!

So, I have a "game enhancer" that I previously used for cheat codes plugged into my ps1 parallel port, but I read that it will let me play backups.
I've tried burning Namco Museum v1 (which I own the original of) onto a disc at both high speed (52x) and slow speed (16x) and both discs fail.

I suspect it's the cheap CDR media on a spindle of 100 that I am using. (I am unsure who made those CDR's)

I've gone through the forums and there isn't anything recent about what brand CDR's to use for backups.
I've found on console copy world this info:
Top Vendor Factory Dye Color
1 Verbatim DataLifePlus Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation BLUE
2 TDK Reflex TDK BLUE
3 Philips Premium Silver Taiyo Yuden BLUE
Sony CDQ-BN / CN / BP Taiyo Yuden BLUE
4 Kodak Kodak GOLD
- but it's info from probably when the spice girls were popular.

These were mentioned in a post on this forum from 2016 - Verbatim CD-R 700MB 52X DataLifePlus White Inkjet Printable, Hub Printable - 50pk Spindle - 94755 - but I am unsure if it's the same product from 5 years ago even though the amazon page is active.

What is everyone using for CDR PS1 Backup media these days?

Much appreciated!

--Jason

the game enhancer would best be used for Unirom if possible which allows for a NoCash style drive unlock that allows it to read backups correctly including the disc’s TOC (Table of Contents) to prevent any issues. AntiMod games will need to be patched to work as AntiMod games fail the mod check even with a proper drive unlock and requires a stealth modchip to work.

 

[jasonr1023]

the game enhancer would best be used for Unirom if possible which allows for a NoCash style drive unlock that allows it to read backups correctly including the disc’s TOC (Table of Contents) to prevent any issues. AntiMod games will need to be patched to work as AntiMod games fail the mod check even with a proper drive unlock and requires a stealth modchip to work.

Thanks for taking the time to reply. My understanding is that most NTSC based PS1 games don't utilize the anti-modchip code that would require the stealth modchip. Is this not accurate?

I found an old verbatim datalife plus 4x blank CD-R in my junk drawer. I made a backup of Namco Museum vol3.
With the game enhancer plugged in, I powered on the PS1 with Tom+Jerry (original Disc), waited for it to stop spinning, inserted my backup of Namco Museum vol3. The game loaded and ran correctly. This indicates that with the disc swap method, I am able to run a backup and that the media type makes a difference. (I also gather that if my backup had the anti-modchip code that running it would have failed)


Are you saying that that flashing the game enhancer with Unirom causes the drive to be more compatible with different CDR media? (I know from watching a youtube video that it removes the requirement of doing a disc-swap to load a backup)

My apologies for sounding like such a noob. I really do appreciate you trying to educate me!

Side note: In your opinion, would I be better off installing a stealth mod-chip? I'm comfortable with soldering (Have a EE/CE/CS degree).

<here's a beer for you> [if you are near Durham, NC, I'll turn it into a real beer!]

Thanks for your time today!

 

[AkikoKumagara]

I use Memorex discs that look like this. Work great for me.

 

[godreborn]

about the anti-modchip code, most games don't use it. one company I know that has several times is capcom, so look up the game if it's by them. go here if the game doesn't work (might be very time-consuming to look up each game you plan to burn). since most games don't have anti-modchip code, I wouldn't worry about it unless a game doesn't work. some games scan for a modchip several times during the game, so I guess in some cases you might not know. I got dino crisis to go past the title screen once without the anti-modchip patch. the ap message on the screen was a mess, so it was illegible when I played it. I patched the EU version of the game using this site: https://consolecopyworld.com/psx/psx_patches.shtml

 

[jasonr1023]

about the anti-modchip code, most games don't use it. one company I know that has several times is capcom, so look up the game if it's by them. go here if the game doesn't work (might be very time-consuming to look up each game you plan to burn). since most games don't have anti-modchip code, I wouldn't worry about it unless a game doesn't work. some games scan for a modchip several times during the game, so I guess in some cases you might not know. I got dino crisis to go past the title screen once without the anti-modchip patch. the ap message on the screen was a mess, so it was illegible when I played it. I patched the EU version of the game using this site: {link removed - I am new and cannot post URL's}

On that website - is that what the "Protection Fix" does?

 

[godreborn]

yes

 

[jasonr1023]

the game enhancer would best be used for Unirom if possible which allows for a NoCash style drive unlock that allows it to read backups correctly including the disc’s TOC (Table of Contents) to prevent any issues. AntiMod games will need to be patched to work as AntiMod games fail the mod check even with a proper drive unlock and requires a stealth modchip to work.

It looks like I have a 2mbit game enhancer (based on the chip lookup - SST29EE020).
What unirom should I go with? There are versions like unirom standalone, unirom+caetla, unirom+caetlantsc, unirom+catelaplugin, unirom+catelantsc plugin, something else?

Thanks!

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I use Memorex discs that look like this. Work great for me.

View attachment 258325

You wouldn't by chance have an amazon link?
What speed do you burn the discs at?
What make and model cd/dvd burner do you use?

Thanks!!

 

[AkikoKumagara]

You wouldn't by chance have an amazon link?
What speed do you burn the discs at?
What make and model cd/dvd burner do you use?

Thanks!!

I don't have an Amazon link, sorry. I'm not even positive they make these exact ones anymore, but I did find some on ebay, so they're not impossible to get. I burn at the lowest speed possible on a "HL-DT-ST DVDRWBD CH20N" (BD-ROM, DVD-RW) drive. I think it's 16x for CDs, but I'd have to check to be certain.

 

[Tweaker_Modding]

i usually use some discs from poundland burned at 8x speed but recently i’ve been using maxell discs burned at 8x speed and they work wonders

they look like this

 

[Elbart]

My understanding is that most NTSC based PS1 games don't utilize the anti-modchip code that would require the stealth modchip. Is this not accurate?

But those that do are usually big names.