I thought I was pretty lucky to find a modded ps2 for pretty cheap. I hooked it up to a NTSC CRT with the regular composite cables and everything is working fine. When I go to play PS1 games they are in black and white but everything for PS2 is colour. I found out after that this PS2 is a PAL one, I have a Modbo5 chip using the matrix infinity menu and have tried all the settings and googled a bunch. Anyone know of a fix or am I just stuck cause I'm using this on an NTSC tv?
PS1/2 Modded PS2 issue
- Thread starter KoopaTroopaZ
- Start date
- Views 6,065
- Replies 10
Hello.
In the Matrix Menu do you have these options:
PS2 Screen Fix = Color / Pal / Pal 60 Hz / NTSC / VGA ( VGA Warning Screen) / off = TV- Norm
PSX Screen Fix = on/off =Color by NTSC Games without RGB-Cable.
The CRT TV can handle 60Hz but maybe not NTSC color. You have to set (if possible) to PAL60 which is basically NTSC VSYNC (60Hz) with PAL color.But maybe the Modbo BIOS can´t.
Please try an RGB cable if possible.
In the Matrix Menu do you have these options:
PS2 Screen Fix = Color / Pal / Pal 60 Hz / NTSC / VGA ( VGA Warning Screen) / off = TV- Norm
PSX Screen Fix = on/off =Color by NTSC Games without RGB-Cable.
The CRT TV can handle 60Hz but maybe not NTSC color. You have to set (if possible) to PAL60 which is basically NTSC VSYNC (60Hz) with PAL color.But maybe the Modbo BIOS can´t.
Please try an RGB cable if possible.
Thanks so much for getting back to me!
Okay so I tried Pal60 and the screen just stays blank, It took a bit of trial and error to get it back to something I could see lol. I tried another tv with component and it worked in color (it was a 65" samsung) but my PAL games don't load at all. Could be too scratched.
I live in the US, US tv(isn't it NTSC?) with a PAL modded PS2... PS2 games work fine it's just PS1 games with the issue
I don't have a rgb cable or tv that can use one. :/
Okay so I tried Pal60 and the screen just stays blank, It took a bit of trial and error to get it back to something I could see lol. I tried another tv with component and it worked in color (it was a 65" samsung) but my PAL games don't load at all. Could be too scratched.
I live in the US, US tv(isn't it NTSC?) with a PAL modded PS2... PS2 games work fine it's just PS1 games with the issue
I don't have a rgb cable or tv that can use one. :/
One thing to watch for, this is only in relation to your getting it working with component, is that a lot of TV’s won’t display PS1 games through component cables.
So if you can set it to a different mode, 480i or whatever, and try it via the composite cables again (assuming you get an image) that’ll maybe be the only way to get the PS1 games to show.
But getting colour on an NTSC TV from a PAL PS2 can be tricky in itself. You’re lucky that you have a chip at least, you should be able to force it into NTSC mode. As you’ve discovered, PAL60 won’t work, it’s still a different signal, it will have to be NTSC you use.
PS2 games generally don’t throw many issues at you.
But are the PS1 games NTSC or PAL? NTSC shouldn’t give you problems, PAL, not so much.
There’s a bit of a timing issue which only occurs when you use PS1 games on a PS2.
That combined with the PS2 defaulting to the colour space of the disc, rather than the hardware can cause problems.
There are ways around that problem — ripping and re-burning with a patch, or running them from a hard drive, where the software does the necessary work for you.
So if you can set it to a different mode, 480i or whatever, and try it via the composite cables again (assuming you get an image) that’ll maybe be the only way to get the PS1 games to show.
But getting colour on an NTSC TV from a PAL PS2 can be tricky in itself. You’re lucky that you have a chip at least, you should be able to force it into NTSC mode. As you’ve discovered, PAL60 won’t work, it’s still a different signal, it will have to be NTSC you use.
PS2 games generally don’t throw many issues at you.
But are the PS1 games NTSC or PAL? NTSC shouldn’t give you problems, PAL, not so much.
There’s a bit of a timing issue which only occurs when you use PS1 games on a PS2.
That combined with the PS2 defaulting to the colour space of the disc, rather than the hardware can cause problems.
There are ways around that problem — ripping and re-burning with a patch, or running them from a hard drive, where the software does the necessary work for you.
Last edited by Stwert,
NTSC (both US and JP) games still are black and white on composite. I don't have any PAL games to test until I get them cleaned today they are really scratched and won't boot at all.
That is odd. NTSC on an NTSC TV should be colour. Is that both PS2 and PS1? Or is it just happening with the PS1 games?
Also, what mode have you set the chip to?
Try Color at its defaults, that’ll make the games output to their default region.
And try PSX Screen Fix to On (or off if you tried it On already.)
I’m assuming you’re using Infinity firmware version 1.93 of course
Last edited by Stwert,
Its just PS1 games. How do I know what firmware I'm using? the menu says 3.1m usbadv edition?
if I do "color" won't it make jp games not work on this console? i'm confused
if I do "color" won't it make jp games not work on this console? i'm confused
No, setting colour won’t stop them working. The PS2, from any region, is capable of outputting every other region. Sony just disabled the option to do so, the chip gets around that.
As the PS2 will default to the region of the software and not the hardware, JP games will be fine as they also use NTSC.
You might also want to try disabling Macrovision. While not strictly for games, it can sometimes help.
As for the firmware, it doesn’t sound like you’re using 1.93.
The Modbo 5’s came with a modified version of the 1.93 firmware with some hacks and changes and frankly, they fucked it up. It has all kinds of compatibility issues with a lot of games.
If the firmware has never been changed from the one it came with, that could be a part of your problem.
As an aside. Have you considered using Free McBoot. Sure it involves some more purchases. Ideally a hard drive and a network adapter and of course the memory card with Free McBoot on it.
I personally prefer that option, it’s nice to have all the games stored on an internal hard drive. No swapping discs, or wearing out the laser.
Not to mention the PS2 is far more compatible and versatile, in that it can run homebrew easily. If you’re into that kind of thing.
You can do it with just the mem card and a usb Drive, but it’s damn slow doing it that way.
You can get third-party hard drive adapters really cheaply, or, the better option. Pick up an official Sony Network Adapter as cheaply as you can and a SATA converter.
As the PS2 will default to the region of the software and not the hardware, JP games will be fine as they also use NTSC.
You might also want to try disabling Macrovision. While not strictly for games, it can sometimes help.
As for the firmware, it doesn’t sound like you’re using 1.93.
The Modbo 5’s came with a modified version of the 1.93 firmware with some hacks and changes and frankly, they fucked it up. It has all kinds of compatibility issues with a lot of games.
If the firmware has never been changed from the one it came with, that could be a part of your problem.
As an aside. Have you considered using Free McBoot. Sure it involves some more purchases. Ideally a hard drive and a network adapter and of course the memory card with Free McBoot on it.
I personally prefer that option, it’s nice to have all the games stored on an internal hard drive. No swapping discs, or wearing out the laser.
Not to mention the PS2 is far more compatible and versatile, in that it can run homebrew easily. If you’re into that kind of thing.
You can do it with just the mem card and a usb Drive, but it’s damn slow doing it that way.
You can get third-party hard drive adapters really cheaply, or, the better option. Pick up an official Sony Network Adapter as cheaply as you can and a SATA converter.
Last edited by Stwert,
Being in the US, this is not unusual, just for another option, you might consider a Pound PS2 HDMI cable, it turns PSX/PS2 RGB signals into an upscaled (not uprendered) 720p HDMI signal. No idea if it will help your pal ntsc mismatch and lack of color, but IME it works great for PSX games on PS2, Better than composite (duh) and no worries about if your TV supports 240p over component (mine does, but there's still an issue with games that are in 240p on some screens but 480i on others, the Pound cable fixes that.)
Sorry for the late reply! Thank you all so much for your answers. I found out I do have 1.93 firmware and the other day it just magically worked. It must have just been that TV or something :S
Hello.
Great to hear that it finally works.
Thank you for your feedback and your reply.
Have fun and a great time with your modded PS2.
Great to hear that it finally works.
Thank you for your feedback and your reply.
Have fun and a great time with your modded PS2.
Similar threads
-
@
TwoSpikedHands:
Do I restart now using what i've learned on the EU version since it's a better overall experience? or do I continue with the US version since that is what ive been using, and if someone decides to play my hack, it would most likely be that version? -
@
Sicklyboy:
@TwoSpikedHands, I'll preface this with the fact that I know nothing about the game, but, I think it depends on what your goals are. Are you trying to make a definitive version of the game? You may want to refocus your efforts on the EU version then. Or, are you trying to make a better US version? In which case, the only way to make a better US version is to keep on plugging away at that one -
@
Sicklyboy:
I'm not familiar with the technicalities of the differences between the two versions, but I'm wondering if at least some of those differences are things that you could port over to the US version in your patch without having to include copyrighted assets from the EU version
-
@
TwoSpikedHands:
@Sicklyboy I am wanting to fully change the game and bend it to my will lol. I would like to eventually have the ability to add more characters, enemies, even have a completely different story if i wanted. I already have the ability to change the tilemaps in the US version, so I can basically make my own map and warp to it in game - so I'm pretty far into it!
-
@
TwoSpikedHands:
I really would like to make a hack that I would enjoy playing, and maybe other people would too. swapping to the EU version would also mean my US friends could not legally play it
-
@
TwoSpikedHands:
I am definitely considering porting over some of the EU features without using the actual ROM itself, tbh that would probably be the best way to go about it... but i'm sad that the voice acting is so.... not good on the US version. May not be a way around that though
-
-
@
The Real Jdbye:
@TwoSpikedHands just switch, all the knowledge you learned still applies and most of the code and assets should be the same anyway -
@
The Real Jdbye:
and realistically they wouldn't
be able to play it legally anyway since they need a ROM and they probably don't have the means to dump it themselves -
-
-
-
-
@
Karma177:
do y'all think having an sd card that has a write speed of 700kb/s is a bad idea?
trying to restore emunand rn but it's taking ages... (also when I finished the first time hekate decided to delete all my fucking files
) -
-
-
-
@
Karma177:
@The Real Jdbye it hasn't given me any error trying to write things on it so I don't really think it's faulty (pasted 40/50gb+ folders and no write errors)
-
-
@
DinohScene:
when SD cards/microSD write speeds drop below a meg a sec, they're usually on the verge of dying+1 -
-
-
-
-
@
TwoSpikedHands:
@The Real Jdbye, I considered that, but i'll have to wait until i can get the eu version in the mail lol
@
TwoSpikedHands:
@The Real Jdbye, I considered that, but i'll have to wait until i can get the eu version in the...