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[Altor]

After taking a look at the positively staggering number of highly-rated games at Metacritic for the PS1/2, I'm getting the strong urge to buy one.

I'm going to want to run backups, of course... Where should I start?  Where is the "GBATEMP" of the Playstation universe?  

Also, if anyone can just quickly answer my biggest question: If I buy a mod chip for a PS2, will it allow me to play PS1 backups too?  Do I need a special kind in order to do that?

From what I understand, the "fat" PS2 is the best one for a modder to buy, since it's easier to install stuff in.  However, the fat ones are also older.  Does that make them less reliable?  I hear a lot about PS2s randomly dying.

[VietAzn368]

depending on what youd like to do with your ps2 (mobility and looks or compatibility and durability) you will go with the old PS2 or the new PS2.  you can either use swap method, hdloader, or modchip for running backups.  pm if you need more info.  you can check out ps2hd.com which revolves around using the hdloader method (probably the best choice for a quick setup and cheaper than a modchip)

[thaddius]

Modding a PS2 will usually let you run PS1 games as well.

'Fat' or 'old' PS2s are considered best because the lasers don't crap out with burned discs as easily as the slim ones will (this is a rumor as far as I know, but its a widely accepted one as far as I know).

If anything I'd go for a USB HDD mod, that is, adding a hard drive to run games off of. If you have a spare on hand it would work out well and you wouldn't need to open the damn thing up.

I'm in the process of getting a USBeXtreme (info) which is a driver disc for external HDDs on PS2s. Works on all models, no need to mod.

Here's a site where you can get one, there may be others.

But don't take my work for it. I'm sure a lot of people here have other opinions.

[Perseid]

1) www.ps2-scene.org has a Buy/Sell/Trade section in its forums. I ordered a modded PS2 and it works fine. There are also a lot of modchip gurus to ask questions of.
2) All of the modern PS2 modchips will let you play PS1 games. The Crystal Chip(what I own) also plays mod-protected PS1 games, and I believe others do too.
3) It used to be that a fattie PS2 in good condition was better than an equivalent slim, but all the fatties are getting so old that I don't think that's true anymore. And I'm pretty sure there isn't a motherboard revision that can't be modded. Some are easier than others but you can do it on all of them.

If you are planning to mod it yourself make sure you're up to it. Read up on how to do it. Installing a modchip is no joke. It's not that expensive to ship your PS2 to a modder who will install a chip for you.

[sneef]

USB HDD is not recommended.  transfer speeds suck.

get a "phat" ps2, and a network adapter, and install an internal IDE HDD.  it is simply the best.  use HDLOADER...

[Devil_Spawn]

i wouldnt advise the usb one either, game compatibility sucks  real bad!!!!!!

can anybody recommend a good way to get hdavance/hdloader???

also, what s this mem card exploit and how do i get the files on.
thanks

[sneef]

check torrent sites for hdloader, or mirc.

the memory card exploit allows you to store the loader on the memory card, and (if i remember correctly) trigger the exploit with an original PS1 game.

I forget, because mine has a modchip, and I load it differently.

[dai_uk]

I didn't think you can use PS1 games from HDD Loader though

[Altor]

What method has the highest game compatibility?

The only things that matter to me are:
1) game compatibility (PS1 very important)
2) quick start-up times (one menu to pick a game or whatever is fine, but nothing like loading GBA games through supercard)
3) ease of use

In that order.

Cost...  I want the best solution possible for a total cost of somewhere under $200 (including the PS2).  With those criteria, what do you think the best option would be?

[player2]

then you need a modchip because hddloader won't play ps1 backups.
but in my opinion, the ps1 playback isn't so important
because there are good emulators for the ps1
such as exist for psp, xbox, or pc.

otherwise, i'd just go with hddloader.
you can look for a ps2 with network adapter...
the last fat models shipped with the adapter.
Then drop a drive in there.
But you also need the memory card
exploit which is difficult to set up and you need to
have a 30$ product from datel that lets you
install the exploit. Or buy a pressed hdadvance/hdloader disk.
once it's all setup, this makes for a very nice system though
and you rarely ever use the dvd drive so it lasts.

final option is the insane swap thing that people do.
i refuse to do it myself though.

[lengz]

When i was into the whole ps2 modding thing, i used the MC exploit in which a copy of the hdloader.elf was loaded into the memory card, then was able to boot up using a directory program within the exploit. you need a network adapter, a hdd, a memory card with more than 2 or 3mb free space. it works  very well.

[Perseid]

There are no hard drive solutions that can boot PS1 games.

But if you feel so inclined you can get a real modchip for all games (on disc) AND HD loader for the PS2 games. Also, if you really are interested in a hard drive you can only put one in an older fat PS2. You can buy a kit to allow a slim to use a hard drive but do you really want IDE cables dangling out of your PS2?

[Altor]

Ok, to get this straight:

1) If I get a modchip for a PS2, it will allow me to play backup PS1 games.
2) If I get the HD Advance thing, it will allow me to play PS2 games off the hard drive, eliminating the DVD drive from the equation entirely.

This is correct?

So I need:
-a "fat" PS2 that has a network adapter
-a hard drive listed as compatible at that HD advance site
-a pressed HDAdvance disc
-a mod chip

This is EVERYTHING I'll need for the entire project, just so I can price things out?

It occurs to me, how do I connect the hard drive to the PS2 through this network adapter thing?  A hard drive used an IDE cable, and I assume there's an adapter for "PS2 network cable" to IDE cable, but where do I get the 12v supply?

Lengz in his/her last post mentioned "a memory card"... what sort?  SD?  CF?  "memory stick"?  Or just a plain old PS2 memory card?  And if it's the PS2 one, how do I load things onto it?

Ugh... I'm sorry, this is all so confusing to me.  I've never modded a real "console" before... just this flashcart business for the DS, which makes this PS2 stuff seem like rocket science.

[sneef]

you don't need a pressed HDAdvance disc, especially if you are going to have a modchip installed.

"fat" PS2 with network adapter
HDD (compatible with HDLoader)
HDLoader (google for it, there are many updates and special patched versions)
Mod Chip (since you wanna play PS1 backups)

This is also exactly what I have too.  great setup.

[Perseid]

If you get a fat PS2 with a network adaptor, you put the drive on a special set of rails(that come with the genuine Sony drive. Don't know where else you get them), slide it in and plug the network adaptor onto it. The IDE interface is on the adaptor and plugs right in.

And by memory card we do mean the Sony 8MB memory card. With a modchip you can run PS2 code off of the memory card for things like homebrew games and HD loader.

And both 1) and 2) are correct.