Time to mod the ol' PS2! (installing a mod chip)

[l_oliveira]

Modchips do fry the optical pickup and that alone is a great reason to stay away of them.


Edit:

Sony booby trapped their lasers is the simple version.

Complex version is simple too, though. Laser tracking coils are controlled through software (firmware) by the DVD drive CPU (mechanics controller) and it's software is rigged to stall in case of a bus error on it's communication to the DVD DSP chip (the large 208 pin chip). If that happens it retaliates by stop any disc read related processing and then putting maximum voltage on the tracking coils, which in turn fry within a minute of the fault happening.

Sad stuff. And things like "romeo mod" (google it) were devised to attempt reducing the current that flows through the coils. But even at 5V there's enough current to fry the coils, it just takes a longer time for it to take damage. So basically it's indeed "booby trapped".

[APE]

Wouldn't popping a resistor onto the 5v line for the romeo mod attenuate that possibility considerably?

[l_oliveira]

Wouldn't popping a resistor onto the 5v line for the romeo mod attenuate that possibility considerably?

Sadly you would end in a situation that there would not be enough current for the coils to move on a effective speed.
Changing the coils supply from 12V to 5V already make discs harder to read because the coils will react slower to commands issued by the Mechacon.

It tries to "compensate" by putting more power on the laser in order to get the EYE PATTERN back into the "margin" it's programmed as "target".


The laser is 100% controlled by the mechacon, the pots are just a "offset reference setting" that are considered together with a factory adjusted value stored on the EEPROM for laser power.
The pots are not even directly connected to the laser power circuit control but read back through a DAC...
The PS2 laser is full of "hidden" adjusts which are stored on the EEPROM. The first 28 bytes of it store laser related data.

Guess what happens when you set "Diagnosis" to "ON" in the OSD ...

It temporarily rises the laser intensity limits (Same thing as if you tweaked the pot or the data on the EEPROM) and then tries to read the disc that way.
So if you have a weak laser diode it's highly likely that the disc will read if there's no damage to the coils. ;)

[fireaza]

Why not go the hard drive route and Flip Top? No Mod Chip needed.

Because I want to be able to use the original disks, and I want the PS2 to function as normal. I'm interested in more than just "playing games", I'm a retro collector, so I want the experience too :D

Modchips do fry the optical pickup and that alone is a great reason to stay away of them.


Edit:



Complex version is simple too, though. Laser tracking coils are controlled through software (firmware) by the DVD drive CPU (mechanics controller) and it's software is rigged to stall in case of a bus error on it's communication to the DVD DSP chip (the large 208 pin chip). If that happens it retaliates by stop any disc read related processing and then putting maximum voltage on the tracking coils, which in turn fry within a minute of the fault happening.

Sad stuff. And things like "romeo mod" (google it) were devised to attempt reducing the current that flows through the coils. But even at 5V there's enough current to fry the coils, it just takes a longer time for it to take damage. So basically it's indeed "booby trapped".

You're saying even if you mod the laser, it will still eventually die early? Is that true of all modchips and hardware (I've read that laser death is more of an issue for the PS2 Slim)? For example, the Modbo 4.0 has a few functions that sound like they're related to protecting the laser (the chip goes to sleep when it's done and it avoids sending unnecessary signals to drive controller)

[HEX1GON]

Sadly you would end in a situation that there would not be enough current for the coils to move on a effective speed.
Changing the coils supply from 12V to 5V already make discs harder to read because the coils will react slower to commands issued by the Mechacon.

It tries to "compensate" by putting more power on the laser in order to get the EYE PATTERN back into the "margin" it's programmed as "target".


The laser is 100% controlled by the mechacon, the pots are just a "offset reference setting" that are considered together with a factory adjusted value stored on the EEPROM for laser power.
The pots are not even directly connected to the laser power circuit control but read back through a DAC...
The PS2 laser is full of "hidden" adjusts which are stored on the EEPROM. The first 28 bytes of it store laser related data.

Guess what happens when you set "Diagnosis" to "ON" in the OSD ...

It temporarily rises the laser intensity limits (Same thing as if you tweaked the pot or the data on the EEPROM) and then tries to read the disc that way.
So if you have a weak laser diode it's highly likely that the disc will read if there's no damage to the coils. ;)

Amazing piece of information, that I'll surely remember. Does any other system use the EEPROM to adjust the laser? First system I've ever heard of that uses this method.

[l_oliveira]

Amazing piece of information, that I'll surely remember. Does any other system use the EEPROM to adjust the laser? First system I've ever heard of that uses this method.

You would be impressed if you knew that a PC with Windows 98 was used to send commands to the mechanics controller through a RS232C port for on field adjustment ?

The round pads close to the edge of the boaard were supposed to connect to a pin-jig which allowed the technician to put the PS2 on "testmode" (most SONY things have such a testomde).

A set of glass discs (standard discs for CD/DVD service) would be used in tanden with the PC to re-adjust the mechanism.

The software from 2002 (works on all PS2s up to SCPH-3900x) was leaked to the internet and it's what the guy who made "lenschanger" used to create his program on. That and a collection of EEPROM dumps from collaborators from all around the world.

[AleffCorrea]

What's the difference between Matrix and the Modbo clone? Do they still manufacture Matrix? I have one 79010 with Matrix here and it's a blast, there is support for VGA cables, PSX region fix, no problems with official/backups at all, and some other features that I don't even know what they're for. Also holding R1/L1/L2 you can boot directly to .elf files on the memory card (read: media player, ulaunchelf and others). If Modbo is the same, you're doing it right :)

EDIT: Except for laser damage, I've got to admit that sometimes I have to turn Diagnosis ON to run my original PSX discs... not sure if it is related to modchip problems as mentioned here in this thread.

[fireaza]

From what I've read, there are a few improvements over the Matrix chip. For example, I never read anything about having to put turn diagnosis on in order to run PS1 games, it automatically runs whatever you put in (DVD, PS2 or PS1). Here's it's features list:

• Fully compatible with ps2 v1-v19 PAL / USA / Jap
• Upgraded from modbo3.0, comes with original 100% v1.93 firmware
• Comes with mini size board and the wiring point order is good for installation
• Automatic selection for PS2/PS1/DVD supports
• DVD region free incorporated
• Software selectable "PS2 Quick Load" option. (to skip PS2 logo and Quick boot PS2 games)
• Software selectable "PSX Quick Load" option (to skip PS1 logo and Quick boot PSX games)
• Easy to install (only 18 wires for V1-V8 and 20 wires for V9, V10, V11, V12, V13)
• CPLD chip (3.3V power supply) based IC for enhanced stability
• Automatic "MACROVISION=OFF" on all PS2 from V3 to V16 without additional wires
• Automatic "green fix" (no more need to change the cable to see your DVD movies on the PS2)
• Imports games fix (all PSX import games are played at full screen and full color
• Stealth-mode (the modchip can be switched off and becomes invisible to online gaming)
• Sleep-mode (the modchip will switch off itself after boot)
• Supports DVD-9 games
• Plays all CD's and DVD's games (both, import or backup's)
• Supports multi-disk games
• Supports anti-mod PS1 games (only for V9 - V19 PS2)
• Very reliable (all the Modchips are 100% tested before delivery)
• Very stable (thanks to sleep mode the IC will never overheat)
• CD lens safe (avoid CD lens damage by sending un-necessary signal to drive controller)
• Supports DEV1 and DEV2 for memory card booting

[veganx]

Get a phat, get IDE HD, get FMCB and be happy.
If you want to play PS1 get a $10 ps1.

That's the best choice you can get right now.
I removed my DMS chip and the only downside is not be able to play PS1 games because they need the swap.
Open PS2 Loader works fine for 98% of the games.

And yes.. this is one of my drunk replies.

[l_oliveira]

Turn diagnosis on to play PS1 games was a problem that the ORIGINAL ORIGA chip had with SCPH-10000 PS2s that came with utility disc 1.01 from the factory.

These units had a firmware change on the mechacon and it would request SCEI signal twice on bootup while the original unit would need it only once.
Turning diagnosis on would make the PS2 do not need the two SCEI signals, preventing it from freezing at the PlayStation logo.

[Bad_Ad84]

The laser issue is only v9-v12 if I remember correctly.

[l_oliveira]

The laser issue is only v9-v12 if I remember correctly.

Actually, all of them have it even the earliest 10k. It's way worse on the models you mentioned so that's why you're right in a way.

The catch is that they added "pads" on GH-015 motherboard and by that MechaCon model (CXP103049) they started to "enhance" their lens frying algorithm.
The pads added to the MechaCon bus were a "invitation for modding". And back then we had no idea about the booby trap it had.

What V9-V12 have in common is the "DRAGON" MechaCon chip (CXR706080) and that's where things started to go sour.

V9 and V10 had also booby traps on the IOP address lines(wonky resistor packs that short out making the PS2 stop reading discs or even from starting up), to cause the PS2 to stop working if there were patching on the BIOS pins.

They were really serious about stopping the modding.


The objective of this sabotage was hurt the professional shops doing mod chip installs by causing customers to return the broken PS2 consoles and request refunds.

[APE]

Sounds like something that, if it had been discovered back then, would've resulted in a massive lawsuit. You cannot deliberately make the engine block of a car blow just because someone puts a street illegal mod on the car. There are always legitimate reasons for something that can be used illegitimately.

[Bad_Ad84]

(again, if I remember correctly) - it DID end up in a lawsuit. This is why they took it out after v13.

Memory is fuzzy, but I recall it being an issue on all CDR and DVDR, even if it wasnt modded. Hence the lawsuit - DVDR with peoples home movies could kill the laser.

This is all going back some time, so I could have the details a little messed up.

[APE]

Can't seem to find much but this seems interestingly coincidental:

http://www.afterdawn.com/news/articl...a_major_update

[l_oliveira]

Can't seem to find much but this seems interestingly coincidental:

http://www.afterdawn.com/news/articl...a_major_update

Actually no coincidence .... ;)

These machines had a yellow "+" sticker glued on a corner of their box. They're capable of reading the book type of the discs and that's why they require all 5 wires on a matrix mod instead of just 3 you would need on a earlier unit.

[Lum]

Sounds like something that, if it had been discovered back then, would've resulted in a massive lawsuit. You cannot deliberately make the engine block of a car blow just because someone puts a street illegal mod on the car. There are always legitimate reasons for something that can be used illegitimately.

All in all, this topic points to the conclusion there's definitely cause for further research into PS2 modchip design. Region free adds enough convenience to be worth seeking.

[CRTGAMER]

Why not go the hard drive route and Flip Top? No Mod Chip needed.

Because I want to be able to use the original disks, and I want the PS2 to function as normal. I'm interested in more than just "playing games", I'm a retro collector, so I want the experience too :D

You still will be using the entire original disc to install in the hard drive. I have over 200 original CIB PS2 games stored in the bedroom ready to reinstall if my drive ever fails or I want to install a different set of games. The difference is fast loading menu driven hard drive convenience, certainity better then a risky Mod Chip and putting wear on the laser.

[fireaza]

You still will be using the entire original disc to install in the hard drive. I have over 200 original CIB PS2 games stored in the bedroom ready to reinstall if my drive ever fails or I want to install a different set of games. The difference is fast loading menu driven hard drive convenience, certainty better then a risky Mod Chip and putting wear on the laser.

No, I mean I want to be able to put the original disk into the drive. It's part of the experience ;)

Okay, so the laser issue, here's what I've gathered from reading this:
1) The laser will die if you install a mod chip
2) The laser won't die if you re-wire it
3) The laser will still die, even if you re-wire it
4) v13 boards don't have the issue

Just something that comes to mind, could using burnt DVDs be the cause of the laser death? I read with the Dreamcast that using burned CDs would kill the laser, and my figuring is that the majority of people installing a modchip are doing so with the intent of playing burned games. Is this a case of correlation not being causation?

[Lum]

Either that or modchip makers are off their rocker. Interacting with the laser seems like a strange way to defeat region check...