CHARLIE'S MODCHIP TEST RESULTS (Updated 30-Jan-03)

[charlie_ps2]

Lik-Sang kindly sent me a number of modchips to test and here is my report on the Magic 2 v5 Clone (green pcb).

PS2 SYSTEM
PAL v5.x SCPH 30003R

INSTALLATION
1 hour + glue drying time + assembly/disassembly

Z wire NOT attached; mounting on side of metal case.

When Z was attached it prevented EJECT from closing the disk tray.

PS2 ORIGINAL IN-REGION
OK GTA 3 (DVD)
OK Medal of Honour (DVD)

PS2 ORIGINAL IMPORT
OK Final Fantasy X (DVD NTSC US)
OK DOA2 (DVD NTSC JAP)
OK Metal gear Solid 2 (DVD NTSC US)

PS2 BACKUP GAMES
OK Tony Hawk 3 (DVD-R PAL)
OK Wipeout Fusion (DVD-R PAL)
OK EA NBA Street (CD-R, NTSC-US)
OK Twisted Metal Black (CD-R, Kalisto Rip)

PS1 GAMES
OK FF IX (CD NTSC-JAP)
OK FF IX (CD-R NTSC US)

DVD MOVIE (Long RESET)
OK In Region movie - no skipping nor sound distortion
OK NTSC US movie booted with AR2/v2.0 - ditto no problems

AR2 WITH CODES
OK GTA3 Original with codes
NO CD-R backup with Codes

VERDICT
95%. A clone of an earlier Magic 2 version but no bugs apparent to me beyond the AR2/GS2 backups question.

[charlie_ps2]

Lik-Sang kindly sent me a number of modchips to test and here is my report on the APPLE mod for US/C v7 39001 GH-019

The chip deliverately garbles the Playstation2 logo (like Origa) on backups and puts it into "gravure" for originals.

PS2 SYSTEM
NTSC v7 SCPH 39001

INSTALLATION
1 hour + glue drying time + assembly/disassembly

Z attached;
23 attached (special wire for US PS2);
mounting on side of metal case. (because we removed Magic 2 CLONE!)

PS2 ORIGINAL IN-REGION
OK GTA 3 (DVD)
OK Medal of Honour (DVD)

PS2 ORIGINAL IMPORT
OK Final Fantasy X (DVD NTSC US)
OK DOA2 (DVD NTSC JAP)
OK Metal gear Solid 2 (DVD NTSC US)

PS2 BACKUP GAMES
OK Tony Hawk 3 (DVD-R PAL)
OK Wipeout Fusion (DVD-R PAL)
OK EA NBA Street (CD-R, NTSC-US)
OK Twisted Metal Black (CD-R, Kalisto Rip)

PS1 GAMES
OK FF IX (CD NTSC-JAP)
OK FF IX (CD-R NTSC US)

DVD MOVIE (Very Long RESET)
OK In Region movie - no skipping nor sound distortion

AR2 WITH CODES
OK GTA3 PAL original with codes
OK GTA3 PAL DVD-R with codes

XENOSAGA (DVD9)
OK NTSC-J original Also booted with AR2 (Without Codes)

VERDICT
90% (Was 100% but in the light of Messiah 2 & DMS3 its has to be pushed down the stack)

[charlie_ps2]

Lik-Sang kindly sent me a number of modchips to test and here is my report on the Magic 2 v7 Clone (green pcb).

PS2 SYSTEM
NTSC v7 SCPH 39001 GH-019

INSTALLATION
1 hour + glue drying time + assembly/disassembly

Z wire NOT attached; mounting on side of metal case.

When Z was attached it prevented EJECT from closing the disk tray.

PS2 ORIGINAL IN-REGION
OK GTA 3 (DVD)
OK Medal of Honour (DVD)

PS2 ORIGINAL IMPORT
OK Final Fantasy X (DVD NTSC US)
OK DOA2 (DVD NTSC JAP)
OK Metal gear Solid 2 (DVD NTSC US)

PS2 BACKUP GAMES
OK Tony Hawk 3 (DVD-R PAL)
OK Wipeout Fusion (DVD-R PAL)
OK EA NBA Street (CD-R, NTSC-US)
OK Twisted Metal Black (CD-R, Kalisto Rip)

PS1 GAMES
OK FF IX (CD NTSC-JAP)
OK FF IX (CD-R NTSC US)

DVD MOVIE (Long RESET)
SKIP In Region movie - Sort of skipping
OK In Region movie - with 1uF Capacitor fitted to SCEx

AR2 WITH CODES
OK GTA3 Original With Codes
NO GTA3 DVD-R backup With Codes

VERDICT
90%. A clone of an earlier Magic 2 version. 5% deducted for the AR2/GS2 backup isse; 5% deducted for the need to put a 1uF polarised 35 volt capacitor on to play DVD movies properly.

TECHNICAL NOTE
The DVD movie problem arises as follows. If there is noise on the SCEx line that the processor treats as an interrupt, it will stop and deal with the event and then exit (we hope) to where it was before. It probably takes a long time because it instructs the disk to do something (like a region check) and so the movie moves along very slowly. The 1uF capacitor attenuates this noise.

[charlie_ps2]

Mr. Magic 2 kindly sent me a number of modchips to test and here is my report on the Magic 2 V7 RED pcb.

PS2 SYSTEM
NTSC v7 SCPH 39001 GH-019

INSTALLATION
1 hour + glue drying time + assembly/disassembly

Z wire attached; mounting on side of metal case.


PS2 ORIGINAL IN-REGION
OK GTA 3 (DVD)
OK Medal of Honour (DVD)

PS2 ORIGINAL IMPORT
OK Final Fantasy X (DVD NTSC US)
OK DOA2 (DVD NTSC JAP)
OK Metal gear Solid 2 (DVD NTSC US)
OK Xenosaga (DVD9 NTSC-J) ** See technical note

PS2 BACKUP GAMES
OK Tony Hawk 3 (DVD-R PAL)
OK Wipeout Fusion (DVD-R PAL)
OK EA NBA Street (CD-R, NTSC-US)
OK Twisted Metal Black (CD-R, Kalisto Rip)

PS1 GAMES
OK FF IX (CD NTSC-JAP)
OK FF IX (CD-R NTSC US)

DVD MOVIE (Long RESET)
OK In Region movie
There was no need to fit a 1uF capacitor to SCEx.

AR2 WITH CODES
OK GTA3 Original With Codes
OK GTA3 DVD-R backup With Codes

VERDICT
90% (Was 100% but in the light of Messiah 2 & DMS3 its has to be pushed down the stack)

**TECHNICAL NOTE
Xenosaga only boots 1/10 times from STANDBY. When it does, it flashes into the browser for a moment. However it boots 100% behind AR2 (GS2). The technical explanation is simple. The boot process from STANDBY requires the laser to find the groove so as to perform the due boot process. However the reflectivity of the DVD9 makes this difficult (the laser was not recalibrated). When booted behind AR2 (GS2), the groove business has been attained with AR2 itself and the boot process resumes in a different way.

[charlie_ps2]

Here is the game test result for the original, genuine MAGIC 3.1 tested on a US v7, GH-019. The chip was kindly supplied to me by Console24.com

My overall impression is that the Magic 3.1 is an improvement on Magic 3.0, albeit with some inability to boot certain games in common with Magic 3. DVD9 support has been added as with a magic 3.1 chip switch off mode for booting anti-mod protected games.

Xenosaga DVD9 NTSC-J Direct Boot------------------------OK
Xenosaga DVD9 NTSC-J Booted behind AR2/GS2--------------OK
Gran Turismo Concept DVD9 "Silver" NTSC-J Direct Boot---1 in 6

FF X NTSC-U DVD original---------------------OK
GTA3 PAL DVD original------------------------OK
DOA2 NTSC-J DVD Original---------------------OK

GTA3 PAL DVD-R (Princo)----------------------2 in 8
Tony Hawks 3 PAL DVD-R-----------------------OK
Headhunter PAL DVD-R-------------------------OK

EA NBA Street NTSC-U CD-R--------------------OK
Twisted MB Kalisto Rip CD-R------------------OK
GT3 Rip NTSC-U CD-R--------------------------NO (RSOD)
Tony Hawks 3 Rip NTSC-U CD-R----------------NO (RSOD)
Woody Woodpecker NTSC-U CD-R-----------------NO (RSOD)

FF IX NTSC-J PS1 Original--------------------OK
FF IX NTSC-U PS1 CD-R------------------------OK
Syphonfilter 3 NTSC-U PS1 CD-R---------------OK
Spyro NTSC-U PS1 Original (Anti-Mod)---------Switch Off Mode
Spyro NTSC-U PS1CD-R (Anti-Mod)--------------NO

AR2/GS2 GTA3 Orig. With Codes----------------OK
AR2/GS2 GTA3 DVD-R With Codes----------------2 in 8

Toystory NTSC-U Movie------------------------OK
PAL Movie------------------------------------Not Tested

Boot on EJECT--------------------------------NO
Always Boot on Reset-------------------------NO
Switch off Mode------------------------------YES

I regard the Messiah 2 as the benchmark modchip. All the games in the list that either didn't boot or which booted occasionally but not always on Magic 3.1, booted perfectly first time every time with Messiah 2. The magic family booting strategy still needs improvement in my opinion.

[charlie_ps2]

The Messiah 2 maker kindly sent me a number of Messiah 2 modchips to test and here is my report on its functionality on US v7 GH-019 BIOS 070

PS2 SYSTEM
NTSC v7 SCPH 39001 GH-019 BIOS 070

INSTALLATION
1 hour + glue drying time + assembly/disassembly

The Messiah 2 replaced an in-situ Magic 2 V7 (RED). The following wiring differences are to be noted:

1 Messiah 2 adds a CLK (Clock) wire to draw its clock from the PS2.
2 There are 8 wires associated with the CD/DVD Controller; E is added
3 Wire W on Magic 2 has a different designation with Messiah 2
4 The BIOS has an extra wire (as per Messiah 1) - W
5 There is no Z wire required on the Messiah 2

PS2 ORIGINAL IN-REGION
OK Final Fantasy X (DVD NTSC US)
OK Metal Gear Solid 2 (DVD NTSC US)


PS2 ORIGINAL IMPORT
OK DOA2 (DVD NTSC JAP)
OK Time Splitter 2 (DVD PAL)
OK GTA 3 (DVD PAL)
OK Medal of Honour (DVD PAL)
OK Xenosaga (DVD9 NTSC JAP) - booted first time every time
OK GT Conept (DVD9 "Gold" NTSC JAP) - booted first time every time


PS2 BACKUP GAMES
OK Tony Hawk 3 (DVD-R PAL)
OK Wipeout Fusion (DVD-R PAL)
OK EA NBA Street (CD-R, NTSC-US)
OK Twisted Metal Black (CD-R, Kalisto Rip)
OK EA NBA S
OK GT3 Rip NTSC-U CD-R
OK Tony Hawks 3 Rip NTSC-U CD-R
OK Woody Woodpecker NTSC-U CD-R


PS1 GAMES
OK FF IX (CD NTSC-JAP)
OK FF IX (CD-R NTSC US)
OK SPYRO (CD NTSC US) A mod-protected game that worked when the Messiah 2 was turned off (hold RESET for 5 seconds)


DVD MOVIE (Long RESET)
OK - no skipping


AR2 WITH CODES
OK GTA3 PAL Original With Codes
OK GTA3 PAL DVD-R backup With Codes


VERDICT
100%. Behaved perfectly.


ADDITIONAL NOTES
Boot on EJECT--------------------------------YES
Always Boot on Reset---------------------- YES
Switch off Mode----------------------- -------YES

Messiah 2 used was the PRO version
Playstation2 logo properly displayed - not scambled nor in gravure
Perfect PS1 screen display in PAL & NTSC
Reliable booting from RESET or EJECT button as per standard PS2
DVD9 Xenosaga game booted first time every time
DVD9 Hong Kong "Gold" booted first time every time
Messiah 2 turns off if RESET held till electrons swirl. This was used to play SPYRO, a PS1 mod-protected game.

[BG]

Note: This is Charlie_PS2's findings on the DMS3.

Here is the game test result for the DMS3 v1.1 tested on NTSC-J v8 model: SCPH-39006 BIOS 090 GH-022.

Please note that the update disk had to be created using specially padded files supplied by Divineo (who were very helpful). I used CDRWin to burn special cue/bin files and the upgrade worked. The upgrade cured Region Free problems.

The DMS3 v1.1 performs broadly like Magic 3.1 on PS2 games. It does not perform to the standards of Messiah 2. No DVD-R would boot and nor would some rips that wouldn't boot on Magic 3.x but did on Messiah 2. DVD9 and DVD9 backup were fine. Region Free worked fine. This unit also plays PAL movies OK (because HK is a PAL region). MM16 support was fine.

The Controller modes appeared to work. Sleep mode also worked. I held EJECT till the blue light came on and after inserting a CD-R game (and later a DVD Import) and pressing EJECT again, it Red Screened as expected.

The Controller Modes needed the respective buttons to be pressed for 4 or 5 seconds from pressing RESET.

Xenosaga DVD9 NTSC-J Direct Boot------------------------100%
Xenosaga DVD9 NTSC-J Booted behind AR2/GS2--------------100%
Gran Turismo Concept DVD9 "Silver" NTSC-J Direct Boot---100%

FF X NTSC-U DVD original---------------------OK
GTA3 PAL DVD original------------------------OK
DOA2 NTSC-J DVD Original---------------------OK

GTA3 PAL DVD-R (Princo)----------------------RSOD
Tony Hawks 3 PAL DVD-R-----------------------RSOD
Headhunter PAL DVD-R-------------------------RSOD

EA NBA Street NTSC-U CD-R--------------------OK
Twisted MB Kalisto Rip CD-R------------------OK
GT3 Rip NTSC-U CD-R--------------------------RSOD
FIFA 2002 Rip NTSC-U CD-R------------------OK
Tony Hawks 3 Rip NTSC-U CD-R----------------RSOD
Woody Woodpecker NTSC-U CD-R-----------------RSOD

FF IX NTSC-J PS1 Original--------------------OK
FF IX NTSC-U PS1 CD-R------------------------OK
Syphonfilter 3 NTSC-U PS1 CD-R---------------OK
Spyro NTSC-U PS1 Original (Anti-Mod)---------NO - needs Jap Original in Sleep mode
Spyro NTSC-U PS1CD-R (Anti-Mod)--------------NO

AR2/GS2 GTA3 Orig. With Codes----------------OK
AR2/GS2 GTA3 DVD-R With Codes----------------NO - DVD-R

Toystory NTSC-U Movie------------------------OK
PAL Movie------------------------------------OK

MM16 Save/Load (GTA3 PAL Orig)----OK
Boot on EJECT--------------------------------OK
Always Boot on Reset----------------------OK
Switch off Mode------------------------------OK

My overall impression of DMS3 v1.1 on the v8 PS2 was one of disappointment principally for two reasons:
DVD-R did not work on v8 although the DMS3 site implies support (as at 21-Feb-03)
Some DVD rips on CD did not work; these work on Messiah 2 on the same PS2