Boot procedure for Magic III clone

[fratres]

I just got a chipped secondhand PAL V7. The guy told me he didn´t know what chip was inside but never had any problems. Today I tried a NFSU2-backup, and it worked well, but it took me some time to figure out the boot procedure with the reset button. Seems it needs two presses for EA games and just one for the others. But as I couldn´s find anything like this in the Boot prodedure section of the UI Sticky, I opened up the PS2 and found a chip that says Magic III, Autodetect V0.V7 with an UBICOM chip. Looks pretty much the same like the third one in the colorful row of the fake chips presented on http://www.modchip.ca/install/ps2/magic/magicfakes.php.
I read that people have problems with these chips, could anyone tell me which problems I have to expect and what is the correct boot procedure for Game Backups, DVDs, PSX-Backups and EA-Games? Please help!

[TylerDurden]

Well first I must say BRAVO on reading the Ultimate Info Sticky. Secondly Clones usually have problems booting due to cheaper matierials in making the chip itself. Thing is, Magic 3's had lots of problems to begin with so a clone would be even worse, by that I mean it had a hard time booting quite a few ps2 games. It also used to overheat if I remember correctly.




Tyler!

[fratres]

Thanks, Tyler. Seems I got some crappy PS2. And I just wanted a solution for me being tired of these annoying SM2.0 discs. Now it´s even worse, great! But mistakes are to learn from them, next time I figure out what chip is inside before I get such crap. Yesterday NFSU2 collapsed for the first time during gameplay, I am looking forward for all the problems to come.
Just a short question on the boot procedure: is it possible that my clone has a different boot procedure than the Original Magic 3? UIS doesn´t say anything about double clicking for EA Games f.e. And do you think I can disable the chip for network gaming?

[TylerDurden]

Umm, I really cant remember all the details of Magic 3 and their clones. But I think it can be dissabled just like in the UIS by holding power for psx mode. Your best bet is to get a Duo2 SE put that in place of your current modchip. The Duo2 SE is only like $25 for the chip.




Tyler!

[seaneyb2003]

a standard duo will do just as well.

[fratres]

I know, would be the best choice just to replace it, but I suppose it´s not just take it out, desolder the cables on the modchip-side and resolder them on the new chip but make new connections to different points on the MB. And that is something I really wouldn´t like to do by myself. As installing a modchip costs 50 Euro around here the whole thing is rather expensive. Or do you think replacing it wouldn´t be as difficult as putting a new one inside? Could get an used Infinity rather cheap, but they need different soldering points, don´t they? My clone Matrix has 22 cables, by the way.