V1/2/3 Not Worth Modding?

[Louche]

I have a PS2, one of the early versions, either 1, 2 or 3 and a professional modder told me that they are not worth putting a chip into based on the (fact?) that they have weak lasers, weak motherboards and whatnot and would just be better to pawn it and buy a newer version PS2. I am not a hardcore PS2-er, and don't plan to be playing it a lot so I was wondering if this is true, or if I should worry? Would it be ok to mod-chip it? I plan on putting a DUO2 SE into it if it is. Thanks very much.

[sawdust]

ok first of all these ps2s are harder to chip than later ones thats why he does not want to do it but he has a point, these systems were crap.
if you do get it modded you will be looking at a new laser maby 8-12 months later depending on how worn it is now
if i was you i would take his advice and get a more moden one as the one you have will give you problems :(

[NoNo9]

why don't you just use hdloader?
sure, a few games won't work but it would otherwise be a great solution for your backup problems.

[Louche]

I had always thought it was too complicated to care about, but after looking at it, HDLoader seems like it might work for me. I am assuming, even though it never mentions it that I do not in fact need a mod-chip for it to work, right?

Would it seem like a good idea to get a mod-chip to play all the games that HDLoader cannot and then use HDLoader to play everything else?

As well, can I put back-up DVDs onto the Harddrive, or do they have to be originals?

[Warlock]

Normally i would say no to modding anything older than a v5 but now considering how hard old PS2's are to find i would suggest you get a new laser, modchip and start using HDloader. It would be cheaper than buying a new console NTM it would be a slimline.

[TylerDurden]

Slimlines are getting the HD-Connec thing. Which will allow hdd's on pstwo's.




Tyler!

[Louche]

Thanks, I got a DUO2 and plan to install it myself then get a HDD setup. Still wondering if I can load a back-up game onto a HD?

As well, by looking at http://www.norcalmods.com/view_doc.php?view_doc=9 I'm wondering what version I exactly have because my serial starts with U2 and has a date code of 1A. I'm guessing it's a V3 based on the website (and I do have 10 screws so its not a V4). But I'd appreciate if anyone would reassure me on that. Thanks.

[spedmetal]

Its a version 3. Actually the best combination of all is a chipped PS2 that can boot HDL with out any disc in the PS2 at all.