The 100% codefree PS2
 

I'm soon about to buy myself a PS2 and would like to hear what would be "best" configuration as of this moment.

I've heard that the NEO4 + Origa would make up for a 100% codefree machine - is that true?

it would allow you to play all backups and imports, yes. it will not allow you to play PAL DVDs (movies) on an US system, but it'll work for ntsc movies on a pal ps2.
just keep in mind that it's a VERY complicated install, for both these chips.. it's 44 wires for the neo, 15 for the origa, and many of them are on tiny spots.

It would be a PAL machine I would buy. Would it also play EA games that are not patched?

I hope we hear from someone who has done this. The Forum with those people on it, Digital Forums, has gone.

But on the basis that the OrigaChip allows import originals to be played whereas NEO4 doesn't (and there is no conflict) and that a special process for EA games is required for NEO4 but not for Origa, I'd say that the OrigaChip will allow EA games copied on CD with CloneCD (i.e. unpatched) to be played. But this would require a swap in conformance with Origa behaviour.

I only heard of just one successful install of that. A very complicated install indeed.