Which PS2?
 

Can anyone tell me how to distinguish which PS2 to get? Hoping to get 'M' ed but need to know how to tell if a PS2 is compatible. Can't trust the shops as they'll do anything to sell, even tell you a refurbished one is a new one. Anyone know how to tell these apart?

You don't give your location and it matters for Messiah. If you are in a PAL TV region then the v5 is the best. If you're in an NTSC-U/C region then the v4 date code 1A/1B is best. That's a second hand system.

Check ths list for PAL machines.. the product code is on the box, under a barcode:
it can tell you what version you are getting even before you open it.


V3

P-xxxxxx350-x
P-xxxxxx355-x

GH-06/GH-07

V4

P-xxxxxx450-x
P-xxxxxx455-x
P-xxxxxx655-x
P-xxxxxx850-x

GH-10/GH-12/GH-13

V5

P-xxxxxx750-x

GH-15

I've just purchased a new Pal PS2. Not sure of the version though.

The serial number thing is P-27202760-8
S01-2929571-L

Any ideas on the version?

should be a V5. if you are unsure, open up the bottom case and look on the board, it will say the board revision on it (GH-XX).

The V5's are supposed to have a better laser fitted but it still skips on FMV on DVD-R Backups, and also does not boot the Datasafe DVD-RW disks as I heard it should.

not entirely right. SOME v5's have a new laser. by far not all. only less than 1/4 of them do, and you won't know till you actually disasemble the dvd drive.

Took it apart and the laser is different to what was in my V3.