Theres nothing worng with no solder chips or flip tops that work fine only thing is u got to swap out alot but the good thing is i belive swap magic 3 is out in pal so u dont have to use a cd loader to play the new games unlike we americans. U can do like me if u dont have money for a solder install buy a swap magic and no solder or flip top and use it and if u want to save for a solder job then u can do so. I wouldnt try installing the solder chip in ur self there very hard to do. I tryed to do a solder chip exchange it was a dead chip for a working chip and aftr that the system would not read any games i killed the ps2

but if u got the money go with a solder chip but if not in the mean time u can use a flip top or no solder and save up for a install and if u do ever get a solder chip u can always sell ur flip top or no solder SM3 disk on ps2newz or ps2ownz always some one wanting to buy them

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