Magic 3.1 Test Review

charlie_ps2 · #1 26-01-2003, 13:04

Here is the game test result for the original, genuine MAGIC 3.1 tested on a US v7, GH-019. The chip was kindly supplied to me by Console24.com

My overall impression is that the Magic 3.1 is an improvement on Magic 3.0, albeit with some inability to boot certain games in common with Magic 3. DVD9 support has been added as with a magic 3.1 chip switch off mode for booting anti-mod protected games.

Xenosaga DVD9 NTSC-J Direct Boot------------------------OK
Xenosaga DVD9 NTSC-J Booted behind AR2/GS2--------------OK
Gran Turismo Concept DVD9 "Silver" NTSC-J Direct Boot---1 in 6

FF X NTSC-U DVD original---------------------OK
GTA3 PAL DVD original------------------------OK
DOA2 NTSC-J DVD Original---------------------OK

GTA3 PAL DVD-R (Princo)----------------------2 in 8
Tony Hawks 3 PAL DVD-R-----------------------OK
Headhunter PAL DVD-R-------------------------OK

EA NBA Street NTSC-U CD-R--------------------OK
Twisted MB Kalisto Rip CD-R------------------OK
GT3 Rip NTSC-U CD-R--------------------------NO (RSOD)
Tony Hawks 3 Rip NTSC-U CD-R----------------NO (RSOD)
Woody Woodpecker NTSC-U CD-R-----------------NO (RSOD)

FF IX NTSC-J PS1 Original--------------------OK
FF IX NTSC-U PS1 CD-R------------------------OK
Syphonfilter 3 NTSC-U PS1 CD-R---------------OK
Spyro NTSC-U PS1 Original (Anti-Mod)---------Switch Off Mode
Spyro NTSC-U PS1CD-R (Anti-Mod)--------------NO

AR2/GS2 GTA3 Orig. With Codes----------------OK
AR2/GS2 GTA3 DVD-R With Codes----------------2 in 8

Toystory NTSC-U Movie------------------------OK
PAL Movie------------------------------------Not Tested

Boot on EJECT--------------------------------NO
Always Boot on Reset-------------------------NO
Switch off Mode------------------------------YES

I regard the Messiah 2 as the benchmark modchip. All the games in the list that either didn't boot or which booted occasionally but not always on Magic 3.1, booted perfectly first time every time with Messiah 2. The magic family booting strategy still needs improvement in my opinion.

bighap · #2 26-01-2003, 14:44

Why don't these results suprise me? Magic chips suck.

BG · #3 26-01-2003, 14:59

It just proves the old saying......

You get what you pay for........

At least they are making some improvements......

L-dubb · #4 26-01-2003, 16:42

I did a review on this chip for my own personal benefit and came up w/ the very same findings. The messiah 2 booted everthing the magic 3.1 would not and boot the games faster. Now lets see how this DMS3 chip is gonna do!!

psxmodsuk · #5 27-01-2003, 06:17

The magic chips do suk m8y your right we have found lots of titles not to boot its just no good when i chip dosen't boot everything , ill never stock the magics again as the messiah maybe a bit more cash but its worth every penny extra. Upon reading this thread craig i hope your poping out to your local off door to buy me my stella ill pm you my addy i hope your sticking to your words as my point has been proved the magics 2 , 3 , 3.1 , 3.5 or whatever you want to call them DON'T BOOT ALL BACKUPS

regards

Hull_chipper · #6 27-01-2003, 10:26

You may have noticed recently Gaz that I have been very quiet on this particular subject (mmmmmm maybe ur not that observant

).

There are different Magics out there! I have had some which were perfect with no freezing probs whatsoever. I have also, suffered some very poor Magics which froze on the most ridiculous games.

I will try the 3.1 shortly, but if I can bring myself to eat humble pie (very, very unlikely lol) you may just hear me change my allegance!

However, My Magic2 boots absolutely everything so I'll collect my ale first from a lil Geordie I know!

ThAD0oD · #7 27-01-2003, 11:16

no there arent different magics..... there are different consoles.

the magic works on SOME consoles, not all.

Hull_chipper · #8 27-01-2003, 12:16

Not true m8, I had 50 successive good installs then all of a sudden when I get a new batch.................

vegitto · #9 28-01-2003, 12:09

yeah, magic3.1 works perfectly in some of the consoles, it can even boot from browser screen in version 4 (but not in version 7), but its not quite stable in version 4, in version 7 it works perfectly, boots DVDr9 games, but can boot from browser screen though...

if we comprare the overall between messiah2 and magic3.1, they are all the same (messiah more expensive but stable, magic3 less expensive but stable only in some consoles)

what about DMS3?, I will give the test result once, I've got the chip, 1 of my customer want to trade in his magic3.1 with this chip.

I am going to install DMS3 on PS2 SCPH-39002 PAL (V7)...

C U later and cheers
Vegitto

charlie_ps2 · #10 28-01-2003, 15:41

Quote:

Originally posted by psxmodsuk
Absolute rubbish magic 3.1 dose not work perfectly in version v7 ive got 40 backups here it dosen't boot but all boot in pal v7 with messiah 2 fitted can you confirm charlie that the games i sent you don't boot with any of the magics. Im also interested if you have found out m8 why there don't boot with magic whats the reason ?
Charlie says: I think the reason mmay be the rip sequencing so that Magic 3's booting strategy fails - i.e. not enough time. Sort of thing.

, ive also found out another interesting fact charlie remember the odd v7 console needing the azimuth adjustment method to boot backups with the magics well i used to think that maybe sony had tuned the lazers a little more in v7's for orginals resulting in some minor adjustments needed in the odd v7 to play backups ive now found that it may of been the odd magic chip screwing the pots , as i fitted a magic 2 for a customer just before christmas and only tested it very breifly due to been quite busy the customer has just returned the console saying the discs spin up he gets the playstation logo screen then all go's black normally a typicial azimuth adjustment needed to put things right but guess what instead out of curiousity i removed the magic 2 & fitted a messiah 2 and hey presto its booting everything . So i think the magics can alter the lazer reading ability in some models due to how they work (ie voltage ect) compaired to the messiah , luckly the customer had not tried it the much just a few times then he left the console until he could get inm touch with me . Im in no dout about this charlie as how could it start booting once the magic was taken out
Charlie says: We've had this on Messiah 2 with v7. There may well be another Magic 3 related problem in addition to the v7 disk issues. Maybe the 1uF capacitor in SCEX would sort that out for Magic 3 issues where the v7 laser is properly adjusted.
regards