Modchip Questions from a Magic 3.6 USer

[Npl]

Hi, Im happy I finally found a Forum with some people in knowledge

I had a PS2 V4 since a few years and modded it with a Origa-Chip. It worked fine for PS1 Backups and PS2 CDR Backups, but it dint for DVD-R, maybe because I f**ked up something on installation. The notable thing is however that apart from not working with DVD-R it was behaving nice.

Now I decided to replace the Origa with a Magic3.6 Chip - the Installation killed my V4 PS2, or more precisely my impatience did.
So I got a funky new V7 PS2, after some trouble with Installation( V4 and V7 Bios-Roms have mirrored Pins, no documentation how to connect the pins on the Backside without the "flat Clip" ) I got it right. Just it dint work as it should - quite sometimes the PS2 is stuck with a bluescreen on startup, Originals and Backups often show the RedScreen( insert original blahblah ). I rechecked my soldering countless times and came to the conclussion this aint my fault. The only thing I could do is to kick out the Bios-Clip and solder the wires directly, but I doubt it would make a difference.

Ill sum up the troubles I have with the Magic3.6:
*) booting/reseting sometimes hangs before the bios-menu with a solid Blue Screen
*) Originals, Backups often display the known RedScreen, where they work the other times.
*) Max Payne DVD-R shows the RedScreen after the intro movie, original is fine(apart from the point above).
*) inserting a DVD/CD( whatever format ) after the bootup into Bios wont work - just checking for media the whole time in the Browser.

So far I find it rediculous to market such a chip as 100% compatible. If I wouldn`t had found out that other people have similar probs I would have likely doctered another PS2 to death
My old Origa-Chip atleast dint f**ked up anything, it just dint worked with all backups

From reading around in this forum the Messiah 2 seems to be the perfect chip, but I dont know where I could get it in my Country. I could get the DMS3 V2 Modchip however, but I dont know if this ones good - anyone can report his experiences with a DMS3 V2 ?

[kooldraco]

stay away from clip kits, they're not that reliable, but if you still want to use it then get a continuity tester and make sure the bios-clip is coming in contact with the chips legs and check that the bios-clip is secure.
Make sure your ground and power wires are as short as possible and the connection is well secure, make sure there are no bridges on “W” or on any of the cd/dvd controller connections.
I had never heard of a blue screen before, just make sure none of your wires are grounding somewhere.
The max payne issue is normal, this chip had overheating issues and lots of games would freeze so to correct that they made the chip turn off right after boot, but there are games that do a double check of authenticity, this game does it after the intro and by then the chip is turn off so it fails and you get the red screen
“inserting a DVD/CD( whatever format ) after the bootup into Bios wont work - just checking for media the whole time in the Browser.”
This is also normal, this chip does not allow booting from browser so you have to press the reset button every time you want to boot a game.
The dms3 is just as good as a messiah2 and it offers a few more features that’s why it costs a more too

If you can’t resolve your issue I would suggest you completely remove the chip and make sure your ps2 works as it’s supposed to without the chip if all is fine then install a better chip or if you want to use the same one, install it without the clip kit.

[Npl]

I cant tell if a DMS is more expensive than a Messiah - I dint found a single retailer with a Messiah yet. Another reason to get the DMS Chip would be that the green DVD-Playback would be fixed - AFAIK impossible otherwise on a V7 Board( the 2.13 DVD-Player aint supported by my RegionX CD either )
On the sticky-Thread in this forum, the DMS3 V1 is worse than the Messiah Chip, so thats why im cautious.

I disconnected the Magic3.6-Chip when I first encountered the blue-screens. Without the Chip everythings fine, I can attach one of the connectors without getting trouble( or any of the Mods functions ) - If I attach the connector for the Bios-Chip( the Clip ) the behaviour is the one I stated.

The solderpoints are all cleanly and carefully soldered, most of em I additionally did verify with a Multimeter( where I could find an additionally bridged Contact ). The only thing that could cause trouble is the Bios-Clip, I used the simple Diode-Tester that came with the Chip to verify the Connections of the Clip - seem all fine. The Clip is also attached tightly. You are serious about the cable-length causing trouble? I somehow dont think the Cable resistance is significant on this lengths. Or is this an issue of interference?

I may solder the Bios-Contacts directly soon, but after that Im kinda helpless - and I doubt it will fix anything.

Im thinking if there is the chance to get the cable-connectors of the Magic3.6 Package, so that I wont have to solder on the PS2-Board again( im sure most Connects are the same ) - I did a fairly good job on the tiny Connects this time.

[kooldraco]

Actually the wire length for this chip is an issue specially the ones on the bios chip legs and the ground wire also. it is recommended you use 30 or 32 awg for data and 22awg for ground and power, single core not stranded.

if the problems occurs whe you connect the bios-clip then that's the problem, instead of using the clip just connect the wire directly to the legs and pads.

the dms2v1 did have some flaws, but I don't think anyone sells them anymore, anyway the dms3v2 is the one i'm talking about
i've seen the messiah2 for $35 here: http://www.foundmy.com/
there is also a couple of guys on this forum from the uk that sell messiah2 chips (if you want their e-mails just drop me a pm)

if you will be installing a new chip it would be best to remove all the wire from the other chip and clean up the ps2 with some de-soldering braid and use new wiring.

[Npl]

OK, likely ill go for a DMS3 and stomp on the Magic3.6 to get some satisfaction for the money.

Just another Question - what does AWG mean? I used very fine trafo-wire for the Origa - was fine enough for soldering on the Chip-Pins, but a hassle to scratch away the isolation.

Thanks for your help!

[kooldraco]

American Wire Gauge

eidt: forgot to mention that if you need installation diagrams for chips without clip kits, just go to their official websites:
Magic= www.china-magic.com
messiah = www.messiah2.com
dms3= www.dms3.com (appears to be down at the moment)

[gtapex_trueno]

*cough *cough....... messiah