Exchanging chip in V7

[fratres]

I recently bought a modded PAL V7, not knowing which chip was inside. When I opened it up there was a bad surprise waiting for me: a chip with Magic III and smiley was installed, using an UBICOM-chip so it seems to me it´s not even an original, but a clone Magic. Now after many annoying hours of replaying after several freeze screens in different games, i am wondering if I could exchange the chip by myself rather easily. I have no soldering experiences, but thought maybe some of the cables could remain inside so the installation might be easier than on an unmodded console. Does anyone know if an installation of a Crystal, Infinity or maybe just a Duo2 could made rather easily or uses same solderpoints on the MB? Tried to check some installation diagrams, but is still rather hard for me to estimate the effort. And a professional install is too expensive over here.

[seaneyb2003]

hey,

Unlucky with the ps2 mate that sucks, its really simple most of the wires will be fine all you have to do is resolder them on the chip and take a few of the back of the motherboard too. I would either replace them with a infinity or duo2 depends on your price range.

[fratres]

Thanx seaneyb2003, gives me a good feeling that not everything´s lost. Already thought of selling it, what a shame for a V7. Now I want to exchange the chip and compared the installation diagrams of Crystal, Infinity, Duo2 and Magic 3, and the results: if I don´t need to desolder the now unused wires on the MB , but only insulate their ends, and if different ground connections don´t matter, it´s only a few wires that need to be changed or added:

Crystal: installing SX, TO, 3V3 and changing the W-wire-point
Infinity: installing Y, SX, 3V3 and changing the W-wire-point
Duo2: installing S, PWR, maybe change ground?

My question: could anyone tell me if these installs have different difficulties? Thougt maybe the Y-wire of the Infinity is not too easy? And PWR for Duo2 does not look too easy either. And then the S-wire of the Magic is very close to the SX-wire of Crystal and Infinity, could I leave the wires at their old solder-points? Z-point of Magic 3 also very near to TO-point of Crystal. And finally:
what is about the W-wire? Has a total different point in the Magic 3 install, could I leave it there or do I need to solder the wire to new points?
Sorry for all these detailed questions, but I am lost without help, and for all you pro-installers I hope they should´t be difficult to answer at all. Here is a Magic 3-installation diagram as reference (though not my install and big picture, sorry):

http://www.gamefreax.de/GF_Page/modchips/playstation2/Magic3/v7/Magic3.htm

Thank you so much for any help!!!

[seaneyb2003]

U wont need to change the sx scex or s wire at all it should be the same on any ps2 modchip.

As for power you will need to change it unless you get a duo 2 caus they run on +5v like the magic chip does. All other chips run on 3v3.As for gnd/ground you dont need to change it.

I would advise you to take the extra wires of as the electric current can make a magnet force and could do damage to the motherboard. If you feel uncomfortable with installing a chip ask someone you know or a modchipper im sure they wouldnt ask much for such a simple job.

[fratres]

Seaneyb, thanx a lot for helping me out! So do you think if I use a Duo2 (btw, are there any reports on problems and are there any major functions except non-flashability, autoboot and homebrew-stuff that duo2 does not have compared to MI/Crystal?) I could just connect the needed wires (including S-wire and PWR), and everything works? Did you check the Magic-Install-Link I posted? S has a different soldering point, you think that doesn´t matter? And could I possibly leave the spare wires in and just cut them directly above the MB-connection-point? And what about the W-wire of Crystal and MI, would I have to change my old W-wire-point?
Of course you are totally right that I should ask someone to do the install, but I don´t know anyone with soldering experiences personally, and the pro-installers over here don´t accept used chips and charge full installation fee even if wires are already installed. And also it´s kind of a challenge to do it yourself, don´t you think? So if you could possibly answer my questions? Thank you so much!

[seaneyb2003]

that pictures actually wrong it doesnt matter where u put that wire if its connected to the brown reisistor or the black capacitor because there both conected together. Duo2 is a good cheap replacement and you wont need to change many wires. Well if you can send a ps2 to england i do it for you.