HDLoader Review

[lufcfan]

This is a thread I have created especially to let you all know what I think of the newest and most sought after piece of software for PS2 at the moment - HDLoader. In it I shall include my findings and my views of this software, in order to help you make your decisions about buying this new piece of software. Afterall, buying this and a new HDD is a fairly expensive thing, and if it doesn't work too well, I guess it would be fairly annoying, but fear not, and just read on...

So, I've had my HDLoader for a few hours now, and I had a spare IBM 40GB drive laying around doing nothing, so I placed it onto my Network Adapter, slotted it into the PS2 expansion port (The instructions for this are in the manual), took the shiny new disc out of its equally shiny box and placed it into the DVD tray of my PS2. It booted perfectly - always a good start. From there, I was met by a disclaimer screen (which only appears once by the way), and you either select Yes, or No. Picking Yes sends you into the software, and No, back to the browser window. So, once your in, what happens next. Well, there is a slight pause whilst your drive is formatted and partitioned and then you are let free to do your worst. The first thing that hit me was the quality of the GUI. It is really nicely laid out and looks great. You have a few options available to you at this point: Play, Install (This'll be the first thing you'll want to do), Remove and Rename - (All fairly self-explanitory I think). Next door, is a large Game Menu. This is a list of all the games you have installed. There is also a little status bar which tells you how much Data Storage space is left on the drive and how big the overall drive is. Very useful when you've got a fair few titles on there.

So, pushing the left and right directional keys switches between the Game Menu and the Toolbar. Up and down then lets you switch between functions on either part of the screen you happen to be on. X Selects the option you want and Triangle goes back a step, so fairly standard stuff there then. So, now we want to go on and get this thing rolling. How do we do that? Well, it's very simple. Simply press the left directional button to hop onto the Toolbar, go down a step to Install and hit X. Here, we are prompted to insert a disc we want to install to HDD. So, eject your DVD-ROM and switch the HDLoader disc with your original PS2 disc (or backup if you have a mod fitted) and select Continue by pushing X. We are now taken to a new screen where we are told that the disc is being checked (to make sure its a PS2 disc). If it is, we are now prompted with a new screen where we are asked to type in a name for our game using the on-screen keypad. Once we do this, we select the End option to accept the name we've given. Then comes the business part, and we are prompted by a screen telling us that installation is in progress, and a little installation bar appears at the bottom. Down the right hand side, we are told some useful info such as Disc Read Speed, Time Left, Disc Size and Read Errors. If you encounter a read error, you are prompted on screen to see if you want to cancel or try again and continue. So, when your install is complete, you are prompted and you need to select OK to go back to the main menu, where you have access to the Game List and Toolbar. To boot a game now, you can remove the disc you installed (or keep it in, it's your choice, either way, we'll be going from the HDD now. By the way, you can leave the HDLoader disc in when booting a disc, you don't have to remove it, so if you can get all your collection on one HDD, then you don't even have to touch your eject button again )

Now, scroll down to the game you want to play, press the right directional button, hi-light play (already selected) and hit X. The screen will go black, and up will come your game - very quickly might I add too. So, enjoy your extra quick loading times and ultra smooth game play. For instance, GTA splash screens only show for a second between islands instead of 5-6 seconds as usual and other games are immediate. Some load straight up without so much as even seeing the loading splash!

So, I did try 5 games from my collection, so how did they perform???

1.Grand Theft Auto: Vice City - Installed: Yes, Plays: Yes
Comment: Unbelieveable! Took 1/2 hour to install and the little loading screens you get between islands only come up for about 1/2-1 second instead of about 5-6 seconds! . It's certainly a good start for the HDLoader. Also, there is no slow down or FMV problems when things get hectic...

2. Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec - Installed: Yes, Plays: Yes
Comment: Well, as before, loading times are non-existant! Everything is straight up and there is no FMV problems or anything! Brilliant...

3. True Crime: Streets of LA: Installed: Yes, Plays: Yes
Comment: Long loading times are diminished and there is no slow down between regions on the map! FMV Loading is greatly improved. I found the menus to be a little slow on disc but now, it's immediate and working properly. Level loading is a matter of milliseconds!

4. Manhunt: Installed: Yes, Plays: Yes
Comment: Now this baby was fantastic to play anyway, but everything is now immediate. The little reel of tape for the loading bar fills straight up and you're playing in around 1 second... I think I've found my new best friend...

5. Gran Turismo: Concept 2002 Tokyo/Geneva: Installed: Yes, Plays: Yes
Comment: Same as Gran Turismo: A-Spec. Fantastic!

Quite superb, I think you'll agree. In fact, I bet you'll have quite a smile on your face, don't you. Go on, smash the piggy bank open, you know you want to, lol!

But seriously, it's hard not to be impressed, but you really do have to see it to believe it, so using my EyeToy, I made a little video of this beast in action. If you want to see it (700KB) click this link: See HDLoader in Action! . Don't be alarmed by the speed of the video - It isn't how the game runs, it's the frame rate I used on the camera to make the video small enough for convenient viewing over the net...

So, you can't argue with that can you? Well, i'm sure some of you will have some real burning questions you want to ask, so in anticipation, I've prepped a little Q&A below. If your question isn't there, PM me - I'll be more than happy to answer any questions you may have:

1. Does HDLoader require a Modchip to work?
A. Absolutely not! , but you must use original discs in this case...

2. Can I use backups without a chip with HDLoader?
A. No, the disc will not even recognise at the checking stage of the install...

3. Is it fast?
A. Do Ferrari make fast cars? This might give you some clue as to how fast this thing is. But seriously, games are sped up by about 5x at least...

4. What percentage of games work?
A. There are only around 8 titles which don't work, and most are smaller titles anyway.

5. Do backups work with this thing?
A. Absolutely, providing you have a modchip.

6. Does this software work with the official Sony HDD?
A. Yes, it works perfectly with the official Sony HDD.

7. ...And what about 3rd party drives?
A. That's exactly what I'm using, so I guess the answer's yes...

Now, for the techie stuff: HDLoader supports any size drive from 40GB upwards, but if you install a 200GB HDD, only 137GB will be valid for use. So whilst it works, it's a waste of disc and money to get anything bigger than 120GB. So, to clarify, 40GB-120GB is supported. You need a Network Adapter (Either Ethernet/Modem or just Ethernet variety), and the drives which seem to work best are Seagate/Maxtor/IBM - All with ultra high success rate. Western Digital have the worst track record - either not fitting or not working when fitted, so it's best to stay away. Either way, the HDD sticky has a link to a site with compatible HDD's so look there. Also, your HDD needs its jumpers set to Master to work properly. A full 4 GIG disc takes around 28 minutes to install.

So, I hope you have found all that super useful! Oh, hang on a minute, my EyeToy: Play disc just finished installing so how does this work?:

6. EyeToy: Play: Installed: Yes, Plays: Yes
Comment: Hmm. This is SO GOOD. The little monkey loading screen barely makes an appearance and it's so quick. I love this thing - it handles everything I throw at it!!!

Anyway, as I was saying, I hope you found this review super useful and remember to check out these links below for more info. So, I have a feeling Seagate, Maxtor and IBM are going to be making record profits on HDD's this year, lol!

So, check out these useful links below, and my for my final comments: BUY THIS THING NOW!!! ...and remember, I'll answer any PM's on this subject if you have any questions, thanks again... LUFCfan

HDLoader Links:
======================
HDLoader's Website: www.hdloader.com

Official Reseller: www.divineo.com/www.divineo.co.uk

Other Recommended sellers: www.consolesource.com

HDLoader in action (Windows Media Video, made by yours truly: 700KB): http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/playstati...e/HDLoader.wmv

HDD Compatibility List: http://ps2drives.x-pec.com

So, enjoy your new HDLoader and I hope you enjoyed this review, or at least didn't fall asleep and found it useful. Thanks a lot guys, and thanks to Tyler...
Happy gaming.

[cbflip2000]

thanks that guide was very helpful. sticky!!!

[TylerDurden]

Yes thank you Lufc. I will post my review as well more than likely by tomorrow.






Tyler!

[puppeteer666]

i've asked around and no one has answered this, can you load media player cd in the harddrive?if so does it work?
i know ps1 games will not load but hoping maybe this would.

[johnjohn13]

Excellent review!!!!

I was wondering if you could tell us a little about possible heating problems.

johnjohn13

[lufcfan]

I should think that any PS2 CD or DVD will run - if it's PS2 software then it'll pass verification etc... In fact, I have a CD-RW, I'll try it for you if you like.

As for the heating problems, only the older 8MB cache systems should have a problem. Newer drives are fine, and shouldn't cause a problem. The 8MB Cache Barracuda SATA Drive I have in my PC is really cool, and generates barely any heat. My PS2 runs absolutely no hotter than usual, it's very cool even after prolonged periods of play using the HDD, so I hope this helps. I'll try the Media Player on my CD-RW Disc and let you know the outcome of that anyway. I'll be back...

[johnjohn13]

lufcfan, so what drive do you have in your ps2 the BArracuda from your pc?

thanks,

Johnjohn13

[lufcfan]

No at the moment I have a 40GB IBM drive in there. I was using my PC drive as an example as to how cool an 8MB Cache HDD can run nowadays. Hope that cleared any confusion up. Seagate drives work well with PS2 though. I am currently using this HDD until I can get my new 120GB Maxtor DiamondMax 9

[TylerDurden]

Ok, Ive just installed my New Seagate Barracuda 120gig hdd and tested out my HDLoader. For my test I used Drakengaurd it loaded up perfectly. It also played perfectly and all the loading sequences were 1 second or less.

I decided on a Seagate because they are the quietest drives out there. As for heating, that is not an issue. I really didnt feel anything more than warm on my ps2 case (barely that even).


All in all Im really liking this HDLoader thing.


I would also like to thank again www.consolesource.com for the HDLoader for testing. My order from Canada only took 4 days. It was shipped on Monday and I recieved it on Thursday using Priority mail.





Tyler!

[spedmetal]

Just installed my Seagate 120GB also and have 6 games installed and working AWSOME!

Madden 2004
Sega Sports Tennis
Time Splitters 2
Final Fantasy X
Kingdom Hearts
LOTR: Fellowship of the ring

This thing really does perform as lufc described. By the way awesome review lufc. In addition to the other distributors mentioned I would like to add that I got mine from www.foundmy.com with great service I might add.

Now all some one needs to do is find a way to put the software on the memcard and load it from the dev mode with the matrix infinity so we don’t even need the hdloader disc in the DVD-Rom at all. The day will come I just know it!!! Or even better yet a mod chip with the software imbedded in it already!

Also wouldn’t it be just a dream if it was possible to have an in game reset (IGR) that could be enabled from the controller and take you back to the hdloader with out having to get off your ass and hit reset if you wanted to switch games! OK now I'm really dreaming.

[lufcfan]

Some great ideas for V2 there, Sped

[puppeteer666]

no word on media player?

[spedmetal]

One more feature that would be very nice for my lazy ass would be for it to recognize the game title and give you an option of using that or editing it yourself.

They really should have contacted me before they released this thing....I have all the cool ideas!!!! J/K LOL

[johnjohn13]

thanks, lufcfan, Tyler


johnjohn13

[eakinsme]

my review on this product.. i just got my hdd loader in the mail a few days ago.. i went into my computer store yesterday and picked up a 160gb maxtor hdd(i know the limit is 127, but i figured for an extra $14 i may as well get 40 more gigs plus maybe 1 or 2 more games) what suprised me was that the format took only a matter of seconds(10-20) but it is all good!!. i am installing my 2nd rite now as we speak..as for the 1st(fifa 2004) its awesome..way faster and just amazing!!
GOOD JOB MAKERS OF HD LOADER!!