Which Modchip should I buy?

Kelly · Post by **Kelly** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 10:21 am

I'm looking at buying a pre-modded DMS3 PS2 but I'm not sure if this chip will do what I need to do: get a loader running on the PS2 so I can start sending my programs to it. Anyone know anything?

DracoLacertae · Post by **DracoLacertae** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 10:32 am

You don't need a modchip. And this is the wrong forum for that sort of thing.

Post by **ooPo** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 11:03 am

While you do not need a modchip to do so, it can make it easier. A modchip will allow you to boot a freshly-burned ps2link CD. A recent release with a pre-made iso file can be found here:

( http://ps2dev.org/kb.x?T=1078 )

You can then use a client like inlink, pksh, or ps2client to upload and run code to ps2link using a network adaptor. You have one of those... right?

One you have mastered this, you can move on to making your own programs or using advanced techniques like loading programs from a memorycard using the special features of the DMS3 modchip.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 12:08 pm

It is correct that discussion of modchips in general, except specifically in how they can be used for dev purposes, might be a concern for many people.

It used to be that modchips for the most part were not required after the independance day exploit was released. However, many of the loopholes are being closed. For example, for someone with a JPN V11 model, a modchip would be the only way currently to boot dev, with the exception possibly of having a PS2Linux RTE disc.

US V11 and PStwo models might still have the MAX AR EVO's ability to boot dev, but those products are known to be "closed" in the BIOS every so often.

Modchips are not cool because their primary purpose is for warezing, and secondarily for legitimate purposes such as playing imports. Tertiarily, that can be used to play "legitimate" backups, but I don't want to turn this into a discussion as to why people can't teach themselves or others to take care of their media. :) Unfortunately, if one wants to do legit dev work, but are left with no other means, modchips may be the only way to go.

zaphod · Post by **zaphod** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 12:38 pm

COnsidering that many poele may have no choice in the future with independence (and probably AR AMX as well) closed off in the newer PS2s, it may be your only method.

DMS is well known for theeir developer friendly chips, that provide a means to boot elfs and provide access to unnoficial hard drives. Many people have started to clone this feature now. If you wish to get a chip for devel purposes, i strongly sugges a chip with "Dev.olution" on it. They at least can claim to have legitimate purposes along with their usual use. SUprizingly no one has made an antipiracy modchip for the ps2, like was made for the psone. (the antipiracy mod chip only circumvented the territory check, and was a perfect stealth chip, believe it or not! DIscussion of exactly how it did that is not allowed here, of course) I believe if a companyt was to make one that aloowed for homebrew booting, but not booting CDRs of normal games, it woudl recieve a lot of support here.

Kelly · Post by **Kelly** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 1:08 pm

Okay, so I've tried the Independance Exploit. I cannot get it to work. I don't have any way of getting the file onto my memory card. The modchip just seems the easiest way to do this.

Post by **ooPo** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 9:45 am

He mentioned getting a modchip for the purposes of loading his own programs. Sounds like a valid homebrew question to me...

zaphod · Post by **zaphod** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 1:33 pm

Well, seems that the DMS4 is going to be an "antipiracy" mod chip!

http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/showthr ... adid=26823

TO sum it up, it will be released with a firmware that does NOT break the ps2 protection for discs, but can use devolution mode to load elfs, and will still have it's other well known functions.

There's more to the story, but this is an interesting development.

Post by **pixel** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 5:01 pm

Hm, have you really read the news you are linking there ? Do you REALLY think of it beeing antipiracy ?

There is NO modchip that won't be used for piracy. Even if people are building tricks with the modchips in order to say "it's homebrew chip", they are only getting around the latest legal statements, and will still release "piracy enabled" flashes in the underground. Get real, a pure homebrew only modchip won't sell, they are not idiots.

Now to get back on topic, my two cents are that modchips can INDEED be a good option when it comes to homebrew. I actually got a DMS3 for its "booting from memory card" feature, which is far more simple than fighting with tricks and stuff around. For those who wonder, I hardly play games on the PS2. (and I hardly play games at all)

Post by **ooPo** » Thu Oct 07, 2004 12:06 am

Yeah kids, Pixel is all business! Look out! :)

zaphod · Post by **zaphod** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 3:25 am

Yes, I know what is being rumored to happen. I deliberately didn't mention it.

The point is that, just like the X-Box chips, it will ber useless for piracy out of the box. Nothing more, nothing less.

Post by **pixel** » Thu Oct 14, 2004 9:01 pm

Hum.... just to go on with the topic, it seems there's something interesting finally coming out of the blue. May be worth giving it a try... the crystal chip: http://www.crystal-chips.com/

Seems that it's "really" homebrew... Well, of course, it may induce piracy as well; like all modchips, I don't believe one modchip can be 100% clean. But at least, I like their "open mind" sayings (seems even the flash system should be open)

I think I will get one, and toss my old dms3 away.

Well, that was my next two cents for that "homebrew modchip" discussion here.

Post by **mrbrown** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 1:15 am

Don't get duped.

The crystal chip is a sham. The whole idea of the "blank" EEPROM is to absolve the author (who reads this forums and partcipates in ps2dev, by the way) from any legal liability once rogue "hdloader" and "copied/import game disc" images start to get released, which he and his team will be responsible for.

There will never, ever be a modchip devoted to just "pure" homebrew. Folks can release free hardware hacks, or exploits, that allow you to do homebrew. But a company selling a commercial modchip is only doing it for one reason.

Post by **ooPo** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 1:32 am

I wouldn't call it a sham, but I do agree that there will never be a purist homebrew modchip. But that's no surprise as there's no money in it...

But, at least chips like these give more functionality than just booting burned discs, and if I were them I'd push THAT as the homebrew angle rather than putting up a boots-homebrew-only shield that we all know won't last.

Who knows what someone may whip up? Kinda mundane, but that crystal-chips site says it can do things like those crappy 3rd party memorycards without a boot disc, presumably by a change in the bios. Perhaps a chip like this will get the usb-pen-drive arseholes off our back. :)

Post by **mrbrown** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 1:52 am

I hope it and all others like it die a painful death.

Post by **mrbrown** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 1:57 am

Hmm, but I know one good use for a modchip like this... With an open API I can convince my boss to ship a game that has a custom flash that will wipe the offender's PS2's NVM, memory cards, and anything else I can get my hands on. DMS3 took a bit of reversing to figure out it's flash format, but this is downright trivial.

Some good may yet come out of this...

Post by **ooPo** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 3:23 am

Yeah, that's great. Way to take the high road.

Post by **mrbrown** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 5:05 am

You too ooPo? Man you need to lighten up. And you were one of the few around here with a sense of humor. Like I could ever get away with destroying someone's PS2 for any reason.

Tensions really do run high around here when modchips are being discussed. Sheesh. Unless .. do you have some special ties to this Crystal Chip?

Post by **ooPo** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 5:52 am

You're not one to arse around like this, so I assumed you were being serious. You need to build up a reputation of trolling!

Besides, I'm already lighter than you. :)

Post by **mrbrown** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 6:05 am

No I wasn't serious :). I had missed some fun in previous "which mod is the best" discussions so I cashed in my Troll card. Seems I need to leave it to the professionals.

Party's over... nothing to see here.