PS2 Mod 2016-19: USB & HDD Loading, PS1 via POPS, Emus

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Ziggy
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Re: PS2 Mod 2016-19: USB & HDD Loading, PS1 via POPS, Emus

Post by Ziggy »

Jagosaurus wrote: Sat Apr 20, 2024 7:27 pmHow's the OPL & POPS scene today? Hard to believe this thread this nearing 8 years old :shock:

... been thinking about jumping back in. Understand this makes that initial FMCB step easier:

https://www.retrorgb.com/memcard-pro-2- ... azing.html
I've been meaning to update my OPL and HDD. I can't remember if it's a beta update or a fork, but I remember seeing that a new release of OPL allows you to format the HDD using a standard file system. So then I can dump games to it just by copying them over from a PC. No more special software or slow network transfers. Also, I still have an old 80GB HDD in mine. This would give me an excuse to finally upgrade it to something larger.

Oh yeah, the MemCard Pro 2. So I guess that takes care of FMCB as well, huh?
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Re: PS2 Mod 2016-19: USB & HDD Loading, PS1 via POPS, Emus

Post by Jagosaurus »

Oh, yeah that would be nice. WinHIIP was slow but never gave me too many problems (once I ran in Admin). Nice to get a faster, more standard method though if possible.

Per RetroRGB MCP2 & FMCB
On top of just being a smart, central repository for all your PS2 save data, it’s also a great companion for home brew too. What I mean is that you are able launch Free McBoot (via a dedicated Virtual Memory Card) every time you turn on the console, and then load games that are backed up on your Hard Drive (Or MX4SIO/MC2SIO device). But what makes this such a powerful and convenient accessory, is that once you load your game, it will use it’s internal GameID functionality to either create a new dedicated Virtual Memory Card (VMC), or load an existing one automatically! This makes playing games on the PS2 extremely easy and switching in between games an absolute breeze! For me this is the greatest feature of the MCP2.
The original trouble was always getting that initial Free McBoot file on your 1st mem card. Looks like that may be resolved easily here.
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Re: PS2 Mod 2016-19: USB & HDD Loading, PS1 via POPS, Emus

Post by Ziggy »

How are those aftermarket SATA adapters?

RGEEK - https://www.amazon.com/RGEEK-SATA-Conne ... 07JFPSZJP/

Game Star - https://www.amazon.com/VBESTLIFE-Interf ... 0778HN4KQ/

I've heard that they don't last. I'd rather not get something that might cause issues and/or eventually die.

I do have two official Sony Network adapters. One is stock, the other was modified with a SATA adapter. But I was thinking it would be nice to have another one that supports SATA drives. Or am I better off just sticking with my official Sony adapter and getting a high quality PATA to SATA adapter for it?

I'm finally going to upgrade the HDD in my PS2. It's just too much of a pain to get games onto it. I think the version of OPL that supports exFAT drives is still in beta, but I haven't read about any issues with it.

I think I'm going to use an SSD. I know I wont get any speed benefits on the PS2 side, but I think it's the better option for me overall. People have designed adapter brackets so the smaller 2.5" drive doesn't bounce around in the PS2's 3.5" drive bay, and now that I have a 3D printer I can print my own. I think also the power draw is much lower than a mechanical HDD, so that'll be better for the PS2. And since the power draw is lower, you can use a simply SATA to USB adapter. Meaning I can easily connect the SSD to my computer, and power it from USB (without needing an external power adapter, like a mechanical drive would need). An SSD would also have better transfer speed on the PC side when I'm copying games to it. So I'm kinda thinking, for me, there's no downside to using one.

Of course, the downside to SSD is the size. I could get a MUCH larger mechanical drive. But that really isn't a concern of mine. I don't need the entire library on the drive. Even a relatively small 120 GB SSD could hold something like 20-30 games, and that's enough for me. Even if I run out of room, I don't mind rotating games off the drive. And I'll probably use a 250 GB SSD anyway, so I should be good.

One thing I'm wondering... Can you use the FMCB file explorer to copy an ISO from a USB thumb drive to the internal HDD? I mean, now that the internal HDD will be exFAT and games are simply copied to a folder, I would think this should be possible. I realize that the PS2's USB 1.1 means that the transfer speed would take forever. But I'm also thinking that if I'm being lazy I might not want to take the HDD out and do it that way for one measly game. Still, I'll just be happy to not have to use the extra file transfer apps anymore.
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Re: PS2 Mod 2016-19: USB & HDD Loading, PS1 via POPS, Emus

Post by Jagosaurus »

I always took the path of least resistance and bought new, old stock of IDE drives. Crazy to think ... but I started this thread 8 years ago :shock: when that was a more viable option. Let us know how the SATA path goes. I've been eying a new laptop & PS2 emulation but ... putting together a more modern OPL hardware setup has been a fun idea to consider lately ...

I know at one point, transfer over FireWire was in the works. Not sure if it was ever officially "released" & later PS2s actually removed this port from the front of the console. In theory, this should be up to 66xs faster than USB 1.1 8)
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Re: PS2 Mod 2016-19: USB & HDD Loading, PS1 via POPS, Emus

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I'm the same way, and that's mainly why I stuck with a PATA drive until now. And I would probably still stay with a PATA HDD, if there was a better transfer method. Like, if FTP worked as good as it does on Xbox. On the PS2, it was always really annoying to figure out and get working, and then pretty slow even when it was working.

So that's really why I was thinking of going with a SATA SSD. Sure, it'll be annoying having to remove the drive from the PS2 and then reinstall it, but everything else will be easier. I can connect the SSD to my PC with a simple USB cable, and no external power adapter is needed (unlike a PATA HDD). And the transfer speed from my PC to the SSD will be fast, which makes up for having to remove/reinstall it from the PS2.

And now that I have a 3D printer, I was able to print myself one of these: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5360823

I printed that up last night. I still have to clean it up a bit, but from a quick check it looks like everything lines up as intended.

I would have loved a working Firewire transfer option 10 years ago, back when my main desktop had a front Firewire port. And my phat PS2 does have the iLink port. But now my current desktop doesn't even have Firewire. Still, if that ever turned out to be a good option, I wouldn't mind getting a PCIe card.
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Re: PS2 Mod 2016-19: USB & HDD Loading, PS1 via POPS, Emus

Post by Jagosaurus »

Wow... check this out. The scene has come a long way. Play games vis OPL off memory card :shock:

Via Modern Vintage Gamer:
https://youtu.be/mUJjmyG7FBw?si=0iAU0-XI19mpkShF

What do you guys think of this one?

Hm... Interesting the transfer speed seems to be better on Phat model vs slim
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