PSP 3000 queries

[bacteria]

I have had a PSP 3000, firmware 5.51 from new for a month now. Bought an official memory card too, Duo 16Gb one.

Here's the thing:

* some MP3's don't play well, come up as corrupt data so I delete them.

* Bought a Sony 3600mA battery to replace the stock 1200mA one. PSP doesn't boot with the 3600mA one, even though it is running at 3.9v and is charged - it powers a power-hungry GP2x fine, so it isn't "cheap crap battery syndrome". Made sure the battery makes contact with the PSP pins ok, however it doesn't want to play ball.

* Barely any videos downloaded off YouTube and converted work, some play a few seconds then go "corrupt data", a couple work fine.

* Tried a few programs to convert DVD > PSP and programs to covert one format into another, again, I get "corrupt data" on the PSP and have to delete the files.

So, here's the question:

Is:

1) The PSP is only good for watching UMD films and UMD games (works perfectly fine with these) but if you try and use your memory card for anything useful, it's hit and miss. I have had no issues with playing UMD games and films.

2) Is there a problem with using official 16 Gb Sony memory cards in a PSP 3000? Are some flaky?

3) Is there a problem with firmware 5.51 ?

4) What's with the battery issue, does it only want to use the official branded battery supplied with the unit instead of a similar battery, bought for the PSP 3000 ?

5) Why is it picky about MP3 files? !

Comments / discuss? I know I can't downgrade the PSP to an early firmware, not a problem, however I would expect it to work reliably for MP3, video and all the other features it is designed for.

[Anapan]

I know that PSP batteries have a chip inside them, they're not just a power source, tho even cheap 3rd part ones have always worked for my brother's 1000 and my 2000.

Try running the MP3s through MP3 Validator before loading them on to your PSP - It can fix the header information which is what usually causes MP3 players to have problems. I haven't heard of any PSPs having problems with MP3s before, but this works for my mom's cheap no-name MP3 player.
http://mp3val.sourceforge.net/

For the Youtube Videos, try Youtube Downloader
http://youtubedownload.altervista.org/
The Youtube Downloader should leave a PSP compatible MP4, if not use Xvid4PSP to convert them into one - This program will also do full PSP resolution HQ DVD rips to PSPs supported formats.
http://dl.qj.net/psp/tools-utilities-on ... v5036.html

Too bad you don't have CFW, you could just install Ultimate PSPTube and watch/download Youtube videos completely on your PSP.

With all the problems you're having it's entirely possible your MS is bad, try completely formatting it to Fat32 using your PC/My Computer formatting method and then use the PSP's format afterward. I remember when the PSP first came out lots of people were having problems with MS Pro Duos, tho it was usually happening with crappy 3rd party ones.

[bacteria]

I read before I got my memory stick that the PSP didn't like generic ones, and to get official ones, so I paid a little extra (still got a really good price on ebay though) for a "Sony memory stick PRO Duo Max 2 16Gb" stick.

Thanks for the links, will try those. Others I have tried are flaky.

BTW - the 3600mA battery I referred to looks like this opened up - you can see the protection circuit - is this the circuit you refer to? (battery in pic is connected to a GP2x)

[gtmtnbiker]

* Bought a Sony 3600mA battery to replace the stock 1200mA one. PSP doesn't boot with the 3600mA one, even though it is running at 3.9v and is charged - it powers a power-hungry GP2x fine, so it isn't "cheap crap battery syndrome". Made sure the battery makes contact with the PSP pins ok, however it doesn't want to play ball.

Is this truly an official Sony battery? I just got my extended life battery from Amazon a couple of days ago. They're not cheap ($39.99). Otherwise, it's likely a knockoff battery and there are plenty of them.....and they ARE CRAP.

Did you modify the battery or something? I thought the GP2X uses 2 AA batteries.

1) The PSP is only good for watching UMD films and UMD games (works perfectly fine with these) but if you try and use your memory card for anything useful, it's hit and miss. I have had no issues with playing UMD games and films.

Personally, I only run stuff from the memory stick. Never had any problems. I have 2 PSP 2000, and 1 1000.

2) Is there a problem with using official 16 Gb Sony memory cards in a PSP 3000? Are some flaky?

The other person had a good suggestion of formatting it. But otherwise, I've never heard of any issues.

3) Is there a problem with firmware 5.51 ?

I haven't heard of any.

4) What's with the battery issue, does it only want to use the official branded battery supplied with the unit instead of a similar battery, bought for the PSP 3000 ?

Non-Sony batteries are definitely crap. They don't hold a charge as long. I do have one (It's a Pandora battery) but otherwise, all of my batteries are official.

Where did you buy the battery?

[gtmtnbiker]

I read before I got my memory stick that the PSP didn't like generic ones, and to get official ones, so I paid a little extra (still got a really good price on ebay though) for a "Sony memory stick PRO Duo Max 2 16Gb" stick.

Thanks for the links, will try those. Others I have tried are flaky.

Do you have a link to the auction that you purchased from? There are a lot of fakes on Ebay, especially for memory sticks. I personally only buy from Amazon & Newegg. There are ways to know which sellers are selling real official memory sticks/sdhc cards but I can't tell you. Probably google for information.

Here's one link:
http://reviews.ebay.com/Fake-Sony-8G-8G ... 0005172244

I bought an "official" Wiimote a few months ago (see my thread here: http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... =2&t=13697). It was a very good copy but it wasn't official. One issue I have with it is that I can't replace the battery cover with a rechargeable battery pack. I have to carve a little bit of plastic away so that it makes a good contact. Haven't done it yet.

[bacteria]

GP2x uses two rechargable AA cells, at least 1800ma each, and full charge needed, or your system doesn't boot. Alkaline cells only work for about 30 mins, the GP2x is power hungry, cells get warm, can't cope. The GP2x can work at up to 4v (I believe it is), and higher voltage than 2.4v it takes less amperage.

As you see in the pic above, (posted after your post), you see the GP2x works fine - in fact, I was running it for about half an hour yesterday, fine, battery light still green and full charge showing on the battery indicator (3 bars), status said 100% too.

The battery is not a branded one, so may well be a rip-off one, however it doesn't even power on the PSP at all, yet runs a GP2x which needs more amps to run!


Here is a pic of the sleeve the memory stick - got off ebay, but it was stated as an official card:



Comments? Have I been ripped off? Thought I got an official one. Says "Made in Japan" on the back too.

Would a cheap card be giving the corrupted file issue?

[bacteria]

Oh crap, looked on the link given, looks like I was sold a crap Chinese piece of shit counterfit. You do what you can to get the right thing and some bastard rips you off; isn't the world great!

Accounts for the problems I guess with the memory stick.

As to the battery - same issue as you had, the one I got designed for the PSP 2000 or 3000 slim didn't want to close in the case, removed the top of the battery and it did, even bent the battery terminals to ensure they maintained good contact with the PSP and the PSP still didn't want to know before. Guess the PSP battery has a validation chip in it to only run official batteries, even if the battery in question is suitable otherwise.

BTW - if you look on Amazon as the link above suggests - you only also seem to see pics of the rip-off Chinese PSP memory cards....

Where to buy proper ones, cheaply? Ideas?

[Niode]

Pretty much avoid ebay for everything except things you can be hundred percent sure don't have a million and one chinese knockoffs.

Things to avoid on ebay:

Memory sticks
Camera/camcorder/console batteries
GBA games
DS games
Gameboy games
Controllers
Microphones (Such as Shure SM57 and SM58, they are notorious for cheap chinese knock-offs on ebay, I took a risk on a couple of cheap SM57s, one was Chinese knock off the other was genuine luckily they both cost me the same as genuine sm57 so no loss, but really annoying)


Anybody else want to elaborate?


To answer your question bac, it's worth paying a little extra and buying from Amazon, they're a bit less 'lenient' about counterfeit goods on the marketplace, I've not had anything counterfeit from there so far.

[bacteria]

Had a better idea - if you can't get an official memory card without paying lots for (BTW did more searches, only find fake ones), bought an adaptor to convert a MicroSD card into a PRO card for the PSP and bought a 4Gb MicroSD card, a SanDisk one.

If this works, will be a far cheaper option, if it doesn't, then I have other devices that use SD cards anyway (the MicroSD card I got comes with an SD card adaptor).

Will let you know the result when both items arrive...

BTW - search on Amazon for PSP Pro memory and all they have are counterfit ones - even some of the customer reviews say as much. That is why i'm trying the above route instead.

[gtmtnbiker]

Here's another good article for memory cards:

http://reviews.ebay.com/FAKE-Sony-Memor ... 0001236041

It lists a few good sellers. But I would just follow Niode's advice and just buy your memory cards from reputable sellers such as Newegg, Amazon. The few dollars saving is just not worth it IMO.