Is using your PS2 to play DVDs bad for it?

[Dylan]

I've heard different things about this, some people say it's bad and others I've heard say that they've done it with no problems. Is it bad for the laser? Does anyone know if this has any long-term effects on your PS2?

[final fight cd]

i don't know for sure, but based on the fact both movies and games are on DVD format i don't see why it would hurt

[Hobie-wan]

Other than the fact that it adds more 'mileage' on your system, I don't think it's any worse than playing games. DVDs might actually be a little less wear and tear than games actually since you're generally reading them straight through in order instead of jumping around reading files on different places on the disc.

[CRTGAMER]

Agree with Hobie in that the laser won't have to jump around the disc as much searching for game data. With the cheap price of dedicated DVD players, why put that unnecessary milage on your console? Especially the current Gens with the failure issues.

[MerRocher]

I've heard that playing DVDs on PS2 are worse for the system because the laser has to constantly be working, where as it can rest in PS2 games. I've also heard the same argument for PS3. But I don't know the validity of these two arguments.

I've actually heard conflicting statements that the PS3 is a higher end bluray player and that it's a lower end bluray player.

[Niode]

Considering DVD players are £5-10 each and are completely silent. Why risk it?

[AppleQueso]

In my experience the ps2 is a fairly crappy DVD player anyhow.

[Ziggy]

Other than the fact that it adds more 'mileage' on your system, I don't think it's any worse than playing games. DVDs might actually be a little less wear and tear than games actually since you're generally reading them straight through in order instead of jumping around reading files on different places on the disc.

Right, but also consider that it's reading a DVD constantly. Where as for the majority of games, it'll load a bunch of data then rest while you play a level.

Considering DVD players are £5-10 each and are completely silent. Why risk it?

Exactly, just don't use the PS2 as a DVD player. Even if it doesn't put more wear, even if it does less, why put the extra mileage on an aging console?

[J T]

When I first bought the PS2 back in 2001, it was my only DVD player. I used as both a game system and DVD player for a number of years. I began to hear rumors that playing DVD added too much wear-n-tear on the system. My PS2 began to have problems. DVDs would stutter or reset, particularly in the latter half of the movie.

I rememeber it started when I bought one of the Lord of the Rings movies when it came out and I could not get the PS2 to play through the full movie. At first I thought it was the disc, but then I played it on a friends DVD player and the DVD worked fine. Then other movies started having the same problem. I stopped using my PS2 for watching movies right away. I use my PS2 exclusively for games now and it works fine to this day. I haven't tried to watch a DVD in my PS2 since then.

That's just one story, so I don't know if your PS2 would have the same kind of problem over time. Mine is also one of the earlier fat models of PS2s. A lot of early adopters had their systems fail. I'm lucky mine is still working at all nearly 10 years later. The newer PS2s may have less trouble manaaging both DVDs and games, but when you can get a dedicated DVD player for less, do you really want to chance it?

[CRTGAMER]

Especially the not so pristine movie rentals, kills that PS2 laser.