PS2 Modchip Preservation/Open Sourcing Project
Awesome pic here from RetroGamingArts, I thought use this pic as an example of what's currently happening in the PS2 Modding space. And this is one big exciting project that has just begun. The Modchip Renaissance, or the Modchip Resurrection, but at the moment it is just a work in progress. And it is with some of these legendary Modchips that are being replicated, a true 1to1 replication of the PCB and the Documentation of their parts that are still readily available, like the main Pro Asic APA075-F FPGA chip that pretty much all of the legendary Modchips use. And along with this, I will try backing up the latest official firmware updates of these chips. That being Matrix Infinity, and Toxic OS. And speaking of Modchips, and what's being replicated, were talking about the best of the best, Matrix Infinity, The DMS4 Pro/ Lite, the Crystal Chip and likely more will replicated along with all of the documentation of the parts to be able to build your own legendary chip. I'm still hunting for a Ghost 2 Modchip. Hopefully I can find that someday. But finding these rare Modchips, is a whole task within itself due to their rarity.
And instead of hunting for these super rare modchips, and maybe even paying hundred plus for them. That will hopefully one day, no longer be necessary, it will become more readily available and cheaper. What this means is that just like the OG Xbox with the epic Open Xenium and the Stellar Modchips. Instead of the cheap clone Alladin XT Modchip being the only option like it used too, and the Gamecube with the Picoboot mod. With the PS2, you would also hopefully finally get high quality options for Modchips, just like with those consoles. The current Modchips on the market are cheap clones, mainly Matrix Infinity and DMS clones. That being the Modbo and the Mars Pro. Now these Modchips are just like how other clone Modchips are, they do the job. With fully region unlocking consoles of mostly all revisions, but that is usually where the benefits end. No extra features or apps like Toxic OS. And the firmware in these, are not upgradable. So what you get with clones, is well what you get, so they likely may have been patched with buggy messed around firmware.
Overall they can't be flashed, or updated, and certain features that the original Modchips had may not work properly on these cheap clone chips. If you do update the firmware of a clone chip. Avoid it, you will kill these clone Modchips, that is how I killed my Modbo 4, and they still mostly do the job. The original discountued Modchips do not have this issue. Which gives them room for improvements, features and firmware updates. Currently the old firmware is abandoned due to the discountinuation of the these Modchips. I would love to one day see new modernised rehauls of these Modchips, and updated firmware for these. Perhaps being able to have different bios options, temperature monitor, front panel display mods, FPS Counter, recovery/test menus, short cuts to apps of your choice like OPL, ULaunch.elf. Perhaps a feature to fine tune the RetroGem HDMI mod to work better with the console etc. But right now that is just wishful thinking, these Modchips need to exist first. And then hopefully one day somebody else can get inspired and contribute/go crazy with the firmware updates and or come out a with a whole new Modchip that uses another FPGA chip, and perhaps they can call it the Ultra Matrix Infinity, Who knows? So after seeing most of AtherisMods talented works of replicating the Modchips like the Modbo's. I was really impressed and instead of sending it to PCB Way who will likely charge way too much.
I decided to send him my personal Modchips, over for him to replicate, preserve and open source. Since he also has the passion for this. The legendary Matrix Infinity and the DMS4 Pro/Lite. The goal right now is to just get these Modchips open sourced and preserved to give modders better quality options for Modchips, along with being able to repair your original modchips. And all in all, I also love what the softmodfing community has done with the PS2. With OPL updates like ExFat Support, the PMAP Laser repair program, the Mechapwn, which can region unlock PS2 consoles on later model PS2's. So if you don't know how to solder, these options are a no brainer. And because of this. I think Modchips today need to evolve and support a different purpose of adding more modernised features to your consoles.
Awesome pic here from RetroGamingArts, I thought use this pic as an example of what's currently happening in the PS2 Modding space. And this is one big exciting project that has just begun. The Modchip Renaissance, or the Modchip Resurrection, but at the moment it is just a work in progress. And it is with some of these legendary Modchips that are being replicated, a true 1to1 replication of the PCB and the Documentation of their parts that are still readily available, like the main Pro Asic APA075-F FPGA chip that pretty much all of the legendary Modchips use. And along with this, I will try backing up the latest official firmware updates of these chips. That being Matrix Infinity, and Toxic OS. And speaking of Modchips, and what's being replicated, were talking about the best of the best, Matrix Infinity, The DMS4 Pro/ Lite, the Crystal Chip and likely more will replicated along with all of the documentation of the parts to be able to build your own legendary chip. I'm still hunting for a Ghost 2 Modchip. Hopefully I can find that someday. But finding these rare Modchips, is a whole task within itself due to their rarity.
And instead of hunting for these super rare modchips, and maybe even paying hundred plus for them. That will hopefully one day, no longer be necessary, it will become more readily available and cheaper. What this means is that just like the OG Xbox with the epic Open Xenium and the Stellar Modchips. Instead of the cheap clone Alladin XT Modchip being the only option like it used too, and the Gamecube with the Picoboot mod. With the PS2, you would also hopefully finally get high quality options for Modchips, just like with those consoles. The current Modchips on the market are cheap clones, mainly Matrix Infinity and DMS clones. That being the Modbo and the Mars Pro. Now these Modchips are just like how other clone Modchips are, they do the job. With fully region unlocking consoles of mostly all revisions, but that is usually where the benefits end. No extra features or apps like Toxic OS. And the firmware in these, are not upgradable. So what you get with clones, is well what you get, so they likely may have been patched with buggy messed around firmware.
Overall they can't be flashed, or updated, and certain features that the original Modchips had may not work properly on these cheap clone chips. If you do update the firmware of a clone chip. Avoid it, you will kill these clone Modchips, that is how I killed my Modbo 4, and they still mostly do the job. The original discountued Modchips do not have this issue. Which gives them room for improvements, features and firmware updates. Currently the old firmware is abandoned due to the discountinuation of the these Modchips. I would love to one day see new modernised rehauls of these Modchips, and updated firmware for these. Perhaps being able to have different bios options, temperature monitor, front panel display mods, FPS Counter, recovery/test menus, short cuts to apps of your choice like OPL, ULaunch.elf. Perhaps a feature to fine tune the RetroGem HDMI mod to work better with the console etc. But right now that is just wishful thinking, these Modchips need to exist first. And then hopefully one day somebody else can get inspired and contribute/go crazy with the firmware updates and or come out a with a whole new Modchip that uses another FPGA chip, and perhaps they can call it the Ultra Matrix Infinity, Who knows? So after seeing most of AtherisMods talented works of replicating the Modchips like the Modbo's. I was really impressed and instead of sending it to PCB Way who will likely charge way too much.
I decided to send him my personal Modchips, over for him to replicate, preserve and open source. Since he also has the passion for this. The legendary Matrix Infinity and the DMS4 Pro/Lite. The goal right now is to just get these Modchips open sourced and preserved to give modders better quality options for Modchips, along with being able to repair your original modchips. And all in all, I also love what the softmodfing community has done with the PS2. With OPL updates like ExFat Support, the PMAP Laser repair program, the Mechapwn, which can region unlock PS2 consoles on later model PS2's. So if you don't know how to solder, these options are a no brainer. And because of this. I think Modchips today need to evolve and support a different purpose of adding more modernised features to your consoles.