Hardware revisions
The Slimline PS2 is considerably smaller than the "Fat" PS2
The PS2 has undergone many revisions, some only of internal
construction and others involving substantial external changes. These
are colloquially known among PS2 hardware hackers as V0, V1, V2, ...,
V18.
[22]
Each region receives a different model number; for example, the V18 was
released in North America as SCPH-90001, in Australasia as SCPH-90002,
and in Hong Kong as SCPH-90006. The final digit is simply a region code
and has no bearing on the hardware other than region lock-outs for games
and DVDs, and language options within the system software.
The PS2 is primarily differentiated between models featuring the
original "fat" case design and "slimline" models, which were introduced
at the end of 2004. In 2010, a television incorporating a PS2 was made
available to consumers.
The original case design
An SCPH-30000 model with DualShock 2
Three of the original PS2 launch models (SCPH-10000, SCPH-15000, and
SCPH-18000) were only sold in Japan, and lacked the expansion bay of
later PS2 models. These models included a
PCMCIA
slot instead of the expansion bay port of newer models. SCPH-10000 and
SCPH-15000 did not have built-in DVD movie playback and instead relied
on encrypted playback software that was copied to a memory card from an
included CD-ROM. (Normally, the PS2 will only execute encrypted software
from its memory card, but see
PS2 Independence Exploit.) V3 had a substantially different internal structure from the subsequent revisions, featuring several interconnected
printed circuit boards.
As of V4 everything was unified into one board, except the power
supply. V5 introduced minor internal changes, and the only difference
between V6 (sometimes called V5.1) and V5 is the orientation of the
Power/Reset switch board connector, which was reversed to prevent the
use of no-solder
modchips.
The V5 also introduced a laser that is more reliable than the ones used
in previous models. V7 and V8 included only minor revisions to V6.
Beginning with model SCPH-500xx, the iLink port was removed. An
infrared receiver was added for use with a remote to control DVD
playback.
The PS2 standard color is matte black. Several different variations
in color were produced in different quantities and regions, including
ceramic white, light yellow, metallic blue (aqua), metallic silver, navy
(star blue), opaque blue (astral blue), opaque black (midnight black),
pearl white,
Sakura
purple, satin gold, satin silver, snow white, super red, transparent
blue (ocean blue), and also Limited Edition color Pink, which was
distributed in some regions such as Oceania, and parts of Asia.
[23][24][25]
The small PlayStation logo on the front of the disc tray could be
rotated ninety degrees, in order for the logo to be the right way up in
both vertical and horizontal console orientations. This feature is also
used on slimline consoles.
The slimline case designs
In September 2004, Sony unveiled its third major hardware revision
(V12, model number SCPH-700xx). Available in late October 2004, it is
smaller, thinner, and quieter than the older versions and includes a
built-in
Ethernet port (in some markets it also has an integrated
modem). Due to its thinner profile, it does not contain the 3.5"
expansion bay and therefore does not support the
internal hard disk drive. It also lacks an internal power supply, similar to the
GameCube, and has a modified
Multitap expansion. The removal of the expansion bay has been criticized as a limitation due to the existence of titles such as
Final Fantasy XI, which require the use of the HDD.
The official
PS2 Linux
also requires an expansion bay to function. Currently only the modified
Multitap is sold in stores, however these are also compatible with the
older versions, and also added support for multiple memory cards on some
games. Third-party connectors can be soldered into the unit giving hard
drive support, however IDE connections were completely removed in the
V14 revision, thereby eliminating this option. Certain mod chips enable
the use of a USB hard drive or other mass storage device.
There are actually two sub-versions of the SCPH-700xx.
[citation needed]
One of them includes the old EE and GS chips, and the other contains
the newer unified EE+GS chip, but otherwise they are identical. The
variations are variously referred to as V11.5 for the older model (with
separate EE and GS chips) and V12 for the newer model, and V12 for the
older model and V13 for the newer model.
[citation needed] Currently, most people use V12 for both models, or V12 for the old model and V13 for the newer one.
[citation needed]
The V12 model was first released in black, but a silver edition was available in the
United Kingdom,
Germany,
Australia,
United Arab Emirates and other GCC Countries,
France,
Italy, South Africa, and finally, North America. A limited edition pink console also became available after March 2007.
V12 (or V13) was succeeded by V14 (SCPH-7500x), which contains integrated EE and GS chips, and different
ASICs
compared to previous revisions, with some chips having a copyright date
of 2005, compared to 2000 or 2001 for earlier models. It also has a
different lens and some compatibility issues with a different number of
PlayStation games and even some PS2 games.
[26]
In the beginning of 2005 it was found that some black slimline
console power transformers manufactured between August and December 2004
were defective and could overheat. The units were recalled by Sony,
with the company supplying a replacement model made in 2005.
[27]
Later hardware revisions had better compatibility with PlayStation games (
Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions
operates on most silver models); however, the new Japanese slim models
have more issues with playing PlayStation games than the first PS2
revisions.
[citation needed]
In 2006, Sony released new hardware revisions (V15, model numbers SCPH-7700x
a and SCPH-7700x
b).
It was first released in Japan on September 15, 2006, including the
Silver edition. After its release in Japan, it was then released in
North America, Europe and other parts of the world. The new revision
uses an integrated, unified EE+GS chip, a redesigned ASIC, a different
laser lens, an updated BIOS, and updated drivers.
[citation needed]
In July 2007, Sony started shipping a revision of the slimline
PlayStation 2 (SCPH-7900x) featuring a reduced weight of 600 grams
compared to 900 grams of the SCPH-7700x (with
Expansion Bay), achieved through a reduction in parts. The unit also uses a smaller motherboard as well as a custom ASIC which houses the
Emotion Engine,
Graphics Synthesizer, and the
RDRAM. The AC adaptor's weight was also reduced to 250 grams from the 350 grams in the previous revision.
[28]
Another refinement of the slimline PlayStation 2 (SCPH-9000x) was released in Japan on November 22, 2007.
[29]
As well some cosmetic changes, the design of the hardware has been
overhauled, incorporating the power supply into the console itself; this
also reduces the total weight to 720 grams (25 oz). SCPH-9000x series
consoles manufactured after the third quarter of 2008 (indicated by date
code 8C) incorporate a revised
BIOS, which disables an exploit present in all older models that allowed
homebrew applications to be launched from a memory card.