Poll of the Day > PS2 hardware is such garbage (Specifically the lasers)

(+) Yeah! (+)

I think I've been through about 6 PS2 slim consoles over the past 15 years or so and I botched the laser replacements when I tried to do it myself.
Now the laser on this one seems to be dying because games are stuttering and laser seems to be trying really hard, making noises to read discs.
I guess I should just invest in an external DVD drive for my PC so I can get PCSX2 because seems to be the only option to play my fucking PS2 discs. *Sigh

Get a fat PS2 instead? My OG PS2 is still going strong. Never had a slim version

Far-Queue posted...

Get a fat PS2 instead? My OG PS2 is still going strong. Never had a slim version

I had one when I was little and I remember having to send to Sony for DRE.
Now I wish I hadn't sold it though.
IDK, can someone confirm that fat PS2s are more reliable? I recall the failure rate on them is terrible as well.

"Damn technology that is over 20 years old!"

Ferarri619 posted...

I had one when I was little and I remember having to send to Sony for DRE.
Now I wish I hadn't sold it though.
IDK, can someone confirm that fat PS2s are more reliable? I recall the failure rate on them is terrible as well.

I'm pretty sure DRE was MORE common on the fats.

I'm speaking solely from personal experience, having own one PS2 for the past however many years. Not sure if the issue is more common on one model vs another

My fat PS2 lasted for close to 20 years before the power supply died, and currently got a still working replacement. But generally the lasers in the later slim models are more reliable because later produced hardware, and probably easier to clean which solved my own issues in the past. Getting to them in the original model is a bit harder, and I know replacing the laser requires slim fingers or lots of luck.

A place in my area does repairs on this stuff so I'm gonna take it there

Original NES hardware is shit. The "toaster" design requires like 70% more plastic than famicom cartridges, and causes the 72 pin connector to bend over time, causing incomplete connections.

Might as well mod it to do backups tbh

BlackScythe0 posted...

"Damn technology that is over 20 years old!"

It was shoddily built at the time. People being on their 2nd or even 3rd systems because of driver failures (among other problems) wasn't that unheard of. It's also easily factored into their huge sales total.

My PS2 slim is doing fine. Been a little internmittent with using it lately though, although I watched a lot of DVDs on it a few years ago.

I'm more mad at my 1 year old Arctis SteelSeries 7 headphones that had its charging port go.

Good thing that PS3s can do like 99% compatibility emulation of PS2 games fully in software and can directly read off of PS2 disks.

Judgmenl posted...

Good thing that PS3s can do like 99% compatibility emulation of PS2 games fully in software and can directly read off of PS2 disks.

only the older ones though. like launch ps3s only

Ferarri619 posted...

Now the laser on this one seems to be dying because games are stuttering and laser seems to be trying really hard, making noises to read discs.

If it's making a grinding noise at start up or when it's trying to read a disc, then it's likely the laser assembly slipping on the worm drive. This is a pretty easy fix if you're comfortable opening the system up. Usually all you need to do is adjust the laser assembly until it can engage the worm drive.

Yellow posted...

Might as well mod it to do backups tbh

That's the great thing about fat PS2s, they're really easy to softmod. The hardest part is sourcing an IDE hard drive or an IDE to SATA adapter, but once you got the hardware, it's really simple to set up.

I think you can also just do it over an internet connection and it works just fine that way

Just don't try to load games from a USB, that barely works and isn't worth your time. That's how I did it, and there's a compatibility list.

Ferarri619 posted...

I think I've been through about 6 PS2 slim consoles over the past 15 years or so and I botched the laser replacements when I tried to do it myself.
Now the laser on this one seems to be dying because games are stuttering and laser seems to be trying really hard, making noises to read discs.
I guess I should just invest in an external DVD drive for my PC so I can get PCSX2 because seems to be the only option to play my fucking PS2 discs. *Sigh

Like you I have went through more than 4 PS1 consoles and at least that many PS2 consoles and this was during their heyday so I have always felt that the Playstation line of consoles have been faulty from the PS1 onward but nobody sees the issues.

I have a PS5 that isn't even 3 months old and the dual sense controller is giving me the analog drift issue I had the same issue with my PS4 controller and I have had my PS4 repaired twice because it stopped reading discs.

BUMPED2002 posted...

I have a PS5 that isn't even 3 months old and the dual sense controller is giving me the analog drift issue

I'm on my third controller, first two had drift problems

ToastyPOP posted...

If it's making a grinding noise at start up or when it's trying to read a disc, then it's likely the laser assembly slipping on the worm drive. This is a pretty easy fix if you're comfortable opening the system up. Usually all you need to do is adjust the laser assembly until it can engage the worm drive.

I wouldn't say grinding, more like constantly beeping or clicking.

BUMPED2002 posted...

I have a PS5 that isn't even 3 months old and the dual sense controller is giving me the analog drift issue

Same. It's unusable for gaming. Didn't have that issue with ps4 though.

Ferarri619 posted...

I wouldn't say grinding, more like constantly beeping or clicking.

Like this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3341hTjO1Po

If that's the case then it's probably the lens constantly trying to focus on the disc. You can try cleaning the lens with a q-tip and rubbing alcohol if you haven't already but the laser might be dying and will need to be replaced. The lens itslef could also leave circular marks on your discs so might want to check them.

DirtBasedSoap posted...

only the older ones though. like launch ps3s only

Why is it I can take my PS3 slim out and play PS2 discs then?

Judgmenl posted...

Why is it I can take my PS3 slim out and play PS2 discs then?

No clue, it is not something it should support. Even hacked IIRC will just install a PS2 disc and treat it like a PS2 Classic. The chip was only in certain early PS3 models, and PAL was even worse with a buggy software method you couldn't keep if you wanted to upgrade the hard drive (and no, the PAL software method was not included in later models in other countries either).

Don't suppose you can show video proof? Because right now, this is a case of something impossible to do with the hardware you say you have.

DeltaBladeX posted...

install a PS2 disc and treat it like a PS2 Classic

Yea that's what I was doing, not playing straight discs.
Obviously there's little to no difference between the PS3 having the chip or not the games play almost identical.
Also this is 2023, who the hell cares about emulating physical games you own when you also own the physical hardware?

Judgmenl posted...

Yea that's what I was doing, not playing straight discs.

Hacked PS3 then. That isn't a feature included on regular firmware. Mystery solved. :)

I'm sorry your posting just makes it sound like you're gatekeeping my enjoyment.

Sorry. Just feel it best people know a feature mentioned isn't official, wouldn't want someone getting a PS3 for it. I'm not 100% certain, but don't think all PS3 models can do the relevant hack in the first place either, I think that feature might need permanent CFW.

My PS2 is the original fat version and still plays smoothly. I opened it up and cleaned the laser once because it wasnt reading PS1 discs.