PS2 build quality

[Rollo]

Can I ask how long all your PS2's have lasted for and what problems you may have had? I love the PS2's line-up but I'm afraid of investing one after all the stories I've heard, such as this quote from a website...

Ever gotten those annoying Disc Read Error messages on your Playstation 2? If you have, I'll bet the first time you saw one was on the 31st day you've had it, after the Sony 30-day warranty expired. If you're real lucky, your PS2 might last two or even three years; eventually this error will hunt down your PS2 and settle down there. If it only affects you some of the time ? you might be able to play some DVD movies, but your favorite one never loads, or you can only play PSone games and not silver-colored PS2 games ? then chances are it's not a serious error and only requires minor adjustments to your PS2. Since it is out of warranty, there's little risk in opening it up and trying to fix it yourself before paying to send it back to Sony's repair center. The following guide shows you how to get the PS2 open, clean it out, make your adjustments, and put it back together without any hassles

I remember Capcom's Shinji Mikami commenting on this problem as well. What are your thoughts? And do you have any advice in keeping your PS2 in good condition? Would it be safer to get a stand-alone DVD player and not watch them on the PS2? Seems ridiculous, but maybe it's the only way.

[Ady]

In my experience, Sony products always die a few days after the warranty has expired.

This is why I generally don't buy Sony. Ironically, my PlayStations have never given me any bother.

[Matt Hughes]

I had my original PS2 for a tad over 2 years and never had a problem. No disc reading errors, no game crashing.. nothing. Got my new one in October (sold the old one to raise a bit of green) and have had no problems with that either. One of my buddies from college days has had his PS2 since release day and it's still running beautifully.

Unfortunately you will always get the odd bad console in every bunch. My original Xbox had numerous problems within the first few months of its life, but the machine I had it replaced with has been perfect.

I sincerely hope you do eventually pick up a PS2 , there are some cracking games awaiting you. The only advice I would give to you is a pretty obvious one - don't place your console on a carpet. It will suck dust and muck through the fans and clog the little guy up.

[Max M]

Isn't it true that the newer models are of a higher quality?

[Saurian]

I've never had a problem with my Messiah modded machine and have had it for ages now. When people complain about faults (from experience of working on other's machines) I find it's down to neglect.

A drive cant function if it's full of dust and has been used to run DVD rips and other dodgy media.

[Matt Hughes]

Isn't it true that the newer models are of a higher quality?

Not really sure, to be honest. Obviously they have been updated with the ability to read CD-Rs and DVD-Rs, and the fan is much quieter, but as for overall quality I couldn't say.

I wouldn't be surprised if they are better quality though - Sony have learnt a few things from the first couple of years with the original PS2 so they've probably remedied a few internal problems.

[Tom Salter]

I've owned both a launch PAL PS2 and a launch US PS2, the latter has also been Messiah'ed for nearly a year now too. Never had a DRE on either of them.


But my launch PS1 had all sorts of problems after about a year, but it was used for about 16 hours a day, every day

[Saurian]

For real - I had to return my launch PS1 a week after buying cos the drive died. Then the replacement I got died too (it was the same revision)

This was due to the PSU sitting right next to where the lens rests - Sony changed the design (all they did was rotate the drive away from the PSU) which solved the problem.

[Darwock]

Had mine since early 2000, still running strong.

My mate had a launch machine which he dropped twice, and was beat up to hell, but that only expired last week (after months of running with only one fan blade).

[Judgement Boy]

As with the others in the thread, had mine since 2000 and had no problems. Even after dropping it down a flight of stairs. Admittedly a short flight but hey!

[Mayhem]

Brother's gf bought him one for Xmas. No problems apart from Vice City locking up at certain points if he tries to restart certain missions... the disc just seems not to be able to load the data and spin constantly. Though that's probably the game!

[C']

I've had 2 generate the disc loading problems after just over a year of using them. I've always handled my machines with the utmost of the care (a dodgy DVD rip has never even gone into close proximity of the machines) yet I still see to get these problems.

Annoying.

[Sketcz]

Messiah chipped and still going strong.
Only very occasionally will an import game not load properly, for example Shiki 1 which is a blue base disc.

Then again I keep it wrapped in celophane when I dont play it, therefor keeping it dust free.

[MartyG]

I have an original Jap first release that runs as well as when it was new. I've also had a couple of PAL machines that have gone to friend's houses and are still fine. My original grey PS One still runs nicely too.

Regards
Marty

[Crono]

Perhaps the way people's PS2s are posistioned (if vertically) could trigger the disc read problem (could be wrong :P) - as I remember with my old V4 machine it use to make all kinds of strange noises when in the posistion. I've had my Messiah PS2 for quite a while now, sitting horizontally, and I've had no disc read errors at all.