Buying a PS2 - NTSC or PAL? *tons of questions!*

[a9801Rob]

Hi everyone,

Sorry if this has already been covered somewhere (I did look, but nothing seemed very conclusive)!

Sometime in the near future, I'm finally going to be buying myself a PS2 (mainly for Disgaea and a few other games), and need to decide which version of the console to buy. As I see it, I should be getting a new V10 machine - but should I go NTSC or PAL?

I'll be using the machine to play both PAL + NTSC titles, though I'd imagine most will be US NTSC, seeing as the majority of PAL PS2 games seem to be 50Hz only. I'm not really interested in going online with it, and my telly doesn't support progressive scan - so they're both out as must have functions. I'd rather avoid using a stepdown if possible, but would definitely use one if the benefits of an NTSC machine merited it.

I've got a fair few PSone titles (both PAL and US NTSC), and would ideally be able to play them all, glitch-free on the PS2 - is this likely/even possible given current PS2 chips?

Next, DVD playback. Whilst it won't be my primary player, I would like to be able to play DVDs from all regions. I'll be connecting the PS2 to my telly via scart, and would want RGB for the games - do NTSC PS2 consoles support RGB without a mod? Also, I understand that there is a relatively simple RGB-fix for the DVD player. Can this be done on a V10 machine?

So, bearing in mind my wants and needs, what should I buy?

BTW, anyone with a new PAL V10 PS2 from londonconsoles - how much of the stuff I've ranted on about above can they handle?

Thanks in advance,

Rob

[C']

There's very little in it as far as I can tell but based on what you said, it sounds as though a modded PAL machine is your best bet.

No stepdown needed, it will allow you to play any PS2/PSone games with ease as well.

However, the big advantage is DVD playback. Simply, even with a region protection disabled, an NTSC console cannot play PAL DVDs. Something to do with the extra PAL lines but I forget the details.

Also, whilst there is a mod available to fix the RGB playback problems, if you do it it will screw up your PS2's ability to output component video so if you ever decide to go down the Prog Scan route, you would be stuffed.

[yashiro]

You want a chipped PAL PS2.

If you get a Messiah chip you'll need a 'DVDRegionFree' style disc to play multi-region RGB movies.

On the other hand I think the DMS3 chip enables multi-region movie playing. Best to look into it on the net as I have a Messiah myself.

Or of course get in touch with Londonconsoles.

[a9801Rob]

Cheers guys, looks like I'll be going for a PAL V10.

It would seem that the DMS3 chip is the one to use (anyone know different?) - does anyone know if Will at londonconsoles would do the job if you provided the chip (his site states that they use Matrix chips)?

I would ask him myself, but from what I hear he's a) ill, and b) insanely busy!

[lostn]

Get an NTSC ps2, because if you get a PAL ps2, then when you play your import ps1 games, they will run in PAL mode, bordered, slow, 50hz.

This is only for PS1 games, which you have a number of. PS2 games will still be NTSC.

The only mod chip not affected by this is the Messiah 2, but I don't know what's happened to Messiah team lately...

[Saurian]

Get an NTSC ps2, because if you get a PAL ps2, then when you play your import ps1 games, they will run in PAL mode, bordered, slow, 50hz.

This is not the case if you use a reputable company like www.londonconsole.com that uses decent chips.

Anybody who passes off machines that wont do everything properly is not worth dealing with. The PAL PS2 is one of the few machines worth getting over it's NTSC counterpart, you dont have to deal with stepdowns and it will display all software correctly.

[will2003]

The only mod chip not affected by this is the Messiah 2, but I don't know what's happened to Messiah team lately...

Not true - (genuine) Matrix MXL2, or DMS3, will play import PS1 ans PS2 stuff perfectly.

As Saurian says, for once the PAL PS2 really is the machine of choice over the NTSC one. Oh, and I know it's an old post dragged up, but I'm not ill any more, and definitely less busy atm...

[Saurian]

I have a machine I'll bring over to you tomorrow man

[lostn]

Don't know about Matrix, but I know for certain DMS3 does not play PS1 NTSC games correctly on a PAL PS2 (or the reverse). Yes, they are genuine chips. If it makes a difference, it's DMS v9 that I tested it with.

Magic chips don't do them either.

[Saurian]

Magic chips are not an issue - they have always been rubbish

With respect lostn - I have had 3 PS2s to use so far all PAL models and all with different modchips.

Messiah 1 - No issues
Messiah 2 - worked perfectly apart from de-interlacing on PS1 software
Matrix - No issues

And have had a friend's DMS3 modded machine running at my house - running USA PS1 Final Fantasy 7 at full speed and with no de-interlacing. Dont you think people would have been complaining by now if londonConsole's machines dont run NTSC software correctly?

[Mayhem]

Good to see you back Will... are you doing v9 PAL PS2s again or is that one a complete no-no now?

[will2003]

Don't know about Matrix, but I know for certain DMS3 does not play PS1 NTSC games correctly on a PAL PS2 (or the reverse). Yes, they are genuine chips. If it makes a difference, it's DMS v9 that I tested it with.

Magic chips don't do them either.

The DMS3 on V9 or V10 boards can be made to play PS1 stuff perfectly, but it's not a solid feature - certain combinations of DMS3 firmware and PS2 versions just don't get on. Plus, some modders do the "sledgehammer to crack a nut" logic of carrying out the physical colour "fix" mod at the same time as fitting the chip, so the PS2 forces either NTSC or PAL regardless. IMO, this is a stupid thing to do - just get a chip that plays NTSC titles correctly and use an RGB SCART cable - (a) they only cost ?5, (b) they give an infinitely better picture anyway.

The DMS3 is just too hit and miss in V9 / V10 models - especially in V10. yes, it's a clever mod, but I just can't be bothered with a mod that's more expensive, and needs hours of f**king around to install, with alternate clock points, different cable types, shielding etc just to not produce screeching noises due to induced interference. The only significant benefit it offers over any other mod is multiregion DVD movie playback, and I reckon the PS2 is a pretty shoddy DVD player anwyay.

The reason I no longer install the Messiah 2 is that their quality control has gone down the pan, and there are glitches - not in V7 or older model PS2s, but in the new V9 ones. Fair play to the Messiah dev people for cracking the V9, but a mod like the Matrix is far, far higher quality physically, has a much better set of features, and is a lot easier to install due to the reduced wire count.

Will.

[will2003]

Good to see you back Will... are you doing v9 PAL PS2s again or is that one a complete no-no now?

I never went anywhere just too busy to post here very often!

The whole PS2 V9 / V10 thing is kind of blowing over - it's clear that there were a really, really duff batch of PS2 units on sale in Europe, specifically down to one component - a controller IC - that were dropping like flies wether modded or not. The incidences of dead V9 / V10 PS2s are getting a LOT less now, hopefully pointing to a bit of quality control improvement with Sony / Sanyo (who manufacture the IC).

What all the research into what was making them fail has also shown are some inherent weaknesses of the laser / controller setup in the new PS2 board design.

This means that a lot more care has to be taken with them, especially when using recordable media. It's the kind of care that you should take with any console, but the new PS2s will not stand up to the same kind of abuse that the old ones could.

I've drawn up a document about the problem, and how to avoid it, so I'll change it around a bit and make a dedicated post on this subject shortly!

Will.

[Salsa Party Animal]

IF you want to use the hard drive with PS2, you can't use it with Messiah 2 chip

[Robster]

Can I ask a q about NTSC vs PAL.

Im off to the states in the summer and I am gonna pick up an NTSC PS2 on the cheap to play US games. I also plan to order an JAP ceramic white for JAP games from play asia and the like.

Why is a modded PAL machine better than a NTSC US PS2, I have no problem with using a stepdown.

My main reason for buying these consoles is for my collection as eventually I would like all Ltd ed PS2 issued.(ambituous and expensive I know but I can dream )