PlayStation 2 models

The Slimline PS2 is considerably smaller than the "Fat" PS2

There were many revisions of the PlayStation 2 (PS2) in its history from 2000 to 2013, some only of internal construction and others involving substantial external changes. These are colloquially known among PS2 hardware hackers as V0, V1, V2, ..., V18.^[1] Each region receives a different model number; for example, the V18 was released in North America as SCPH-90001, in Australia as SCPH-90002, and in Hong Kong as SCPH-90006. The final digit is a region code with no bearing on the hardware; many games and DVDs are restricted to certain regions, and the system software displays in different languages.

The PS2 is primarily differentiated between models with the original "fat" case design and "slimline" models introduced at the end of 2004. In 2010, a television incorporating a PS2 was introduced.^[2]

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 instead included a PCMCIA slot. 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; see PS2 Independence Exploit). V3 had a substantially different internal structure from the subsequent revisions, featuring several interconnected printed circuit boards. In V4, everything except the power supply was unified onto one board. 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. V5 also introduced a more reliable laser than the ones used in previous models. V7 and V8 included only minor revisions to V6.

There was also the SCPH-3000x, 3500x, 3900x, and 500xx models.

Beginning with model SCPH-500xx (v9 & 10), the i.LINK port was removed. An infrared receiver was added for use with a remote to control DVD playback, leaving both controller ports free from the external receiver. This model also has issues with its laser unit burning out when attempting to read some media. The issues turned out to be due to the console's Mechanics Controller ("MechaCon"), which controlled the optical drive laser, arm and motor, crashing and attempting to recover from the crash by increasing the power draw to the drive. This appears to have been fixed on the SCPH-50004 (v11) model which included a new laser unit, however it was only released in Europe. Several homebrew fixes also exist with varying degrees of success.

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 regions including Oceania and parts of Asia.^[3][4][5]

The small PlayStation logo on the front of the disc tray could be rotated 90 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 and the PlayStation 3. The original models were discontinued in 2004, as Sony ended production to clear existing inventory and prepare for the release of the slimline model.

Slimline case designs[]

PlayStation 2 slimline

Top: Original style PS2 slimline with a DualShock 2 controller. Bottom: Second slim version made in 2007.
Manufacturer	Sony Computer Entertainment
Product family	PlayStation
Type	Home video game console
Generation	Sixth generation
Lifespan	October 29, 2004 – January 4, 2013
CPU	300 MHz
Controller input	DualShock 2
Connectivity	2 × USB 1.1, Ethernet, IrDA, 2 × controller ports.

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^[when?] 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 it hard drive support due to it still containing some of the necessary I/O controllers and firmware, but the process is involved, requiring the user to solder 39 IDE pinouts directly to the board.^[6][7] Two special aftermarket kits were created to make this mod easier for the consumer. The first was the HD Connect which was simply a board that sat attached to the back of the console, with communication wires tapped to the PS2 through its air vents and drive power through one of its 5 V USB headers. The second, more expensive option, was the HD Combo: it included a replacement case with room for a hard drive. Certain modchips also enable the use of a USB hard drive or other mass storage device.

Unfortunately, SCPH-700xx not only suffered from the same MechaCon laser crashes as the SCPH-500xx, but did so more frequently. Some users began to notice the crashes occurred more often with mod-chipped consoles and burnt media, leading to the accusation that Sony "booby trapped" the new unit. A large number of homebrew fixes were made, more than the v9 or 10, though the most reliable ones involved cutting the power to the drive whenever a MechaCon crash is detected. Some sources claim Sony integrated this very fix in later SCPH-700xx units.

There are two sub-versions of the SCPH-700xx,^{[citation needed]} one with the old Emotion Engine (EE) and Graphics Synthesizer (GS) chips, and the other with the newer unified EE+GS chip, but otherwise are identical. The sub-versions are variously referred to as V12 for both models, V11.5 for the older and V12 for the newer model, and V12 for the older and V13 for the newer model.^{[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 North America. A limited edition pink console also became available after March 2007.

V12 (or V13) was succeeded by V14 (SCPH-7500x), which contains different ASICs than 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.^[8] An addon to add HDD support to newer 7500x and onward models called the HDPro was created but had limited success.

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 and replaced by a 2005 model.^[9]

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). V15 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]}

On July 19, 2007, Sony started shipping a revision of the slimline PlayStation 2 (SCPH-7900x) featuring a reduced weight of 600 grams compared to 900 g of the SCPH-7700x, achieved through a reduction in parts. The unit also uses a smaller motherboard as well as a custom ASIC which houses the EE, GS, and the RDRAM. The AC adaptor's weight was reduced to 250 g from the previous 350 g.^[10]

Another refinement of the slimline PlayStation 2 (SCPH-9000x) was released in Japan on November 22, 2007.^[11] As well as some cosmetic changes, the design of the hardware was overhauled, incorporating the power supply into the console itself like the original (fat) PlayStation 2 revisions; this also increases the total weight to 720 grams (25 oz). On SCPH-9000x series consoles manufactured after the third quarter of 2008 as the last revision of the PlayStation 2, some changes were made (indicated by date code 8C) to incorporate a revised BIOS, which disables an exploit present in all older models that allowed homebrew applications to be launched from a memory card.^{[citation needed]}

PSX[]

The PSX

Sony also manufactured a consumer device called the PSX that can be used as a digital video recorder and DVD burner in addition to playing PS2 games. The device was released in Japan on December 13, 2003, and was the first Sony product to include the XrossMediaBar interface. It did not sell well in Japan, and was not released anywhere else.

The PSX featured one USB port, a Memory Stick card reader and two PlayStation 2 Memory Card slots.^[12]

Sony BRAVIA KDL22PX300[]

Sony BRAVIA KDL22PX300

Released in 2010, the Sony BRAVIA KDL22PX300 is a 22-inch (56 cm) 720p television that incorporates a PlayStation 2 console and four HDMI ports. The 720p TV also includes BRAVIA Internet Video Access, allowing users access to streaming services such as YouTube and on-demand television. It was only released in Europe and could only play PAL games.^[2] Although the maximum resolution is 720p/1366×768, 1080p input sources can be used and displayed.

See also[]

• PlayStation models
• PlayStation 3 models

References[]