PS2:PS2 Model Differences

Page content & researching collaboratively taken from io55.net's PS2 page with permission.

There are two (or five) PS2 models, and a variety of revisions within two of them.

Models + Revisions
''Models are arranged chronologically. Revisions are underneath their respective model.''

“PlayStation 2 (original)” (2000-2004)
Commonly referred to as the “fat”, these systems have the most concise set of features, compared to the Slim. DVD drive + buttons, 2 memory card and controller slots, 2 USB ports, 1 IEEE 1394 port (earlier revisions), AV out, IR port (later revisions), and an expansion bay for the Network + HDD adapter. Quality and featureset varies by the revision. Typically the most reliable, with some variance across revisions.

“SCPH-10000/15000” (AKA: The 'ProtoKernels') (2000)
The original launch model of the PS2, exclusive to Japan. These systems lack the expansion bay of later "fat" models, instead having a slot for a PCMCIA card (SCPH-10190) Wich offered the same functionalities than later network adapters, but keeping the HDD external.

These two launch models are named by the community as 'ProtoKernels' due to their early kernel software Wich had a bunch of issues. Only fix for these kernel issues as of today is the usage of a kernel replacement, such as the ones provided on HDD-OSD and PSBBN.

Unlike the later models which have the expansion bay, these models can't boot HDD software autonomously (intentionally designed by Sony this way)

Chassis wise: From this models Up to the out of Japan release model. The PS2 had 10 Screws on the bottom side, and the bottom casing was the first thing you had to remove to begin disassembling.

"SCPH-18000 (2000)"
The last retail PS2 to use the PCMCIA interface for the HDD.

On this model, Sony made the first Major hardware redesign for the console, clearly in preparation for the out of Japan release models.

The kernel issues of the previous models are completely fixed on this one.

The same issue in regards of HDD software remains, but this time the issue was caused because the built-in DEV9 driver (the one that talks to the SPEED chip inside the network adapter) is not compatible with SCPH-10190.

"SCPH-300xx (without 'R' at the end)"
The outside of Japan release models.

Hardware wise, they're very similar to the SCPH-18000. But now with the expansion bay interface for the HDD.

“SCPH-300xx(R)/350xx” (2001-2002)
These models got some heavy redesigning on the motherboard. With wouldn't change that much since this model up to the 39k series.

The major difference was the chassis redesign.

Chassis wise: On these models, the amount of bottom screws dropped to 8, and disassembling now required to start from the top side of the casing.

“SCPH-37000” (2002)
Japanese exclusive model. Power consumption was reduced compared to previous models.

These models featured exclusive colors, never seen again on any other ps2 model, these are:

- SCPH-37000L: The 'Ocean Blue' model, featuring a semi-transparent blue colored casing.

- SCPH-37000B: The 'Zen Black' model, featuring a semi-transparent black colored casing

“SCPH-390xx” (2002-2003)
The last FAT model before the final major hardware revision of the PS2 FAT.

These models are believed to be the "best" in regards of disc reading and reliability. The truth is that this was a myth fueled by modchip installers at that time, because these revisions are the easiest to modchip install.

Wich is not a minor detail, because this is also the first model to be susceptible to the MechaCon Crash (this is probably not a coincidence).

The frequency in which this issue occurs was so low that many people still believe that MechaCon crash was introduced on the 50k models.

“SCPH-500xx” (2003-2004)
The last major hardware revision of the FAT model.

The main aspects are:

- Introduction of Built-in IR receiver

- Replacement of the CPU brand used for the MechaCon

- Remotion of the SYSCON chip, whose functionality was moved into the new MechaCon

- ability to update MechaCon software via patches on encrypted area of EEPROM (this feature is the one exploited by Mechapwn)

On these models, the frequency in wich the Mechacon crash happen increased considerably.

There's also a hidden feature on these models: it was found inside their "BIOS" two new drivers (rom0:FLASH and rom0:XFROMMAN). These were intended to operate the XFROM, a memory card flash chip installed as a DEV9 Subsystem (just like HDD and networking), the console OSDSYS (main menu) was coded to load these drivers and search for software updates inside XFROM. However Sony never made a network adapter revision which had this new hardware implemented, resulting on the feature to be useless. Only the PSX DESR systems had the chance of seeing this feature working.

“PlayStation 2 Slim” (2004-2013)
A much smaller version of the PS2 that was manufactured for quite some time. These systems lose the expansion port and the IEEE 1394, and often times required an external power brick.

“SCPH-700xx” (2004-2005)
The first slim.

The first batches of this model are literally a smaller version of the 50k series.

To maintain network compatibility, Sony manufactured these models with a built-in SPEED chip, meaning that while not officially supported, they retain the capability of internal HDD usage. But without being able to load HDD software autonomously, like with the SCPH-1x000

This model have at least three major revisions.

In one of them, the Graphics Synthetiser was merged with the Emotion Engine.

Also these models were very susceptible to the MechaCon crash, up to the point where Sony was sued on the USA. Thanks to this Sony fixed the issue on the last revision of this model (Wich can be identified by the MechaCon software version, has to be 6.04 or higher), an extra circuitry was added to shut down the console when MechaCon crash is about to happen.

“SCPH-75001” (2005-2006)
The first PS2 without hardware retrocompatibility.

Sony removed the PS1 MIPS R3000A Wich acted as the I/O CPU, replacing it with a PowerPC CPU, which was in charge of emulating the behavior of the PS1 CPU, and also took control over the network features of the SPEED chip, which was the removed from the design of the console, allowing Sony to finally and completely ditch the hard drive support.

The replacement of the PS1 CPU affected both ps1 and ps2 software. Compatibility fixes where introduced for some of those affected games.

“SCPH-770xx” (2006-2007)
Not much has changed with these, compared to the 75001, except game compatibility. Software changes starting from this revision improved compatibility with a few more PS1 and PS2 games, which in essence makes it a slightly better 75001.

“SCPH-790xx” (2007)
Sony’s “shrinking” trend has continued, as the 790xx is the lightest and smallest (internally) of all Slims. Otherwise, they’re pretty much the same as the 77001.

“SCPH-90001” (2007-2013)


Finally, the “shrinking” trend has reversed with the final Slim. This is because Sony returned to an internal PSU design with these systems, while also adjusting the external cosmetics slightly. Reliability has also been enhanced a significant amount. However, the one huge issue is that most all 900xxs are incapable of running homebrew automatically, since Sony found out of FreeMcBoot existence and removed the system memory card update mechanisms from OSDSYS, Wich was the entry point of FreeMcBoot. The old firmware is found, with very few exceptions, on P-chassis consoles, which comprise most Fall 2008 (datecode 8C) and earlier units.

"PSX" (2003-2005)
A DVR with a built-in PS2 released exclusively in Japan. Has a built-in Ethernet jack, as well as a built-in HDD. HDD was either 160GB or 250GB depending on the model. Some models also have an IEEE 1394 port. It was the first device Sony made that used the XrossMediaBar, which would later be used in the PSP and PS3. The console is incompatible with multitaps, limiting game selection to single or 2 player games. The system is also known for poor reliability, with its DVD laser and HDD having high failure rates. The HDD cannot be replaced due to software security on the DVRP chip, which has not public cracks as of 2023.

"KDL-22PX300" (2010)
A 22" 1366x768 Sony Bravia TV with a built in PS2.

“Debugging Stations”
Throughout the life of the PS2 several "Debugging Stations" were created for game developers. Both fat and slim models exist. These models can be identified by a model number beginning with "DTL-H" instead of "SCPH-" as well as the word "TEST" written on top of the system. Debugging Station systems are region free.

Contrary to what the name on the sticker indicates, these "debugging stations" were not capable of performing any debugging tasks on their own. For this they needed a memory card known as 'TDB Start Up Card'. which provides similar and much more limited debugging functionalities compared to those of the true development station, the PS2 TOOL (DTL-T models).

without the TDB Start Up Card, the DTL-H models were basically consoles to perform cheaper QA (due to its ability to read backup disks with the only need of having special information in the first sectors of the disk (known as master patch)