I built a MODERN PlayStation 2...

Zac Builds
11 Dec 202321:21

TLDRIn this video, the creator embarks on a project to modernize a PlayStation 2, the best-selling video game console of all time. Through a series of modifications, including replacing the disk drive with an SSD, upgrading the cooling system, and installing an HDMI mod, the console is transformed for 2023. The creator also shares a detailed postmortem analysis, highlighting areas for improvement and final touches, such as a wireless adapter for PS2 controllers.

Takeaways

  • 🎮 The PlayStation 2 is the best-selling video game console of all time, with a significant place in gaming history.
  • 🛠️ The narrator, a video game enthusiast, decides to restore and modernize a PS2 by replacing its components and installing mods.
  • 🔧 A top-loading hatch with a special disc for bypassing copy protection and playing burned games is a notable feature of the purchased PS2.
  • 💻 The project involves replacing the disk drive with an SSD, upgrading the cooling system, and replacing the power supply for a more efficient and compact system.
  • 🔌 The PS2's motherboard is significantly more complex than that of the Nintendo 64, highlighting the rapid technological advancements in gaming consoles.
  • 🌟 The RePS2 and Retro Gem mods are used to improve the PS2's performance, cooling, and to enable HDMI output for modern displays.
  • 💾 A one terabyte SSD replaces the original DVD drive, allowing for the storage of approximately 100 PS2 games with faster load times.
  • 🔧 The narrator faces challenges in 3D printing a new case for the PS2 due to size limitations of their printer, leading to the acquisition of a larger 3D printer.
  • 🎨 Cosmetic modifications include painting the mid-frame satin black and the RF shielding metallic gold, as well as creating a custom front panel with the PSZ logo.
  • 🔩 The final assembly of the modernized PS2 includes the installation of various components, brackets, and accent pieces, culminating in a wireless controller setup.
  • 📈 Postmortem analysis reveals missed opportunities for component upgrades, the need for a quieter fan, and the desire for a more professional case finish with resin 3D printing.

Q & A

  • What is the PlayStation 2 known for in terms of sales?

    -The PlayStation 2 is known for being the best-selling video game console of all time.

  • What did the narrator initially plan to do with the PlayStation 2 they purchased?

    -The narrator initially planned to restore the PlayStation 2 and use it as a fun project to modernize a piece of video game history.

  • What is the purpose of the top-loading hatch on the PlayStation 2?

    -The top-loading hatch is used to insert a special disc that bypasses the copy protection, allowing the user to play burned games on the console.

  • What are some of the modifications the narrator made to the PlayStation 2's hardware?

    -The narrator replaced the disk drive with an SSD, upgraded the cooling system with a new fan and thermal pads, and replaced the original power supply with a more efficient and compact system.

  • How did the narrator clean the motherboard?

    -The narrator cleaned the motherboard using isopropyl alcohol to remove the remnants of the original thermal pads and scrub away 23 years of dirt and grime.

  • What is the RePS2 and how does it improve the PS2's functionality?

    -The RePS2 is a modification that replaces the original barrel plug connector, allowing the PS2 to be powered with a USB-C cable and request 12 volts of power from a standard USB-C power delivery adapter.

  • How did the narrator upgrade the PlayStation 2's graphics?

    -The narrator installed a retro gem from Pixel Effects, which is an HDMI mod that makes the PS2's image signal available for output via HDMI, making it compatible with modern displays.

  • What was the challenge the narrator faced when working on the small motherboard?

    -The challenge was the small size of the PS2's motherboard, which required the use of a digital microscope for the intricate micro-soldering work involved in the upgrade process.

  • What is the purpose of the free McBoot soft mod used on the memory card?

    -The free McBoot soft mod allows the PS2 to boot games off the hard drive, play region-locked content, and perform a variety of other functions without the need for any soldering.

  • How did the narrator address the issue of the PS2's interlacing artifacts on modern displays?

    -The narrator used the GSM program to force the PlayStation 2 to output a 480p image, which resolved most of the interlacing artifacts when playing games that were limited to a 480i resolution.

  • What are the narrator's thoughts on the final outcome of the modernized PlayStation 2?

    -The narrator is pleased with the outcome but believes there were missed opportunities for further improvements, such as replacing all the capacitors on the mainboard, using a 12-volt fan for quieter operation, and potentially 3D printing the case with resin for a more professional look.

Outlines

00:00

🎮 Reviving a Gaming Icon: The PlayStation 2

The narrator, a self-proclaimed video game nerd, embarks on a project to modernize a PlayStation 2, the best-selling video game console of all time. Despite being a gaming enthusiast, the narrator has never owned a PS2. They purchase one from a local online marketplace with the intention of restoring it and exploring the many mods available for this classic console. The plan is to bring this piece of gaming history into the modern era with various upgrades and modifications, starting with a teardown to install mods and enhancements.

05:02

🛠️ Console Disassembly and Component Upgrades

The narrator dives into the process of disassembling the PS2, highlighting the complexity of its motherboard compared to the Nintendo 64, despite their close release dates. They replace the disk drive with a more modern alternative, upgrade the cooling system with a new fan and thermal pads, and swap out the original power supply for a more efficient and compact one. The narrator also cleans the motherboard, replaces the dead clock battery, and discusses the challenges of working with such small components, using a digital microscope for assistance.

10:03

🌐 Enhancing Connectivity and Graphics

The narrator focuses on improving the PS2's connectivity and graphics capabilities. They install an RePS2, which replaces the original power supply and allows for USB-C power input. They also upgrade the console's graphics with a retro gem from Pixel Effects, an HDMI mod that enables modern display compatibility. The narrator discusses the intricate process of micro-soldering required for these upgrades, emphasizing the patience and precision needed, and shares their excitement upon successfully testing the console.

15:07

💻 Storage Solutions and Aesthetic Enhancements

The narrator replaces the PS2's original DVD drive with a one-terabyte SSD, allowing for the storage of approximately 100 PS2 games. They explain the process of integrating the SSD with a modified network adapter and a memory card flashed with the free McBoot soft mod. The narrator also discusses their efforts to give the PS2 a cosmetic overhaul for 2023, including creating a 3D model for a new case and running into limitations with their 3D printer's maximum print volume.

20:07

🎨 Final Touches and Post-Mortem Analysis

The narrator completes the PS2's transformation with cosmetic modifications, including painting the mid-frame and RF shielding, and creating a new case with a side window made from cast acrylic. They discuss the post-assembly process, including adding a wireless adapter for cordless gameplay and testing the system with various games to showcase the improvements in graphics and performance. The narrator reflects on the project, noting missed opportunities for component upgrades and the desire for a more professional finish with resin 3D printing.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡PlayStation 2

The PlayStation 2, often abbreviated as PS2, is a sixth-generation video game console developed and manufactured by Sony Computer Entertainment. It is the best-selling video game console of all time, with over 155 million units sold worldwide. In the video, the narrator expresses their enthusiasm for owning and modernizing a PS2, highlighting its significance in video game history.

💡Mods

Mods, short for modifications, refer to alterations made to the original design or functionality of a device or software. In the context of the video, mods are used to enhance the capabilities and modernize the PlayStation 2, such as improving its graphics, cooling system, and power supply.

💡Retro mod

A retro mod is a modification made to older technology to restore, preserve, or enhance its functionality or appearance. In the video, the narrator mentions a retro mod that allows the PS2 to bypass copy protection and play burned games, which is an example of a retro mod enhancing the gaming experience.

💡Electric screwdriver

An electric screwdriver is a power tool that drives screws into, or removes them from, materials such as wood, metal, or plastic. In the video, the electric screwdriver is highlighted as a useful tool for disassembling the PS2, saving time and effort when removing numerous screws.

💡Cooling system upgrade

A cooling system upgrade refers to the process of improving a device's cooling mechanism to manage heat more effectively. In the video, the narrator replaces the original loud and dying fan with a new, quieter, and more efficient Noctua fan to reduce noise and improve heat management within the PS2.

💡Power supply replacement

Power supply replacement involves swapping out an existing power unit with a new one that is more efficient or better suited to the device's needs. In the video, the narrator replaces the original bulky power supply with a more compact and efficient system to reduce heat and improve the PS2's overall performance.

💡Motherboard

A motherboard is the main printed circuit board (PCB) in computers and other complex electronic systems that connects and communicates with other components such as the CPU, memory, and peripherals. In the video, the narrator refers to the PS2's motherboard as 'delicious retro hardware' and discusses its complexity and the technological advancements since its creation.

💡RF shielding

RF shielding is a method used to protect electronic devices from radio frequency interference (RFI) by preventing the entry or escape of radio frequency signals. In the video, the narrator removes the RF shielding from the PS2's motherboard to access and modify its components.

💡USB-C

USB-C is a hardware interface for data transfer, display signaling, and charging electrical devices. It is a widely used standard due to its reversibility and ability to support multiple modes of transfer. In the video, the narrator replaces the original power connector with a USB-C port for a more modern and convenient power solution for the PS2.

💡3D printing

3D printing is a process of creating three-dimensional objects from digital models by adding material layer by layer. It is a form of additive manufacturing that allows for the creation of complex shapes and custom designs. In the video, the narrator uses 3D printing to create a new case for the modernized PS2, showcasing the versatility of this technology in customizing and updating electronic devices.

💡Micro soldering

Micro soldering is a precision technique used to create or repair electronic circuits, particularly on small components. It requires a high level of skill and often involves the use of a microscope to see the tiny solder joints clearly. In the video, the narrator undertakes micro soldering to attach the Retro Gem HDMI mod to the PS2's motherboard.

Highlights

The PlayStation 2 is the best-selling video game console of all time.

The narrator, a video game enthusiast, has never owned a PlayStation 2 until now.

The narrator purchased a PlayStation 2 from a local online marketplace to restore and mod.

The PlayStation 2 already had a period-correct retro mod installed, allowing it to play burned games.

The project involves modernizing the PlayStation 2 for 2023 with various mods and upgrades.

The first step is to tear down the console to install mods, revealing its complex motherboard.

The network expansion port will be utilized for a massive storage upgrade.

The narrator replaces the original disk drive with a one terabyte SSD to store around 100 PS2 games.

The original power supply is replaced with a more efficient and compact system.

The narrator upgrades the cooling system with a new fan and more efficient thermal pads.

The graphics of the PS2 are upgraded with a retro gem from Pixel Effects, allowing HDMI output.

A USB-C power delivery adapter is used to power the PS2, replacing the original power connector.

The narrator creates a 3D model for a new case, retaining the ability to run the console horizontally or vertically.

The mid-frame is repainted and styled, with the RF shielding receiving a metallic gold finish.

The narrator uses a digital microscope for precision work, such as micro soldering.

The project showcases the potential for personalizing and modernizing old consoles with mods and upgrades.

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