What are the REAL Pros and Cons of using an HD?

I read the tutorial here, but I still don't know if the HDLoader, HdAdvance, or USBEXTREME disable online play for games.

If I get an HDLoader or HDAdvance (which one I get is based on whichever one supports all the things I'm talking about right now), will it have mostly the same compatibility as SwapMagic 3.6? And speaking of that, in one of the tutorials you guys gave a link to, it says to transfer backup copies of DVD/CD games to either 3 of the programs with just an IDE hard drive, you'd STILL have to get a slide card or flip case is this true? For ALL the programs? If so, just tell me yes right aweay so I don't even bother with the HD and I'll just get SwapMagic 3.6

IF the USBEXTREME has great compatibility like the SwapMagic3.6, should I get that and an external USB HDD?

Internal Hard Drives are cheaper than the external USB ones though; are there any hard drives that are as cheap as the internal ones, but use a USB connection? If so, please tell me where!

I know an internal IDE drive installed into the PS2 loads faster, but some people have been saying it takes about half an hour to install each game into it using the inserting in PS2 optical drive bay method. I wouldn't want to disconnect my HDD from the PS2 everytime I got a new game now, would I?

Finally, if I DO use the optical-drive-bay method(if it doen't take super long to install each game onto the HDD), would I be able to put rebuilt ISOs in it? I'm talking about the ones where you have to put in those disc-id's in or whatever to circumvent the DNAS check to play online.


I know this is a long thread, but please help me out here, you guys are supposed to be VERY, VERY great... so thanks in advance.

 

from best compatibility to worst:
1. swap magic
2. hd advance
3. hd loader
4. usbextreme

I would get swap magic, then you can play burnt games (including a burnt copy of the hd programs).

 

Keep in mind, there are some games that work just for Swap Magic, then there are games that work just for the HDD. I know you didn't mention this, but a modchip, in my opinion, is the way to go. You don't have to worry about swapping any discs to play your backups. I have Swap Magic 2.0, I still love it, but the swapping and not having some games work is getting a bit on thine nerves.

 

Ah, I see, thanks for the input.

I was just thinking of getting the HDD b/c it seemed easier than the SwapMagic and having to rebuild some games, but it isn't, you HAVE to have a swapper to install burnt games onto whatever HDD you buy anyway.

It's too expensive to do all that; I was originally looking for a budget way to play burnt games, and SwapMagic seems the best. I definitely WOULD get a great mod chip, but it's too late in the PS2's life for it to be worth it, I'll just save my money for a pre-modded PS3, b/c I am very inexperienced with soldering.

Is that a good route to take? Rebuilding some ISO's Isn't THAT bad, right?

ALso, can DVD-9's be rebuilt and played with Swapmagic, games like Xenosaga 1 and God of War? Will swapmagic change anything with my PS2 over time, like fusk up it's laser? If so, what precautions can I take?

 

You can't play games off the hdd online, didn't see anyone answer that part of your question so I thought I'd let you know. Swap magic doesn't support playback of DVD9 games, you'd have to rip them down to dvd5 size for them to work (there are some tutorials for the games you mentioned). I'd still think a mod is worth getting, you could get something like the duo2se which isn't more than 20 bucks but, I guess if you're not good at soldering then swap magic would be a better option for you, don't forget you also need the flip top with swap magic (or slide card but, I think flip top would be better 'cause you're not forcing the tray open like with the slide card) As far as the laser fusking up, any backup disc would put more wear on the laser than originals would simply because they're not as reflective as originals nothing much we can do about that.

 

Ah, so the laser problem will always be there. I'll make sure to burn my games at the lowest speed possible to help out the PS2 laser.

So I think my final decision will be to get SwapMagic 3.6 with Fliptop (I was thinking of getting just fliptop, and burning Swapmagic disc, but ppl said a copied version won't boot up).

What is the best price for it with quick shipping? Right now I'm leaning towards approximately $31 at gocybershop.ca; I heard that store ships pretty quick for normal ground delivery.

 

Hey sorry I forgot about the budget issues, I know how it is. The issue with the laser and backups is like the 2 out of the 4 factors in flying a fighter jet. Theres lift, thrust, drag, and weight. The last 2 is something we cannot eliminate completely (wear 'n tear on the laser, and quality of media, that goes to an extent though), but we can greatly reduce it. We can greatly reduce drag (the friction of the air pushing on an aircrafr) by making an aircraft as smooth as possible, and we can also reduce weight (earth's gravitational pull on an aircraft), by simply making an aircraft lighter, or not carrying as many missles.

When it comes to the PS2, we can reduce wear 'n tear on the laser by using the best known media (Taiyo Yuden, Verbatim), and we can reduce the laser's Disc Read Error by cleaning the laser with rubbing alcohol on a Q-Tip, and playing an original PS2 game for about 30 minutes (worked for me and a few others).

 

Nice compatibility ranking, sly.

As for certain games working on HD but not on Swap Magic, please enlighten me! As of now, I haven't found *any* games completely not working for the Swap Magic 3.3/3.6 yet according to my list here ( http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/176791 ). It's true that a rare handful of exceptions require patching/rebuilding/loaders (almost half of them are obvious, being DVD9 games), but there are no games that absolutely don't work for the Swap Magic. For the longest time, there *was* Gran Turismo 4, which was a dual-layer game no one knew how to rip, but even then they managed to figure it out after months (first for modchips, then on HD, then finally for Swap Magic).

 

Yeah Ofnir's comparison to the fighter jet is accurate. Swap Magic is a good product and reliable, but a modchip will save you hours of Swapping, rebuilding, and boot failures. Once you get used to simply inserting your backups and playing, there's no going back to disc swapping. Swap Magic will save you money in the short run, however in the long run, a modchip is the way to go. At least that's my opinion. I'm stockpiling PS2 games because I have no intention of buying a PS3 or X box 360 anytime soon.

 

Is it true....

My PS2 is modded with a magic chip. I also have an original HDAdvaance 2.0 disk that I load games to a HDD with. Just recently I have tried to go online with games from my HD. I do have the DNAS patched so I can go online, but someone said that when you run a HDD it disables the network adapter. So far I believe this is true because I have tried to go online but the system freezes upon network selection. I was wondering if anyone else has online games working from their HDD?

Let me know!

 

You cannot play dnas enabled games off your hd online, sorry.

 

Sly,

My question was, can you use the network adapter while playing a game off of your HD? I understand about DNAS. What about even playing LAN? Still... help would be appreciated.

 

I can't say for sure, but I think lan would work because your able to get online with old non-dnas games off the hd.

 

43. Q. How do I FTP (File transfer Protocol) my PS2 or install games via my LAN?
A. http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/122897

 

So,

Even playing LAN, if it is a DNAS enabled game, I will not be able to use my HDD and network adapter together? Are you SURE? I've heard of people playing Battlefront from their HDD online and that IS a DNAS enabled game. Could it be that I've got an out of date version of HDA/HDL?

Also, does it make sense that the network selection freezes BEFORE it goes to the DNAS authentication screen?

Still wondering

 

Did they tell you HOW to get Battlefront working from the HDD?

 

Yes - I got Battlefront and Battlefront II to work from HDD by editing the system.inf file that I ripped from my original disks. If you need help getting BF working on your HD there are several forums related to that exact topic.

 

Yeah I know there are a buttload of threads for that, I know how to use the search function, I'm only a SENIOR MEMBER ya know. Anyways...

All you answered to was BF2 playing from the HDD, not about the playing BF2 online from the HDD part. So please, do elaborate.

 

Ofnir,

Yes - I asked that same question a few posts up, but threads seem to veer offcourse frequently with strange responses. Still this may not be the best thread to discuss it, but can you confirm if it's possible to play online with a DNAS enabled game while playing from your HD? If it is, why might my network adapter be freezing when I go to select a network configuration when playing from HDA/HDL.

Any help is appreciated.

 

Not possible as i said a few posts up.