PS2 Constant stuttering using a GameStar SATA adapter

T

The-King-of-Toasters

Member
I recently picked up a "for parts" PS2 SCPH-50002 to see if I could fix it, and boot my game collection from a hard drive. This thing has become a major PITA for various reasons, but my main issue is the very frequent and long hitches/stutters when loading games off a hard drive.

I'm currently using a GameStar SATA clone adapter and a old-ish laptop Seagate HDD. None of the fixes I found searching online worked for me. These include:
  • Running the latest dev versions of OPL.
  • Running older versions of OPL (v0.8.2).
  • Formatting the HDD using LaunchELF.
  • Transferring games using the Batch file for hdl_dump.
Is there any debug mode I can put OPL into to try and diagnose the issue? I've yet to test with another HDD at the moment.
 
If the above doesn't work, try lowering a DMA/Transfer-mode either in combination with Mode 1, or without it if the DMA mode fixes it in itself.
That way you can retain higher loading-times while hopefully also running it without issues.
 
I brought 2 gamestar adapters last month. Both would occasionally crash in OPL HDD games list and constant stuttering like you described.

I have 2 PS2 and have seperate HDD for each. Both are 1TB Seagate ST1000LM024. I originally formatted both HDD with LaunchELF and only ever used hdl_dump to install games. Different versions of OPL made no difference, compatability modes and lowering DMA helped sometimes. Some examples from games I tested on both my PS2s.

  • Bully: Consistent stuttering in all cutscenes, eg: if I restart the game and watch the same cutscene, it stutters at exactly the same times. Mode 1, Mode 2 and lowering DMA modes changed the time the stutters would occur, but it would still consistently occur.
  • GTA: San Andreas: Same consistent stuttering as Bully. Mode 1, Mode 2 and lowering DMA modes changed the time the stutters would occur, but it would still consistently occur.
  • Ratchet and Clank: Inconsistent stuttering in title screen cutscene, ingame stuttering anytime the help desk text box/voice appeared. Mode 2 & DMA: UDMA0 fixed the ingame stuttering w/ the help desk, but title screen cutscene still stutters.
  • Persona 3 FES: Inconsistent stuttering in all cutscenes. Mode 2 & DMA: UDMA0 fixed it.
  • Klonoa 2: Missing a lot of sounds and frequent crashes. Mode 1 & DMA: MDMA0 made no difference.
Klonoa 2 has known issues when ran from HDD, most will tell you mode 1 and lowering DMA will fix it, or at least make it not as bad, as I said, none of these made any difference with my gamestar adapters. For the other games I tested, there really is no good reason for stuttering from HDD, the consistent stutters from Bully and San Andreas on two different PS2, HDD & Gamestar adapters is a big red flag to me,. So, I ordered an official adapter and a bitfunx sata upgrade kit.

With sata mod official adapter, I haven't had any more crashes in OPL HDD games list & stuttering is magically fixed for the games I tested with no modes required & DMA : UDMA4 (the highest available) Even Klonoa 2 magically worked perfectly with Mode 1 and DMA: MDMA 0, those exact settings with gamestar adapter gave missing sounds and frequent crashes.

TLDR: my advice, get a refund. Buy official adapter and sata upgrade kit. Stuttering will magically disappear.
 
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