PS2 Got myself a PlayStation 2 Aqua SCPH-50004 FAT for 22 bucks — what are your suggestions?

[pebito]

Dear fellow members!

A few days back I come across a Marketplace ad and I thought I'd smack down on this offer. 22 bucks for a used PS2 aqua is really not that much. Yeah, it's not in its full glory, has scratches and the controller is quite busted. I think this poor thing has served several months if not years in the past ~20 years.

Let me show you some photos:

I did not have time to crack it open to see what's going on inside (will update this thread in the upcoming weeks/months) but before I do that I'd like to ask you, the experts on what should I do with this beauty to revive it?

It turns on, has picture on composite, the controller does work so overall the system seems functional. At first glance it requires a thorough cleaning (is repasting a thing in PS2 consoles?) and since it's a fat model afaik it can accept an IDE/SATA hdd. It's expansion bay is empty, though.

My plans with it would be:

• clean it, replace thermal pads, paste (if there's any)
• slap in an HDD (500 gigs for this should be enough, maybe 1TB)
• softmod
• a new controller (maybe a wireless one)
• I'd like to use it with HDMI (without hardware modding) on a 24" monitor
• get a new bigger memcard (if it's makes sense considering it will have an HDD)
• do it on a budget
• just look at it on my work desk because this aqua looks super cool

FYI, I'm a software developer so I'm not entirely dumb to computer systems (even though I'm not much of a hardware guy but managed to clean and repaste and softmod my PS3 and an OG Xbox).

So yeah, that's all there is to it. Looking forward for your suggestions. I will update this thread as I progress and I can't promise I'll be super fast because probably I'll have to order components for it and I've got "real life" stuff to deal with as well.

Thank you.

 

[Berion]

PS2 are cooling down by thermal pads.

For HDD connection, You need to buy Network Adaptor (best would be original with PATA board replacement for SATA).

Original, fast and reliable memory cards are 8MiB from Sony. Nothing else is worth Your money. Especially that You don't need it for anything if You will have HDD (You can use images to save on them, in OPL or via MCSIO Emulators).

Upscalling from 640x448/512 to 1080p or 4K will results very ugly blurry screen.

Some games doesn't work with none original DS2 (i.e Burnout 3).

About entry points, if You would ask:
https://www.psx-place.com/threads/how-to-hack-playstation-2-in-2022-roadmap.37271/

 

[gamerman 5000]

Original, fast and reliable memory cards are 8MiB from Sony. Nothing else is worth Your money. Especially that You don't need it for anything if You will have HDD (You can use images to save on them, in OPL or via MCSIO Emulators).

Remember that there are games that do not allow saving without a physical memory card.
In my opinion it should have both (hard drive and memory card).

 

[Berion]

He already have MC.

 

[L2000]

The 50004 to my knowledge never came out with an aqua version , the 39000 had an aqua blue version , that looks exactly like my 50004 so I'm guessing its a version 9 or 10 I'd be willing to bet it's a v10 . Either way those consoles have the notorious suicide mechacon crash that can cause the LA6508 to burn out and fry your laser , so at minimum you'd need a Romeo mod for your laser or at best a PIC fix if you're planning on running burnt media , I see the warranty sticker is off do you know if the console has a modchip ? If so I would recommend checking if there's a Romeo mod if you plan on using the drive instead of HDD as Berion suggested , these are nice machines and they run quieter than the previous versions .

 

[pebito]

Oh, I thought this one was the aqua. I guess it's just a silver then?
I've got no intentions on using burnt media so I don't really mind if that does not work. As long as I can run backups from the hard drive, I'm cool.

 

[pebito]

I had some time today to disassemble the unit. No suprises here: filth was everywhere. I cleaned up everything as much as I could, assembled it back again, the system turns on so it's a success. I put some new thermal pads here and there (not on the EE though, however I cleaned that up as well).

Unfortunately I have no PS2 game DVDs around so all I've seen so far is that very simplistic menu of the system. But it is working, so yaay!

Now gotta go shop around on AliExpress for a few accessories.

In the meantime, enjoy these dirty shots

 

[L2000]

Oh, I thought this one was the aqua. I guess it's just a silver then?
I've got no intentions on using burnt media so I don't really mind if that does not work. As long as I can run backups from the hard drive, I'm cool.

Hi , yes that's a silver 50004 V10 , if you're only going to play from HDD then you needn't worry . Enjoy your console .

 

[Coro]

i do not know the max mc size, but some of the larger ones may have problems with certain games or other software. i would just keep a few 8mb ones around.

i do not reccomend the hdmi devices. if you do not have a tv that has the older connection, use the money to buy a second tv. IMO if the game looked like crap in 2003, let it look so in 2023.

 

[Berion]

Instead buying ancient CRT TV, buy scaller. It will upscale resolution by nearest neighbour algo granting top quality and almost original quality and experience like on ages ago but on any modern TV.

 

[Adam0717]

The 50004 to my knowledge never came out with an aqua version.

And here is the difference between yours and aqua blue, both are SCPH - 50004.

Nice pickup for 22 bucks by the way, I like the fact that you gave it a clean. It would also be a good idea to clean the laser lens with a cue tip and alcohol, and put some grease on the laser rail and the parts that move on each other, so you refurbish the drive a little. When testing a drive, make sure you try PS1/PS2 discs, DVD movie and a blue layered PS2 CD, to make sure it's working properly. Enjoy your beautiful silver console, it's one of my favourites.

 

[L2000]

And here is the difference between yours and aqua blue, both are SCPH - 50004.

I stand corrected , I never knew that the 50004 also got the Aqua Blue variant . Always good to learn something new

sorry for edit but I think the 3000x had an aqua drive cover my memory is fuzzy on this , is that the original expansion on the one in the pic ?

 

[pebito]

Nice pickup for 22 bucks by the way, I like the fact that you gave it a clean. It would also be a good idea to clean the laser lens with a cue tip and alcohol, and put some grease on the laser rail and the parts that move on each other, so you refurbish the drive a little. When testing a drive, make sure you try PS1/PS2 discs, DVD movie and a blue layered PS2 CD, to make sure it's working properly. Enjoy your beautiful silver console, it's one of my favourites.

Thanks man! Yeah, indeed mine is a silver not an aqua. I have no idea how should I polish those rather deep scratches on its surface - considering the PS2 logo is kind of printed on it so I assume if I start scrubbing I would easily remove that so I am scratching my head here...

In the meantime my orders from AliExpress landed in my PO box, I have an FMBC memory card which works well, a PS2 to HDMI adaptor which looks funny when plugged in and powered on with its USB cable - but I don't mind. I also received the HDD expansion device for the bay and have a 500 GB HDD that based on my research should work.

Unfortunately its controller is busted, trying to find a good alternative (i come across something nice and durable for 50 bucks - I don't remember its name - that is good for PSX, PS2 and PS3 as well but I find it a bit expensive). Will see. I also don't have an HDD sata cable USB thing for my laptop so gotta get one, but the overall setup is progressing.

I'm not in a hurry, I've got a PS3 and an OG Xbox where I have plenty of games left to beat plus I like reading too so someday I just choose a book over video games.

As for the DVD drive, I don't really care tbh. The HDD will be there and that should do the trick - if you catch my drift

 

[Adam0717]

I stand corrected , I never knew that the 50004 also got the Aqua Blue variant . Always good to learn something new

sorry for edit but I think the 3000x had an aqua drive cover my memory is fuzzy on this , is that the original expansion on the one in the pic ?

Yeah, everything is original