PS2 HDD for PS2 SCPH75000x & later models

[Vanja_Mileshovskyj]

Good day, I would like to try to connect the hard drive to PlayStation 2 slim scph75008 (there is also a model 77008) using Game Star network adapter with sata interface. The set-top box board has 80 pins i / o bus, with the exception of several signals: DREQ9, INT9, DACK9, CS9. I would like to know if it is possible to take other signals instead of these signals, for example DREQEX, INTEX, DACKEX, CS2 (CS1), or DREQ5, INT5, DACK5, CS5. The fact is that the Game Star adapter uses only DREQ9, INT9, DACK9, CS9 signals, and it does not use other signals. Unfortunately, I have neither an oscilloscope, or 50008/70008 prefixes, since then I would be able to compare these signals. I would be very grateful for the answer to my question.
P.S. Ssory from my bad english, i use google translate.

 

[jolek]

From what I remember only for SCPH-700XX ribbon cable can be soldered:

SCPH-750XX or higher do not have IDE interface on mainboard\motherboard.

 

[Vanja_Mileshovskyj]

yes, on the 7000x version there is an ide controller on the board, but in the 75000x version you can use an external controller (like in the 5000x version), or rather, I would like to use a network adapter from the 5000x version to the 75000x version, but there are no necessary signals for the network to work adapter (see my post above), so I ask - is it possible to replace these signals with others.

 

[Subaru-San]

Yo.

You need a modchip Modbo 4 and his "hdpro".

Sorry. I don't find the "Edit" button. ^^'

Reason for editing: Merged two posts​

 

[Vanja_Mileshovskyj]

I know about this method, unfortunately it is very slow, please read my posts above, I would like to use a slightly different method

 

[Vanja_Mileshovskyj]

I apologize to the moderators and forum members for the fact that they had to translate my message from Russian into English, this happened due to the fact that I have automatic translation enabled in my Chrome browser on this site, so the message I copied immediately after insertion was automatically translated again into Russian

 

[sp193]

I know you sent me an e-mail message, but I have been very busy lately. I think you could possibly get better answers from around here anyway.

You want to try to connect the network adaptor directly to the PS2's SSBUS. However, it might not work as you hope - the network adaptor's SPEED chip was meant to connect to the SSBUS interface controller (e.g. CXD9611, CXD9686, CXD2955) at DEV9 (/CS9, /DACK9, /DREQ9 etc). Similarly, software will expect to interface with the network adaptor's SPEED chip, via the SSBUS interface chip at DEV9.
DEV9 is special, being originally designed to support a PCMCIA-based interface (CXD9566R). Even with the expansion bay redesign, DEV9 still had 3 memory ranges (the controller, I/O and Memory PCMCIA regions) and the expansion-bay SSBUS buffer design involved the controller and one of the PCMCIA regions.
This was a programming design decision that was set by Sony from a very long time ago, which cannot just be changed; you will need custom-made software to work with your custom hardware.

The HDPro is slow, as it's only using PIO with the 36.864MHz IOP.

DEV5 is used for CD/DVD, while I am not sure if the DEV9 pins are still available on the SCPH-75000 and later. You might want to use the "EX" pins instead, which are not used on the CEX. These pins are also available through the unpopulated expansion connector (CN5505 for the SCPH-70000), on most mainboards, until the last model (when Sony removed it).

 

[Vanja_Mileshovskyj]

I know you sent me an e-mail message, but I have been very busy lately. I think you could possibly get better answers from around here anyway.

You want to try to connect the network adaptor directly to the PS2's SSBUS. However, it might not work as you hope - the network adaptor's SPEED chip was meant to connect to the SSBUS interface controller (e.g. CXD9611, CXD9686, CXD2955) at DEV9 (/CS9, /DACK9, /DREQ9 etc). Similarly, software will expect to interface with the network adaptor's SPEED chip, via the SSBUS interface chip at DEV9.
DEV9 is special, being originally designed to support a PCMCIA-based interface (CXD9566R). Even with the expansion bay redesign, DEV9 still had 3 memory ranges (the controller, I/O and Memory PCMCIA regions) and the expansion-bay SSBUS buffer design involved the controller and one of the PCMCIA regions.
This was a programming design decision that was set by Sony from a very long time ago, which cannot just be changed; you will need custom-made software to work with your custom hardware.

The HDPro is slow, as it's only using PIO with the 36.864MHz IOP.

DEV5 is used for CD/DVD, while I am not sure if the DEV9 pins are still available on the SCPH-75000 and later. You might want to use the "EX" pins instead, which are not used on the CEX. These pins are also available through the unpopulated expansion connector (CN5505 for the SCPH-70000), on most mainboards, until the last model (when Sony removed it).

DEV9 is not avaliable in SCPH-75000 and later

DEV9 signals are generated not by the cxd2955 - it is a digital signal processor, and only these signals and address signals, as well as data signals, pass through it, in model 70000 the signals are generated directly by the ABG815.ORP I / O processor. I downloaded a datasheet for this model, the cn5505 connector is found in all models over 70,000 (even in 90,000 models it was not removed), but dev9 signals were excluded in models over 70,000. Apparently Sony used this connector to test the boards during production (these are just my assumptions). I understand that if there are no DEV9 signals, then even if I solder the network adapter directly to SBUS, the hard drive will still not work, or can I use EX signals?

Unfortunately, I do not know how to write programs, I was hoping that by soldering the network adapter microcircuit I could connect the hard drive and it would work in opl, sms and ulaunchELF, so I was waiting for your answer, since you were developing programs for Playstation 2 and would give answers to my questions

 

[Coro]

DEV9 is not avaliable in SCPH-75000 and later



DEV9 signals are generated not by the cxd2955 - it is a digital signal processor, and only these signals and address signals, as well as data signals, pass through it, in model 70000 the signals are generated directly by the ABG815.ORP I / O processor. I downloaded a datasheet for this model, the cn5505 connector is found in all models over 70,000 (even in 90,000 models it was not removed), but dev9 signals were excluded in models over 70,000. Apparently Sony used this connector to test the boards during production (these are just my assumptions). I understand that if there are no DEV9 signals, then even if I solder the network adapter directly to SBUS, the hard drive will still not work, or can I use EX signals?

Unfortunately, I do not know how to write programs, I was hoping that by soldering the network adapter microcircuit I could connect the hard drive and it would work in opl, sms and ulaunchELF, so I was waiting for your answer, since you were developing programs for Playstation 2 and would give answers to my questions

please don't post that file.

 

[sp193]

DEV9 signals are generated not by the cxd2955 - it is a digital signal processor, and only these signals and address signals, as well as data signals, pass through it, in model 70000 the signals are generated directly by the ABG815.ORP I / O processor.

Yes, it is an interface. DEV9.IRX will configure this chip. ATAD.IRX uses DEV9.IRX for DMA and it also writes to the DEV9 registers and memory window.
The CXD2955R is a combination of multiple chips, but the SSBUS interface function is the same as the earlier CXD9611 and CXD9686 devices.
The SSBUSC signals will reach the IOP, which is the SSBUS Controller. In the SCPH-75000 and higher, the DEV9 interface and the connected peripherals were integrated into the IOP (as you have observed).

In the SCPH-70000, there is a CXD9611 or something similar. Its unused ATA signals are tapped on, for the HDD mod.

the cn5505 connector is found in all models over 70,000 (even in 90,000 models it was not removed),

This connector was present since the first PlayStation 2 model. It was only known to be used in the A+ chassis SCPH-18000 (GH-003), to install the new BOOT+DVD ROM combo.
@wisi believes its signals (but probably not the connector itself) is used in the TOOL to connect to the PC side, as the PIF.

This connector eventually disappeared, with the last PlayStation 2 model. It's not just any SCPH-90000, but the very last version of it. However, the signals are still present, as pads/vias.

I understand that if there are no DEV9 signals, then even if I solder the network adapter directly to SBUS, the hard drive will still not work, or can I use EX signals?

The problem is that it'll be like a different device. There will be no SSBUS interface chip between this network adaptor and the IOP. If you don't use DEV9, it will also exist at some other memory address by default. So even if it does work - software needs to talk to the chip at the new address, and the software also needs to not require the SSBUS I/F controller (CXD9611/CXD9686/CXD2955). The network adaptor might also need to not expect the SSBUS interface chip (e.g. which probably provides access to the HDD activity LED).

Unfortunately, I do not know how to write programs, I was hoping that by soldering the network adapter microcircuit I could connect the hard drive and it would work in opl, sms and ulaunchELF, so I was waiting for your answer, since you were developing programs for Playstation 2 and would give answers to my questions

Unfortunately, the DEV9 interface was entirely absorbed into the IOP, and so there is no way to attach the network adaptor back to the slim PS2 - in a way that will make it work with existing sotfware.

On a side note, @wisi once developed a storage controller, with DMA support and so on. I forgot whether he used a HDD or a SD card. It used one of the other hardware interfaces, although not /INTEX, /EXTR etc.
Unfortunately, it was posted on psx-scene, which seems to be dead.

There's also ps2netbox. I am not endorsing that product, but it exists as an integrated method to play games from a slim PS2.

 

[Vanja_Mileshovskyj]

why don't you approve of ps2netbox device?

 

[wisi]

This is the psx-scene thread about my HDpro semi-clone: https://ia802907.us.archive.org/11/items/psx-scene-processed-archive/part0286.html#T132869P1 (The attachments are not linked - maybe they can be found here: https://www.psx-place.com/threads/psx-scene-a-way-to-go-back-in-time.20476/page-2#post-237018 )
It can use any supported SSBUSC channel - I used the EXTR channel for DMA and the DEV1 channel for PIO if I remember correctly. There were plans to make it support using the Dev5 channel, so that it can be used even on the latest PS2 models, but I never got to implementing that. I also did a test with a driver in DECKARD, emulating the original SPEED ATA interface, and that successfully worked with the available software - uLE, SMS (I don't remember if I tested with OPL), which would behave as if the PS2 has an internal HDD - just like a fat model.

 

[Vanja_Mileshovskyj]

@sp193 Yhat is, it turns out such a mode of operation in programs that use dev9 mode: the i / o processor sends commands and data to the dsp processor, which in turn configures the work of the ide cxd9731 controller. I will try to look for the console version 70,000 (or 30000-50000, although 70,000 is preferable, even with an inoperative disk drive, without the lack of a modchip), since I want to look at dev9 signals and try to look for them on the 75000 model (perhaps Sony did not remove them in i / o processor), but I do not know what frequency these signals have.I have an oscilloscope (though not working yet), but the maximum frequency of the investigated signals is only 5.5 MHz, which I think will not be enough. Unfortunately, there is no more information on the Internet regarding other input / output processors that Sony used in its set-top boxes, so you need to use the analysis method from the available data.

@wisi Thanks for the information, I will read and analyze.

 

[Vanja_Mileshovskyj]

I want to ask one question: why did Sony on fat models (30000-50000) output dev5 signals (for example, dreq5, dack5, cs5), there are also dackex, dreqex, csex signals. I just stayed with a GameStar network adapter and a lot of signals are not used on it, I will make a table with the pinout of this adater and a description of which contacts are used and which are not, I think they will be useful to someone here. I had a phat model 39004, with the original network adapter, but I installed the ide-sata Bitfunx SATA v2.0 on it on the jm20330 chip - it converts the interface perfectly and there are no problems in games, unlike the noName converter that came with the GameStar adapter.
The console was equipped with a 240GB ssd Kingston cx300, the games loaded very quickly, but unfortunately I gave the console and I cannot return it anymore.

 

[Vanja_Mileshovskyj]

It's funny, but yesterday I soldered the connection between the SBUS and the network adapter, after that the console did not produce any image or sound, it turned out that I closed one address contact to ground and two data contacts between each other (on the adapter side), today I decided to check with a multimeter on the adapter soldering the wires, since after soldering on the adapter I did not check anything, but it turns out that I soldered it in vain, since this will definitely not work with the adapter

 

[wisi]

The Dev9+SPEED ATA controllers were definitely removed on SCPH-75000 and later. Even if by some chance there are connections on the chip die, which I very much doubt, there are definitely none on the PCB.

The IOP side runs at ~36MHz. To view most signals you will need at least a 60MHz oscilloscope, else it would be very difficult to determine anything and you may be better-off working 'blind' (which is also possible, as the bus is quite well known - when I made my HDpro clone I didn't have an oscilloscope and instead used a lot of debugging, on each part of the transfers).

I want to ask one question: why did Sony on fat models (30000-50000) output dev5 signals (for example, dreq5, dack5, cs5), there are also dackex, dreqex, csex signals.

You are asking about those signals at the ExpansionBay, right? Not all fat models have them actually. They were most likely there to enable the use of a CDVD emulator connected through the expansion bay. It is not known if such ever existed, but the SNSystems DTL-T14000 DVD Emulator - a PS2 TOOL add-on does exist.
The CDVD DSP has an input signal that disables its access to the SSBUS, so that an emulator can connect instead (XCEN or something like that - I forgot).

Connecting the NetworkAdapter directly to the SSBUS might work, but you still have to use the same SSBUSC channel. Or you could in theory emulate it in DECKARD... but that does require quite a bit of programming.
The Network Adapter requires power supply too.
Still there is a very high chance of damaging something through such tests.
And don't trust the pinout of the big connector on the PS2 PCB - it is different for the different PS2 models! You can trace the connections to the BOOT ROM to check if the lines are really the ones you need. For the less common lines like EXTR, etc. ... well you will need an oscilloscope or some logic, like a PLD or at least some register and/or counter.

 

[Vanja_Mileshovskyj]

@wisi
About the power supply - you can take it from the USB port if you use a laptop hard drive, and even better and more reliable - ssd, especially since models with low read and write speeds will be inexpensive, plus they are reliable in terms of bumps or falls. I read the topic that you threw off, but until I downloaded the archive with the contents of the attachments, it is large and swinging slowly, nothing can be burned, since I have already unsoldered the wires, the pinout of the 80 pin connector on the 75000 and 77000 consoles is identical to the 70000 series, at least the least on the boards I have is identical.
Interestingly, the CUBE signal is not used on the Chinese adapter. And one more thing: using your wiring diagram, can I connect a SATA HDD? The topic says that it was not tested, it also says that the adapter was tested on two games in opl

@wisi
I can't blindly search, you are a programmer - and wrote the code to call the signals you need, I do not know how to write program codes, so for me the option with an oscilloscope is better, I will look for a suitable one, it will be useful to me in the future

 

[wisi]

Interestingly, the CUBE signal is not used on the Chinese adapter.

That is the signal that selects the lower or upper byte in the 16-bit bus. So it is not needed if address line 0 is read.

And one more thing: using your wiring diagram, can I connect a SATA HDD?

The schematic I made is for the internal logic of the CPLD. Even if you connect a NetworkAdapter, you would need the Dev9 SSBUS channel, and I am quite certain it is not available on the PS2 model you are using, so either you will need to customize the software you are using (OPL/uLE, etc.) - similar to HDpro's driver or to make a small emulator and load it in DECKARD, similar to what I did (towards the end of the thread I linked).

 

[iCEQB]

This is the psx-scene thread about my HDpro semi-clone: https://ia802907.us.archive.org/11/items/psx-scene-processed-archive/part0286.html#T132869P1 (The attachments are not linked - maybe they can be found here: https://www.psx-place.com/threads/psx-scene-a-way-to-go-back-in-time.20476/page-2#post-237018 )
It can use any supported SSBUSC channel - I used the EXTR channel for DMA and the DEV1 channel for PIO if I remember correctly. There were plans to make it support using the Dev5 channel, so that it can be used even on the latest PS2 models, but I never got to implementing that. I also did a test with a driver in DECKARD, emulating the original SPEED ATA interface, and that successfully worked with the available software - uLE, SMS (I don't remember if I tested with OPL), which would behave as if the PS2 has an internal HDD - just like a fat model.

Hey wisi - it's me from the thread you linked, maybe you remember me
I had the attachment still on my HDD - it's now here.
Do you have any plans to pick this up again? Maybe after MX4SIO
I realy love this project and I still put a lot of hope into it.

 

[Vanja_Mileshovskyj]

For dev8 mode, I did not find the CSEX signal, which I wanted to use instead of CS9, but in general what is this signal for? I thought - is it not possible to use the dev5 mode, especially since all the signals of this mode are on the cxd3098 microcircuit and it is on all slim models. Is it possible to replace the DEV9 libraries in OPL (after all, it seems that they are the ones he uses when working) with the dev5 libraries (if any), it will also be necessary to replace the dev9 mode address space with dev5.
uLE and SMS use it anyway (we see a cd or dvd disk in them) Is it possible to force opl to use a different address space. opl connects when the dev9 library is running (correct if this is not the case, I have just started looking for information on PS2), are there such libraries for dev5, and if I replace the libraries, in theory it should work. I would ask you to throw off the link to the PS2 SDK so that at least for a start, to understand the principles of the dev5 and dev9 modes