PS2 MX4SIO and VMC

SelenitaDelSur

SelenitaDelSur

Member
When using MX4SIO (MC2SIO, actually), games cannot detect physical memory cards. With BDM3 build found in this forum, this is resolved, but, VMC doesn't seem to work in any version. Also, the creation of it takes forever on the MX4SIO. Just wanted to ask, is this normal? Is there a workaround to use VMC in MX4SIO?

If the answer to the question is "it's normal, VMC doesn't work with MC2SIO and there's nothing that can be done", then I guess my only option is to use a physical MC to load/save. Now, I have a multitap in slot one with FMCB MC on the first/A slot, and the MX4SIO device on the second slot. Since it would seem that a "normal" MC has to be on slot one to be able to load/save on most games, I guess my only option here would be to load a game, then replace FMCB MC with a normal one, right? Or is there a way to keep the three cards connected? Seems like FMCB only boots from slot 1 or 2, or first slot in multitap (not the others), and the MX4SIO device seems to only work on slot 2.

Thanks in advance!
 
Create your VMCs on a PC!
The software does not yet do DMA writes (only reads), but writes via PIO.

Is it an original SONY MultiTap?? AFAIR, FMCB worked from EVERY Slot on it...!
 
It is original, but it only boots from slot A. I can create the VMC on the PC, but no game starts once enabled, they all freeze.

Seems like latest OPL build has fixed VMC for MX4SIO. Just two things I've noticed:

1 - Controller won't work if plugged on the same port as the MX4SIO device.
2 - MX4SIO only seems to work when connected to slot 2, if in slot 1 it is not recognized.
 
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SelenitaDelSur said:
It is original, but it only boots from slot A.
Click to expand...
Weird... I can make a test with mine and upload a video. I am quite sure it did work from other ports!
SelenitaDelSur said:
1 - Controller won't work if plugged on the same port as the MX4SIO device.
2 - MX4SIO only seems to work when connected to slot 2, if in slot 1 it is not recognized.
Click to expand...
Are you sure that your controller and MemoryCard are original as well??
 
My MC is original, but I mean the MX4SIO card, it's a MC2SIO. The controller is not original, I can try with an original one, but could you try as well? I mean, my controller works when in the other port.

BTW, can we now use exFAT microsd cards in MX4SIO? Would it be a better idea rather than FAT32? I've read somewhere that exFAT can corrupt more easily.
 
I barely have any time.
I am writing a tutorial how to set up the internal PS2 HDD/SSD/SD/etc. PROPERLY in 2022 and have to manage other things like moderation here and managing the PS2-Scene-Discord as well as spreading the word about MX4SIO and the recent fixes and then there is this other "annoying thing" (not really annoying)... Real life! :P

ExFAT only yet works with OPL and wLE.
Yes, you can use ExFAT in OPL on MX4SIO.
 
I haven't heard of any corruption on ExFAT! Not even with fragmented files, which are supported now as well on all supported filesystems!

I would use ExFAT and ZSO for those games which do not slow down due to it, because ZSO as well as MX4SIO are using a lot of IOP CPU 'time'!
 
I'll try it in that case, thanks!

TnA said:
Weird... I can make a test with mine and upload a video. I am quite sure it did work from other ports!

Are you sure that your controller and MemoryCard are original as well??
Click to expand...

Tested with original PS2 controller, when plugged in the same slot as MX4SIO it stops working.

TnA said:
I haven't heard of any corruption on ExFAT! Not even with fragmented files, which are supported now as well on all supported filesystems!

I would use ExFAT and ZSO for those games which do not slow down due to it, because ZSO as well as MX4SIO are using a lot of IOP CPU 'time'!
Click to expand...

I've just read this on the MX4SIO compatibility list sheet:

Quick tips: To improve game compatibility, format microsd as FAT32 with 16k clusters!

So, would exFAT reduce compatibility?
 
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Well, the tip should be as old as the MX4SIO existence, unless the MX4SIO compatibility list sheet is a copy of the USB compatibility list sheet and that line is an old leftover.
 
MX4SIO is years old (technically, but "under the hood")!

BDM3 exists since ~ a year.
The list was started back then by me (Anakin94 joined soon) and later uploaded openly and managed by @Versatile.

ExFAT is VERY new... IDK... 1-2 months?!
Go figure...

No, it is NOT a copy of the USB-List... In fact, I don't even know where there is a USB-only list.
 
Sorry, english is not my native language... in any case, as I see it, for the compatibility concept, it doesn't matter if support came out one month or one year ago... if anything, newer stuff sounds to me like more experimental and potentially less compatible. In any case, if compatibility is the same or higher, great news hehe, I just wanted to know since exFAT support is brand new (I knew that :))
 
SelenitaDelSur said:
Sorry, english is not my native language...
Click to expand...
Neither is it mine, but I understand what you mean. :)

Well... The thing is... ExFAT worked SURPRISINGLY good from the start!
There was or might be an issue about "too big clusters", but IDK of any big issues.

For example we don't use any filesystem driver in-game, which is why files/ISOs/VMCs had to be defragmented for ~A DECADE!!!

But now even that is a thing of the past! OPL remembers the "starting sectors of the fragments" and supports up to 64 fragments!


So... No FS-Driver in-game and it only reads (except for VMC)... Go figure... As long as we can fetch the correct starting-sectors, we are not dependent on the filesystem driver! ;)
 
If any questions occur, just ask!

tl;dr ExFAT should not interfere with compatibility. :)
 
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Good morning,
I know this discussion is a bit old but I'm trying anyway ^^
I'm currently having a problem and maybe someone will have a solution for me.

I have an FMCB (MC Original) and an MX4SIO both working 100%, except that my number 2 memory card port is broken!
I wanted to know if there was a way to use everything with port 1 with a Multitap for example or FMCB would be in port 1(A) and MX4SIO port 2 of the same Multitap?

Thanks in advance :smile new:
 
Should be technically possible, but I think MX4SIO doesn't work with MultiTap... At the very least not yet.
 
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