PS2 [MX4SIO/SIO2SD] SD Card Adapter and SD-driver for the PS2 SIO2 interface

It may be wiser, when modifying a PS2 MC to test this, to only cut the /CS (/SS, /ATT) line to the controller IC and connect it through a resistor to high level (3.5V), and not cut the rest of the lines. That way the PS2 MC functionality won't be lost and can easily be switched by re-connecting the /CS line as it was originally. This is untested though.
 
I updated the documentation and added the schematic and a 3d picture.

09-001-1_SIO2SD.zip (492 kB)

02-005-0_3d.png


The micro SD card slot is green because of the model from HRS, they focused on the machanical aspect rather then the optic of it.
 
Hi, I´ve finished assembling one adaptor using an old clone psone memory card and one dead usb sd reader. How can I test it? Can´t figure out how i need to set wULE/OPL (and versions, of course)
Thanks in advance
 
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Thank you for the praise :)

I have the same question as Crissaegrim87: How can I test it?

@Maximus32 and @wisi: Are you interested in a board? I would send you one for free of charge, when it's done. If you don't want to give me your real postal adresse, you can give me the adress of a friend ore someone else.

(I can't write private messeges here?)
 
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You need a certain post count to send PMs.

I would advise against sending addresses in plaintext in PMs, since forum databases constantly get leaked.

I would advise to use at least PGP.
 
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@Takeshi
No, thanks. I have all the hardware I need.

Currently the problem is that somebody has to write the driver for >= SCPH-75000 models, for which the only way to reach max speed may be to patch DECKARD.

DECKARD models can also benefit from some driver being completely transparent and emulating a USB, or some other storage device. In practice, it would be easy to emulate a HDD on low-level, but useless, as it would require either having a big image file on the SD Card or not using FAT filesystem on it at all, which is usually a bad idea AFAIK (due to wear-leveling, etc.).
So implementing a mass: device may be best... but how that would get interfaced with the MIPS-IOP is not a simple matter - may require hooking onto some loaded IRX, which doesn't sound good, but is an idea nevertheless.
Low-level USB emulation... I am not familiar with USB, but that may actually not be a bad idea at all, but it requires a lot of precision in the emulation - how would adding a new device be handled, etc.

Also, for this device to truly be usable and safe, it would be best if it contains a small MCU, which to disable the SD Card /CS when it is not being accessed and the PS2's other code is trying to access an MC there. Without this, some cards may get data damaged.
This would include writing the code for the MCU, choosing a suitable MCU, and deciding on handhsake-commands that are not used for anything else (MCs, controllers, PS1 MCs, etc.) and are also short, so that they won't take valuable time.
Also there should be some ability to detect if the card got removed and another one inserted.

Also a few other passive components on the PCB would be good, though I am not competent enough to say what exactly.

And the other standing issue is with interrupting transfers. I wrote code for that (it is somewhere in the psx-scene thread), but it was never tested AFAIK, so that is the other thing preventing this from being usable.
 
Takeshi said:
Hello everyone! I saw that there is still no PCB design so I decided to create one and I hope it will help you.
I used a slot for micro SD cards due to the thickness of the slots. Also two LED are added to display a inserted card and transmission.

09-001-0_SIO2SD.zip (255 kB)
Click to expand...
The design ad manual look very nice and professional! Would this design fit in a standard sony mc?

Crissaegrim87 said:
How can I test it? Can´t figure out how i need to set wULE/OPL (and versions, of course)
Click to expand...
Takeshi said:
I have the same question as Crissaegrim87: How can I test it?
Click to expand...
I need to port the old code to the new ps2sdk and have a test application (ideally OPL) for it to work. I've already tried quickly but there's a lot of conflicts. I don't have much spare time but I'll try to get something working this week.

Takeshi said:
@Maximus32 and @wisi: Are you interested in a board? I would send you one for free of charge, when it's done. If you don't want to give me your real postal adresse, you can give me the adress of a friend ore someone else.

(I can't write private messeges here?)
Click to expand...
Yes, that would be great! I'll PM you.
 
wisi said:
Currently the problem is that somebody has to write the driver for >= SCPH-75000 models, for which the only way to reach max speed may be to patch DECKARD.
Click to expand...
Do we know anything about the SPI interface on DECKARD models? Assuming it's a PPC405gp, there is no SPI interface in it. Is there an i2c to spi bridge chip in there and a way to figure out what model?

wisi said:
DECKARD models can also benefit from some driver being completely transparent and emulating a USB, or some other storage device. In practice, it would be easy to emulate a HDD on low-level, but useless, as it would require either having a big image file on the SD Card or not using FAT filesystem on it at all, which is usually a bad idea AFAIK (due to wear-leveling, etc.).
So implementing a mass: device may be best... but how that would get interfaced with the MIPS-IOP is not a simple matter - may require hooking onto some loaded IRX, which doesn't sound good, but is an idea nevertheless.
Low-level USB emulation... I am not familiar with USB, but that may actually not be a bad idea at all, but it requires a lot of precision in the emulation - how would adding a new device be handled, etc.
Click to expand...
DECKARD (and emulation in general) does provide us with endless possibilities, but:
1 - it's very complex to implement
2 - it's not compatible with FAT ps2's

wisi said:
Also, for this device to truly be usable and safe, it would be best if it contains a small MCU, which to disable the SD Card /CS when it is not being accessed and the PS2's other code is trying to access an MC there. Without this, some cards may get data damaged.
This would include writing the code for the MCU, choosing a suitable MCU, and deciding on handhsake-commands that are not used for anything else (MCs, controllers, PS1 MCs, etc.) and are also short, so that they won't take valuable time.
Click to expand...
I have not observed any sd corruption. So don't you think this is overkill?
 
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Maximus32 said:
Do we know anything about the SPI interface on DECKARD models? Assuming it's a PPC405gp, there is no SPI interface in it. Is there an i2c to spi bridge chip in there and a way to figure out what model?
Click to expand...
It should be exactly the same as on previous models - it is the IOP's SPI - SIO2/SIO0.
The difference comes from some additional emulation DECKARD does - limits the max timing.


Maximus32 said:
I have not observed any sd corruption. So don't you think this is overkill?
Click to expand...
No. If a PCB is made, I'd say - definitely it is better to have tracks on it reserved for a MCU. Writing a simple program for one can take a day or two max. So I think it is foolish to design a PCB that does not include that or optional space for a few more components.Else it seems just wasteful.
Furthermore I have not analyzed what the MC commands the PS2 sends to an MC on startup, would translate to in SD Card commands. May be harmless, but that is uncertain, so I'd rather not take chances in feeding it unknown data.
 
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uyjulian said:
You need a certain post count to send PMs.
Click to expand...
Ah okay, I understand.

wisi said:
@Takeshi
No, thanks. I have all the hardware I need.
Click to expand...
Great ;)

Maximus32 said:
The design ad manual look very nice and professional! Would this design fit in a standard sony mc?
Click to expand...
Thanks! :) Yes, that's what it is designed for. It fits into a standard MC SCPH-10020.

If there is a board needed with an MCU and a few other components, I can design it. I'm able to program MCUs, but ...
Maximus32 said:
I don't have much spare time
Click to expand...
... same here, that would be too much.
 
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So the driver needs to be builded in the ps2 sdk, could anyone point me somewhere to the files for download? or i get it wrong? Anyway, I´m new to programing but I think i could manage to so simple task for the time being while learning and practicing. Here is my moded memory card
WhatsApp Image 2020-05-04 at 23.59.01.jpegWhatsApp Image 2020-05-04 at 23.58.19.jpeg
PD: I Have a FAT 50000
 
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There is more in the zip... I have no bandwidth to upload it and used the Discord for it!

THX @VTSTech for sharing/uploading it!


I forgot to add "upside", "downside", "PCB" or something alike... I can also scan them at a much higher resolution, BUT I need a way to upload them and and I continually exceed my "mobile volume", hence my bandwidth is currently limited...


Edit: @jolek Can you PLEASE add it as pictures to the Measurements-Tab? That would be awesome, because my bandwidth is limited and the Hotspot isn't working all the time!
(Edit: Alright, I copied the link and did it myself, haha!)
 
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Well, now it is pretty much every measurement regarding the port and connections, which are included! ;)

Great job on the PCB, Booklet, Logo-Idea and all @Takeshi!
I would really hope for an SD-slot-Variation (as well?) though!

Wow, this thread/topic/project seems to go through the roof!


Edit:
I am changing some things in the first post!
Do you mind, if I create a "Booklet"-Tab and separately attach them (your provided booklets) there?
This way those from other countries can start translating them (if they want to)!

I added your PCB and download to the Hardware-Tab and listed you in the Credits-Tab!


Edit.2: I also added the picture to the start-post!


Just my 2 cents on DECKARD:
IMO it is a "plague" and a "blessing" at once!

The bad thing... The SD Driver doesn't (currently) work with it!

The good thing(s)... If the PPU itself is running some custom code, the DECKARD-PS2s MIGHT have some advantages over the older PS2s!
For one... It MIGHT be possible to reach a higher bandwidth and...
Second... It MIGHT be possible to spare some IOP-RAM (in-game-driver-wise) and hence support an FS (hence fragmentation would not matter).

The first thing would be awesome IMO!
That would be PERFECT, because DECKARD-PS2s are all Slims without a leftover-ATA-connection...
 
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I edited my previous post and added a lot to the start-post (added links to the various threads here on psx-place.com, on psxtools.de and on trisaster.de, pictures, links to posts, more Credits and so on...)!

@Takeshi:
Do you mind...
  1. uploading the Logo (maybe with a black or olive green [or whatever color the people "out there" like] background)?
  2. if I create a tab solely for the Booklets and attach them there, so the people out there can translate it to their languages, if they want to?
What do the others think of the logo? @Maximus32 @wisi @dekkit, etc.? Could it be the "official logo"?
It can be printed on the PCB as well as there can be a sticker or Gummi-sticker (like some MAX-Memory MCs have) on the case, or imprinted IN the case! ;)


@STLcardsWS @jolek and so on...
What do you think about a post on the main-page which solely points to the fact, that this project is currently being worked on?

Maybe "not now", but possibly in a few weeks or so... Who knows!
It currently seems to go through the roof and some people are already building their own adapters!

This can "lure" many testers and maybe even some developers into the project and could help improving it! :)
 
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