All about Mod-Chips

What is a Mod-Chip?

A modchip is a hardware device used to modify or disable built-in restrictions and limitations of many popular videogame consoles. These modifications can bypass region coding, digital rights management and copy protection checks for the purpose of running copied game media, software intended for other markets, or homebrew software. They are used mainly in systems that are CD/DVD-based, due to the wide availability and low cost of blank media.

Modchips typically require some degree of technical acumen to install. Most commonly, modchips must be soldered on to a console's motherboard, although for some systems there are no-solder install kits (which instead rely on the precise positioning of electrical contacts within the case) and external devices which provide the same function.

The original discs for PlayStation 2 titles have a series of pits and bumps before the data region which cannot be read or written to using a conventional CD recorder. For this reason, discs which have been copied using conventional means will not have this authentication region present, therefore the disc will fail to authenticate. There are many models of modchip that need to be soldered onto the PlayStation 2 mainboard. Some of the notable ones include DMS4, O2Mod, Matrix Infinity, and Crystal Chip.


A little background and history of the PS2 Mod-Chips.

The first generation of PS2 modchips require the player to first load an original disc (or a specialized loader disc like Swap Magic), which the PS2 authenticates and region-checks. At this point the modchip disables the eject notification feature of the PS2's DVD-ROM drive, allowing the user to swap the original disc. Once this swap has been performed, the operator can instruct the PS2 to load the code from the non-original disc. Since the PS2 does not realize the disc has been changed, the authentication code is never re-checked. These modchips may require 4-7 wires to be soldered to the motherboard to install.

Later modchips do not require disc swaps. The second generation of chips replicate the authentication signal that is normally sent by the PS2's drive hardware when an authorized game disc is present, causing the BIOS to believe that a copied disc is the original and boot it. These modchips are usually more difficult to install into the console, requiring usually 19 to 24 wires to be soldered to the mainboard by the installer. The first modchip of this kind was the Messiah from hDL & KVaks. They copy the original OrigaChip and NeoChip ideas. The first replicate only the drive authentication signal , the second modify only the BIOS routines.

The third generation of PS2 modchips use flash RAM in order to be updateable. These newer modchips contain more features in software and usually include menus and many configurable options, such as booting software bypassing the original BIOS GUI (named OSDSYS after the internal filename on the PS2 BIOS). They can be upgraded by several methods, usually from a CD-R containing the upgrade, and sometimes from other media such as USB pendrives. They can offer booting from several media such as Memory Cards, USB pendrives, PS2 hard disk drives and remotely across a local area network. Some modchips of this category are the Ghost2, O2mod, DMS3, DMS4, Matrix Infinity, and the Crystal Chip.


Legality.

The legality of modchips is debated because they have both illegal and legal uses.

* Games and programs developed for the community free of charge (homebrew) cannot be run on protected consoles without a modchip, despite the fact they are being run within their license, and,
* Video games and DVDs purchased overseas and imported locally are often a quicker way for the consumer to enjoy those titles. Sometimes imported copies can also be cheaper than a given country's local release of the same title. Many games are only released in one region, and cannot be enjoyed by overseas players without importing.


Solderless Mod-Chip.

There is a Mod-Chip that does not require solder, it is known as the DMS4 E.Z.I.




Best Mod-Chip.

The very best Mod-Chip on the market right now is the chip known as the Crystal Chip. Matrix Infinity is another good one to have as well.


Where can I get one?

Google.

Once again, take note that installing one to your console is considered an illegal action unless you have the original game for every copied one.