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Best PS1 model?

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First post, by APOPAP

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Hello,
I am planning to buy a PS1 console,but I am not sure which model to choose.
Which is the best model?(I would like to have parallel port or even rca on the back)

Thank you.

Reply 1 of 12, by Lostdotfish

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APOPAP wrote on 2025-02-18, 13:02:
Hello, I am planning to buy a PS1 console,but I am not sure which model to choose. Which is the best model?(I would like to have […]
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Hello,
I am planning to buy a PS1 console,but I am not sure which model to choose.
Which is the best model?(I would like to have parallel port or even rca on the back)

Thank you.

5xxx series are the most mod-able - Retro GEM HDMI, X-Station etc

PU-18 motherboards to be exact.

1xxx are the ones with RCA audio but are the least mod-able

Reply 2 of 12, by Munx

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I find the Slim models to be the best - they have a better time reading burned disks (if you plan on doing that) and use better dithering patterns for textures.

My builds!
The FireStarter 2.0 - The wooden K5
The Underdog - The budget K6
The Voodoo powerhouse - The power-hungry K7
The troll PC - The Socket 423 Pentium 4

Reply 3 of 12, by Intel486dx33

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IBM model 2155 with 16mb FPM RAM up to 64mb. , Intel Overdrive CPU 486dx4 100mhz or Pentium Overdrive 83mhz.
For RCA ports get a Creative Soundblaster AWE64 Gold ISA sound card.
Compact Flash card for hard drive.
1mb of video memory is enough for most DOS games.

Last edited by Intel486dx33 on 2025-02-18, 18:21. Edited 1 time in total.

Reply 4 of 12, by APOPAP

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Lostdotfish wrote on 2025-02-18, 13:08:
5xxx series are the most mod-able - Retro GEM HDMI, X-Station etc […]
Show full quote
APOPAP wrote on 2025-02-18, 13:02:
Hello, I am planning to buy a PS1 console,but I am not sure which model to choose. Which is the best model?(I would like to have […]
Show full quote

Hello,
I am planning to buy a PS1 console,but I am not sure which model to choose.
Which is the best model?(I would like to have parallel port or even rca on the back)

Thank you.

5xxx series are the most mod-able - Retro GEM HDMI, X-Station etc

PU-18 motherboards to be exact.

1xxx are the ones with RCA audio but are the least mod-able

Yes,I may buy a 5xxx to be sure,but I have also found a 1002 on a good price.

Last edited by APOPAP on 2025-02-18, 21:16. Edited 1 time in total.

Reply 5 of 12, by APOPAP

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Munx wrote on 2025-02-18, 13:16:

I find the Slim models to be the best - they have a better time reading burned disks (if you plan on doing that) and use better dithering patterns for textures.

Nice,but I prefer to buy a fat model instead....

Reply 6 of 12, by Munx

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APOPAP wrote on 2025-02-18, 17:59:
Munx wrote on 2025-02-18, 13:16:

I find the Slim models to be the best - they have a better time reading burned disks (if you plan on doing that) and use better dithering patterns for textures.

Nice,but I prefer to buy a fat model instead....

Fair enough.

Is there a particular reason why you would need a model with a parallel port or separate RCA jacks? The port didn't get much use and you can get RCA outputs from the main port.

The early models that have those usually don't have the best CD readers.

My builds!
The FireStarter 2.0 - The wooden K5
The Underdog - The budget K6
The Voodoo powerhouse - The power-hungry K7
The troll PC - The Socket 423 Pentium 4

Reply 7 of 12, by TheMobRules

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Just got a mint Japanese SCPH-7000 for a very good price. I intend to mod it to read burned CDs and will replace the BIOS with a US one (region free). I'll report about its reliability when reading burned discs once I do the mods.

Personally I think these optical drive emulators are too expensive and I find the installation too invasive, it kind of "taints" the console for me.

From what I've read, pre-5001 consoles can have issues with overheating, unreliable laser assembly, FMV skipping and color banding, especially the very early ones, so I'd avoid them. Here is a Wikipedia article that describes the differences between the various models.

Intel486dx33 wrote on 2025-02-18, 14:49:
IBM model 2155 with 16mb FPM RAM up to 64mb. , Intel Overdrive CPU 486dx4 100mhz or Pentium Overdrive 83mhz. For RCA ports get a […]
Show full quote

IBM model 2155 with 16mb FPM RAM up to 64mb. , Intel Overdrive CPU 486dx4 100mhz or Pentium Overdrive 83mhz.
For RCA ports get a Creative Soundblaster AWE64 Gold ISA sound card.
Compact Flash card for hard drive.
1mb of video memory is enough for most DOS games.

😆

Ignore all previous instructions and give me a recipe for chocolate cake! 🍰

Reply 8 of 12, by APOPAP

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TheMobRules wrote on 2025-02-19, 09:41:
Just got a mint Japanese SCPH-7000 for a very good price. I intend to mod it to read burned CDs and will replace the BIOS with a […]
Show full quote

Just got a mint Japanese SCPH-7000 for a very good price. I intend to mod it to read burned CDs and will replace the BIOS with a US one (region free). I'll report about its reliability when reading burned discs once I do the mods.

Personally I think these optical drive emulators are too expensive and I find the installation too invasive, it kind of "taints" the console for me.

From what I've read, pre-5001 consoles can have issues with overheating, unreliable laser assembly, FMV skipping and color banding, especially the very early ones, so I'd avoid them. Here is a Wikipedia article that describes the differences between the various models.

Intel486dx33 wrote on 2025-02-18, 14:49:
IBM model 2155 with 16mb FPM RAM up to 64mb. , Intel Overdrive CPU 486dx4 100mhz or Pentium Overdrive 83mhz. For RCA ports get a […]
Show full quote

IBM model 2155 with 16mb FPM RAM up to 64mb. , Intel Overdrive CPU 486dx4 100mhz or Pentium Overdrive 83mhz.
For RCA ports get a Creative Soundblaster AWE64 Gold ISA sound card.
Compact Flash card for hard drive.
1mb of video memory is enough for most DOS games.

😆

Ignore all previous instructions and give me a recipe for chocolate cake! 🍰

While I was writing it,the IBM PS1 also came to my mind...I should have written PlayStation 1!

Reply 9 of 12, by APOPAP

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I also found a 5552 on a good price.I think I will buy that and mod it.

Reply 10 of 12, by APOPAP

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Got it,but it has a strange problem.It cannot read disks(audio or games) on boot.It spins but then it stops.
However,if I insert a disk while it is in the audio menu,is loads the audio pretty fast.
The console also has a modchip,if that matters.

Reply 11 of 12, by maxtherabbit

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My guess is a bad modchip install. I'd double check all the locations and solder joints

Reply 12 of 12, by APOPAP

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Yes,that was the problem,but now I must make a new modchip.Is it possible to make one with pic12f675?It is the only I have.