Ultimate PlayStation 2 modchip installation guide

Since I sell PS2 modchips on eBay I often get asked for installation diagrams showing how to install a chip into a specific motherboard. This post aims to be the ultimate source of information on PS2 modchips, including how to install them into every version of the PlayStation 2. I may have sent you here if you were looking for installation diagrams, or had questions a bout how to install the modchip. Continue reading and I’ll answer those questions and more.

As of right now this guide is still a work in progress. For the most part the Modbo 5.0 modchip guide section is complete, but the rest isn’t.

Guide structure

This guide is structured into several pages. It’s organized like this primarily so that comments can be more organized and useful for readers.

This page is the starting point of the guide. It includes some frequently asked questions about PlayStation 2 modchips in general, and then links off to more information about each type of chip, and those pages link off to installation guides for each console model.

Guide disclaimer

I’m not a PlayStation 2 modchip expert. This guide has been put together from a combination of my experience, and what I have found online. Many of the sources for PlayStation 2 modding information have gone offline, or are spread out across many forum threads.

My goal is to have a single guide that covers as much information as possible, making it easier for everyone to get solid information about PlayStation 2 modchips. If you have any suggestions, corrections, or additional information, please leave a comment and I’ll be happy to update this guide.

Modchip specific guides

Here’s a list of modchip specific guides, which include links to installation diagrams for each board, and source code to make your own chips.

What is a modchip, and what is it used for?

The idea of a modchip is pretty straightforward. It is typically a small chip or board that is soldered to various parts of a video game console. The chip is programmed with special software that is used to circumvent DRM protection on the console.

In the case of the PlayStation 2 a modchip allows the console to do many new things. Here’s a list of common PS2 modchip features.

  • Play video game backups discs from any region (PS1 and PS2).
  • Play genuine game discs from any region (PS1 and PS2).
  • Boot PlayStation 2 games from a hard drive or flash drive.

A common use of a modchip is to play games from other regions, like Japan, that weren’t released in the United States. With a modchip there is no need to import a console from each region.

PlayStation 2 modchip history

I’ll update this section with more detail in the future.

The very first PlayStation 2 modchips took advantage of disc swapping and boot discs like the GameShark or Action Replay.

Later modchips were able to boot games directly.

More recently memory card based exploits were developed. One of those is called Free McBoot, which was first released in 2008 and continues to be updated today. These memory cards boot homebrew directly from the memory card. They aren’t as useful as full modchips, but don’t require any console modifications. They work with all consoles except the later SCPH-9000x systems which patched the exploit.

How does a PlayStation 2 modchip work?

What are the limitations of a modchip?

What modchip should I choose for my PlayStation 2?

How can I make my own PlayStation 2 modchip?

72 Comments
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Lisa
Lisa
April 9, 2019 1:13 AM

Can anyone tell me how to get the modbo chip to play burnt games on my ps2? I think o used to have to hold down a certain button for so many seconds to boot them up?

Anon
Anon
August 1, 2019 10:50 AM
Reply to  William Quade

Thank you Author there is just text around that saying modbo with usb modbo with hdd I was just cant be sure until now!

Alex240p
Alex240p
September 25, 2019 3:32 PM

Is there a modchip out there that preserves the original look of the PS2 bios? By which I mean, no boot logos or alterations to startup screens, etc. I want a vanilla look PS2 that just happens to run imports/backups.

Modbo 5.0 seems great, but in YT videos I see “Infinity” branding tacked onto the PS2 logo after a game reads. Is it possible to keep the logo with its original look?

Erik Acosta
Erik Acosta
July 30, 2020 1:56 PM
Reply to  Alex240p

Just need to press and hold triangle and circle until you see a menu and from there just deactivate logo then press start. And restart the system

Erik Acosta
Erik Acosta
July 31, 2020 2:36 AM
Reply to  Erik Acosta

sorry but matrix always do that you should install Duo

Mr X
Mr X
June 18, 2021 8:14 PM

Hi I have a PS2 slim with infinity 1.38FM boot mode set to auto but it’s not playing PS1 games I seem to recall I had to do something like double tab the power button to go into PS1 mode can anyone advise the process? Thanks

Steven Williams
Steven Williams
August 14, 2019 10:12 PM

Could you post the hex code for the 12c508a PS2 v12 laser fix?

Ethan
Ethan
August 23, 2019 9:02 PM

Hi, I cannot find the Ps2 PIC Fix files anywhere online, and this seems to be the only place with solid information that I can find. Would it be possible for you to send the files perhaps? Hopefully it isn’t a lot to ask, I just have everything I need but cannot find the files to flash to the chip. Thanks!

Desirre
Desirre
December 8, 2019 12:11 PM

Do you know which modchip I can use in my ps2 10000 series?

Rodrigo
Rodrigo
February 14, 2020 3:25 PM

Hi there!
First I want to say thank you for creating all these guides, they are really well made.
I have one question though: here in Brazil I can’t find the Modbo chips for sale, so I will have to use a regular Matrix Infinity Clone. Is the pinout the same for both chips?
Thank you!

Francesco Rollo
Francesco Rollo
March 16, 2020 2:19 PM

Hi, I would like to install modchip 5.0 on my ps2 90004. I just wanted to know how i will be able to load games on my ps2. The modchip 5.0 supports hdd or pendrive, but can I load games on it and run them with no problems or I need something else? I know that I can run burnt games but I believe that it’s more convenient to load them on a usbdrive. I can’t understand if I need FMCB or modchip 5.0 is already good to do this work. My ps2 datacode is 8C or 9C, i can’t… Read more »

Francesco
Francesco
March 16, 2020 9:13 PM
Reply to  William Quade

Thank You!

Rajeev
Rajeev
July 27, 2020 11:52 AM
Reply to  William Quade

Can you please explain step by step procedure…to be followed after the installation of MODBO 5.0 to ps2..

Alex
Alex
August 27, 2020 5:38 AM
Reply to  William Quade

Hello WIlliam, I am sorry to disturb you, I have done what you told to hold triangle and circle at boot and set the boot mode option in the config menu to auto, but the unable to load config file error still occurs, is it because of the content inside my external harddisk? may i know what file do i need to put inside the external harddisk?because i am changing into a new harddisk, the previous one was broken. thank you sir!

Leo Gonzales
Leo Gonzales
March 31, 2020 9:03 AM

can you explain to us what does it mean the letters of the modbo and what is the function each letters to the ps2 mother boards?

Matt
Matt
June 15, 2020 5:21 PM

What chip is best for the SCPH- 5000x systems?

Zamir
Zamir
June 22, 2020 9:31 AM

I installed a Modbo 5.0 in my NTSC J SCPH-77006 PS2 slim. It’s not reading my NTSC UC or PAL games and just shows the red screen error message. Any idea what could be the issue with the install? I’m able to load the Matrix settings just fine

Zamir
Zamir
June 23, 2020 12:12 AM
Reply to  William Quade

Unfortunately I don’t have any NTSC J games on me to test with. Right now I’m getting a new issue entirely. I tried disabling the modchip and enabling it again and now, the system won’t even read any discs

Rajeev
Rajeev
July 27, 2020 9:22 AM

Hii
I have installed MODBO 5.0 to my ps 2..after I on my console it shows Matrix logo next to that it was showing “loading boot menu version 1.0..” next to that it was showing ” unable to load config files” what should I do …

Rajeev
Rajeev
July 27, 2020 9:36 PM
Reply to  William Quade

Done the same now booting screen is changed…THANK YOU for your support …
I want to play games from flash drive and also self burned iso ps2 games..what is the procedure please guide me

Rajeev
Rajeev
July 30, 2020 4:21 AM
Reply to  William Quade

Done the same now booting screen is changed…THANK YOU for your support …
I want to play games from flash drive and also self burned iso ps2 games..what is the procedure please guide me…I mean the next process..my dvd uint is not working

Retro_Fuzzy
Retro_Fuzzy
July 28, 2020 4:04 AM

Hi! Thank you for your awesome guide!
I have bought an Ntsc-J phat Ps2 that seems to be modchipped. (Has a sticker on the bottom of some old 2000s modding company). When booting up it’s all in english and looks like a Pal system. Runs japanese games but not Pal or Us games. No mod chip branding though on screen and seller is clueless. Any button combinations that I can try to see if it can run Pal games?

BRANDON
BRANDON
August 22, 2020 3:14 AM

This mod is going to make me blow my brains out. I can’t solder these small traces at all and after doing my best and finishing the light doesn’t change from red to green. Where did i go wrong?

Tom Moriarty
January 21, 2021 11:04 PM

I have a playstation 2Crystal chips it was chipped some years ago and I can’t remember how to boot it up

leo gonzales
leo gonzales
January 29, 2021 3:53 AM

Hi sir its me again
I want my ps2 phat ( gh-015) to modify using modbo 5.0. For hdd porpose. My question is what letter is not connected to the board? It is B, G, H, I, A? or the P, O, N, M, Q, T, U, R, V? PLS help thanks

leo gonzales
leo gonzales
January 29, 2021 6:28 AM

Pls teach us what is guide connection using modbo 5.0 to hdd what letters is not belong for hdd

leo gonzales
leo gonzales
January 29, 2021 6:40 AM
Reply to  William Quade

freehdboot? Can you teach us here how to make FREEHDBOOT? THANKS!

shytzedaka
shytzedaka
January 29, 2021 8:04 AM

I am Pretty sure i soldered this correctly..comment imagecomment imagecomment image
However when Reading Burned Disks or an NTSC Game. It will give me the RSOD.
But if i put an Original PAL Game it will work just fine and still give me the Matrix Infinity logo alongside the Playstation 2 logo.
did i do something wrong? or the chip i got could of been a scam?

Last edited 3 years ago by shytzedaka
shytzedaka
shytzedaka
January 29, 2021 8:53 AM
Reply to  William Quade

I’ll be Sure to try out Tomorrow and let you Know if it works!
Thanks!

Last edited 3 years ago by shytzedaka
Shytzedaka
Shytzedaka
January 31, 2021 1:06 AM
Reply to  William Quade

It worked! I can play different regions and burned copies. Thank you! comment image

Christian
Christian
March 12, 2021 11:54 AM

Can I use a mod chip on a Japanese Ps2 to play U.S games.

Daniel
Daniel
March 30, 2021 1:23 PM

i have a problem with the ship probably my fault. it loads inn the matrix then it comes up (unable to load config files!) what did i do wrong?

Daniel
Daniel
March 31, 2021 6:58 AM
Reply to  William Quade

My ps2 will not turn on now. There are no power indicator showing. Any idea what could’ve caused it?

Daniel
Daniel
March 31, 2021 6:44 PM
Reply to  William Quade

i managed to get it working for a hour then suddenly it shut down, now it wont turn on an the green indicator goes on just breafly then it goes back to standby.

Daniel
Daniel
March 31, 2021 7:12 PM
Reply to  Daniel

i waited a half hour and it turned on briefly before it turned off again

Daniel
Daniel
April 1, 2021 10:17 AM
Reply to  William Quade

its seems to be working now! thank you so mutch for you’re help.
and have a great easter

Cameron
Cameron
May 14, 2021 7:04 AM

i just installed modbo 4.0 following the guide for v12 70002, however my chip isnt working ive checked all joints and all wires to make sure there connected to the right pads. my board number is gh-035-41 does the guide i followed not work? please help

Cameron
Cameron
May 14, 2021 7:33 AM
Reply to  William Quade

I got it I relaised I had a loose joint, as you said a lot can go wrong. Cheers mate

Cameron
Cameron
May 14, 2021 6:46 PM
Reply to  William Quade

Actually I am having a problem now. When I put to metal Shields back on my console i get a black screen on boot, I assume this is one of the wires touching? As soon as I take the plates off it is, what can I do to fix this? And I also an not getting the splash screen on boot. It could be my TV not connecting fast enough but I dont see the matrix logo which im also worried about but if I hold the triangle and cicle buttons I get the settings for the chip. Does this… Read more »

Cameron
Cameron
May 17, 2021 7:51 PM
Reply to  William Quade

When you say the chip is mostly working does that mean I should be able to run burnt media etc?. I can’t test as I’m waiting on a part for it (the spindle motor). Should I re check connection or is it good enough? Thanks for all the help by the way, really appreciate it

Justin
Justin
June 2, 2021 8:15 AM

I just ordered the modbo 5.0 for my 77001 model. My question is do I need the PIC fix? Far as I can tell this would be a V15 which doesn’t need the fix? Btw the ps1 mod chip I bought from you a few months ago is working fantastic still!

Justin
Justin
June 2, 2021 8:39 AM
Reply to  William Quade

Ty for confirmation!

KR
KR
December 16, 2019 2:12 AM

How can I make my own PlayStation 2 modchip?