History of Modbo modchip versions
There are many modchips that have a name starting with Modbo. The goal of this section is just to help you understand what Modbo modchip variants are out there, and how they compare to each other.
One thing to keep in mind is that these chips weren’t all designed by the same group of people, and that pretty much all of the chips being sold today are Chinese clones of some of the later designs.
Another thing to keep in mind is that all Modbo chips are actually clones of Matrix Infinity modchips, they run the same firmware.
For more information about Modbo modchips click here, for more information about PS2 modchips in general click here.
The history of the Modbo modchips is (these dates may not be exactly right):
- Original Modbo developers
- Modbo 1.0
- Modbo 1.1 (early 2005)
- Modbo 3.0 (early 2006)
- Modbo 4.0 (mid 2006)
- Modbo Team
- Modbo 2.0 (late 2005)
- Modbo 2.1 (early 2006)
- Modbo 520 (mid 2006)
- Modbo 530 (mid 2006)
- Modbo 735 (mid 2006)
- Modbo 745 (mid 2006)
- Modbo 760 (mid 2006)
- Other developers
- Modbo 750 (early 2006)
- Modbo 5.0 (2010)
Modbo 1.0
I can’t find much information about the Modbo 1.0 chips other than that they existed at some point in time.
Modbo 1.1
The Modbo 1.1 was an earlier chip compatible with V1-V12 consoles. Modbo 1.1 chips supported stealth mode, sleep mode, DVD9 playback, booting homebrew from CD, as well as booting homebrew from USB.
Modbo 1.2
Modbo 1.2 modchips were compatible with V1-V12 consoles and was released towards the middle of 2005.
Modbo 2.0
The Modbo 2.0 was released in late 2005. It appears to be a clone of the earlier Modbo 1.1 and Modbo 1.2 chips, officially supporting V1-V13 consoles. Some bug fixes were added to the chip to prevent it from bricking on firmware updates, and more stable DVD9 playback.
Modbo 2.1
The Modbo 2.1 was an updated version of the Modbo 2.0 with an updated layout an firmware.
Modbo 3.0
The Modbo 3.0 was released in early 2006 and was the first Modbo chip that follows the same diagrams that are published in this guide. It is officially compatible with V5-V12 consoles. It supports stealth mode, sleep mode, DVD9 playback, multi-disk games, and anti modchip games (on V9-V12 systems), booting homebrew from CD, as well as booting homebrew from USB..
Modbo 4.0
The Modbo 4.0 was released towards the middle of 2006. It’s an updated version of the Modbo 3.0 with official support with V5-V16 consoles. Modbo 4.0 chips being sold today are clones with an updated firmware.
Modbo 5.0
The Modbo 5.0 is the newest Modbo modchip and was released in 2010. It officially supports V1-V16 consoles. Modbo 5.0 chips being sold today are clones with an updated firmware.
Modbo 520
The Modbo 520 is an updated version of the Modbo 2.0 modchip with an added optional Z wire to support the Action Replay Max.
Modbo 530
The Modbo 530 was an updated version of the Modbo 520 with a revised board layout.
Modbo 735
The Modbo 735 was an updated version of the Modbo 530 with support for V5-V16 systems. It was designed to be a cheaper alternative to the Modbo 745.
Modbo 745
The Modbo 745 was an updated version of the Modbo 530 with support for V1-V16 systems. Another key new feature was support for booting directly from the hard drive.
Modbo 750
The Modbo 750 was an updated version of the Modbo 3.0 with support for V1-V16 systems. Modbo 750 chips being sold today are clones with an updated firmware.
Modbo 760
The Modbo 760 was an updated version of the Modbo 745 with support for V1-V16 and an updated board layout.
Hi, Can you help me identify this chip? Doesn’t seem to be a modbo and has no clear markings. Seems to play all region backup disks. Was done in China.
It looks somewhat similar to this Modbo 760 chip, but obviously different:
Do you see any sort of logo when booting up games or starting the console?
Hey William, thanks for responding, I just want to say I have enjoyed reading through parts of your website, i am also a computer engineer with similar interests.
There is no logo when you boot games, in terms of the software there is nothing signifying a chipped console. However, since writing to you, I learnt there is a ‘magic’ chip, which i saw has a 5k6 model number, so i figured 7k6 must be some clone of that, the lack of t he SOIC-8 makes me think it’s not a modbo, what do you reckon ?
Yeah, it could be a Chinese clone of something. The Magic chips I have seen all look fairly different from the one in your picture though.I assume there is nothing on the other side of the chip since it has to sit flat against those BIOS pads.
Yup, it’s flat. Do you know if there’s anything in software i can do to differentiate modbo vs magic?
Not that I know of. You can try accessing the Modbo boot menu (holding circle and triangle at boot). I have a feeling it isn’t really a Magic chip either since they tended to be older.
Interesting, the modbo boot menu doesn’t appear. Nothing does with triangle and circle held at boot. Furthermore, I’ve figured that the digital output toggle in the os menu doesn’t turn on digital audio (and won’t turn rca audio off). So I can never get digital audio turned on, think the chip is bypassing any audio control signals?
I wouldn’t think a modchip would do that.
Hi there, I just have a quick question about what multi-disk games support means (for Modbo 3.0 and onwards)? I currently have a PAL PS2 with the Modbo 2.1 to allow me to play official copies of PS1 and PS2 games from north America that never got a pal release. I have several official NTSC PS1 games (Chrono Cross, Xenogears, Tales of Destiny 2), so i want to confirm that once i get to the end of disk 1 on any them and need to swap to disk 2, does the above mean that it won’t work with my PS2… Read more »
I don’t believe they would work with the Modbo 2.1 but it’s probably worth at least trying.
I’d recommend opening up the system and seeing what amount of slack the wires have. If you think you can swap chips without needing to run every wire again then swapping chips makes sense. Otherwise getting a new system to mod would make the most sense.
Hey guys o/ I recently Installed a Modbo 760 on a PAL SCPH-90004 PS2, but having problems with it. The PS2 boots to black/blank screen and will boot PS2 original games but nothing more. If i desolder the 3v line the PS2 boots as normal. Things I’ve tried so far. Checked all points for continuity numerous times. Wired thicker wire for the ground and 3v lines. Tried to boot to recovery menu using Triangle and Circle. I’m pretty much out of ideas at the moment. The only 3 possible things i can think could be wrong is either the mod chip is… Read more »
Make sure you connect pin H. The config menu should work with RGB. And I do run across defective modchips fairly frequently.
HI William, H is connected, the only points that are not, are Cx and F because they’re not present on this Modbo 760.
One thing I don’t understand from the installation diagram is there’s a note written for the S point. It says “s for on ptik”. I have no clue what that means, any idea? 🤔
Could you send me a link to that diagram?
Sure.
http://vopanvermont.over-blog.com/2019/03/modbo-760-installation.html
I’m not sure.
I have a Matrix Infinity do you know if this would be compatible with the scph-90004?
Yes it is.
William,
Could you take a look at the picture linked below. I spotted 2 bridged pins on my Modbo 760 and I’m not sure if they are supposed to be bridged, but is hoe i received the chip when I purchased.
It’s the Modbo 760 without the Z point.
?dl=0
I’m not sure, but it wouldn’t hurt to try it without the bridge since you can always put some solder back on there if it doesn’t work.
Another pic; it does look as though the bridge is meant to be in this picture.
But I’m not sure.
?dl=0
@William Quade..
Update.
Wanted to let you know or any others that may read your blog at present or future.
The Modbo 760 turned out to be defective. I removed the modchip and replaced it with a new Modbo 5.0 which works perfectly.
Thanks for all your help. 👍