Best PS1 console?

[BuckoA51]

So I'm looking to buy a PS1 console to go with my PS-IO that finally shipped. Can anyone tell me the best model to get? I know the early ones (SCPH-1002?) have the analogue audio outputs and are supposedly great CD players, but aren't there reliability problems with those? Obviously later models and the slim are out since they don't have the cartridge slot, but is there a consensus as to which is the best to go for?

Edit - I should probably point out that despite owning the PS-IO I'd like it to be an all-round unit, so be able to play CD based games from time to time too.

[FinalBaton]

I only know about NTSC-U models, but you should easily be able to find the european equivalent on the wikipedia page :

SCPH-1001 and SCPH-5501 have better audio DACs than subsequent models, and thus better sound. But on the 5501 the changed the interior design so that the drive and lense work better together and this makes it a more solid model, without the skipping issues of the 1001.

Other subsequent models benefit from a better design too, but they lack the great sound of the 1001 and 5501. So that makes the 5501 my number one pick. (I guess 5502 is the european counterpart?)

[juji82]

5500 should be the NTSC-J version

[BuckoA51]

5502 seems to be the UK/EU version. I will probably grab that one then and see about getting a dual frequency oscillator fitted.

[speedlolita]

I have a 5500 case, with a laser module and PSU from a 5502 and a motherboard from a 5501.

Got a Mayumi V4 chip installed. I don't care about PAL software so no dual crystal oscillator.

55XX and before have a better video chip to my eyes too, not a huge amount in it though.

Don't get a 5500 - if you chip any Japanese PlayStation (except the original revision of the SCPH-1000) it will only boot NTSC-J software.

[Seraphic]

Sorry to bump a old thread, but since my question about PS1 consoles is very similar I thought it would be better then making a new one.

I came across the below thread and the consensus was a SCPH-750x or SCPH-550x would be best.
Several of the posters also suggest that the launch SCPH-100x offers the best RGB output of all the models.
https://assemblergames.com/threads/best ... del.51396/

Mylifeingaming seems to suggest the PSone would be the way to go if you do not require a Parallel port.
And at least for them, one of their screen caps shows later models having a little sharper picture then earlier ones.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7fCTHu99bk

Below is as list of all the PS1 models:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStati ... _of_models

What model did you end of getting BuckoA51 and how did it work with your PS-IO?

[BuckoA51]

I went with a 5502 in the end and it's working great with the PS-IO and DFO installed.

[Seraphic]

I went with a 5502 in the end and it's working great with the PS-IO and DFO installed.

Ah, nice. Good to hear you got it all working. Is the PS-IO still limited to 32gb?
And do you have experience with modchips and Mayumi V4 vs MM3?

It seems they switched to a new video encoder starting in 70xx reversion and also started cost cutting here too.
Wouldn't be interested in PAL software, so I guess no DFO for me too then. Sounds like a SCPH-5501 would be best though.

I just wonder why several of the users in the assemblergame thread suggest the SCPH-100x has best RGB output out of them all?
Seems that model also has the most hardware problems too.

[Xer Xian]

I just wonder why several of the users in the assemblergame thread suggest the SCPH-100x has best RGB output out of them all?
Seems that model also has the most hardware problems too.

According to this wiki page (and external link to a YT video), early PS1 models exhibited banding artifacts in certain occasions.

The SCPH-5501 model does not suffer from that, and is still equipped with the superior audio DAC as the earliest models while being better built (some info here: http://archimago.blogspot.it/2013/03/me ... h.html?m=1)

For what it's worth, I do have an SCPH-5501 with a Mayumi V4 and can't fault it at all (well, except for PAL games being shown in B&W over s-video, that can be a bother in my case).

[doonut]

lucky you if you found 4309 when you seeking inside model 1002





but sometimes you may found this in same model

[mvsfan]

1001 consoles do have problems with the laser mechanism. But it can be completely solved, by replacing it with one from a later model.
as far as i know they are all interchangable.

[neorichieb1971]

The ribbon cables don't reach on all models. One some models the ribbon cable comes from the left of the unit, some are on the right. But the cable is the same length on all.

I have a SCPH1000 Japanese launch model. I changed the drive once and it still works perfectly. Obviously these days it isn't getting the mileage it used to so I would imagine the drive will last 50 years compared to the original where I played it every single day for hours on end.

[BuckoA51]

Is the PS-IO still limited to 32gb?

Using 128gb in mine, no problems so far.

[WMJ]

I always played my PS1 games on the PS2 but for the PSIO I went looking for an alround PS1 as well. I ended going with the PAL SCPH 1002. These do have laser mechanisms that wear out quickly and that are on the left of the console, close to the heat of the power supply. I found replacing it with a new PSone slim laser mechanism worked perfectly and these are more durable as well because of the metal moving parts. As for the audio I can honestly hardly hear the difference with the PS2 audio quality but it seems slightly warmer to me if I play really close attention to it. The console was struggling to read discs with the original laser mechanism when I got it but with the PSone laser it's working flawlessly. Would be interested to fit a DFO as NTSC games on this unit display in 59.2 Hz.

[Lawfer]

Is the PS-IO still limited to 32gb?

Using 128gb in mine, no problems so far.

Do you need to mod your PS1 in order to use this PS-IO?

[citrus3000psi]

Do you need to mod your PS1 in order to use this PS-IO?

Yes, you must solder in a switch board to the bottom side of the main board.

[Lawfer]

Do you need to mod your PS1 in order to use this PS-IO?

Yes, you must solder in a switch board to the bottom side of the main board.

Damn, my PS1 has a modchip to play imports and backups, I don't guess that it's the same thing, right?

[FBX]

Damn, my PS1 has a modchip to play imports and backups, I don't guess that it's the same thing, right?

The PSIO makes use of a controller board that allows it to reroute data access through the IO port instead of the CD drive. I believe you need this chip specifically for the PSIO. It's not a big deal to install though. A few trace cuts and a few solder tack points. Nothing too difficult.

[FBX]

BTW while viewing this thread, Norton warned me of a JSCoinminer attack. Be warned I think it's from the image hosting someone is linking to in this thread.

[Lawfer]

Damn, my PS1 has a modchip to play imports and backups, I don't guess that it's the same thing, right?

The PSIO makes use of a controller board that allows it to reroute data access through the IO port instead of the CD drive. I believe you need this chip specifically for the PSIO. It's not a big deal to install though. A few trace cuts and a few solder tack points. Nothing too difficult.

You do realize that "cutting a few traces" is permanent, right?

[FBX]

You do realize that "cutting a few traces" is permanent, right?

The cuts are tiny and can be reversed with solder if that's a big worry.

And once again I'm getting Norton Warnings from this thread. Not coming back here again.