PS1 SCPH-5502 laser issues

[Magicalbottle]

My modded PS1 SCPH-5502 now only plays games while on it's back. Apparently the casing housing the laser is warped due to age. Which laser replacement part would I need to fix this? On Ebay there are only Chinese knockoffs as far as I can see....

[garrz32]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-OPTICAL- ... :rk:2:pf:0

Any use?

[nmalinoski]

I personally recommend the KSM-440BAM drives from Totalconsole, as they come with a flex cable extension for installation in older PlayStations, but their price has grown astronomically over the past year (Going for $112-$125 on eBay now; WTF), and I unfortunately haven't seen any flex cable extensions for sale separately.

Drop-in PlayStation ODEs (Not the PSIO) can't arrive soon enough.

[NoAffinity]

I had no luck with replacement lenses. 2 in a row showed up non working, and I finally demanded a refund from the ebay seller and went down the street to the retro vg store and bought a replacement console for $30. I really wanted to repair my SCPH-1001, but have been happy with the 7502 replacement. I understand not everyone has the good fortune of having a retro vg store within spitting distance but there all still good deals to be found on ps1's on ebay.

Tl;dr - for around the same cost as a replacement laser, a replacement console can be had. https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 2737300273

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[nmalinoski]

Tl;dr - for around the same cost as a replacement laser, a replacement console can be had. https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 2737300273

This has been suggested before, and my problem with this is that it's not a sustainable approach. None of the drive assemblies are getting any younger; buying a used console gives you a chance, not a guarantee, at a less-worn and better-functioning drive.

Unless you're specifically getting a new-old stock drive, it's going to be a lottery, and no one is going to want to keep spending money on used PlayStations until they get one that works they way they want it to; and, then, how long will that one last, and how much longer will lightly-worn or unused drives be available? I think we need a better option. :/

[garrz32]

I don't think there is a better option at the moment unless it's the PSIO, I believe it's a bitch to get one and you need some soldering skills as well.

The PS3 play's PS1 games but will be region locked.

[Lawfer]

I don't think there is a better option at the moment unless it's the PSIO, I believe it's a bitch to get one and you need some soldering skills as well.

As time goes eventually people will be forced to use ODEs, as from what I gather there aren't many good alternative replacements for the lens and cd-rom drive that are as accurate and reliable as the original ones, problem is Sony has stopped manufacturing these parts since 2006 and all used PS1 will have vital parts of their infrastructures eventually wear out and fail, with good replacement parts becoming rarer and more expensive each year, as time goes PSIO and the likes will probably be the most viable solution in the near future for the average consumer, of course the only other alternative would be to buy a new sealed PS1/2, but most people are not ready to shell out 500 USD+ for a PS1/2.

The PS3 play's PS1 games but will be region locked.

That's just emulation with no 240p capabilities though, not much different from playing PS1 games on your computer.

[garrz32]

The PS3 play's PS1 games but will be region locked.

That's just emulation with no 240p capabilities though, not much different from playing PS1 games on your computer.

Ah i see, I had no idea that was the case.

[maxtherabbit]

fat PS2s are the way to go IMO

replacement lenses are cheap and plentiful, and you're still running bare metal with the exception of the GPU

[thebigcheese]

Tl;dr - for around the same cost as a replacement laser, a replacement console can be had. https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 2737300273

This has been suggested before, and my problem with this is that it's not a sustainable approach. None of the drive assemblies are getting any younger; buying a used console gives you a chance, not a guarantee, at a less-worn and better-functioning drive.

Yeah, but that's the same with all old consoles, really. Can't get a new laser for a Saturn or a Sega CD AFAIK. Eventually we will all have to switch to ODE solutions like the PSIO if we want to keep playing on original hardware. Just make sure you go somewhere with a good return policy (for all their faults, GameStop's return policy on used gear is pretty lenient) or at least that lets you test it out before you buy it.

[NoAffinity]

Tl;dr - for around the same cost as a replacement laser, a replacement console can be had. https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 2737300273

This has been suggested before, and my problem with this is that it's not a sustainable approach. None of the drive assemblies are getting any younger; buying a used console gives you a chance, not a guarantee, at a less-worn and better-functioning drive.

Unless you're specifically getting a new-old stock drive, it's going to be a lottery, and no one is going to want to keep spending money on used PlayStations until they get one that works they way they want it to; and, then, how long will that one last, and how much longer will lightly-worn or unused drives be available? I think we need a better option. :/

Agreed on the downsides/trade-offs. In my mind, it's truly a scenario of "six one way, half a dozen the other", and where do you want to throw your money - cheap chinese replacement parts, or a tested working replacement console? In this case, where the OP can only play with his PS1 on its back, it seems the replacement console route is a better option.

750x and later have better laser assemblies, but of course with the trade-off of less desirable audio and video chips. It's a sticky widget for sure, with some decisions to be made, and none of which are ideal.

^There were some Saturn NOS laser assemblies on ebay not too long ago. They're probably gone by now, but hey that's at least one instance where they've surfaced.

[nmalinoski]

750x and later have better laser assemblies, but of course with the trade-off of less desirable audio and video chips. It's a sticky widget for sure, with some decisions to be made, and none of which are ideal.

What's nice is that, to my understanding, all of the PS1 CD drives are interchangeable. That Totalconsole drive I bought back in January is a KSM-440BAM, which was in the late-model PSones, but, with the flex cable extension that came with it, it works perfectly in one of my SCPH-5501 units--I get the benefits of the 5501 (better-quality chips from earlier models, with the CD drive oriented away from the PSU like the later models), plus any advancements that come with using the latest revision of the CD drive assembly. If there was a source for those extensions, it'll be easier to retrofit those newer drives.

[FinalBaton]

fat PS2s are the way to go IMO

replacement lenses are cheap and plentiful, and you're still running bare metal with the exception of the GPU

That's a very sensible solution. A couple games won't work on it, like Gradius pack, but all the rest does. Very authentic way to play the games. The contrast is a bit different than PS1 but you can just adjust your display.

I personally play all my PS1 games on PS2. Although I do have a chipped PS1 I'm trying to resurect, to play burned games on. I ordered a cheap chinese drive, but if it doesn't work, I think I'll get one from Total Console (real Sony OEM part). It sucks that it costs $50 USD with shipping but, oh well.

[Syntax]

The adapter cables are easily found.

Just search for a FFC cable extension with the correct pin pitch.

[speedlolita]

The adapter cables are easily found.

Just search for a FFC cable extension with the correct pin pitch.

Indeed, I bought 5 for $5.50 a while back. Saw some punks on US eBay trying to flip them for $10 or so.

https://bit.ly/2ByjPZc

Using one with an AEM in my SCPH-5501 currently without issue. BAM is better of course.

[nmalinoski]

The adapter cables are easily found.

Just search for a FFC cable extension with the correct pin pitch.

Indeed, I bought 5 for $5.50 a while back. Saw some punks on US eBay trying to flip them for $10 or so.

https://bit.ly/2TMx4N1

Using one with an AEM in my SCPH-5501 currently without issue. BAM is better of course.

That link isn't working for me; gives me a 404.

[speedlolita]

Oh sorry, updated the link. They're cheaper now even.

[Syntax]

Recently purchased 2 of the drives from console. Well worth the money but had to wait till someone else wanted one too so i could split the post.

Fit one to a 3000 model pu-8, had to use the 3000s black cd drive top as the cutout for a BAM is different. Didn't use the extension cable.

Fit the other to my 5000 model, had to add PC mobo standoffs to the bottom of the BAM drive as spacers and transfer the cable protection plate to safely and neatly route the extension cable without it catching on the drive sled.
Kept it grey looks sweet.


Didn't touch the pot on either drive, and they played everything I threw at them. Not a single skip during FMV or audio of any kind.

The CDs that didn't work when checked on my PC with ImgBurn show unrecoverable errors across multiple drives.
Seems heaps of my original black CDs are going bad even though they are very well stored.

All in all i'm super pleased with the result of fitting an OEM BAM into an older PS1.

[FinalBaton]

Recently purchased 2 of the drives from console. Well worth the money but had to wait till someone else wanted one too so i could split the post.

Fit one to a 3000 model pu-8, had to use the 3000s black cd drive top as the cutout for a BAM is different. Didn't use the extension cable.

Fit the other to my 5000 model, had to add PC mobo standoffs to the bottom of the BAM drive as spacers and transfer the cable protection plate to safely and neatly route the extension cable without it catching on the drive sled.
Kept it grey looks sweet.


Didn't touch the pot on either drive, and they played everything I threw at them. Not a single skip during FMV or audio of any kind.

The CDs that didn't work when checked on my PC with ImgBurn show unrecoverable errors across multiple drives.
Seems heaps of my original black CDs are going bad even though they are very well stored.

All in all i'm super pleased with the result of fitting an OEM BAM into an older PS1.

That is great to know Now I'll know what to expect from these drives! Thanksfor the report