Hell yeah! Excellent work and it’s definitely not for beginners

@@LIRetroGaming I consider myself a beginner but I’ve got 20 years on mods /soldering under my belt/belly(lol). This is great honor and challenge since the stealth mod on psx. I look forward to this and documenting to share with the community. Let’s go gamers!

​@@WhoaMykeypost a video if you can!

@@francocavecchia8246 will do

I've done soldering on fairly small stuff, but this micro soldering really scares me. But man do I wanna try it.

That’s amazing, everyone on the PS2 dev team made something really special

😂😂😂😂

was just about to say this

Sorry for that, I missed it after the final edit!

Do you offer an install service?

Nice! This is my personal console so I would grab that as well

Yeah, I was using 350c for the install and it’s much better to use leaded solder

Thanks, I appreciate that. It takes a lot of time and patience to get comfortable with installing these types of mods

I’m not sure if it does, but it would make sense if it can also support Dolby surround

They designed it to be a very generic board that can be used on many consoles, so I doubt they'd want to go more specific.

Thanks, glad that you enjoyed the video! One other option for the power supply is to use a modern replacement called the RePS2 and that would make the install a little easier

Have they said why the older power supply is incompatible? Is it a clearance issue? I would rather buy a consol specific kit so i dont have to replace the power supply altogether, though with as old as it is it would proba ly be a good idea to replace the caps.

🤌✏️📌👍 Very much agree. I'd, specifically, made my PS2 selections from among opportunities for the 3900x model, especially, because they were the most *_gaming_* feature-rich and last revision to have the hardware included for iLink/s400 Firewire system-linking for, albeit a sparse number and, yet, notable titles almost all of which I still enjoy with other players = there has been no means of emulating iLink, otherwise, since. Even though the 3900x lacks the relatively minor integration of the IR receiver sensor (what the 5000x model added), even _that_ feature simply requires a cheap IR receiver dongle plugged into the controller port of pre-5000x models and that remote feature really only serves out of use DVD viewing which, by now, most console owners avoid to preserve the aging optical drive. Beyond, the slim PS2s, IMO, are simply more compact for and more easily powered off of automotive 12V ACC jack power via the long available DC to DC power adapter that's been around since nearly the launch of the slim. Who wants to harvest shielding, etc.? This design should have had further review and market research and, especially, avoidance of addiitional required salvaging of parts cannibalized off of other models.

Thanks Mike! This was a fun project

Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed the video! The retro gem doesn’t have a region free feature for the ps2, but that being said there’s a region free softmod called Mechapwn that’s very easy to use with the ps2

@@LIRetroGaming Thank you so much for letting me know! :) Unfortunately my two ps2s aren't compatible with Mechapwn (both are PAL 3900 models) but fortunately one of them has a modchip in it so if i get this digital mod someday i now know it's best to put it in that one instead of my unmodified ps2 :)

Hell yeah, it’s one of my favorites and there’s so much to enjoy on that console

Lol I hear you. I love the rt5x

Yeah, I was pretty tired after getting all of that work finished lol. But there are some good KZfaq reviews that just shows what the retro gem can do

It’s tough, definitely not for a beginner

Yes that is correct, although I don’t know if it’s possible to get surround sound through hdmi as well

@@LIRetroGaming I'd also be very interested to know if surround sound is supported via hdmi, or if its stereo only.

Thanks man! I can always install this for you if you want

​@@LIRetroGamingyoooo I would love this installed on mine loool I would pay and ship the thing to ya if you could do it to my ps2

​@LIRetroGaming what do you charge for install?

Awesome, looking forward to it!

​@@LIRetroGamingwait is my console going to be safe? It was delivered today at your steps. ❤️ (wasn't sure if you were away)

Google ecs-184-18-23a-en-tr. It's also listed on the official pixelfx PS2 fat support page. I thought he was going to post it in the description but, I got you.

You can find it here docs.pixelfx.co/GEM-PS2FAT-Installation.html

I didn't see that, my bad. I thought you'd put a mouser or digikey link in the description.@@LIRetroGaming

Thankfully all the analog video signals are preserved, so you will get composite, s video, and RGB in addition to HDMI

Normally I use 750 Fahrenheit

@@LIRetroGamingThanks.

No lag added to any of the Pixel FX products. The flex cables are pulling digital video straight off the video chips and sending it to the HDMI output, so you are getting native digital video. If anything, lag should be less than a stock console because the stock console has a digital to analog converter which allows it to send an analog signal out to your TV (Even though there's really no perceivable lag on a stock console either). No issues with visual artifacts either, thanks to the motion adaptive deinterlacing built in. There's a reason why internal mods like this are pricey. They do things the correct way. This isn't some cheap analog to digital converter jammed inside of a console.

I should have been more clear in the video, but there is no lag whatsoever when you do one of these mods. That being said, PS2 looks great using a scaler like the tink5x and RGB or component cables

Yes, this is actually a 39000 model PS2. The retro gem is also compatible with the slim

Yes this would work. And yes ps1 games also work

Yes it’s possible to add sound from the toslink to the retro gem. Those instructions are on the PixelFX site but this was not yet possible at the time that I made this video

@@LIRetroGamingDoes that mean you lose audio from TOSLINK or is it still functional (after routing to retrogem)? Thank you for your time.

I received a message from PixelFX about the digital audio. “If you do NOT route the wire. Audio will work in every game by default. However if the game offers DTS in the options menu (like ssx tricky) then this audio will not work when changed to DTS. It will work fine on the normal audio mode. On the slim, the toslink audio will work at the same time with the GEM.” From the above I assume it is possible to save the TOSLINK audio port on PS2 Fat Version if you know how to do it… Keep doing the great job you all do!!!

They have a compatibility list on their website, and I do not believe that this model is supported

@@LIRetroGaming You're correct. I just got a confirmation from Dan of PixelFX regarding the incompatability issue with such a model. According to him, there is a plan to add support for this model in the future.

There are a few scalers that can do a very good job with the ps2 including the Tink 5x/4k, the OSSC pro, and the Morph. If you have those scalers already then it would probably not be worth it to hdmi mod a ps2

@@LIRetroGaming I broke down, ordered the 5x pro and decided that i wont do any more of the intense soldering mods. Buying the 5x will allow me to have the benefit of multi consoles/home computers capable of achieving a pretty well perfect image, and based over the cost of the 5x the cost saving benefits spread across all the consoles makes for a cheap safe install

i can use one good shielded cable set up for RGB etc and i will make small adapters that fit into the source console, this will save the added expense of buying multiple cables., the cost of cables for all these consoles is not cheap @@LIRetroGaming

“Best” was just my subjective opinion, but you’re right that you can enjoy PS2 lots of different ways and for little money or even free. The important thing is to enjoy the games. I’m very happy with this mod on my personal console, but it’s only the “best” for me and not for everyone

It depends on how you are using the component cables. If they are connected to a premium scaler like the retrotink5x, then it should be very similar. But if they are going straight to the tv or to an OSSC, then this would look better

Yes its for all fat and slims

It is already available and I will make a video about that soon

@@LIRetroGaming Thank you for the info.

​​@@LIRetroGaminghaha use mine! ❤️ Be there tomorrow.

I think that was an issue with the tv itself, this old plasma tv is fine for testing but it’s video output is not great. I have not seen any video glitches since I started using it on my main tv

That sounds like a short between some of the RGB data lines. Use a multimeter to test for shorts between pins

This is definitely the kind of thing that a professional needs to do. I take these orders and you can always reach me at 1uprestorations.com

@@LIRetroGamingthank you I've been looking but everyone seems to skip or over look things when it comes to this beauty your a god send

It will work on a computer monitor as well

I hear you. The trimming is not necessary if you use a 50000 series ps2

I need to get a backwards compatible ps3 to compare, but I have heard from friends that the retro gem looks noticeably better than the ps3

@@LIRetroGaming Wouldn't surprise me. My PS2 connected to a Retrotink 5x looks noticeably sharper than my CECHA01 (although more noisy obviously). My guess is the deinterlacing algorithm Sony used back then simply wasn't as good as more modern methods.

​​​@@MichaelM28yeah the deinterlacing is comparable to a stable Bob Weave Blend. I will say sometimes I'll notice lines with motion adaptive they sneak in on the main character of say Sly or Jak. Where as Bob Blend Weave combo the shaking of the picture is a blurry but line free character. I have the A01 and E01 and man the E01 if the game is compatible is BETTER than Retro5X. But like I said compatibility is rough. Sometimes I wonder if the A01 deinterlacing is just a noisier version of motion adaptive.

Yes that’s what I did and the official install docs also stated that this is fine

@@LIRetroGaming how did you mixing lead free solder with leader solder? Where did you find the official instal instructions?

You don’t need to replace the crystal oscillator, but there’s a part number on the pixel fx retro gem documentation that can be used to replace the oscillator with a lower profile one

Yes it also works with ps1 games

I didn’t replace any capacitors. Those were original tantalum caps from the factory

@@LIRetroGaming no way, maybe someone else replaced them

Unfortunately no, there’s a compatibility list on the website

Not really possible. You can also get a RePS2 power supply from game tech usa

Not yet, but open ps2 loader works very well

Another excellent option for ps2 is to get quality component cables and connect it to a retrotink5x. It should look very similar to this and has no lag as well

@@LIRetroGaming do you know if SCART through an OSSC would look similar in quality?

i have learned that RGB SCART and Component look basically identical if both cables are high quality, huhh (very very slight color differences is all i could see between the two on an OSSC)

RGB SCART and component are equal in quality as long as you get good quality cables, and RGB is usually half the price compared to HD Retrovision cables. The OSSC can do a nice job, but it has limited deinterlacing options compared to the Gem

@@LIRetroGaming I've found RGC component cables for the same price that I've found high quality RGB synconluma SCART cables. Are HD Retrovision component cables better than those two?

Yes, I do these installations and you can reach me on my website

​@@LIRetroGaming what is the turnaround time?

Surprisingly, that is not the case. The 39000 series definitely uses leaded solder

@@LIRetroGaming that is indeed surprising. Didn't expect that.

The main advantage to the consumer is that the retro gem can more easily be adapted to work with other consoles, including the Xbox, Wii, nes, snes, genesis, and others. Hopefully this means that more direct hdmi mods will be available soon

Depends on how the component cables are made and how they are connected to the tv. Quality cables connected to a scaler like the tink5x will give you a similar result

You can see my rates at 1uprestorations.com

Really depends on your setup and both are great choices. If you really love a direct hdmi connection, then this is the way to go. But both options will work equally well

Yeah sorry about that

You can contact me at 1uprestorations.com and I can make one for you

I didn’t particularly care about the paywall because I thought $200 was fair for all of the features I was getting

funny how most people choose to see it as a "paywall" rather than viewing it as a $200 mod (which is a good price), with the OPTION to pay half, with the only downside being less features (so it's more accessible to more types of people/budgets)...

@@lolztony I think the issue people see, and I fully understand, is the advanced features are only enabled by software. As I understand it the hardware, and therefore production cost, is identical whether you get the basic or shiny edition. So its most definitely a bit of a cash grab to charge significantly more for the shiny edition as its clear it can be sold at a lower cost. The R&D is already done, so its not costing them anything more to produce. I'd almost feel better about it if they only had the shiny version at the higher cost. Actually, what may be better is to offer the retrogem basic as a one size fits all board at the lower cost and then develop console specific boards using the same technology (basically a custom board layout) that makes installation and fitment better that includes the shiny features at the more premium cost. For reference, I own their PS1 Digital, N64 Digital, and DC digital.

@@burgermeyer you see, this kind of response makes sense to a consumer, but it shows a massive ignorance to business. Just because something technically costs very little to produce does NOT mean you should pass that savings on to the consumer. For instance, intel could make a CPU for maybe $10 mass produced, but do you think it’d be profitable for them to sell for $20?? That makes no sense. Imagine all the overhead costs of running a business, manufacturing, and most importantly RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. Just because the research and development is “finished” doesn’t mean you need to sell at cost. Imagine being upset that an artist is selling a painting, that took them a week to paint, for $100, but you think it should only cost $15 (the cost of the paint). Also? You’re assuming that can sell at a lower cost just because they have the basic version at a lower cost, but that’s also a dangerous assumption. Most consoles are sold at a LOSS to the companies like Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, and they hope to make money on subscription and games. They have to make that money elsewhere in order to offset the losses. So going back to the GEM, it’s entirely possible that they wouldn’t be able to sell all of their kits at the basic price, because they could very well be losing money on those, but offsetting that loss by people upgrading to the shiny. I don’t expect the average consumer to know all of this, but at the very least try to think further than just your own perspective imo 🤷🏻‍♂️

@@lolztony yes, all of that could be true. but as a business they also need to keep the average consumer perception in mind. If consumers feel like they are getting screwed that's not good for business no matter how you justify it.

And that’s a perfectly awesome way to enjoy those games as well

Best comment ever. I have no idea what any of that meant, but hey why not let Ben Shapiro talk to Saddam in the spirit dimension?

I can do this install for you. Message me at my website 1uprestorations,com