thinking of getting a PSP, need advice

[Yuri-G]

like the title says, thinking of getting a PSP, need advice. specifically, I'm not sure which model to get, and whether I should go used or new.

basically I am planning on pirating the living shit out of this system, and I've been told that the newer PSPs are a lot harder to do that with. I've also been told that the newer ones are still fairly easy to emulate on, however - it's just hard to get actual PSP games on it.

if this is true, I wouldn't mind getting an older one, since they'd be cheaper anyway. but is there any danger in buying a used or refurbished PSP? I'm wondering what the chances are that the firmware would be updated to the current version, which, as I understand it, would make buying an older PSP just as useless as buying a new one.

anyone who has a PSP and has pirated games on it, how easy was it, and what advice do you have for me? obviously with forum rules the way they are, I'm not asking you to link me to some roms, just curious as to how this whole thing goes down. I've heard over and over that the PSP is heaven for piracy and emulation, but I'm not sure how true that is.

so yeah, I'm just looking for opinions and advice from people who actually own them. and yes, that means you, Atreides

[Elcura]

From what I found out, the psp-1000s (fat ones) and 2000 (early slim) are the best for cfw and emulation etc. You definitely want something with earlier ofw (5.00 and below) so at the very least, try to get something with 5.03 (which is used to install cfw).

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/a...PSP-mobo-1.png

Best to figure out what mobo the psp you're buying has (look around to figure it out). In anycase, I think they'll crack the new psps and firmware soon, so regardless of what you buy you'll be able to emulate. There's another topic about psp cfw that's worth looking at as well. Should be on page 1 further down.

I'm personally glad I kept my first generation psp (fat).

[The_OG_Nelta]

Friend has 3000 and its hacked already. Just no clue how he did it.

[Yuri-G]

oh wow that chart is awesome, thanks! I'll check out that other topic as well. definitely looks like an older PSP is the way to go, for now anyway.

[Draylo]

Anyone know if the new CFW was made or not? :< I wanna play disgaea 2 already.

[Kaisha]

Just can't have firmware over 5.50 for most software exploits, which is what's needed for most 2000 models, and all 3000.

[Yuri-G]

so basically... a fat model is best, otherwise, firmware absolutely needs to be 5.03 and below, preferrably 3.5 or less.

I also did a little googling and found out how to tell from the box if it's good for hacking or not. so all I need to figure out now is, does gamestop upgrade the firmware when they sell used PSPs? I'll have to ask, I guess. or buy a new old PSP, if they have them.

[Cyn]

The very first slim would be best I'd think. There really were a lot of improvements for the slims, like... a d-pad that does not completely suck, and video out. I have a fat though, but it's not modded. I don't really have a problem purchasing the things I want to play.

[Atreides]

pretty sure when gamestop gets a psp they just resell it, so it'll have whatever firmware the person who traded it in installed.

the only issue you might have is with a refurbished one since those are sent out of the store, but I don't know if gamestop's refurbishing service upgrades the firmware either.

If anything you should just be able to ask the people in the store to let you check, as long as they're not too busy. Worst case, you have 7 days to return any used/refurbished product for full credit, so long as you haven't bricked it by modding it, although even then you could probably lie and get your money back.

The very first slim would be best I'd think. There really were a lot of improvements for the slims, like... a d-pad that does not completely suck, and video out. I have a fat though, but it's not modded. I don't really have a problem purchasing the things I want to play.

oh and video out is WAY overrated, as you need an HDTV for it to work even though it doesn't display in HD and doesnt even use the whole screen, and the cables stick in the bottom and make it so you have to sit close to the TV and hold the psp in a weird position ;/

I have a psp-3000 and I kinda regret not getting at least a 2000 so I could mod it. Hopefully they'll figure out some way of reliably modding the 3000, someday ;/

[Cyn]

Yeah it's more the issue of the d-pad for me. I pretty much refuse to buy fighting games simply because it's an exercise in frustration with the fat PSP d-pad. Thing is pretty much only useful for going through menus, perish the thought of even getting a QCF out of it reliably.

[Yuri-G]

yeah, the gamestop I just went to, the guy was a fucking idiot. nice but had no clue what I was talking about, no idea if the firmware gets replaced or updated when they're refurbished, and was too busy to let me look at one.

there's another, closer gamestop though, and they're much smaller. plus one of the guys who works there usually recognizes me since we chat about RPGs once in a while. so I'll try that one when I get a chance, I think I'll have better luck there.

seems like a slim 2000 or a fat is the way to go. I'll have to do more digging.

[Metah]

You can usually tell by the serial code on the back of the box if a PSP is moddable. I did mod my 2000 PSP, which was a God of War PSP in particular. If you can find any God of War or similar kind of bundle PSP (not Dissidia or Rachet and Clank I think) you should be able to mod it.

Someone mentioned earlier that some 3000s are hackable, indeed it appears to be that way as of late. I also have a friend with a hacked 3000, he said it only became hackable on some of the models as of June or July. I'd recommend just waiting for the 3000 to become more reliably hacked if you can't find a hackable PSP, just because all the PSP games are still gonna be there even if it is a few months or so down the road.

[Kaisha]

oh and video out is WAY overrated, as you need an HDTV for it to work even though it doesn't display in HD and doesnt even use the whole screen, and the cables stick in the bottom and make it so you have to sit close to the TV and hold the psp in a weird position ;/

Last I checked in store there was a composite-out cable released by Sony at some point for use on 480i displays.

At any rate, anyone here got a good site that details all the innards of the PSP? I need to tear mine open completely to find out what's killing off my control input, which is preventing me from even turning on my PSP. I'm assuming it's a badly soldered wire since I've had two instances where it started accepting input again and played for a bit.

[Zumi]

With the fat you can install 5.00 m33-6 (plays almost all the new games) and the 1.5 addon which is needed from some of the older emulators if you are in to that. But the slim 2000 has some exclusive newer emulators that take advantage of the extra ram. Like for example you can run a CPS3 emulator which isn't possible on the 1000, but nobody really would want to play SF3 on a PSP would they.

I had the 1000 myself which is great for what I use it for.

Actually the 3000 has been hacked as well only problem is you can't save the firmware to the flash chip. The CFW is just loaded into the RAM which means every time you turn it off you have to reinstall the CFW since it will reboot to standard firmware. Which is why most people avoid 3000 cause its annoying to use.

[lilfoo]

These posts are not quite correct.

As it currently stands you can mod ANY psp permanently/partially if it has OFW 5.03 or less and any pandora PSP (the some 2000 and all 1000) if it has OFW 5.50 or less.

And before people start whining about bricking a PSP. installing a CFW can brick a PSP if you're stupid.

So tl;dr Get any PSP that has OFW 5.03 or less and save your self a ton of trouble.

Edit: 3000's are not permanently hackable yet. but they have CFW that simulates it. (i.e. it will never fully shut down) sorry my mistake.

[toonces]

Also PSP 2000 and 3000 can be connected to the TV.. yea yea there is addons for that stuff but you need to use you rlaptop and stream it... one cable and your done beats that.

[Atreides]

Last I checked in store there was a composite-out cable released by Sony at some point for use on 480i displays.

At any rate, anyone here got a good site that details all the innards of the PSP? I need to tear mine open completely to find out what's killing off my control input, which is preventing me from even turning on my PSP. I'm assuming it's a badly soldered wire since I've had two instances where it started accepting input again and played for a bit.

yes they did, but the composite out cable can only be used for UMD movies and pictures/movies stored on memory stick. In order to play a game you need the component cable, which is really dumb.

[volcanicweather]

Yuri if you get a PSP I can get an acquaintance of mine to hack it for you since we both live in Uptown if I remember correctly. I have a 1000 fat I got off of craigslist for super cheap and in great condition, I'd look there first honestly - much cheaper than gamestop.

[Jefe]

There's nothing like a Slim 2k. Idk what I'd do w/o my baby. My gf has a Phat and I hate that shit, it's big as a fucking brick, no joke. Also, unlike Slims, Phat's can't be USB charged not to mention Slims have more RAM ;o

[Kiarax]

Yeah, you most definitely want a 2000 if you can get one. Obviously an original fat PSP will be better than an unhackable one, but if the choice is there 2000 is the way to go.