Guide Configuring your PS2 portable for SD loading (79k models)

[Wesk]

For the latest version with updates and improvements click here: Click me!

With the recent advancements in SD loading for the PS2 it's now viable for portables to use this feature for booting games. I've been testing on my stock 79k model and found game compatibility to be fairly solid with over 80% of games I've tested running without issue.

Main thread here: PSX-Place thread
Github page: Open PS2 Loader
Current compatibility list: PS2 SD Loading Compatibility

There are benefits and drawbacks to this new way to load games:

Pros:
-Much simpler to setup compared to SMB.
-Does not require additional, power consuming hardware in your portable.
-Faster loading than USB, majority of FMV's run smoothly. (Kingdom Hearts FMV was the only one I've seen stutter)

Cons:
-Lower game compatibility compared to USB and SMB. (Still in beta, will improve over time)
-79k models have even lower compatibility due to a driver fault. (Will be fixed in time)
-FAT32 file size limits
-Beta OPL requires a "Magic Gate" certified memory card to run correctly.
-The current Beta OPL, patched for 75000's+ does not play well with VMC's and requires saving to a real memory card. (as of May 2022)

Requirements:
SD card formatted in FAT32 or exFAT with 16k clusters. (Samsung cards recommended)
A Magic Gate certified memory card.
A resistor anywhere between 50ohm and 100ohm (doesn't seem to be that fussy, helps with SD card detection)
Note: The MX4SIO card has to be in Slot-2/the second MC-slot!

Software Steps:
1) Install FreeMCBoot onto your official "Magic Gate" memory card. (Download)
2) Download the OPL folder and copy to the root of your memory card **mc0:/** using uLaunchELF.
3) Download the beta OPNPS2LD.ELF and copy to the boot folder **mc0:/boot/** using uLaunchELF and overwrite any existing file.
4) The custom version of OPL for SD loading should now appear on your FreeMCBoot start screen.

SD card wiring:

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As the software side of things continues to develop this guide will be subject to change. If you see any inaccuracies with this information let me know so I can update the information.

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[Customledmods]

Thank you

 

[limone79]

I used an sd card loader for my recent mod.
I can use the sd card loader in opl version 1.1 or later.
The save didn't work in pure opl(v1.1, beta 1.2).
In the patched opl, memory cards were usable.
vmc was not available in any version.

 

[Wesk]

In the patched opl, memory cards were usable.
vmc was not available in any version.

Updated main post to mention the VMC issues.

 

[Nold]

Important note: The MX4SIO card has to be in Slot-2/the second MC-slot!
Latest OPL Beta can be downloaded here: https://github.com/ps2homebrew/Open-PS2-Loader/releases/tag/latest

 

[Wesk]

Important note: The MX4SIO card has to be in Slot-2/the second MC-slot!
Latest OPL Beta can be downloaded here: https://github.com/ps2homebrew/Open-PS2-Loader/releases/tag/latest

Thanks Nold, I'll update the OP.

 

[Nold]

Another thing worth noting: SanDisk SD's are currently not supported
Source: https://www.psx-place.com/threads/m...d-sd-driver-for-the-ps2-sio2-interface.29210/

 

[Aurelio]

Another thing worth noting: SanDisk SD's are currently not supported
Source: https://www.psx-place.com/threads/m...d-sd-driver-for-the-ps2-sio2-interface.29210/

Classic SanDisk...

 

[Wesk]

Update for January 2023:

Thanks to the awesome devs over at PSX-Place there is a new and improved version of OPL for SD loading.

Link to post: OPL 1.2.0 BDM4 Download

Notable changes:
Virtual memory cards now work.
SD cards can now be formatted in exFAT, meaning you can load ISO's over 4GB.
Higher overall compatibility.

 

[Merk]

is there anyone willing to put together a more in depth guide or link to a video on getting this working on the sd card? Im not too familiar with free mcboot so im a bit lost.

 

[Stitches]

is there anyone willing to put together a more in depth guide or link to a video on getting this working on the sd card? Im not too familiar with free mcboot so im a bit lost.

If you have already bought/made a FMCB card, follow this guide but download the OPL version Wesk linked.
If you don't fancy wiring your own SD adapter, you can buy a pre-made one from AliExpress.

 

[sparky72712]

Wait wait wait did I just read you can install the opl files on the sd card??

 

[Merk]

If you have already bought/made a FMCB card, follow this guide but download the OPL version Wesk linked.
If you don't fancy wiring your own SD adapter, you can buy a pre-made one from AliExpress.

Thanks but i must be missing something. I have a SD adapter wired in with a samsung 64gb sd card formatted in exfat 16k. Ive also updated the OPL boot file, but no where do i get SD loader and nothing appears when i open OPL cept that it cannot detect a hard drive message.

 

[Stitches]

Troubleshooting that is beyond my knowledge I'm afraid

 

[Merk]

Im still having difficulty setting up OPL. Is there no one who has done a guide on this current OPL like what settings need changed and what format the games need to be in? Makes troubleshooting hard when i dont know if its the wiring, the adapter, my sd card, OPL settings, or my games not being formatted correctly. Most of the guides i see on YT are old or assume youre used to using OPL. I thought this was a neat mod, but has really turned into a nightmare setting up the games.

 

[Wesk]

Im still having difficulty setting up OPL. Is there no one who has done a guide on this current OPL like what settings need changed and what format the games need to be in? Makes troubleshooting hard when i dont know if its the wiring, the adapter, my sd card, OPL settings, or my games not being formatted correctly. Most of the guides i see on YT are old or assume youre used to using OPL. I thought this was a neat mod, but has really turned into a nightmare setting up the games.

OPL is it's own separate project with tons of threads on it over at PSX-place. Troubleshooting it is really beyond the scope of this thread. If you want to confirm if it's your wiring or not you're probably best using an MX4ISO memory card adapter.

 

[Merk]

Id normally agree, but when ya have nacho promoting the project and making it out to be something simple and easy (which the board mod is) it makes it a bit misleading. I would have never jumped into this project if i knew there'd be little to no guides setting up the games.

 

[Stitches]

Id normally agree, but when you have nacho promote the project making it out to be something simple and easy (which the board mod is) it makes it a bit misleading. I would have never jumped into this project if i knew there'd be little to no guides setting up the games.

As far as setting up the games and getting OPL to boot them, this tutorial should be accurate aside from the fact that you can now use exFAT as the SD card format.

I believe the manual "Block Devices" setting might be of interest here

 

[Wesk]

Id normally agree, but when you have nacho promote the project making it out to be something simple and easy (which the board mod is) it makes it a bit misleading. I would have never jumped into this project if i knew there'd be little to no guides setting up the games.

First of all, if you're discussing the PS2 Ultra Slim you're in the wrong thread.

Secondly, failure to properly research is nobody's fault but your own. Others have completed that project without issue. As I've already mentioned, OPL issues are best discussed and researched over at PSX-Place where the developers of the project reside. This thread is just to serve as a simple dump of information, not a complete knowledge base of every possible issue.

Finally, just because Tito made a video showcasing the project (Because he likes the project and not because "We had him promote it") doesn't mean we have to cater to every issue somebody comes across. We do these projects in our own time for fun and provide them to the public for free . Nobody here owes you anything.

 

[Merk]

I never said i was owed anything so why dont you quit putting words in my mouth. I simply asked a question and vented some of my frustrations. I asked for a guide since im not a programmer and can find it hard to understand some of the jargon whiling digging through hundreds of posts. Also i just followed a link from the Ultra Slim thread since this is the GUIDE to wiring and setup for the sd card which is where im stuck. So this thread seems like the most ideal place to ask my question, and when i said "you have nacho promoting the mod" i didnt mean you personally. Most of my frustration comes from trying to get the sd card to work, and that i find nacho didnt do a great job covering the mod. From the different variations of the 79001 mother boards, to excluding the OPL setup, and not disclosing that the clear case he used was 260 dollars. But anyway If ya didn't wanna help you could just ignore my post.

Anyway thanks stitches. I have that checked off already. I rechecked my wiring and it matches the photo. My games seem to be formatted correctly since they play just fine when i use the usb port. So im thinking has to be the sd card or adapter. Is there some sort of size restriction on the sd cards? Im trying to use a 64gb samsung Evo Select, i have it as a exfat with 16kb clusters.