Second Childhood with PS2?
Discussion
Now then compadres.
My mate and I want to set up with a gaming machine and both
being car loons in the early to mid 60s will be doing mostly driving stuff.
In the past, I've used CMR on PC with a very simple wheel/pedals
set but things have moved on and I'm thinking about a dedicated games kit
for use with a flatscreen.
Given I know seven times the sqaure root of Foxtrot Alpha about this gear, it
seems ot me that meeting the followng crteria would be best...
1: Cheap: hardware wrested from the penniless hands of spotty youths.
2: Reliable: and ready to go without the need for a Phd in anything.
3: Force wheel: Of some sort, I hear they're good at adding realism.
4: Non habit-forming.
So what's the griff?
My mate and I want to set up with a gaming machine and both
being car loons in the early to mid 60s will be doing mostly driving stuff.
In the past, I've used CMR on PC with a very simple wheel/pedals
set but things have moved on and I'm thinking about a dedicated games kit
for use with a flatscreen.
Given I know seven times the sqaure root of Foxtrot Alpha about this gear, it
seems ot me that meeting the followng crteria would be best...
1: Cheap: hardware wrested from the penniless hands of spotty youths.
2: Reliable: and ready to go without the need for a Phd in anything.
3: Force wheel: Of some sort, I hear they're good at adding realism.
4: Non habit-forming.
So what's the griff?
Hoofy said:
PS3s in Cex are from about £40. Get the slightly uprated slim model with the DVD slot at the front. The original versions seem to have heating issues.
You could pick up a used wheel on Ebay or from Cex for about £50 - I have the Logitech Driving Force GT (I'm sure the G29 etc are better but for the money I'm not complaining about this wheel). The GT5 game is about £3. That's all you really need if you want to enjoy virtual driving on the cheap.
GT5 has both the Top Gear test track and the Nordschleife. You can no longer race online, though.
That's great, Hoofy, thanks very much. You could pick up a used wheel on Ebay or from Cex for about £50 - I have the Logitech Driving Force GT (I'm sure the G29 etc are better but for the money I'm not complaining about this wheel). The GT5 game is about £3. That's all you really need if you want to enjoy virtual driving on the cheap.
GT5 has both the Top Gear test track and the Nordschleife. You can no longer race online, though.
It looks like the TOCA game might also be a must and I'll be on the lookout for CMR as well.
Watch this space...
Hoofy said:
Just get a cheapo PS2 and GT4 plus a reasonable wheel with pedals.
Have done, kind of. I found a PS3 on the local buy 'n' sell and just returned home, with a carrier bagful. It came with cables, a hand controller thingy and some discs, inc. LA Noir, Call of Duty MM3 and
a Blu ray disc of Beauty & The Beast. The box says CECH J03 on the back (released'07, according to some web site)
and the ad says the console runs well and is quiet.
I gave £25 for this and I'm on the look out for the right peripherals.
I'll be playing nicely before long.
Hi All,
Just a little update...and a question!
I've started playing nicely with my new-to-me PS3. I got hold of a copy of Colin Mc Crae Dirt
and have been trying it out. So far, in Rallyworld, it's been a destruction derby. I'm sure there
are kids out there practically siamesed to their gamepads but I find mine counterintuitive for a driving game.
Today, I 'won' a Logitech Driving Force GT Steering Wheel on eBay for just over £50 delivered so that'll help.
The question concerns an Academy Edition of Gran Turismo 5 I got for peanuts. I started doing the loading
procedure but after a while, the PS would shut down inexplicably. Now, if I skip past the loading thing,
the PS shuts down when I try to start things off. Afterwards, it goes through its check 'n' fix exercise and restarts
I've already connected the PS up to my router and the software update seemed to work perfectly.
As I know nothing of the history of my PS, I'm using the format utility now so the whole 40Gb should be available
when it's finished.
Any ideas on this glitch anyone? Ta.
Just a little update...and a question!
I've started playing nicely with my new-to-me PS3. I got hold of a copy of Colin Mc Crae Dirt
and have been trying it out. So far, in Rallyworld, it's been a destruction derby. I'm sure there
are kids out there practically siamesed to their gamepads but I find mine counterintuitive for a driving game.
Today, I 'won' a Logitech Driving Force GT Steering Wheel on eBay for just over £50 delivered so that'll help.
The question concerns an Academy Edition of Gran Turismo 5 I got for peanuts. I started doing the loading
procedure but after a while, the PS would shut down inexplicably. Now, if I skip past the loading thing,
the PS shuts down when I try to start things off. Afterwards, it goes through its check 'n' fix exercise and restarts
I've already connected the PS up to my router and the software update seemed to work perfectly.
As I know nothing of the history of my PS, I'm using the format utility now so the whole 40Gb should be available
when it's finished.
Any ideas on this glitch anyone? Ta.
Edited by davhill on Monday 24th February 22:59
Hoofy said:
Is it the older version of the PS3? Does it beep three times before crashing? These were known for heating problems. Can you get your money back? Otherwise, you could take it apart and clear out the dust and renew the heat sink paste (IIRC).
Re gamepad vs wheel, if you're playing online (I don't think you can for the two games you mentioned), anyone who has a wheel (most players!) will dominate over anyone just using a gamepad.
Thanks Hoofy,Re gamepad vs wheel, if you're playing online (I don't think you can for the two games you mentioned), anyone who has a wheel (most players!) will dominate over anyone just using a gamepad.
I'm not playing online and I've heard of this heat issue. I ran the self-clean last night but have yet to try the system again.
Yes, it is 3x beep and shutdown. It was a facebook sell 'n' seek deal so I can't get a refund and it is an older model, '07 release
according to the 'net. I've doen the heatsink paste job before, on a laptop...I think exploratory surgery is needed.
Strangely, it seems to run the Dirt disc without problems but I've noticed it seems happier standing upright anyway.
Do you think an older version of the GT game (mine's No. 5) would place less of a demand?
Anyway, the wheel is en route
Sitrep!
I did some checking and found out that while GT5 is a demanding game for the console, LA Noir (which came with mine) will kill it
in seconds. It seems the game's author forgot to include a line about fan speed.
Testing last night, I proved that GT5 puts the machine into overheat crash status the moment the disc tries to start. Yet
Dirt runs happily every time.
Perhaps more importantly, either no-one has ever been into my PS3 or someone's done an excellent job of removing the void sticker
unscathed and putting it back. If this is the case and if my PS3 really is an '07 release, it'll be tuffed to the gunwales with fluff and dust
and the thermal paste on the chips will make Tutankhamun look sweaty.
So, some paste and isopropyl alcohol are on their way.
I did some checking and found out that while GT5 is a demanding game for the console, LA Noir (which came with mine) will kill it
in seconds. It seems the game's author forgot to include a line about fan speed.
Testing last night, I proved that GT5 puts the machine into overheat crash status the moment the disc tries to start. Yet
Dirt runs happily every time.
Perhaps more importantly, either no-one has ever been into my PS3 or someone's done an excellent job of removing the void sticker
unscathed and putting it back. If this is the case and if my PS3 really is an '07 release, it'll be tuffed to the gunwales with fluff and dust
and the thermal paste on the chips will make Tutankhamun look sweaty.
So, some paste and isopropyl alcohol are on their way.
Well the things we do for fun!
I just stripped my PS3 because it began crashing with an overheat warning just seconds after being switched on.
Despite being a klutz with electronics, I reckon I've found the problems.
Here's one...
This gives an idea of the amount of dust and crap lurking inside the machine. No wonder the self
clean function hardly touched it.
And here's the prime suspect...
Thermal paste? More like thermal chalk really. The pic of the heatsink shows how much contact
there is at the moment. No wonder it was getting upset.
I'm at the ready with isopropyl alcohol and a tube of Arctic Silver 5!
Just an aside. My Logtech GT wheel and pedals showed up so I've been testing.
I found out the hard way that the wheel does a dual full rotation when first plugged in.
My natural reaction was to grab the wheel so the cables got plaited.
Been trying it with CM Dirt, none too succesfully. To date, I have no gears (paddles or stick) so no reverse
and all the fine directional control of a Routemaster bus. Nevertheless, I have brakes and a go pedal.
I've seen roughly what to tweak but what on earth is steering saturation? Do I need a bucket of water?
It's a learning curve and no mistake.
I just stripped my PS3 because it began crashing with an overheat warning just seconds after being switched on.
Despite being a klutz with electronics, I reckon I've found the problems.
Here's one...
This gives an idea of the amount of dust and crap lurking inside the machine. No wonder the self
clean function hardly touched it.
And here's the prime suspect...
Thermal paste? More like thermal chalk really. The pic of the heatsink shows how much contact
there is at the moment. No wonder it was getting upset.
I'm at the ready with isopropyl alcohol and a tube of Arctic Silver 5!
Just an aside. My Logtech GT wheel and pedals showed up so I've been testing.
I found out the hard way that the wheel does a dual full rotation when first plugged in.
My natural reaction was to grab the wheel so the cables got plaited.
Been trying it with CM Dirt, none too succesfully. To date, I have no gears (paddles or stick) so no reverse
and all the fine directional control of a Routemaster bus. Nevertheless, I have brakes and a go pedal.
I've seen roughly what to tweak but what on earth is steering saturation? Do I need a bucket of water?
It's a learning curve and no mistake.
Well, Bulwarks, as they often say in the Royal Navy.
Pardon my profanity but after three nights' arsing
about with my PS3, I think I've been sold a pup...
it's interesting that the seller has disappeared off the facebook sales page.
Here's my M.O....
1: Warm up void sticker and remove unscated.
2: Take the console to bits, revealing tons of dust and crap, I've seen
cleaner underbeds.
3: Clean the mainboard and daughterboard with a soft, non-synthetic brush.
4: Frequently touch the chassis of the nearby PC to lose static charge.
5: Take plastic bits into garage and clean with brush and air from compressor.
6: Clean the duff thermal paste off the chips and heatsinks with isopropyl alcohol. Polish.
7: Rebuild machine - won't power up.
8: Part strip - re-seat front ribbon cable - powers up now but USB ports dead.
9: Part strip again and re-seat ribbon again. All working with covers loose.
10: Close up, fire up and try CM Dirt - working fine.
11: By the way, replace coin cell.
And so we go on to the software bit. I'll tell you what I've done...
Return to ground zero, redo network.
1: Rebuild file system - many times.
2: Get Sony update.
3. Go into safe mode again and rebuild database.
3a: Format storage.
4: Try Dirt again for 30 mins.
5: Wait to plunge into Kielder raceway for first time and BeeBeeBeep - overheat shutdown.
And now...
Try to run GT5 from disc and drive the Audi TT - didn't load, just hung.
Try to load GT5 data from disc...over an hour - hangs.
Reinstall GT5 from scratch and update - success!
Try to run GT5 BeeBeeBeep.
Try to load GT5 data - again - success.
Try to run GT5 BeeBeeBeep.
Try to run GT5 BeeBeeBeep....
Try to run GT5 BeeBeeBeep. - and so on.
It's bloody strange. The console hardly seems to be overheating. Sometimes, the exhaust air
is cool. At other times it's warm but the machine isn't really breathing fire. It's almost as if there's a
bad line in the software giving false overheat alarms.
As you might have guessed, I'm Mr. Patient but much more of this
and I'll become a patient.
Soo, I think I'll keep trying Dirt so as to calibrate the wheel/pedals.
If all else fails, as I suspect, I can take advantage of living in a rural area...
plenty of shotguns hereabouts.
Pardon my profanity but after three nights' arsing
about with my PS3, I think I've been sold a pup...
it's interesting that the seller has disappeared off the facebook sales page.
Here's my M.O....
1: Warm up void sticker and remove unscated.
2: Take the console to bits, revealing tons of dust and crap, I've seen
cleaner underbeds.
3: Clean the mainboard and daughterboard with a soft, non-synthetic brush.
4: Frequently touch the chassis of the nearby PC to lose static charge.
5: Take plastic bits into garage and clean with brush and air from compressor.
6: Clean the duff thermal paste off the chips and heatsinks with isopropyl alcohol. Polish.
7: Rebuild machine - won't power up.
8: Part strip - re-seat front ribbon cable - powers up now but USB ports dead.
9: Part strip again and re-seat ribbon again. All working with covers loose.
10: Close up, fire up and try CM Dirt - working fine.
11: By the way, replace coin cell.
And so we go on to the software bit. I'll tell you what I've done...
Return to ground zero, redo network.
1: Rebuild file system - many times.
2: Get Sony update.
3. Go into safe mode again and rebuild database.
3a: Format storage.
4: Try Dirt again for 30 mins.
5: Wait to plunge into Kielder raceway for first time and BeeBeeBeep - overheat shutdown.
And now...
Try to run GT5 from disc and drive the Audi TT - didn't load, just hung.
Try to load GT5 data from disc...over an hour - hangs.
Reinstall GT5 from scratch and update - success!
Try to run GT5 BeeBeeBeep.
Try to load GT5 data - again - success.
Try to run GT5 BeeBeeBeep.
Try to run GT5 BeeBeeBeep....
Try to run GT5 BeeBeeBeep. - and so on.
It's bloody strange. The console hardly seems to be overheating. Sometimes, the exhaust air
is cool. At other times it's warm but the machine isn't really breathing fire. It's almost as if there's a
bad line in the software giving false overheat alarms.
As you might have guessed, I'm Mr. Patient but much more of this
and I'll become a patient.
Soo, I think I'll keep trying Dirt so as to calibrate the wheel/pedals.
If all else fails, as I suspect, I can take advantage of living in a rural area...
plenty of shotguns hereabouts.
Good plan, Hoofy, thanks!
It seems I'm looking at some tweaks. I understand it's called 'modding'.
First, though the processor/heatsink/paste bit is as factory as I can make it, I didn't know there were
some 'cooling' pads on the mainboard that I didn't replace. It seems I can
buy the pad material to cut to size.
Second, one bloke has drilled holes in a circle below the fan to improve airflow. Might help.
Third, software. An outfit/person called 'Webman' has developed a fan control utility
that can tell you the processors' temperature and supercharge the fan.
I must admit, the fan in mine isn't running conspicuously fast.
Sooo, i'm on the case. I knew that mine wasn't the only PS3 misbehaving like this.
As well as being Mr. Patient, I can go into another mode, Mr. Terrier. In this, I won't let
the thing go until it's fixed or f
ked !
It seems I'm looking at some tweaks. I understand it's called 'modding'.
First, though the processor/heatsink/paste bit is as factory as I can make it, I didn't know there were
some 'cooling' pads on the mainboard that I didn't replace. It seems I can
buy the pad material to cut to size.
Second, one bloke has drilled holes in a circle below the fan to improve airflow. Might help.
Third, software. An outfit/person called 'Webman' has developed a fan control utility
that can tell you the processors' temperature and supercharge the fan.
I must admit, the fan in mine isn't running conspicuously fast.
Sooo, i'm on the case. I knew that mine wasn't the only PS3 misbehaving like this.
As well as being Mr. Patient, I can go into another mode, Mr. Terrier. In this, I won't let
the thing go until it's fixed or f
ked !I've been a bit dstracted so here's the latest on the fun and (very few) gams with my PS3.
I'm still getting the overheat crashing with GT5 and a little of it with Dirt. In fact, once, the machine was
on and doing absolutely nothing but it still did the 3x beep and shut down.
Research into the fan controlling programme brought nothing so I looked elsewhere.
On PSX place, someone pointed out that there is a thermal transfer material in an unexpected spot.
What you think are the processeors and where you replace the thermal paste are not the processors,
what you see on top of each is called an IHS (Internal Heat Spreader).
The same person also pointed out that if the thermal paste on top of these is aged and chalky (as mine was),
it suggests that what's underneath is equally tatered from old age and use.
The process to solve this is called 'delidding' and it's quite a palaver. The IHSes are glued drectly on to the
processors and removal involves pushing (or even tapping) a single edged razor blade through the glue and then levering
the IHS up and off. There's also a tool called the IHS Buster but I've yet to track one down...it was described as 'new' in 2012
Here's what lifting the IHSes reveals.
These have been cleaned up and the squares in the centre of each are the actual chips.
So, what to put on?. Some swear by Arctic Silver 5 and they may be right. Others refer to a liquid
metal product, such as Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut Liquid Metal Thermal Compound Paste - yours for £8.46 for a one gramme tube!
Applying this is a proper palaver, especially as it's conductive. Suffice it to say that one of the How To videos is a 1hr 53 min opus.
So I'm torn. My PS3 is almost useless as it is and I can't even install GT5 . Then again, if I try the above and knacker a processor,my console's history.
This brings me to my Logitech Driving Force GT wheel/pedals kit. Of course, I can only use it with Dirt but I can't get anywhere near
an acceptable setup. I've fiddled with the linearity, saturation and so on but the bottom line is that I'm simply not in control, steering wise.
So I mailed Logitech, who kindly replied. No, they don't have a manual for the GT setup and my wheel is 'rather old'. So, I asked if the manual for a younger wheel and they sent me an info link for the GT 29 and 290 but no mnaual.
So, it's all very frustrating and it's just a well I like a challenge!
I'm still getting the overheat crashing with GT5 and a little of it with Dirt. In fact, once, the machine was
on and doing absolutely nothing but it still did the 3x beep and shut down.
Research into the fan controlling programme brought nothing so I looked elsewhere.
On PSX place, someone pointed out that there is a thermal transfer material in an unexpected spot.
What you think are the processeors and where you replace the thermal paste are not the processors,
what you see on top of each is called an IHS (Internal Heat Spreader).
The same person also pointed out that if the thermal paste on top of these is aged and chalky (as mine was),
it suggests that what's underneath is equally tatered from old age and use.
The process to solve this is called 'delidding' and it's quite a palaver. The IHSes are glued drectly on to the
processors and removal involves pushing (or even tapping) a single edged razor blade through the glue and then levering
the IHS up and off. There's also a tool called the IHS Buster but I've yet to track one down...it was described as 'new' in 2012
Here's what lifting the IHSes reveals.
These have been cleaned up and the squares in the centre of each are the actual chips.
So, what to put on?. Some swear by Arctic Silver 5 and they may be right. Others refer to a liquid
metal product, such as Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut Liquid Metal Thermal Compound Paste - yours for £8.46 for a one gramme tube!
Applying this is a proper palaver, especially as it's conductive. Suffice it to say that one of the How To videos is a 1hr 53 min opus.
So I'm torn. My PS3 is almost useless as it is and I can't even install GT5 . Then again, if I try the above and knacker a processor,my console's history.
This brings me to my Logitech Driving Force GT wheel/pedals kit. Of course, I can only use it with Dirt but I can't get anywhere near
an acceptable setup. I've fiddled with the linearity, saturation and so on but the bottom line is that I'm simply not in control, steering wise.
So I mailed Logitech, who kindly replied. No, they don't have a manual for the GT setup and my wheel is 'rather old'. So, I asked if the manual for a younger wheel and they sent me an info link for the GT 29 and 290 but no mnaual.
So, it's all very frustrating and it's just a well I like a challenge!
Hoofy said:
Not sure what the problem is with your wheel. I have it and have had a lot of fun on Dirt with it.
It's like driving a real car with a worn out steering rack. The response is slow and and so it feels like the steering is very undergeared - far too much input is needed to make the screen car respond.
Thank you sparks_190e,
That's probably a very good idea. I only paid £25 for my phatty but I really think he sold me a toaster.
I can't find a slim on CEX for anything like £40 but there are loads on eBay. By the time I've broken the processors,
arsed about with pricey thermal compounds and spend ages on the thing, it'd probably work out cheaper.
So, is there a particular CECH number that's better than the others and should I be seeking a partcular HD size?
Hmm. Any market for used phatty innards?
That's probably a very good idea. I only paid £25 for my phatty but I really think he sold me a toaster.
I can't find a slim on CEX for anything like £40 but there are loads on eBay. By the time I've broken the processors,
arsed about with pricey thermal compounds and spend ages on the thing, it'd probably work out cheaper.
So, is there a particular CECH number that's better than the others and should I be seeking a partcular HD size?
Hmm. Any market for used phatty innards?
OK gents, Approaching buying mode now. I've decided on a PS3 Slim
and it'll come from eBay. I have a few Qs as follows...
Phats are plagued by overheating. What about Slims?
Do Slims have the self-actuating 'VOID' sticker?
Anything else that bothers Slims?
Are there any dead giveaway questions to ask eBay sellers?
Is it worth biting the bullet and getting a Super Slim?
Thank you, I hope your answers will prevent my buying another pup.
and it'll come from eBay. I have a few Qs as follows...
Phats are plagued by overheating. What about Slims?
Do Slims have the self-actuating 'VOID' sticker?
Anything else that bothers Slims?
Are there any dead giveaway questions to ask eBay sellers?
Is it worth biting the bullet and getting a Super Slim?
Thank you, I hope your answers will prevent my buying another pup.
Edited by davhill on Saturday 14th March 23:01
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