Models

The models can be broken up into a 2x4 matrix:

The abbreviations PSX1 and PSX2 do exist within the code to differentiate between the hardware revisions.

The main things of interest to us:

• The "Low cost" models (5x00) have a plain glossy white top cover, with the PSX logo recessed. The 7x00 models have a glass / perspex style cover over a blue / grey PS2 style logo, and a grey / silver section for the "top" LEDs.
  • The 7x00 models are definitely better looking to my eye.
• The 5x00 models have 160 GB drives, the 7x00 models have 250 GB drives.
• The "update" models have very minor hardware changes, but do ship newer OS versions for that Revision.
• There are some minor changes to several different parts of the PSX on the second revision:
  • The 7500/7700 specifically adds an IEEE 1394 port (for "dubbing" video from a DV camera)
  • The PSX2 added an FPGA / dedicated encoder board that is either only used with software 2.11, or only functional the x700 models, to encode video for the PSP.
  • The PSX2 software does not function without a valid DVR partition on disk, whereas a PSX1 will mostly work with a normal PS2 drive.

Common faults

• The DVD-R laser is very likely to be dead on almost all used units.
  • The system uses the DVD-R laser first to check if there is a disc inserted, and what type. If this laser is dead, which they often are, the system does not "fall back" to using the PS2 laser, it just ignores the disc.
  • This laser can be replaced, but there are several variants, and all but the correct one will either blow a fuse or burn up the cable. The laser was used in certain other DVR models, but they are increasingly difficult to find.
  • FMCB and PSBBL both tell the system to use the PS2 laser instead, allowing the system to read PS2 discs if the DVR laser is dead.
• The PS2 laser can burn out.
  • This laser is a much more common PS2 laser, as used in the SCPH-5000x models, and can be swapped as easily.
• The Hard Drive can die.
  • As the hard drive is going to be about 20 years old at this point, it's quite likely to be worn out. It may be completely dead, or have dead sectors.
  • This is more of an issue, as the hard drive can only be replaced like for like.
  • The official PS2/PSX hard drives (40GB/160GB/250GB) shipped with customised firmware that gave it some additional commands, including a secondary serial number / unique ID. The DVRP (and it's separate DVR_SPEED chip) queries this on startup, and very often, and if it's not there will refuse to use the drive.
  • An IDE emulator exists that can emulate this ID function: https://3do.dev/products/copy-of-ide-emulator-batch2 however as of writing these boards have not shipped yet.
  • The disk is fully encrypted, like the PS3. However, the only unique part of the key is the above ID, so a working drive can be swapped between two units of the same family (x000/x1000 and x500/x700), and of the same firmware, without issue. (Swapping between firmware or hardware versions is purely a compatibility issue)
  • As the data on the disk is encrypted to that specific drive, a block-level image (created with HDD Raw Copy, or dd / ddrescue etc.) is basically useless, other than for restoring back to a PSX's drive. The HDD ID can be extracted using a command, but at the moment the encryption method is not known.
  • A PS2 40GB HDD may be used with the early models (DESR-x000/x100), but this means that the DVR partition (above the 40GB boundary) doesn't exist, so video recording won't work.
    • This will not work on the PSX2 as the DVRP refuses to work without the DVR partition.
    • A DVRP partition may be created on a 40GB drive, and this may enable a PSX2's XMB again. It is not clear if this has been tested or not, however.
  • The system is usable without any of the DVR functions, as a "soft-modded" PS2 without the drive. A normal IDE drive still won't work.

Things to be aware of

In addition to the common faults above;

• The power supply officially only supports 100V (not 110V)
  • However, it seems to work fine with 110V.
  • Some users have successfully modded the DESR-x500/x700 power supplies to work with 220V/230V.
    • This involves replacing the big capacitor, the big diode on the output stage, and removing a zener diode.
      • The zener was an over-voltage cut off, the capacitor needs to be upgraded for the higher voltage, and the output diode is precautionary.
    • Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20190403021905/http://assemblergames.com/threads/psx-desr-7700-power-supply-220-v-mod.68025/
    • I've seen a handful of reports that this mod has been successful.
  • The power supply just outputs 12V, with no signalling. It can be replaced with either a "open frame" or "desktop" power supply, given that it'll fit. Keep in mind that the existing power supply does not use a ground pin on the AC input, so I would recommend that you use a replacement power supply that's the same.
    • On the DESR-x500/x700 models at least, the two pins closest to the fan are GND, and the other two closest to the front of the unit are +12V.
    • From my testing, my DESR-7500, with a sticker indicating 84W (12V 7A), seems to pull about 4A (48W) peak. The 84W may be while recording, or it may be accounting for conversion losses.
    • There is a project to create a DC to PSX power supply board - this will allow you to remove the old power supply and run it from a 12V DC supply of your choosing.
    • The "through pin" connector used on the power supply seems to be a "Molex 0010021042 (CONN RCPT 4POS 0.2 TIN PCB)".
• Since it's a Japanese games console, it only supports NTSC-J video out (and in).
  • It will attempt to capture PAL video inputs, but it looks how "PAL treated like NTSC" usually looks (i.e. no colour and image roll).
  • You will need an NTSC-J capable (NTSC may be enough) capture card or display.
• Since it's a Japanese home video device, it's component video output is via D-Terminal.
  • D-Terminal is Component video with some limited signalling to indicate to the receiving end the number of lines, if interlacing is used, and the aspect ratio.
  • Cables are available (usually for little cost) that break this out to normal Component over RCA.
  • The Composite and S-Video outputs should work fine to start with, however.
• Since it's a DVR, it's default state once booted is a video input.
  • Functionally speaking, that means that the system will show an initial "PSX" blue cold-boot splash screen, then a black screen with a little spinner in the top right corner (similar to the early PS3s), and finally a black or static screen once it's done.
  • Once it's finished booting, you can press X to "back out" of the playback to the XMB. Similar to the PS3, the XMB shows over the content, so going into a settings menu will stop "playback" and show a conventional wall paper.
  • The channel/video input is remembered as long as the device has power - it remembers between reboots.
• You do not need the DESR-10 PSX specific controller, at all.
  • The front panel buttons (under the fold down door) can (in a limited fashion) navigate the system.
  • The bundled remote control (RMT-P002J) can navigate the menus.
  • A USB Keyboard (either alone, as a combination device, or through a hub) can also navigate the menus.
  • Any normal PS2 controller can navigate the menus, including third party ones. There may be a requirement that it's in Port 1 for it to work.
    • Some third party controllers may not behave correctly.
  • The DESR-10 is a completely vanilla PS2 DualShock2 controller, but in white, and with a longer cable to account for being plugged into the back of the unit (and presumably run behind and out a TV cabinet).
• Since it's an analogue TV DVR, it has no raison d'être anymore
  • However, if you have older consoles with NTSC VHF/UHF output, this would allow you to capture the video, if it's within the Japanese TV frequencies.
  • Similarly, it can still capture composite and S-Video inputs fine.
• Since this is a digital media product from the early 2000s, it's a bit painful with giving you access to media.
  • I don't believe you can just stick in a USB drive and copy your video off the PSX. IIRC the only official way was to:
    • Play it (and capture it?)
    • Record it to a DVD-R (and this may have been limited to certain DVD-Rs(?))
    • Transfer it to a MemoryStick in PSP format (which is 480x272 resolution), on PSX2s.
  • There is another way, but we'll get into that later.
• Since this is a Japanese PlayStation, X is back / no and O is go / yes.
• Finally, since this device was only sold to the Japanese domestic market, everything in is in Japanese
  • Several translations exist, both of manuals and of the internal software.
  • The software translations replace system files, so you need the applicable ones specific to your model and firmware.
    • In some circumstances, these community translations may break the firmware entirely or remove menus. The author has not tested these translations.
    • The files containing the language strings are just XML or plain text files, so you can edit those files and replace phrases with English.
• Contrary to what a certain YouTuber said, the PSX does not support running PSP games.

Out of the box

If you've just received your PSX, congratulations! You've joined the moderately exclusive club of "Owners of Oddball Japanese Exclusive Hardware", your membership card is in the mail.

Once you've unpacked your new-to-you PSX, there's a few things you may want to check:

• The system, originally, shipped with:
  • The PSX itself
  • The front door installed onto the front of the unit
  • The "cable guide" or cover for the back of the unit
  • The remote control (RMT-P001 (PSX1) or RMT-P002J (PSX2))
  • An AC cable (IEC C7 type, with Japan / US style AC connector)
  • A standard yellow-white-red RCA composite video cable
  • What looks like an F-Type antenna cable
  • The usual booklets.
  • Hopefully you have the first four items!
    • Note that neither the DESR-10 controller, or a memory card was supplied.
• The PSX should not make any significant rattling noise when shaken gently.
• The PSX should have the two grey / silver side panels fitted.
  • These side panels, and the mounting rails they attach to have been seen removed. They are not necessary for function, and removal may improve airflow.
• Check for any signs of water damage (residue markings, deeper-than-surface rust on the metal behind the connectors on the back).
• Check for the warranty sticker. It should be present over a screw hole on the bottom, closest to the right hand side of the unit.
  • If it's absent, make a judgement call on opening the device to confirm if everything is inside where it should be.
  • These devices are very intricate and there are several examples of people buying someone else's project, and end up getting an unusable device.
• It is recommended to open the console and dump the hard drive; opening the unit (and dumping the drive) is covered in a later section.
  • If you're confident and experienced, it may be worth disassembling the unit more to check for water / capacitor damage, but the system is very complex so this is not recommended unless you know there is an issue.
  • On my unit there are five "modules" on the bottom half and at least 10 flat-flex cables.

If your unit has passed all of the cursory checks, let's go plug it in!

1. Plug in your video cable into the PSX, and into your TV / capture card.

2. If you don't have the remote, grab a PS2 controller, and plug it into the first controller port (closest to the top of the unit).

3. If you're in a 100V/110V (North America, Japan, some others) country, you can plug this straight into the wall!

   • If you're not, you'll either blow up the power supply, or it will just refuse to turn on, so don't try this. Either use a step down transformer, or review the power supply section below for your options.
   1. You should immediately hear the fan and hard drive spin up. The fan should spin down after a short moment, and the hard drive may do the same once it's completely spun up.
   2. The LED on the power button should be red.

4. Press the power button (either on the remote or the front of the unit)!

   1. The LED should go green, and you should be met with a blue PSX splash screen, with an audio jingle played at the same time.
   2. The splash fades out to a black screen (or static), and will sit there for a 10-20 seconds.
   3. The HDD light should be flickering on and off, indicating the system is booting.
   4. At the same time, there should be a little blue thing in the top right of the screen.

5. Once the spinner loading thing stops showing, you can now use your controller (remote or PS2) to back out of the video input. Press X, and your should see the XMB.

6. From here you should be able to see the usual XMB sections - Settings, Pictures, Music, Video, TV, Games, and if you've got a DESR-x000/x1000, you may have the PSBBN section.

   • You can use Google Lens with the Translate option on an Android phone to see what is being displayed, if you're not able to read Japanese.

At this point, what you do is up to you!

"Outside the box"

Oh you want to do more things with your PSX?

Checking / adjusting the Game Area

The DVRP passes through a small section at the start of the HDD as a "Game Area". It's either 2GB, or 40GB. This is the section of the disk that the PSX XMB resides on, and where any PS2 games that use the disk reside as well.

This can be configured through the HDD Settings menu, but changing it will wipe the DVR partition, and any partitions in the PS2 area beyond the system ones.

So Back up the drive _and_ Export any videos you want to keep (see above, below).

You can check the space by going to this menu item:

and entering it:

You should be able to see that it's either 0GB or 40GB (the system "rounds out" the 2GB system area).

Proceed through the menus if you'd like to toggle the space.

Caring for your PSX

Back up your system!

A full backup consists of:

• Boot ROM (rom0: - the PSX's version of the PS2's "BIOS"), using PS2Ident.
• Mechacon NVRAM, using PS2Ident.
• Flash ROM (added "memory card" containing the PSX's splash screen and the second-stage loader that boots from the HDD), using XFW's uLE version.
• Unencrypted backup of the PS2 area, using OPL's NBD server.
• Encrypted backup of the whole disk, using an IDE interface.
  • This is more optional; as this backup can only be restored to the same HDD it was taken from, this is only really useful if you're going to be messing around with the OS or partitions.
• HDD unique ID (used for disk encryption, DNAS authentication)
• i.Link ID (used for DNAS authentication, locking apps or games to certain consoles)