PlayStation 2 models
Several models of the PlayStation 2 video game console were produced from 2000 to 2013. Some PS2 revisions only change in their internal construction or implement cost-saving measures while others feature substantial external changes.
Each region receives a different model number; for example, slimline models produced from 2008 to 2013 were released in North America as SCPH-90001, in Australia as SCPH-90002, and in Hong Kong as SCPH-90006. The final digit is a region code with no bearing on the hardware; many games and DVDs are restricted to certain regions, and the system software displays in different languages.
A total of 5 different models of the PS2 were produced during its lifespan. The PS2 is primarily differentiated between models with the original "fat" case design introduced in mid-to-late 2000 and the later "slimline" models introduced at the end of 2004. In 2010, a television incorporating a PS2 was introduced.
Original case design
Three of the original PS2 models were were only sold in Japan and had a PCMCIA slot unlike all other models sold worldwide. The two PS2 launch models in Japan had no built-in DVD movie playback and instead relied on encrypted playback software that was copied to a memory card from an included CD-ROM ; the later Japan-only PS2 models did eventually come with built-in DVD movie playback.There was also the SCPH-3000x, 3500x, 37000, 3900x, and 500xx models, which were sold between 2000 and 2004 for all regions including North America and Europe. These models replaced the PCMCIA slot of previous Japan-only models with the expansion bay, which contained space for a 3.5" hard disk drive and a connector for the Network Adaptor. They also came with built-in DVD movie playback, unlike the initial two PS2 models in Japan.
Early SCPH-3000x models produced from late 2000 to early 2001 had a substantially different internal structure than with earlier Japan-only revisions as well as subsequent revisions, featuring several interconnected printed circuit boards. In later SCPH-3000x models produced from 2001 to 2002 as well as the SCPH-3500x, everything except the power supply was unified onto one board. Some minor internal changes were made in SCPH-3000x models produced from late 2001 to 2002, and the only difference between early and later SCPH-3000x models is the orientation of the Power/Reset switch board connector, which was reversed in later revisions to prevent the use of no-solder modchips. These models also had a more reliable laser than with previous models. SCPH-3000x models sold between 2000 and 2002 also used either the initial version of the Graphics Synthesizer as found on the three Japan-only models or the revised, smaller version of the Graphics Synthesizer as found in the majority of PS2 consoles up until the SCPH-500xx models and some SCPH-700xx and SCPH-7500x models, depending on the time of manufacture. SCPH-37000 and SCPH-3900x included only minor revisions to the 2001–2002 SCPH-3000x models.
Beginning with the SCPH-500xx models, the i.LINK port was removed, and a built-in infrared receiver was added in-between the Power/Reset and Eject buttons to allow for the use of a remote to control DVD playback without the need of a dedicated infrared receiver dongle as used on previous models, leaving both controller ports free from the external receiver.
The standard color of the PS2 is matte black. Several different variations in color were produced in different quantities and regions, including ceramic white, light yellow, metallic blue, metallic silver, navy, opaque blue, opaque black, pearl white, Sakura purple, satin gold, satin silver, snow white, super red, transparent blue, and also Limited Edition color Pink, which was distributed in regions including Oceania and parts of Asia.
Slimline case designs
In September 2004, Sony unveiled its third major hardware revision of the PS2, also known as the slimline model. Available in late October 2004, it is smaller, thinner, and quieter than the original models and includes a built-in Ethernet port. The hardware was also given some minor changes, such as the Emotion Engine being clocked at a slightly higher CPU speed. Due to its thinner profile, the 3.5" expansion bay was completely removed and therefore does not support an internal hard disk drive. This results in incompatibility with games that require the HDD expansion, most notably Final Fantasy XI. An add-on to add HDD support to SCPH-7500x up to SCPH-9000x models called the HDPro was created but had limited success. It also has an external power supply as opposed to an internal one used in previous revisions, similar to the GameCube. A differently-shaped Multitap accessory was also released at the same time as the new revision due to design differences between the old and new PS2 models.There were two sub-versions of the SCPH-700xx, one with the old separate Emotion Engine and Graphics Synthesizer chips and the other with the newer, integrated and unified EE+GS chip, but are otherwise identical. In early 2005, it was found that some slimline power transformers manufactured between August and December 2004 were defective and could overheat. These units were recalled by Sony and were replaced by a 2005 model.
The SCPH-700xx was succeeded by the SCPH-7500x in late 2005, which contained different ASICs than previous revisions. Like the SCPH-700xx, it also contained two sub-versions that had either separate EE and GS chips or the unified EE+GS chip. Some chips contained a copyright date of 2005 as opposed to 2000 or 2001 for earlier models. It also uses a different laser lens and has some compatibility issues with a different number of PS1 games and even some PS2 games. Later hardware revisions had better compatibility with PS1 games ; however, the later Japanese slim models had more issues with playing PS1 games than the first PS2 revisions.
On September 15, 2006, Sony released new hardware revisions of the PS2. Initially released in Japan in both Black and Silver editions, it later saw release in North America, Europe and other parts of the world. This new revision exclusively uses the integrated, unified EE+GS chip as found in some SCPH-700xx and SCPH-7500x models, and has a redesigned ASIC, a different laser lens, and an updated BIOS and drivers.
On July 19, 2007, Sony started shipping another revision of the PS2 featuring a reduced weight of 600 grams compared to 900 g of the SCPH-7700x, achieved through a reduction in parts. This revision uses a smaller motherboard where the EE, RDRAM, SPU2 sound processor and IOP I/O processor were merged into a single ASIC while the GS was once again made as a separate chip, albeit in a much smaller form factor than previous PS2 revisions. The AC adaptor's weight was also reduced from to.
Another refinement of the PS2 was released in Japan on November 22, 2007. As well as featuring some cosmetic changes, the design of the hardware was overhauled, incorporating the power supply into the console itself like the original PS2 models; this increased the overall weight of the console to. On SCPH-9000x series consoles manufactured after the third quarter of 2008 as the last revision of the PS2, some changes were made to incorporate a revised BIOS that patches an exploit found in all other models that allowed homebrew applications and software to be launched from a memory card.
The slimline model of the PS2 was initially released in black, however a silver edition was made available in Japan, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, United Arab Emirates and other GCC countries, France, Italy, South Africa, and North America. A limited edition pink console was also made available after March 2007.