PS2 Fat Ps2 with iLink & IR receiver?

Wandering_Smoke

Wandering_Smoke

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I'm planning to build my version of the ultimate Ps2. Since I can use a hard drive up to 18TB with it I plan on using it as a full media hub, just like my Ps3. So I want a 5000X model with the built-in IR receiver. But I would also like to have the iLink port. Is there a way to build a hybrid Ps2 with both of those features? If so, which models do I need to buy?
 
iLink is firewire, similar to usb but a different protocol. The IR blaster on the console is used for the remote, not as a transmission device that can be rerouted to usb or firewire or something like that.

You are trying to connect an ethernet cable into a controller port
 
kadorna2 said:
iLink is firewire, similar to usb but a different protocol. The IR blaster on the console is used for the remote, not as a transmission device that can be rerouted to usb or firewire or something like that.

You are trying to connect an ethernet cable into a controller port
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I want the built-in IR receiver so that I can use the DVD remote without needing an external receiver. I also want the iLink firewire capability. I remember watching a video on Youtube from someone who built a Ps2 that had both of those features but I can't find it.
 
Any of the fat models that end with R (eg 3000X R) have the IR blaster built in. Otherwise you can just pick up any model and get a remote that can hook up to the controller port and use them that way.
 
kadorna2 said:
Any of the fat models that end with R (eg 3000X R) have the IR blaster built in. Otherwise you can just pick up any model and get a remote that can hook up to the controller port and use them that way.
Click to expand...
According to consolemods.org, the SCPH-5000X model was the first to include a built-in IR receiver. That model also dropped the iLink port. Are you saying that the 3000X R model has a built-in IR receiver too? Why doesn't the info on consolemods.org mention that?
 
I only noticed this:
https://www.psdevwiki.com/ps2/Chassis_types#D-chassis.
devwiki.png


Additionally:
s-l1200.jpg
 
jolek said:
I only noticed this:
https://www.psdevwiki.com/ps2/Chassis_types#D-chassis.
View attachment 46587

Additionally:
View attachment 46588
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Yes, the remote is supported on the R model, but the IR receiver dongle is required.

...Let's switch gears here and forget about the IR remote capability.

Can iLink firewire capability be added to a 5000X model Ps2? Can the internals from a 5000X model be installed into the shell of an earlier model that had the iLink port, like the 3900X?
Should I just ask a modder who works on these consoles al the time?
 
kadorna2 said:
Any of the fat models that end with R (eg 3000X R) have the IR blaster built in. Otherwise you can just pick up any model and get a remote that can hook up to the controller port and use them that way.
Click to expand...

You're actually missing the entire point of this post.

The OP DOES NOT want to do what you're suggesting.
They want to BUILD a PS2 using the iLink Firewire port for HDD's and other such items that use this faster protocol, while USING the BUILT IN IR receiver from the 50K PS2.

It's ONLY PS2's up-to but not including the 50K that has iLink.
 
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P10God said:
You're actually missing the entire point of this post.

The OP DOES NOT want to do what you're suggesting.
They want to BUILD PS2 using the iLink Firewire port for HDD's and other such items that use this faster protocol, while USING the BUILT IN IR receiver from the 50K PS2.

It's ONLY PS2's up-to but not including the 50K that has iLink.
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Thank you! I felt like I was talking to tech support who either didn't really read my question or didn't understand what I was asking. I kept saying "built-in" IR receiver but they didn't get it. Very frustrating. When the second guy chimed in saying the same thing I almost gave up lol.
 
Gotcha. I don't think it's possible without some advanced hardware tinkering, even if you get the (i'm guessing) missing supporting hardware for firewire, you'd most likely have to mess around with the mechacon to even get the drivers recognized and loaded since these consoles might not be ilink aware.
My suggestion would be to just use a slim console with a NAS or any other server running an smb share (anything, can even be a raspberry pi) then just use the remote. 18TB sounds a like a lot for ps2 to handle over usb or firewire, networking is the safer alternative IMHO. Remember you can add remote functionality with the dongle connected to either controller port regardless of console model, so even slims with busted ir receivers can still use them
 
kadorna2 said:
Gotcha. I don't think it's possible without some advanced hardware tinkering, even if you get the (i'm guessing) missing supporting hardware for firewire, you'd most likely have to mess around with the mechacon to even get the drivers recognized and loaded since these consoles might not be ilink aware.
My suggestion would be to just use a slim console with a NAS or any other server running an smb share (anything, can even be a raspberry pi) then just use the remote. 18TB sounds a like a lot for ps2 to handle over usb or firewire, networking is the safer alternative IMHO. Remember you can add remote functionality with the dongle connected to either controller port regardless of console model, so even slims with busted ir receivers can still use them
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The whole point is to have everything internal so that it's easily portable with few things that can get lost. I want to use it as a media hub in the same way that I do with my Ps3. My Ps3 has backups of my anime, movies, TV shows, pictures and music, along with games. It has a 1.5TB HDD in it but that's not nearly enough storage for me. The fat Ps2 can use 3.5" hard drive, and with OPL it is capable of reading a massive HDD internally. I already have an 18TB Western Digital Ultrastar to put in it (yes I know about the power disable feature on those server drives).
 
As a 50K owner, I also had the idea of adding i.LINK back. Looking at older boards at the wiki, the connector seems to be directly wired to IOP, with just a couple passives.

https://www.psdevwiki.com/ps2/index.php/Motherboards

upload_2026-3-24_15-38-6.png

If the IOP in GH-023 or above still has a firewire controller baked into it, the solution wouldn't be complicated electrically. However...

- Firmware support?
- How to ID the pins if they exist? Is the pinout the same? Does probing the i.link port show anything at boot?
- Access probably requires a bga interposer sandwiched in between.
- I don't suppose there are any scans of these boards out there?

Would be cool, but also might be too much effort for what it's worth.
 
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