With UDMA4 and Modes 3 + 6 the game doesn't load, black screen.
With UDMA3 and Modes 2 + 6 the issue is still present.
With UDMA3 and Modes 2 + 6 the issue is still present.
PS2 [Open PS2 Loader] Game Bug Reports
- Thread starter jolek
- Start date
Grahf
Member
Can you also try UDMA-0 and Mode 3+6+8?
Black screen.
sp193
Developer
For your reference:
Mode 1 (Accurate Reads) - Limit transfer rates to 2800KB/s, in blocks of 8. Callbacks will take place 5ms after completion of each command.
Mode 2 (Synchronous Reads) - reading is done immediately when the request is made, rather than letting the calling thread return.
Mode 3 (Unhook Syscalls) - Unhook the EE kernel syscall hooks after the very first IOP reboot by the game, to return the EE kernel to its original state. Note that this will cause a failure if the game reboots the IOP multiple times.
Mode 4 (Skip Videos) - Skip some FMVs by changing BIK and PSS video file sizes to 0. Originally intended for use with GSM.
Mode 5 (Emulate DVD DL) - Emulate a DVD-DL disc with a flat DVD image. Use only if you flattened your DVD-DL game into a single-layer image.
Mode 6 (Disable IGR) - Do not activate IGR, which would monitor for a pad combination.
Mode 7 (Unused)
Mode 8 (Hide dev9 module) - required for some games that do not expect dev9 to be loaded.
So mode 8 probably wouldn't affect most games. Mode 3+6 is required to have the EE kernel in its cleanest state (free of any foreign manipulation of the EE kernel).
The PS2's kernels are non-preemptive, so ensuring that threads always remain responsive is not easy. For the HDD unit, we do not yield the IOP to other threads (unlike what would happen when the CD/DVD drive is used) during data transfers, so observing some delays may be inevitable. I don't know if it's a significant-enough thing to cause what you're experiencing, however.
Our thread is also a priority 1 (the highest priority) because we want to prevent other threads from causing a deadlock by busy-looping while waiting for the CD/DVD drive (also not a problem when the real CD/DVD drive is used).
Mode 1 will break up transfers into groups of 8 and limit transfers to 2800KB/s, so it will cause the IOP to be released to other threads for periods of time.
This only works best if you don't use some slow transfer rate like MDMA mode 0.
Mode 1 (Accurate Reads) - Limit transfer rates to 2800KB/s, in blocks of 8. Callbacks will take place 5ms after completion of each command.
Mode 2 (Synchronous Reads) - reading is done immediately when the request is made, rather than letting the calling thread return.
Mode 3 (Unhook Syscalls) - Unhook the EE kernel syscall hooks after the very first IOP reboot by the game, to return the EE kernel to its original state. Note that this will cause a failure if the game reboots the IOP multiple times.
Mode 4 (Skip Videos) - Skip some FMVs by changing BIK and PSS video file sizes to 0. Originally intended for use with GSM.
Mode 5 (Emulate DVD DL) - Emulate a DVD-DL disc with a flat DVD image. Use only if you flattened your DVD-DL game into a single-layer image.
Mode 6 (Disable IGR) - Do not activate IGR, which would monitor for a pad combination.
Mode 7 (Unused)
Mode 8 (Hide dev9 module) - required for some games that do not expect dev9 to be loaded.
So mode 8 probably wouldn't affect most games. Mode 3+6 is required to have the EE kernel in its cleanest state (free of any foreign manipulation of the EE kernel).
The PS2's kernels are non-preemptive, so ensuring that threads always remain responsive is not easy. For the HDD unit, we do not yield the IOP to other threads (unlike what would happen when the CD/DVD drive is used) during data transfers, so observing some delays may be inevitable. I don't know if it's a significant-enough thing to cause what you're experiencing, however.
Our thread is also a priority 1 (the highest priority) because we want to prevent other threads from causing a deadlock by busy-looping while waiting for the CD/DVD drive (also not a problem when the real CD/DVD drive is used).
Mode 1 will break up transfers into groups of 8 and limit transfers to 2800KB/s, so it will cause the IOP to be released to other threads for periods of time.
This only works best if you don't use some slow transfer rate like MDMA mode 0.
Last edited:
I was talking about the sound buzz. Maybe I could solve it on previous builds with only MDMA 0 due to differences between PAL/NTSC versions. I never used the Ps2 Logo simply 'cause for me, the faster the games boot, the better it is
For me it takes 22 secs (after IGR, a little more on the first boot) with 409 games. How many games have you??
I made 2 videos about GT4, but I think you won't notice anything… anyway:
GT4 (USA) played from HDD:
GT4 (PAL) og played from DVD:
Select 480p for the best quality
...From the og DVD there's a "stutter like" thing. It occurs in rather precise points where the loops are joined. I think with a lcd tv (that has motion blur) you couldn't even notice that.
Booting the game from HDD, the behavior is exactly the same for me.
However when setting a new HDD, every time (aside the 80gb one I think) the problem appear. Simply, the almost unnoticeable conjunction loops stutter is amplified.
I Always solved it with the way I said before.
So how is your stutter?? It's much noticeable??
Last edited:
I checked "Shaun Palmer's Pro Snowboarder", unfortunately the situation is unchanged. I explain for who didn't know this game:
- no need of any MODEs
- at first boot it just works with any DMA, but after IGR the game will have problems at higher DMA.
i.e. I can boot the game in UDMA 4 at first, all is perfect, but after IGR the game will freeze just before appearing the starting logos (after the MC check) and there are high chances to freeze with UDMA 3 too.
With UDMA 2 it never freeze but the intro FMV have some stutter (both video and audio), the lower the DMA the less will stutter. Indeed I had the game set with MDMA0, so the stutter doesn't happen even if booting the game after an IGR.
I repeat, at every first start the game is perfect (intro FMV too) with every DMA (UDMA 4 too. I've set it so now, 'cause it pratically eliminate the loading time).
So it seems to confirm that after a IGR something still remains in memory causing problems to some games.
EDIT So the real problem of IGR is not if a game perfectly support it, but which game could have problems after a IGR has been performed.
- no need of any MODEs
- at first boot it just works with any DMA, but after IGR the game will have problems at higher DMA.
i.e. I can boot the game in UDMA 4 at first, all is perfect, but after IGR the game will freeze just before appearing the starting logos (after the MC check) and there are high chances to freeze with UDMA 3 too.
With UDMA 2 it never freeze but the intro FMV have some stutter (both video and audio), the lower the DMA the less will stutter. Indeed I had the game set with MDMA0, so the stutter doesn't happen even if booting the game after an IGR.
I repeat, at every first start the game is perfect (intro FMV too) with every DMA (UDMA 4 too. I've set it so now, 'cause it pratically eliminate the loading time).
So it seems to confirm that after a IGR something still remains in memory causing problems to some games.
EDIT So the real problem of IGR is not if a game perfectly support it, but which game could have problems after a IGR has been performed.
Is that the PAL-Version of GT4?
The video looks a bit as if a 24fps-video is played on a 25fps/50Hz output-mode, essentially not being optimized/recoded for PAL... (but matched to the frame-rate 'on-the-fly' during runtime)
I have the PAL-Version and I ought to remember, it does that as well from the original DVD9...
I took GT4 apart with a rip-kit a decade or so ago (when it was brand-new) and I think some of them (the video) were 23.97 or 24fps, instead of 25!
Tl;dr
Suspicion 1: The original PAL Version has the same behavior.
Suspicion 2: The game has non-25fps-videos...
Edit: Oh! I see it happens on both versions?
I seriously have to grab my original and test it... (but it's already in a box)
The video looks a bit as if a 24fps-video is played on a 25fps/50Hz output-mode, essentially not being optimized/recoded for PAL... (but matched to the frame-rate 'on-the-fly' during runtime)
I have the PAL-Version and I ought to remember, it does that as well from the original DVD9...
I took GT4 apart with a rip-kit a decade or so ago (when it was brand-new) and I think some of them (the video) were 23.97 or 24fps, instead of 25!
Tl;dr
Suspicion 1: The original PAL Version has the same behavior.
Suspicion 2: The game has non-25fps-videos...
Edit: Oh! I see it happens on both versions?
I seriously have to grab my original and test it... (but it's already in a box)
No... The real problem is, that some part of IGR seems to be incompatible to a lot of games (still), preventing them to start-up in the first place (thus rendering the hypothesis about what happens after an IGR irrelevant for those games)...
There might be more than one issue with IGR still, but the most critical thing (to me at least) is, that some games do not even start without Mode6 activated...
I agree. But let me explain…
What I meant was that for a game that doesn't start, you try MODE 6 then it starts, it's done. Ok then developers will have to try to make the IGR to work with this game too, etc... btw just enabling MODE 6, for now you won't experience furter problems on that game.
About games that have problems after a IGR... It's a thing that could be more difficult to figure out. 'Cause as you can see from the Shawn Palmer'game and Ferrari Challenge behavior, it can affect the game in different and strange ways.
Anyway I just wanted to point it out. I.e. if someone is testing a game and notice that it need some MODE or DMA settings, always try again the game, without modes, on a cold boot, to make sure it's not the IGR causing problems.
The second video is the PAL DVD version, the first is the USA version from HDD.
Yes the stutter is similar to what happens on DVD NTSC film with 3:2 pulldown (24hz og refresh converted to 60hz). But it can be just due to the way the loop is recorded. I don't know, but it's normal, it happens with the OG games too.
Very interesting
It makes sense. Indeed with the USA version it's a little more noticeable. I firstly thought it was due to a little more blurred image in the PAL version, but definitely it must be related to the pull down.However we are spreading! I'd be curious to see @Tupakaveli previews.
Grahf
Member
Thank you for the video material, but I disagree with your conclusion. The HDD video is not as smooth. It's micro-stutter, I guess, but it's there. The disc version is visibly smoother. And do not compare PAL and NTSC versions because they will obviously differ due to different scan fields.For me it takes 22 secs (after IGR, a little more on the first boot) with 409 games. How many games have you??
I made 2 videos about GT4, but I think you won't notice anything… anyway:
GT4 (USA) from HDD:
GT4 (PAL) og DVD:
Select 480p for the best quality
...From the og DVD there's a "stutter like" thing. It occurs in rather precise points where the loops are joined. I think with a lcd tv (that has motion blur) you couldn't even notice that.
Booting the game from HDD, the behavior is exactly the same for me.
However when setting a new HDD, every time (aside the 80gb one I think) the problem appear. Simply, the almost unnoticeable conjunction loops stutter is amplified.
I Always solved it with the way I said before.
So how is your stutter?? It's much noticeable??
Last edited:
See my other post.
First of all I advice to not judge from these videos, I'd need a much better camera and recording at least at 60fps to really notice the real "micro-stutter". The stutter you can notice in the videos is due to my phone and my shaking hand.
Maybe I'll do another one if needed, putting the phone on a pedestal
Anyway @TnA test tell us the solution I think. pulldown from 24 to 30 is indeed more noticeable than from 24 to 25.
But I repeat, from live the difference is almost impossible to notice, video are pretty much very smooth.
Grahf
Member
There is a difference between running it from HDD and using the real disc, so there's a problem of some sort which should be investigated. We have fixes for some crappy, niche games and now we're supposed to leave Gran Turismo 4 of all PS2 games with some performance issues? This should have a priority, if anything.
The real stutter problem we are talking about is incredibly noticeable! It happens at the same points as normal, but the game actually freeze up for a moment. I can't reproduce the problem 'cause once solved it won't happen anymore using the same Ps2/Na/HDD configuration.
But every time I set a new HDD the problem arise again. It arise after I changed the BITFUNX board with the current maxdiypower too. It arise the stutter and the non working pad problem too. But after solved, the problem does not reappear anymore until a HW configs change.
But every time I set a new HDD the problem arise again. It arise after I changed the BITFUNX board with the current maxdiypower too. It arise the stutter and the non working pad problem too. But after solved, the problem does not reappear anymore until a HW configs change.
You're not seeing any problem from my videos trust me. I'll try to make a better one.
Similar threads
-
PS2 Problems Launching "Buzz! The Big Quiz (Europe) (v2.00)" via OPL through sd2psx (PSxMemCard Gen2)
- Started by SawJig511
- Replies: 7
-
-
PS2 [POC/Outdated] unofficial Open PS2 Loader (uOPL)- Started by Ripto
- Replies: 58
-
