Hard Drive

Overview

Connecting a hard drive to the PS2 requires a Network Adaptor.

All official hard drives run special firmware, which implements some additional proprietary ATA-commands. Thus, official software requires official Sony PS2 hard drives. Homebrew software such as OPL does not require any of the proprietary commands, which means that a generic hard drive can be used as well for this purpose.

The PSX's internal hard drive implements the same proprietary ATA-commands, which are required for the console to boot. That's why the PSX's hard drive can only be replaced by another PSX's hard drive or one of the official Sony PS2 hard drives (which however only have a capacity of 40 GB, vs. 160 GB or 250 GB in the PSX).

For external hard drives (used with early SCPH-1X000 consoles), a special expandable vertical stand (SCPH-10220) was available separately, which allows the external hard drive to be placed vertically next to the vertical PS2 console.

Official PS2 software does not support 48-bit LBA, so drive size is generally limited to 128 GiB. In practice, this doesn't matter much, since the only drives supported by official software are the official drives sold by sony with their firmware customizations, which are all 40 GB in size.

Most homebrew software supports 48-bit LBA, so this isn't an issue here.

DVRP of the PSX will emulate the PS2's ATA interface for PS2-mode software (while PSX-mode software obviously natively uses the PSX's ATA interface, which supports 48-bit LBA, since the drives have a capacity of either 160 GB or 250 GB). For some reason, it also tries to emulate 48-bit LBA in PS2 mode and properly reports the full disk size, but fails any access beyond the 128 GiB limit in PS2 mode.

Models

SCPH-20400

• Japan-only external hard drive for use with the PCMCIA type Network Adaptor (SCPH-10190) on SCPH-1X000 consoles.
• Requires an external power supply (SCPH-10200)
• Capacity: 40 GB

SCPH-20401

• Internal hard drive for use with an expansion bay type Network Adaptor (SCPH-1025, SCPH-10281, SCPH-10350) on any console that has the expansion bay (SCPH-3XXXX or SCPH-5XXXX)
• Comes with mounting brackets preinstalled (bracket type depends on height of the actual OEM drive)
• Power is provided by the console through the Network Adaptor
• Capacity: 40 GB

OEM drives used

40 GB (PS2, all rebranded to Sony, customized firmware)

• IBM "DeskStar" DTLA-305040 (standard height bracket)
• Maxtor "DiamondMax D540X-4D" 4D040H2 (standard height bracket)
• Maxtor "Fireball 3" 2F040L0 (low profile bracket)
• Seagate "U Series 5" ST340823A (standard height bracket)
• Seagate "Barracuda 5400.1" ST340015A (low profile bracket)

160 GB (PSX, non-rebranded, but customized firmware nonetheless)

• Seagate "U Series 9" ST3160022ACE
  • Config: VED-03
  • Firmware: 7.09
• Maxtor "DiamondMax 10" 6L160P0

250 GB (PSX, non-rebranded, but customized firmware nonetheless)

• Hitachi "DeskStar" HDS722525VLAT80

Bundles including the hard drive

Japan

Hdd, external (SCPH-10210)

• Japan-only bundle meant for use on SCPH-1X000 consoles which have a PCMCIA/PC-Card slot instead of the expansion bay. Contains:
  • PCMCIA Network Adaptor (SCPH-10190)
  • External hard drive 40 GB (SCPH-20400)
  • Power supply for the external hard drive (SCPH-10200)
  • Network Utility Disc
• Released July 19, 2001

Hdd, expansion bay (SCPH-10260)

• Japan-only bundle meant for use on any console that has the expansion bay (SCPH-3XXXX or SCPH-5XXXX). Contains:
  • Expansion bay Network Adaptor, old revision (SCPH-10250)
  • Internal hard drive 40 GB with mounting brackets (SCPH-20401)
  • Network Utility Disc
• Released July 19, 2001

Linux kit, external (SCPH-10270 K)

• Japan-only bundle meant for use on SCPH-1X000 consoles. Contains:
  • PCMCIA Network Adaptor (SCPH-10190)
  • External hard drive 40 GB (SCPH-20400), pre-formatted for Linux
  • Power supply for the external hard drive (SCPH-10200)
  • USB mouse (SCPH-10230)
  • USB keyboard, japanese (SCPH-10240)
  • VGA cable, Sync on Green, stereo cinch audio jacks (SCPH-10320)
  • PS2 Linux Beta Release 1 (1 Disc)
• Released July 2001
• PS2 Linux Release 1.0 software (2 Discs) became available at a later date for owners of the kit

PlayStation BB Unit, external (SCPH-10390)

• Japan-only bundle meant for use on SCPH-1X000 consoles. Contains:
  • PCMCIA Network Adaptor (SCPH-10190)
  • External hard drive 40 GB (SCPH-20400)
  • Power supply for the external hard drive (SCPH-10200)
  • BB Navigator Disc
• Released June 12, 2003

PlayStation BB Unit, expansion bay (SCPH-10400)

• Japan-only bundle meant for use on any console that has the expansion bay (SCPH-3XXXX or SCPH-5XXXX). Contains:
  • Expansion bay Network Adaptor, newer revision (SCPH-10350)
  • Internal hard drive 40 GB with mounting brackets (SCPH-20401)
  • BB Navigator Disc
• Released June 12, 2003

PlayStation 2 BB Pack (SCPH-50000 MB/NH)

• Japan-only
  • All contents from SCPH-10400 (see above)
  • SCPH-50000 console in special "Midnight Blue" transparent case (similar to the limited SCPH-37000 consoles, but without the special cooler design)
• Released November 13, 2003

US

Final Fantasy XI

• US-only bundle. Contains:
  • Internal hard drive 40 GB with mounting brackets (SCPH-20401), pre-formatted and preloaded with software
  • HDD Utility Disc
  • Main game + manual
• Does not include the Network Adaptor (required, had to be purchased separately)
• The US PS2 release of Final Fantasy XI was only available in this bundle; no standalone release
• In the US, the hard drive, too, was only available in this exact bundle (except as part of the Linux kit)
• Released March 23, 2004

Linux kit (SCPH-97047)

• Contains (incomplete, WIP):
  • Internal hard drive 40 GB with mounting brackets (SCPH-20401), pre-formatted for Linux
  • Network adapter, Ethernet-only version,
  • USB mouse (SCPH-10230)
  • USB keyboard, US (SCPH-10240 E)

Europe

Hdd (internal) + Network Adaptor kit (SCPH-10310 E)

• Only available as part of the european release of the Linux kit or the University Development Kit