MechaCon
MechaCon is short for Mechanics Controller. Its main function of it is to control the drive mechanism. However, this chip is also the security ic of the PlayStation 2 that implements game disk security, Magic Gate and KELF file decryption.
There are two known main variants of it.
The earlier one is based on the 16-bit SPC970 CPU core and was used till GH-022. Chip name starts with "CXP10". Older versions come in a 100-pin QFP package, newer versions in a 136-ball BGA package.
The newer one is ARM-based (Sony SR11 core, ARM7TDMI), codenamed "Dragon", and used from GH-023 (SCPH-5000X) onwards. Chip name starts with "CXR7". All versions come in a 164-ball BGA package. Besides this, "Dragon" also includes the functions that were fulfilled by the separate SysCon chip on earlier boards up to GH-022, as well as the RTC+EEPROM chip, which was separate on earlier boards (or dedicated EEPROM and RTC chips on even earlier boards).
Both have access to a 1 KB / 512 words EEPROM. The EEPROM content is different between the SPC970-based MechaCon and Dragon.
For the SPC970 MechaCon, the EEPROM is an external chip; either a dedicated EEPROM chip on older boards or a combined Rohm RTC+EEPROM chip on later boards.
Dragon has the die of the combined Rohm RTC+EEPROM chip inside its own chip package, however, the EEPROM pins are exposed on the package, and the connection between Dragon and the RTC+EEPROM is done externally on the motherboard.
Every MechaCon has a 3.3 V TTL UART interface exposed on test pads that was used by service centers for example to readjust the drive and write calibration data etc. Today it can be used with tools like PMAP (currently supports consoles up to I-chassis) to readjust the drive mechanism after fitting a replacement laser assembly etc.
Additionaly, at least the SPC970-based MechaCon (both, QFP and BGA revisions) provide an I²C interface with SDA and SCL being exposed on test pads next to the MechaCon.
SPC970
Hardware revisions
- CXP101064 (only used on early A-chassis/GH-001 boards)
- CXP102064 (used from later A-chassis to D/D'-chassis boards)
- CXP103049 (BGA case, used in F and G-chassis)
The CXP103049 requires a working battery to function properly.
Firmware revisions
Firmware comes in an OTP or mask ROM inside MechaCon.
TODO
EEPROM layout
TODO
Dragon
Hardware revisions
- CXR706F080 (has a flash ROM for firmware; used for engineering, not used in retail consoles)
- CXR706080 (used in H, I and J chassis SCPH-5XXXX consoles as well as in PSX)
- CXR716080 (used in K, L and M slim chassis SCPH-70XXX, SCPH-75XXX and SCPH-77XXX consoles)
- CXR726080 (used in N, P and R slim chassis SCPH-79XXX and SCPH-9XXXX consoles)
Firmware revisions
Firmware comes in an OTP or mask ROM inside MechaCon, except in CXR706F080, which has a reprogrammable flash ROM. It is however possible to apply patches to it via EEPROM.
Dumps: https://mega.nz/folder/MNpAQDzJ#bZpyfb7aGrhGDMR_ZGA8ig
Early versions of the Dragon MechaCon firmware (specifically in SCPH-5XXXX and SCPH-70XXX consoles) have a tendency to crash by sheer bad luck or on badly readable discs (e.g. badly burned/low-quality DVD-R discs or scratched originals), overvolting the focus/tracking coils of the laser and killing them and also the driver IC in the process. Several hardware-based mitigations/"fixes" have been developed by the community to address this issue with varying degrees of success. The most notable of these fixes are the "Romeo-mod"/"LA-fix" for SCPH-5XXXX consoles and "summ0ne's fix" for SCPH-70XXX consoles.
PSX uses MechaCon v5.10 (CXR706080-702GG) (for DESR-x000 and DESR-x100) and v5.14 (CXR706080-703GG) (for DESR-x500 and DESR-x700).
EEPROM layout
Start (word) | End (word) | Size (byte) | Offset in file | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 48 | 0x60 | 0x0 | |
48 | 90 | 0x54 | 0x60 | |
90 | 96 | 0xC | 0xB4 | gap |
96 | 128 | 0x40 | 0xC0 | |
128 | 150 | 0x2C | 0x100 | |
150 | 160 | 0x14 | 0x12C | gap |
160 | 190 | 0x3C | 0x140 | |
190 | 192 | 0x4 | 0x17C | gap |
192 | 198 | 0xC | 0x180 | Region params (only slim) |
198 | 204 | 0xC | 0x18C | gap |
204 | 208 | 0x8 | 0x198 | MAC address (only slim) |
208 | 211 | 0x6 | 0x1A0 | gap |
211 | 216 | 0xA | 0x1A6 | wake up time |
216 | 225 | 0x12 | 0x1B0 | model number |
225 | 227 | 0x4 | 0x1C2 | gap |
227 | 232 | 0xA | 0x1C6 | Region code key seed |
232 | 237 | 0xA | 0x1D0 | Region code ciphertext |
237 | 240 | 0x6 | 0x1DA | gap |
240 | 245 | 0xA | 0x1E0 | iLink id |
245 | 248 | 0x6 | 0x1EA | (used by scmd 3, subcmd 48 and 49) |
248 | 253 | 0xA | 0x1F0 | Console id |
253 | 256 | 0x6 | 0x1FA | (used by scmd 3, subcmd 48 and 49) |
256 | 312 | 0x70 | 0x200 | config 2 |
312 | 344 | 0x40 | 0x270 | config 0 (EEGS) |
344 | 400 | 0x70 | 0x2B0 | config 1 (OSD) |
400 | 512 | 0xE0 | 0x320 | Rom patches ciphertext |
Region params
Offset | Size | Description | |
---|---|---|---|
0x180 | 0xF | Various region parameters. Type char. Zero padded. On dragon FATs (mechacon v5) filled with FF. Does not have checksum. Normally write-protected by mechacon. | |
Region params | 0x180 | 1 | On 70k exists but has no effect. On Deckard will patch rom0:ROMVER (4th byte 0220HD20060905) and rom0. Possible values: "J" - for Japan, "A" - for America and Mexico, "E" - for Europe, Oceania and Russia, "H" - for region Asia, Taiwan, Korea, "C" - for region Mainland China. Each region checks license data in the PS2 titles. "A" region has this check disabled. "H" region untested. |
0x181 | 4 | On all slims will patch rom0:OSDVER (5-8th byte) ("0190Csch"). This mostly controls OSD language sets, and other changes are not tested. Possible values: "Jjpn" - for Japan, "Aeng" - for America, "Eeng" - for Europe and Oceania, "Heng" - for Asia, "Reng" - for Russia, "Csch" - for mainland China, "Kkor" - for Korea, "Htch" - for Taiwan, "Aspa" - for Mexico. "Ccsh" will crash cause rom2 (containing Simplified Chinese font) is missing on slims. | |
0x185 | 1 | On 70k exists but has no effect. On Deckard will patch rom0:VERSTR (0x22 byte: "System ROM Version 5.0 06/23/03 J") and rom0. Possible values: "J" - for Japan, Asia, Taiwan, Korea, China, "A" - for America, Mexico, "E" - for Europe, Oceania and Russia. Each region checks license data in the PS1 titles. "A" region has this check disabled. | |
0x186 | 1 | On all slims will patch rom1:DVDID (5th byte) ("3.11A"). This change DVD player region. Possible values: "JUEAORCM". | |
0x187-0x18B | 5 | Zero filled. |
MAC address
Offset | Size | Description | |
---|---|---|---|
0x198 | 0x8 | 48-bit MAC address. On dragon FATs (mechacon v5) filled with FF. On 70k exists but has no effect. | |
MAC address | 0x198 | 3 | Organizationally unique identifier (OUI). On 70k always 00:04:1F and has no effect. On Deckard units can be 00:13:15, 00:15:C1, 00:19:C5, 00:1D:0D, 00:1F:A7, 00:24:8D, 28:0D:FC, A8:E3:EE. Full list unknown. By OUI registration date, console manufacture date can be partially evaluated. |
0x19B | 3 | Random part of MAC address. On 70k always 00:00:00 and has no effect. Assignment unknown: probably is somehow calculated from data on the sticker. | |
0x19E | 1 | checksum of even bytes uint8_t sum = 0x199 + 0x19B + 0x19D | |
0x19E | 1 | checksum of odd bytes uint8_t sum = 0x198 + 0x19A + 0x19C |
Model number
Offset | Size | Description | |
---|---|---|---|
0x1B0 | 0x12 | Model number string. Type char. Zero padded. | |
Model number | 0x1B0 | 1-16 | Model name string. Max 15 or 16 characters. Zero padded. If started with "DTL-H" then OSD will block DVD player from work. |
0x1C0 | 1 | Null. | |
0x1C1 | 1 | uint8_t sum = 0xFF - sum(0x1B0:0x1BF) |
Region code
Decryption
int getRegionFlags() { // read kek uint8_t key508[8]; ksGetKey(key508, 508); // read saved seed from eeprom uint8_t keyseed[10]; eepromRead(227, sizeof(keyseed), keyseed); // read encrypted region from eeprom uint8_t ciphertext[10]; eepromRead(232, sizeof(ciphertext), ciphertext); // generate key uint8_t key[8]; desEncrypt(key508, keyseed, key); // decrypt ciphertext uint8_t plaintext[8]; desDecrypt(key, ciphertext, plaintext); uint16_t crc = *(uint16_t *) plaintext; crc += *(uint16_t *) &plaintext[2]; crc += *(uint16_t *) &plaintext[4]; // check checksum if (crc == *(uint16_t *) &plaintext[6]) return *(uint32_t *) plaintext; retrun 0; }
Bits
Bit | Description |
---|---|
0 | Japan |
1 | USA |
2 | Europe |
3 | Oceania |
4 | Asia |
5 | Russia |
6 | China |
7 | Mexico |
16 | Development (changes MagicGate keys) |
17 | Retail MagicGate keys on Development, bypass BootCertify |
18 | Arcade (changes MagicGate keys) |
19 | Prototype? (changes MagicGate keys) |
20 | ? (dvd related) |
i.Link ID
Offset | Size | Description | |
---|---|---|---|
0x1E0 | 0xA | i.Link ID | |
Console id | 0x1E0 | 1 | EMCS ID. Id of plant, where the console was manufactured. Can be restored from the console sticker. 0x10 - SKZ (SONY KISARAZU, Japan), 0x11 SKD (SONY KOHDA, Japan), 0x18 - S.EMCS (Japan) only seen for PSX DESR, 0x20 - FOXC (Foxconn, China), 0x21 - FOXC (Foxconn, China), 0x30 - SZMT (SuZhou MainTek), 0x40 - S WUXI, only seen for SCPH-50009. Difference between 0x21 and 0x20 is unknown, 0x21 appeared in 2007-2008. EMCS ID (0x20-0x21) changed somewhere in 77k era, early 77k were still with 0x20, while older 77k already has 0x21. EMCS ID almost always is printed on sticker - this is first 2-digits in the barcode. |
0x1E2 | 3 | Model ID. Can be calculated from Console Model ID (0x1F0-0x1F1) = ConsoleModelID + 0x200001 | |
0x1E4 | 3 | i.Link ID. Can be calculated from Console Serial Number (0x1F4-0x1F6) = 0xFFFFFF - SerialNumber | |
0x1E7 | 1 | Unknown. 0xB0 on PSX DESR units, 0x80 on all other units. | |
0x1E8 | 1 | Null. | |
0x1E9 | 1 | uint8_t sum = 0xFF - sum(0x1E0:0x1E7) |
Console id
Offset | Size | Description | |
---|---|---|---|
0x1F0 | 0xA | Console ID | |
0x1F0 | 2 | Console Model ID. Unique per model number, color and edition. Can be restored from the console sticker. 0xd301 - 0xd37f reserved for DTL/TEST units, 0xd380 - 0xd400 reserved for PSX DESR units, 0xd401 - 0xd48f reserved for retail units. Full list isn't yet collected, currently it contains more than 100 collected IDs. | |
0x1F2 | 2 | 0x0111 - always. In pre-Dragon units known as SDMI Company ID. | |
0x1F4 | 3 | Console Serial Number (in dec). Can be restored from the console sticker. | |
0x1F7 | 1 | EMCS ID. Id of plant, where the console was manufactured. Can be restored from the console sticker. 0x10 - SKZ (SONY KISARAZU, Japan), 0x11 SKD (SONY KOHDA, Japan), 0x18 - S.EMCS (Japan) only seen for PSX DESR, 0x20 - FOXC (Foxconn, China), 0x21 - FOXC (Foxconn, China), 0x30 - SZMT (SuZhou MainTek), 0x40 - S WUXI, only seen for SCPH-50009. Difference between 0x21 and 0x20 is unknown, 0x21 appeared in 2007-2008. EMCS ID (0x20-0x21) changed somewhere in 77k era, early 77k were still with 0x20, while older 77k already has 0x21. EMCS ID almost always is printed on sticker - this is first 2-digits in the barcode. | |
0x1F8 | 1 | Null. | |
0x1F9 | 1 | uint8_t sum = 0xFF - sum(0x1F0:0x1F7) |
Config 0 (EEGS)
Offset | Size | Description | |
---|---|---|---|
0x270 | 0x40 | Config 0 (EEGS) | |
EEGS | 0x270 | 1 | Unknown, 0x00 or 0x01 |
0x271 | 1 | Unknown, 0x03 or 0x00 | |
0x272 | 13 | Unknown, always zero | |
0x27F | 1 | uint8_t sum = sum(0x270-0x27E) | |
0x280 | 1 | bit 7, enable/disable networking features, always = 1, if cleared will show all network devices as disabled | |
0x281 | 3 | Unknown, always zero | |
0x294 | 1 | Unknown, always zero. In elec tool, March 2003, 0xC0 bitmask is compared to check if console is PAL,
but no real console were found with that bitmask | |
0x295 | 1 | bit 5, 1=pal, 0=ntsc, 0x10 bitmask is compared to check if console is PAL | |
0x296 | 9 | Unknown, always zero | |
0x28F | 1 | uint8_t sum = sum(0x280-0x28E) | |
0x290 | 15 | Unknown | |
0x29F | 1 | uint8_t sum = sum(0x290-0x29E) | |
0x2A0 | 15 | Unknown | |
0x2AF | 1 | uint8_t sum = sum(0x2A0-0x2AE) | |
0x2B0 | 15 | Unknown | |
0x2BF | 1 | uint8_t sum = sum(0x2B0-0x2BE) |
Config 1 (OSD)
Offset | Size | Description | |
---|---|---|---|
0x2B0 | 0x70 | Config 1 (OSD) | |
Config 1 (OSD) | 0x2B0 | 1 | PS1 (ps1drv settings) Unknown, mostly zero |
0x2B1 | 14 | Unused, the rest of PS1 block, always zero | |
0x2BF | 1 | uint8_t sum = sum(0x2B0-0x2BE) | |
0x2C0 | 15 | PS2 | |
0x2C0 | bit 0 | spdif: 0=enabled, 1=disabled handled by OSD | |
bit 1-2 | Aspct: Aspect Ration 0=4:3, 1=fullscreen, 2=16:9, 3=unused, handled by OSD | ||
bit 3 | Video: 0=rgb(scart), 1=component, handled by OSD | ||
bit 4 | oldLang: always set to 1. Leftover from older OSD configuration block, left for compatibility. | ||
bit 5 | currentVersion: 0-standard languages, 1-extended languages: Simplified Chinese, Russian, Korean, Traditional Chinese | ||
bit 6-7 | unused: 0-always zero | ||
0x2C1 | bit 0-4 | newLang, handled by OSD, Japanese=0,English=1,French=2,Spanish=3,German=4,Italian=5,Dutch=6,Portugese=7,
Russian=8,Korean=9,Traditional Chinese=10,Simplified Chinese=11, 12-31 unused | |
bit 5-7 | maxVersion: 2=Dragon,1=Pre-Dragon (not used), 0 Unknown, 3-7 unused | ||
0x2C2 | bit 0-2 | TimeZoneH: Timezone minutes offset from GMT, higher 3 bits, total 11 bit, handled by OSD | |
bit 3 | SummerTime: 0=standard(winter), 1=daylight savings(summer), handled by OSD | ||
bit 4 | TimeNotation: 0=24 hour, 1=12 hour, handled by OSD | ||
bit 5-6 | DateNotation: 0=YYYYMMDD, 1=MMDDYYYY, 2=DDMMYYYY, 3-Unused, handled by OSD | ||
bit 7 | Init: 0=OOBE, 1=normal, 0 - will start OSD Initialization on next boot | ||
0x2C3 | 1 | TimeZoneL: Timezone minutes offset from GMT, lower 5 bits, total 11 bit, handled by OSD | |
0x2C4 | bit 0 | TimeZoneCityH: Timezone ID, higher 1 bit, total 9 bit, handled by OSD | |
bit 1-3 | Unknown, Value is carried over | ||
bit 4 | dvdpProgressive: 0=disabled, 1=enabled Whether the DVD player should have progressive scanning enabled, handled by DVD Player | ||
bit 5 | rcSupported: always 1=enabled, Whether the Remote Control is supported by the PlayStation 2. Unknown how 0=disabled will affect. | ||
bit 6 | rcGameFunction: 0=disabled, 1=enabled, Remote Control Game Function On/Of, handled by OSD | ||
bit 7 | rcEnabled: 0=disabled, 1=enabled, Remote Control On/Off option, handled by OSD | ||
0x2C5 | 1 | TimeZoneCityL: Timezone ID, lower 8 bits, total 9 bit, handled by OSD | |
0x2C6 | 9 | Unused, always zero | |
0x2CF | 1 | uint8_t sum = sum(0x2C0-0x2CE) | |
0x2D0 | 15 | Unknown | |
0x2DF | 1 | int8_t sum = sum(0x2D0-0x2DE) | |
0x2E0 | 15 | Unknown | |
0x2EF | 1 | uint8_t sum = sum(0x2E0-0x2EE) | |
0x2F0 | 15 | Unknown | |
0x2FF | 1 | uint8_t sum = sum(0x2F0-0x2FE) | |
0x300 | 15 | Unknown | |
0x30F | 1 | uint8_t sum = sum(0x300-0x30E) | |
0x310 | 15 | Unknown | |
0x31F | 1 | uint8_t sum = sum(0x310-0x31E) |
Rom patch
Decryption
bool readAndDecryptRomPatch() { // read the patch's first half uint8_t patches[0xDE]; eepromRead(400, 0x70, patches); // check if the -1th byte is 0 (sum is not checked) if (patches[0x6E]) return false; // read the patch's second half eepromRead(456, 0x70, &patches[0x6E]); // check if the -1th byte is 0 (sum is not checked) if (patches[0xDC]) return false; // read encryption key uint8_t key504[8]; ksGetKey(key504, 504); // decrypt the patch using DES-ECB for (int i = 0; i < 0xD8; i += 8) desDecrypt(key504, &patches[i], &patches[i]); // check sum uint32_t sum = *(uint32_t *)patches; sum += *(uint32_t *)&patches[4]; sum += *(uint32_t *)&patches[8]; sum += *(uint32_t *)&patches[12]; if (*(uint32_t *) &patches[0xD8] == ~sum) return false; return true; }
Content
The patch can contain up to 4 patches.
addressX = The address where to apply the patch
valueX = The data that's written there
svc_addressX = The address where SVC X instruction jumps to.
payload = Arbitrary, could be code or data as well.
Offset | Size | Name |
---|---|---|
0x00 | 0x04 | address0 |
0x04 | 0x04 | address1 |
0x08 | 0x04 | address2 |
0x0C | 0x04 | address3 |
0x10 | 0x04 | value0 |
0x14 | 0x04 | value1 |
0x18 | 0x04 | value2 |
0x1C | 0x04 | value3 |
0x20 | 0x04 | svc_address0 |
0x24 | 0x04 | svc_address1 |
0x28 | 0x04 | svc_address2 |
0x2C | 0x04 | svc_address3 |
0x30 | 0xA8 | payload |
0xD8 | 0x04 | crc |