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View Full Version : psx/ps2 usb memcard adapter for pc???


wright45
June 7th, 2004, 22:08
Are these available? What kind of stores carry them?
It seems like I saw something like this on liksang.com (or whatever), but I would rather buy something like this locally at a pc or gamestore if possible.
But, I haven't been able to find anything locally.
Any suggestions?

Dark Watcher
June 7th, 2004, 22:46
Are these available? What kind of stores carry them?
It seems like I saw something like this on liksang.com (or whatever), but I would rather buy something like this locally at a pc or gamestore if possible.
But, I haven't been able to find anything locally.
Any suggestions?

Here is a cheaper solution that should be in game stores soon
http://us.codejunkies.com/images/US_product_images/big/maxdrive_ps2_large.jpg

If not then get it straight from Datel
http://us.codejunkies.com/shop/product.asp?l=1&r=0&c=US&cr=USD&cs=$&ProdID=282

Raziel
June 7th, 2004, 22:57
Cool :)

wright45
June 8th, 2004, 01:25
I think I've seen this before. On the link you sent, there is no mention of ps1 memcards, can anyone confirm that this works with them?
This looks good, but I would expect a usb adapter to be cheaper and provide the same benefits.

Its a shame sony is milking gamesaving for all its worth. I mean, ps2 saves can't be saved on a ps1 card (and vice-versa unless I'm mistaken). And there are 2 usb ports and an ide hdd interface on my ps2 but as far as I know, I can't use a flash disk or hdd for gamesaves.

Dark Watcher
June 8th, 2004, 18:57
eh? ah...a PS2 memory card can in fact store PS1 games...sort of. You can migrate saves from a PS1 memcard to a PS2 memcard for storage..You just cannot load thesave till you move it back onto a PS1 memcard.

As far as Max Drive. The cool thing is that you can move saves off your memcards onto the drive, and them move them to your PC hard drive (and vice versa). Not sure yet if the PS2 can read from Max drive directly..we think not..but as long as you have at least 1 memcard..you should be ok

The alternative is to shell out $99 for the PS2 HDD Final Fantasy VI kit. That will hook up to your PS2 IDE and viola...40 gigs of space. Here is where Sony milks it though...you need to have the Network adaptor to power the HDD...so throw in another $40

wright45
June 8th, 2004, 20:35
I have the network adaptor, and there are even homebrew ways to get other hdds working (from what I've read). But even if you get a sony hdd, as far as I know you can only use it to store saves from the game you bought it with (correct me if I'm wrong).

There are alot of interesting projects at http://forums.ps2dev.org/ . Someone on this forum said they were working on a way to upload game saves to a memcard directly from a ps2 hdd or from a pc through the network adaptor.
Either way tho, you can't get around needing a memcard.

Dark Watcher
June 8th, 2004, 22:49
One of the most useful functions of the HDD involves game data. Although not all games will allow you to save data directly to the HDD, you can copy data from a memory card. As I'm going on my fourth memory card, the HDD is a tremendous help in cutting down on the little buggers. In the future, certain games will include the option of saving data to the HDD or a memory. Just as most Xbox games don't allow saving to a memory unit, titles on the PlayStation 2 may not necessarily offer HDD support. At least you can transfer data between memory cards and the HDD.



Interesting scoop with HDD file format, but these methods will not work with comercial games yet...the actual liscensed drivers for the PS2HDD will though

Vanit
June 25th, 2004, 07:12
There was another thing out called the Dex Drive. Its a USB accessory that you can plug you PSX (only) memory card into and transfer saves. I haven't seen one for sale for a while though.

Dark Watcher
June 25th, 2004, 18:34
Here is a cheaper solution that should be in game stores soon
http://us.codejunkies.com/images/US_product_images/big/maxdrive_ps2_large.jpg

If not then get it straight from Datel
http://us.codejunkies.com/shop/product.asp?l=1&r=0&c=US&cr=USD&cs=$&ProdID=282
Well...ole DW shelled out a few bucks for the Max Drive PS2. Bought it at Best Buy for $29.99. The package came with a 16MB USB Flash drive, a PS2 Mini disc (looks like a GC game), and a PC application disc.

Easy to use..simply put the USB Flash Drive into any of the PS2 USB ports, and put in the PS2 mini disc.

The PS2 disc software is needed in order for the PS2 to recognize the Flash Drive. So unfortunately it is not plug & play with the PS2. The PS2 will also not recognize it as a memory card. With the software you can move files back and forth easily from your memory cards to the flash drive. The software also provides a direct network connection (If your online) to your PS2 to upload / download other save files.

The package also came with PC application software. Per the documentation, the USB Flash Drive is plug & play compatible with Windows XP. Just plug it in and it works without software install. However, we found that it works just fine with our Windows ME. We suppose the PC application software is moreso for WIN98 / Other OS users. Datel also packs easy to use application user interfaces so it probably offers that as well. We have too much crap installed in our PC so we elected to just use the plug & play feature.

"But DW..16MB is only double the size of a regular memory card"

Yeah, but the design lets you easily move your saves back and forth to your computer hard drive. It also has a "Crush / Uncrush" option that allows you to compress your saves up to 10 times smaller. This "Crush" option works on your regular memory card too. The only problem is that you need to uncrush them to use them. We did run into a real interesting benefit! We reviewed the product description of their next up and coming cheap product. Then we looked over the design of the Flash Drive. We figured...you know what..this sucker doesn't look all that different from our PNY USB 128MB Flash Drive. So we plugged it in and ran the PS2 Max Drive software...Voila! A 128MB drive to swap saves!

If your a PS2 owner...we highly recommend this thing. We used to use a device called SharkPort to move save files over to our PC (Kind of like Dex Drive). This required us to have a cable attached from our PS2 to our PC, and software running from both devices (Slow process). This is a much better and faster method. We suppose you could shell out $100 for the HDD (Plus $45 for the Network Adaptor it needs), but this is far cheaper. The 16MB Flash Drive can also be used to move files from one PC to another..so it's a slightly added bonus if you don't already own a Flash Drive (It ain't like a CDRW, but it can hold 5+ times that of a floppy without burning ;) ). We suppose if you already own a Flash Drive and want more stuff you can shell out an additional few bucks and get the Action Replay MAX EVO Edition for Price: $39.99 . This bugger gives you some pretty interesting features..but you can look that up on your own.

We have not tested it on PS1 memcards yet, but we figure it will work too. Don't go chucking your Dex Drives out the window yet though. Max Drive saves the game in it's own ".max" format. So unless Aldo, emu authors, and the other memcard tool gurus make a tool to convert it...don't count on using this feature. Also if your a SharkPort / Xport / Nport user...These formats are also not compatible. There is a guy however who is trying to incorporate the .max format into their file conversion tool :thumb: . We will have to report on the PS1 memcard compatibility later.

esnetsc
August 20th, 2004, 19:56
Well...ole DW shelled out a few bucks for the Max Drive PS2. Bought it at Best Buy for $29.99. The package came with a 16MB USB Flash drive, a PS2 Mini disc (looks like a GC game), and a PC application disc.

Easy to use..simply put the USB Flash Drive into any of the PS2 USB ports, and put in the PS2 mini disc.

The PS2 disc software is needed in order for the PS2 to recognize the Flash Drive. So unfortunately it is not plug & play with the PS2. The PS2 will also not recognize it as a memory card. With the software you can move files back and forth easily from your memory cards to the flash drive. The software also provides a direct network connection (If your online) to your PS2 to upload / download other save files.

The package also came with PC application software. Per the documentation, the USB Flash Drive is plug & play compatible with Windows XP. Just plug it in and it works without software install. However, we found that it works just fine with our Windows ME. We suppose the PC application software is moreso for WIN98 / Other OS users. Datel also packs easy to use application user interfaces so it probably offers that as well. We have too much crap installed in our PC so we elected to just use the plug & play feature.

"But DW..16MB is only double the size of a regular memory card"

Yeah, but the design lets you easily move your saves back and forth to your computer hard drive. It also has a "Crush / Uncrush" option that allows you to compress your saves up to 10 times smaller. This "Crush" option works on your regular memory card too. The only problem is that you need to uncrush them to use them. We did run into a real interesting benefit! We reviewed the product description of their next up and coming cheap product. Then we looked over the design of the Flash Drive. We figured...you know what..this sucker doesn't look all that different from our PNY USB 128MB Flash Drive. So we plugged it in and ran the PS2 Max Drive software...Voila! A 128MB drive to swap saves!

If your a PS2 owner...we highly recommend this thing. We used to use a device called SharkPort to move save files over to our PC (Kind of like Dex Drive). This required us to have a cable attached from our PS2 to our PC, and software running from both devices (Slow process). This is a much better and faster method. We suppose you could shell out $100 for the HDD (Plus $45 for the Network Adaptor it needs), but this is far cheaper. The 16MB Flash Drive can also be used to move files from one PC to another..so it's a slightly added bonus if you don't already own a Flash Drive (It ain't like a CDRW, but it can hold 5+ times that of a floppy without burning ;) ). We suppose if you already own a Flash Drive and want more stuff you can shell out an additional few bucks and get the Action Replay MAX EVO Edition for Price: $39.99 . This bugger gives you some pretty interesting features..but you can look that up on your own.

We have not tested it on PS1 memcards yet, but we figure it will work too. Don't go chucking your Dex Drives out the window yet though. Max Drive saves the game in it's own ".max" format. So unless Aldo, emu authors, and the other memcard tool gurus make a tool to convert it...don't count on using this feature. Also if your a SharkPort / Xport / Nport user...These formats are also not compatible. There is a guy however who is trying to incorporate the .max format into their file conversion tool :thumb: . We will have to report on the PS1 memcard compatibility later.

Hi, can you use any flash drive? I have a 256 mb sony (USM256E) model.Is the software a DVD or a CD?