No tiene desperdicio: (LO SIENTO PERO NO LO TRADUZCO PORQUE LO JODERIA Y CREO QUE MEJOR LEERLO TAL COMO ESTA)
MESSIAH, NEO 4, NON SWAP....... LET'S TALK
------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------
This is gonna be a long one here..
I think some things need to be 'enlightened' as to how things are done...
Firstly...
a lot of people have asked questions about is it viable to have a mod that can be upgraded without adding any more wires, and just replacing a chip...
the answer is 'YES', provided the mod is BIOS based in operation.
This is the fundamental basis of NEO 4, it connects to and can communicate and provide a function called 'patching' to the address lines of the BIOS chip, therefore, as more functionality is gained, simply upgrading te chips patching functions within addresses of the BIOS using the connected address lines is all that is required.
This is not new technology, and in fact is pretty much now old hat stuff, maybe the first instances you have seen of this was done using the Tiny Tim and also Onechip versions of upgrade for the PS1.
The Bootmaster 3 upgrade already utilises some of this technology, and the best device to use for the function are known as CPLD chips, they provide accurate addressing capability when dealing with 'patching' information.
You will notice on the Bootmaster 3, there is a device known as a Xilinx 9572, this is the CPLD device, and its present functions are to patch addresses in the PS2 BIOS that deal with scondary protection by-pass (NTSC), and also patching of the DVD BIOS for Multi-Region capability.
So how will the NEO 4 be designed ??
We know exactly how it will be designed, read on...
The NEO 4 will connect directly to address lines of the BIOS..
a member of Paradox named Herben is writing 'patching' information that can then be transported to the BIOS address locations for 'insertion', this effectively re-writes the functions of the BIOS, and when this is done, almost all functionality procedures can be changed around..
here is a paste of a BIOS CALL:
Wait Drive Ready
Drive Not Ready
DISK Pause wait call from iop
Wait Drive Pause
Drive Not Pause
sceCdStInit call
sceCdStStart call
sceCdStSeek call
sceCdStStop call
sceCdStRead call read size= %d mode= %d
sceCdStRead BLK Read cur_size= %d req_size= %d err 0x%x
sceCdStPause call
sceCdStResume call
sceCdStStat call
CD Stream Call mode= %d
Stream Buffer 1Bank %dbyte %dbanks %dbyte used
CD read buffer over run %d %d %d %d %d gp %d pp %d
Intr Read call
Now the above is basically a load of crap, and is in fact taken from a development ps2 console BIOS, but as you can see it is really a running program, this program controls functionality control, and if this program is changed to perform a different function, then its operation may be utilised for desired effects.
Herben knows how to re-write the BIOS info that can then be programmed into a CPLD, or pair of CPLD devices for then 'patching' the BIOS system in real-time. Tom from NEO is using the information Herben supplies him to make the actual hardware required to perform these functions.
CPLD technology is absolute essential for the above function, but it's security is almost zero against being backed-up.
There are a number of ways that the full information available on each address line can be 'grabbed', and although a possible 22 address lines may be simultaneously used for a full patching function, all these can be logged with the right equipment, and basically 'backed-up' withing minutes.
The PS2 actually carries in effect three different BIOS, one for its PS2 op system, one for its PSX op system, and one for its DVD op system, the information within these Bioses is actually hardware encrypted via magic-gate, and only someone with access to magic-gate decrypting information, either from legitimate or 'manufactured' sources can really work with them.
Variations:
Basically, the BIOS for the PS2 comes in 23 variations, these are basic subtle variations, and more-over the BIOS are almost identical.
Is it difficult to install ?
a BIOS based mod that patches all 22 address lines would be a difficult enough installation, not as difficult as an ORIGA mod, as there is a little bit more leaway between the pins of the BIOS chip, and also there are already quite a few externally available solder points, but still would require the right tools, and can be gauged really as having to solder 20 + solder points similar to the tray eject points used by NEO 2 versions, and also modchip.com versions etc.
Is it Legal to patch a BIOS ?
YES..ABSOLUTELY
Bios patching is absolute legal as it is not a physical change in the BIOS program, only really an addition of someone elses program running externally, therefore the program contained within the BIOS always remains in its original state.
Will we make a NEO 4 equivalent, or improve it ?
YES..absolutely.
Paul has already been informed that the NEO 4's patching data and addresses will be analysed, and duplicated. This is called reverse engineering, and theres no argument in these matters between NEO and Channeltech, Channeltech already have full PSX support via CPLD technology and BIOS patching, the NEO 4 will be implementing the same or similar solutions.
'NEO' are well aware that the mod will be benched for analysis upon release, and this is one of the factors that is driving them for a wholesale deals, and also attempting to make their mod version 'back-uperproof' as much as possible..
of course we only see this as a higher challenge, and although many will be shouting 'ripped' as was done by myself with the NEO 2, reverse engineering is as common as can be, and in fact there are probably over a 100 famous court cases in commercial electronics, and indeed the gamimg industry where arguments of reverse engineering has been broought before the courts, namely AcCOLADE, SEGA, NINTENDO and ATARI have all been involved with these things.