News First reverse engineered Sony PS1 motherboard enables fixing broken systems — bare PCBs for $40, boards with chips for $95

[Admin]

An electronics enthusiast has created what they say is the 'first custom PlayStation 1 motherboard created in 30 years.'

First reverse engineered Sony PS1 motherboard enables fixing broken systems — bare PCBs for $40, boards with chips for $95 : Read more

 

[TerryLaze]

Just why?
.....
PS1 are super common and the only thing that breaks on them is the CD drive or the PSU wich this project doesn't include either so what's the point?!
Also the PS2 is pretty much 100% backwards compatible so double, what's the point?!

 

[QuarterSwede]

Just why?
.....
PS1 are super common and the only thing that breaks on them is the CD drive or the PSU wich this project doesn't include either so what's the point?!
Also the PS2 is pretty much 100% backwards compatible so double, what's the point?!

That’s not all that breaks on them. Without knowing much about the ps1’s motherboard, for example, anything with capacitors will die over time. The project creator also mentions modernizing the MB. Likely this is in case components die that are no longer in circulation.

 

[TerryLaze]

Likely this is in case components die that are no longer in circulation.

The article says that the special chips are still pulled from an actual ps1.
Anything else is run of the mill components that will never be not available.

Another potentially attractive option for backers is at the €80 ($92.50) level. For this, backers are told that they will get the same motherboard, as above, but populated with all the required chips and ICs from original PS1 consoles.

Also in his kickstart page he is even clearer about it.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lawrencebrd/nsone

These boards will be compatible with the original PlayStation 1 chassis and require only the transplantation of original components to revive old consoles.

Looking at the kickstarter the real job is all the documentation he did, that's worth giving him money for somebody that loves the ps1.

 

[gtsr]

Just why?
.....
PS1 are super common and the only thing that breaks on them is the CD drive or the PSU wich this project doesn't include either so what's the point?!
Also the PS2 is pretty much 100% backwards compatible so double, what's the point?!

There are a lot of similar projects, many for the C64 and for the Amiga. Aside from having a perfect brand new machine, one of the advantages is that it can improve on the original design.

In new revisions he could add stuff like an HDMI out or an integrated ODE.

My only problem with this news is this: what kind of name is "Lorentio"? They say he's Italian, but that's not an Italian name, not only that, it's not a name at all. I searched it with Google and couldn't find anything relevant.

 

[TerryLaze]

My only problem with this news is this: what kind of name is "Lorentio"? They say he's Italian, but that's not an Italian name, not only that, it's not a name at all. I searched it with Google and couldn't find anything relevant.

Lorenz is a pretty common name in Germany, so maybe he's from the italian part of the Alps and this is the italian version of Lorenz or something?