shight

So, some of you may be familiar with the "SCPH-XXXXX" model number on Playstation 2s. If you aren't, feel free to check it out here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_2_models

Long story short, the difference this model number poses in speedrunning can influence how fast a game will run load screens/black screens and/or how much lag is had while playing. The higher the number, the better, generally. And every single game seems to produce a different outcome where this is concerned (and some games there's literally no difference, like Spyro games seem). However in my experience, it's usually fairly negligible, even for the more impacted games -- nowhere near as big as the Standard Disc Speed (SDS) vs. Fast Disc (FDS) difference found in the console settings on all PS2s, for instance.

To my understanding, the model # isn't simply the final say though. e.g. a 4 year old and heavily used SCPH-90001 could run a game slower than a brand new, fresh out the box 70011.

Why I bring all this up is I've had my same SCPH-70012 for a while now, probably around 2 and a half or 3 years, and given my involvement in speedrunning, would surely mean that a 4 digit number of hours has gone into that console's power on time. Basically, my PS2's an old fart.

It still seems to work fine, and really I'm not suggesting I've lost time in some of my recent runs because of it, BUT lately while running Ape Escape in particular, I notice more lag than there should be. Like it's very noticeable and this is something that's been on my mind a while now. To be fair, it's a pretty laggy game in general, buuut. There was a time I used to play it, way back when I had a different PS2, where it was less laggy. I've felt cheated in a sense since then but sort of worked to overcome the disadvantage with the game, as again, it isn't a "huge" obstacle.

Model number isn't necessarily the end of it! The state of your disc can also influence the same properties of loads and lag. (At least from what I've heard/believe.) It's to an even lesser extent, but the fact that I've had my Ape Escape disc for like 10 years and gotten some pretty heavy usage out of it worries me a little.


So what's changing?

I am going to set aside my SCPH-70012 for now in lieu of my 90001. I will ALSO be getting a new(used-ish) disc that has far less play time overall on it.

This is mainly because my options are: A) keep feeling like I'm at a disadvantage, which whether or not it's true, has really been discomforting to my attempts lately. B) have to spend money on a new(used) 70k to stay in tune with the current WR's SCPH model. C) use the 90k ps2 that's right in front of me. (I feel like an upper tier model would eventually be used anyway -- why delay the inevitable?)



For your curiosity.... (random funfacts)

1. Yes, I've already tried my 90k for Ape Escape but never said so, it was on some other day, where I wasn't sure about it yet, and got pretty nice pace on what felt like a bad run to me. I left the chat, no mic at the time, with something like "explanations to come later" -- well here they are.

2. I would estimate the difference in MY two consoles is probably around 20-30 seconds overall. It's just an estimate. It's far too difficult to measure, as it saves time in more of a 'numerous small fractions of a second' manner than a '1 second here; 2 there' basically. It's hard to even notice a difference, even when watching side by side. The change in lag in certain areas in certain levels is very noticeable, at least as the player, looking right at the TV, though.

3. Hornlitz' 45:45 WR run (unofficial) was on a SCPH-70011, I'm told. Oddly enough, when I compared a 70k run of mine to his, I couldn't tell a difference. When I compared a 90k run of mine to his, I couldn't tell a difference either. But when I compared my two runs, I could tell that my 90k was slightly faster than my 70, barely. I'm not really sure how that makes sense, but conclusions were just really hard to draw. HOWEVER, that leads me into my next point... ↓

4. I will not stop with this game until I hit a 44[SDA; not RTA. sub 45:21RTA]. I don't want to feel I've bested the competition if I get a 45:44. Call me crazy, quote me on it, hold me to it -- I won't move on to something else until 44:XX happens.

5. Strangely, I'm pretty sure 75k, 77k, 79k, and 90k models are all pretty much the same, at least for the games I run. One of those seventies may even be better than a 90. I don't claim to be an expert on all this. But yeah... just going off what I've observed & stuff over the years. Anything above 70k is an upper tier model I think.

6. All of my speedruns with any sort of recent relevance were done on my 70012 -- WITH THE EXCEPTION of my Crash 3 any% 45:34, which I used my 90k for, because the WR at the time was done on a 90k as well.



Please feel free to get in touch with me if this raises any concerns or something of the sort. Or if I've missed any important piece of info worth adding.

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