Custom Firmware...Is it worth it?

Well my birthday is coming up in the next month and i have been considering getting a PSP for quite awhile now. So what i figured is that i would get a PSP for my Birthday and have someone mod it for me. Now through some of the research that i have done in the interwebz, i came to the conclusion that working with a psp to run homebrew, backups, ect. is a hell of a lot more confusing than doing the same with the NDS. Although when i first got my NDS, and my flash card as well, i had just about the same feelings that i am having now. Even though i managed to obtain heavy knowledge on how my flashcard worked and everything i think this will be a bit more challenging.

So i have a few questions...

1) how hard is it to get to run psp .cso/.iso's

2) how simple is it compaired to running everything on a flashcart

3) is it even worth getting a psp, or should i spend my money on something else

4) will one firmware run all, already released games

5) how easy is it to setup and run emulators for nes, gba, ect. games

6) will a psp with custom firmware still run original games of the umd

Thats all i can think of now, but chances are i will ask some more ;D

 

I'm also planning to buy a PSP in a month or so and have the same thoughts. I heard that with the newer firmwares, to make it compatible with custom firmware you'd have to downgrade using some sort of Pandora (can't remember) device. That involves using 2 PSP's, with a chance of actually breaking them(?). Anyways, from the tutorials and guides I read so far my conclusion is it's a hell of a lot harder than an NDS :/.

 

I sorta understand the whole downgrading thing but what comes after that is what i'm worried about.

 

I'm new to the PSP homebrew scene, but I'm sure I can help you out to some degree

1. running games is the same process a a normal game, just they're stored on the mem stick. Getting them on there is the same as NDS Flashcards. Easy Stuff

2. it's the same thing pretty much. You can do everything a flashcard can i believe, plus you got N64 and PS1 games to play too (to a degree)

3. the PSP is a great media centre if you want to take music and videos around, with a better screen than most MP4 players, and you can get as much music as you mem stick can hold with the benefit of some decent games, so more worth it than an iPod in my opinion. Game-wise, there isn't alot in fairness, but enough niches to warrent a purchase. Probably some decent homebrew I've yet to try out somewhere too you might be interested in, so overall it's worth it. More so if you have a PS3 too.

4. CFW 3.90m33-3 will run everything i think, and is up to date, so you have most of the official features. I've updated to 4.01m33-2, but that doesnt seem to be compatible with anything at the moment :'( Once all the apps are updated, I should be fine, but i recommend 3.90m33. Many tend to use 3.70m33 by the looks of it though, as that has the most homebrew compatibility

5. same as flashcards. The emulators have more options and such though, so they're better I'd say, but you'll have to be aware of what FWs they run on for the best results

6. and yes it does, even in NO UMD mode



hope that helped you, and anyone can correct me if I'm wrong

 

It is pretty easy actually, I have installed custom firmware on about 3 psps, no need to worry about anything going wrong! Check here, this will get you started: http://forums.afterdawn.com/forum_view.cfm/210 Also: go on google and search pandora battery installer.

To answer your questions:

1)No, not hard at all.
2)Only a tiny bit harder than a flashcart.
3)Ummm, well with a psp you play games, watch movies, go on the internet, and do a bunch of stuff.
4)Yes, one CUSTOM firmware is all you need to run games.
5)Emulators are really easy to install.
6)Yes, umd games will still work normally.

 

you need a pandora's battery to downgrade your system.

if you order from dealextreme, just remember that it is based in hong kong.

for me, that's a long delivery time.

and I'm still waiting for my battery to be here.

if you have a memory stick >64MB and a converter to USB, you can make the magic memory stick without two PSPs.

 

Ok so i looked at deal extreme and i found this http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12711 so if i was to buy this i would be able to downgrade a psp 2001 (aka Slim & lite) to 3.90m33-3?

Also what is the difference between a .cso and a . iso?

 

 

thats not a bad deal but your gonna have to make your own magic memory stick depending on which one you make you should be able to downgrade directly to 3.90M33-3

well a .cso  is more compressed(smaller file size) that an .iso and will fit better on 1 gig sticks its pretty much always better to download .cso files if possible

 

Wow, its like we're in the same boat! My birthday is next month and I also think I'm going to get a PSP. When's your birthday?

 

Well my birthday is on the 31st of August, and im planning on getting the God of War special edition PSP

Also how do i make the magic memory stick, and does it involve an already downgraded psp?

 

good choice, one of the best games for the psp.

you can make a magic memory stick/ pandora battery with just one psp.

http://www.mypsp.com.au/GuideDetail.aspx?id=225
here is a good site, its the one i followed

 

Ok Guys heres what i am thinking i'll get

the new psp slim and lite with factory firmware

1 1GB memory stick pro duo

1 4GB memory stick pro duo

1 premade pandoras battery

should this be enough to downgrade and upload costom firmware?

 

Why the 1GB memory stick?

 

For the magic memory stick

 

that's exactly what i have lol, so yes, it should work

 

You could use the 4GB Magic Memory sticks can be returned to normal by simply formatting them (through the psp)

 

Keep the one GB because the magic memory stick will work on it while the 4 GB wont.If you're only going to use it for the downgrade you should get a 256-1gb memory stick.

 

ok you have a lot of questions.

I JUST put 3.90 M33 on mine today.

it is amazing.

I would definitely buy the pandora since it is easier to buy than to make.

the magic memory stick is easy to make, all you have to do is download psp grader (i used v0.2)

mine came with the 150.pbp and the 390.pbp

when you load up psp grader, just put the two files in their respective boxes.
select the drive that your memory card is in (for mine it was E

and hit start.

your memory stick needs to be at least a 64 MB size, the 32s won't work.

memory stick is made!

then, take your memory stick and pandora and put them in.

when you put in the pandora, it will turn on automatically, (if screen isn't black like a cmd window, then turn it off and turn it back on holding L)

it gives you a few choices. hit X.
let it run for about 3 mins. DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING UNTIL IT IS DONE!

then press X again to turn it off.

NOW, switch the pandora battery with the regular one.
turn on the PSP.
(for fat PSPs ONLY!) --> go to the memory stick, run the 1.50 kernel

reboot again, holding R this time.
to go configuration.
turn off the UMD driver and it will change to the M33 one.

this was really easy! I thought it was going to be a lot harder but it is very simple.

and yes it is worth every penny to have custom firmware.
now playing FF8 and FF9.

 

You my friend have really helped me out a lot, heh i now feel a whole lot better in buying this thing.

 

i posted a tutorial which is easier to follow.