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Guest · Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 11:43 am Post subject: PSP Memory

Yes its true, I managed to repeat Oopo's success in applying the faux PSP firmware update that masquerades a game.

This provides a fabulous opportunity to learn how to reverse the effects of bad firmware updates.

For example, as documented already on many Japanese sites dedicated to the PSP, the unit contains a Samsung MCP (multi-chip package) ram chip. In other words, its a single chip package that actually has two "chips" inside.

It is a Samsung K5E5658HMC-D06 (from memory) you can search on it.

Anyhow, it contains a full 32MB NAND FLASH *plus* 32MB DDR SDRAM.

Imagine, how much extra software Sony can put into the PSP ?

But this begs the question, there *must* be a way to reset a PSP in case of a bad flash. While no doubt Sony would test any REAL firmware updates as thoroughly as possible, it is too easy for something to go wrong in expensive consumer devices.

However, if the PSP in its "store-bought" condition already operates off a pre-loaded firmware that ends up being replaced by future updates, then reverting is an impossibility. But that just doesn't seem reasonable.

But if not in flash, where does the PSP's stock embedded operating system reside ?

I am excited to join Oopo in exploring this tantalizing new direction of PSP homebrew development!

ooPo · Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 12:31 pm Post subject:

Welcome, brother! I am glad you have finally seen the light!

Praise Sony!

Oobles · Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 2:03 pm Post subject:

Pikoro · Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Posts: 56

I'd be willing to bet that there is some kind of bios reset, a couple of contact points on the board that if shorted out would allow you to reflash from the default bios. Problem is getting that default bios. THAT is the real quest here.

I'd be willing to bet that the rom can be pulled off onto a memory stick or some such, but it'd have to be done with the thing taken apart, or via some kind of flash utility. anyone sniffed info from a usb port this thing is plugged into while the box is turned on? It might have some kind of address or i'd bet on a boot loader that's accessable only when a particular key combo is sent to the device during the first second of poweron or some such.

Anyways, just an idea. I'm gonna see if i can track down a usb port sniffer.

Cheers

Guest · Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2005 2:55 pm Post subject:

Well, the PSP might not *have* a BIOS per se.

It would be enough for the FLASH to hold the firmware, and this is the most common situation for consumer-type embedded devices.

Not ruling it out, but trying not to create too many parallels with PCs here. The more appropriate parallels are the Ipods, MP3 players/jukeboxes, Wifi Access points, etc...

And the flash memory chip is a FBGA, so good luck getting it off. ;)

FreeFighter · Joined: 14 Jan 2005 Posts: 43

According to an article on CVG:

Guest · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 1:49 pm Post subject: Re: SAMSUNG TIES UP PSP CHIP DEAL

FreeFighter · Joined: 14 Jan 2005 Posts: 43

Then could it be that it's only in the US and European release?

Guest · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 10:24 pm Post subject:

Don't know what you mean. The memory specs in the report you posted match the specs I posted.

64MB = 32MB NAND flash + 32MB DDR SDRAM

FreeFighter · Joined: 14 Jan 2005 Posts: 43

mc · Joined: 12 Jan 2005 Posts: 212 Location: Link�ping

nem · Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Posts: 73

I need ball assign informatin of the memory chip.
Is there any clue for that?

Penhalion · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 2

Wouldn't worry too much as if for any reason the flash didn't work the first time you can re-flashed it just don't turn off the power until told to do so ;o)

...say no more! say no more! A nod is as good as a wink to a blind man...nudge nudge...wink wink

Guest · Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 2:59 pm Post subject: Re: ball assign info?

mc · Joined: 12 Jan 2005 Posts: 212 Location: Link�ping

They have pinouts of other MCP products though. I very much doubt they have thought out a special pinout for this particular chip, so it should be essentially the same as for other MCP chips with the same ball count.
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kry.sys · Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Posts: 82

i find it interesting that in their jan 13 press release they state that the chip will have 256 M of nand flash memory. i dont know whre im getting 32 from them... am i looking at the wrong numbers here? samsung maybe just made a generalization on what they can do with that setup but the page IS about the PSP chips... oh well...

i get dumber by the second... i think i know how somthing works.. then i read things like this

http://www.samsung.com/sg/presscenter/pressrelease/semiconductorsnews_20050113_0000094242.asp

ooPo · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 3:49 pm Post subject:

32MB = 256Mb

one megabyte = 8 megabits

kry.sys · Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Posts: 82

BWA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH its getting late... sorry, i didnt catch it.... im not used to people using bits for storage specs vice bandwidth

ill have to write this one down in my book of all-time retarded posts.

mofamous · Joined: 09 Jun 2005 Posts: 7

just take a look at SAMSUNG MCP TECH.
How to learn the following secents as SAMSUNG says :

"With the world's fastest MCP processing rate of 1.3GB/s, the MCP devices supplied for the Sony PSP have a capacity of 64 megabytes and consist of 256 Mb NAND flash memory and high-speed mobile DDR (double-data-rate) DRAM memory."

any experts' HELP?

I just want to know the true ! 24hrs standby on forum !

Lain_OTN · Joined: 01 Mar 2005 Posts: 17

Yes it's true...

256Mb of NAND flash + 256 Mb of RAM

256Mb / 8 bits per Byte = 32 MB.
32MB FLASH + 32MB RAM ...
Nothing new...

mofamous · Joined: 09 Jun 2005 Posts: 7

who had got this type of SAMSUNG' IC data sheet?

please email to : r9100@163.com THANK YOU !!!!

I want to learn more clear in this chip!

pixel · Joined: 30 Jan 2004 Posts: 791

Nobody has, it's a special chip made by samsung for sony, and is not available for the public. You have to guess the pinout yourself, as other people did. Now stop bugging the forums about it.
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