Table of contents
Abstract
Replacing the original Playstation 1 CD-Rom with a CD-Rom from an audio player.
Project
New Year is a time of magic, when the world is filled with the expectation of miracles and the fulfillment of cherished desires. These days, each of us returns to childhood, remembering our brightest dreams and long-awaited gifts. Many years ago, when the New Year was on the threshold, children dreamed of something special - the first PlayStation 1 game console. For many, it was a real embodiment of technological progress, a desired toy that opened up a whole world of new adventures. In those days, when the Internet was not yet so accessible, and the graphics in games were just beginning to amaze, the PlayStation 1 console seemed something incredible and unattainable. But dreams come true, and each New Year gave a chance to become the owner of this legendary console.
While preparing for the new year and searching for Christmas tree decorations in the attic, I came across a long-forgotten treasure - my old PlayStation 1 console. Remembering how many hours I spent in front of its screens, immersing myself in worlds of adventures and battles, I could not believe that this precious box was still somewhere in the depths of my house. I excitedly connected it to the TV, hoping to once again plunge into memories, but when I tried to turn it on, I was disappointed - the console could not read discs.
Opening the console and taking a closer look, I discovered that the CD-ROM was not functioning properly. It did not make the usual sound when loading, and the disc remained motionless. Then I realized - the problem was in the mechanism itself, most likely the laser reading the information from the disc had failed. It was a bit frustrating, but at the same time I became interested - a new task opened up before me: to bring the old console back to life, to return to it that very spirit that excited me so much in childhood.
Having dug around the Internet in search of information on how to repair or what can replace the original CD-ROM from Playstation 1, I found out that for 25 years no one has created a full-fledged drive emulator that would fit all revisions of Playstation 1, but I came across photos in which someone was able to connect a CD-ROM from an audio player to Playstation 1, later I found the connection pinout. To replace the original CD-ROM Playstation 1, you can use CD drives from an audio player that use KSS 213C or KSS 213B laser heads.
Here is a diagram of how the KSS 213C laser head should be connected to the Playstation 1.
On the left is the pinout diagram of the KSS 213C and on the right is the Playstation 1 connector.
I quickly made a diagram in KiCad, the diagram is simple, it uses only four 2.2k resistors.
Made the board using a laser printer and etching.
The ZH1.5, 4P connector is very suitable for the CD-ROM power connector in the Playstation 1.
I found an old audio CD player at home and took out the drive from it.
Assembled and connected everything.
And here it is, the long-awaited switch-on.
A few seconds of waiting and the familiar splash screen finally appeared on the screen. It was the same sound I heard as a child, and which seemed to be lost forever. The whole repair process was like returning to the past, when every moment with the game was something special. My old console works again, and with it a piece of that time that is so dear to me returned. And I realized: sometimes, to feel alive, it is enough to simply return to where it all began.
Now I know exactly what I'll do during the New Year holidays, and while I was writing this article I collected and studied a lot of information about how a CD drive is designed and works and how the console interacts with it. And I got the desire to make a CD drive emulator for Playstation 1 that would fit all revisions of the console. So I'll have something to do during the New Year holidays besides games.
Happy New Year to everyone!
Top Comments