Basic Requirements
- A ripped Playstation 2 bios. Emulators require a bios to function. We cannot supply this for you. If you need help on ripping a bios from your PS2, check the this guide courtesy of the PCSX2 website. It uses biosdrain.
- ISO rips of the DVD games. Again, we cannot supply this for you and do not support piracy. The PCSX2 website also has a guide for ripping DVD games to ISO.
- A copy of PCSX2. We recommend grabbing a copy of the 1.7.x nightly builds, but 1.6.0 stable and older will work.
- This is personal preference, but we recommend the portable version, because all of the folders will be contained in one location on your PCSX2.
The PCSX2 website has has documentation including information on PCSX2 requirements and downloading and configuring PCSX2.
Getting the Right Version
We recommend that users download the nightly build of PCSX2, which is 1.7.x. Try the AVX version first, but if that does not work, simply download the SSE4 version.
Nonetheless, 1.6.x and below still works, but there are no benefits at this point to using it instead of the latest nightlies.
Advantages of 1.7.0:
- Fastest loading method available.
- Now has updated tracker program. available thanks to madgamer98.
- Newest updates to the code. 1.6.0 base has not been updated for a while.
- Newer UI
- Easier to use AlternateDNSSetups if need be
- If needing to set up a new connection manually, the connection configuration menu actually renders correctly. On 1.6.0 it is doable but a mess. Most users won't have to consider this at all but it's nice.
- If using an English region bios, the network setup/editing screen will render in English. Note: may need a patch.
Advantages of 1.6.0:
- Not considered alpha/beta, so less subject to change and potential issues caused by recent code changes
- Can use a tracker program to keep track of the current game data including teammates' position, health, inventories, and other game data including enemy health and item availability.
It is strongly recommended that if you want to use an older version, that you not use anything older than 1.6.0. There is no benefit to going lower than 1.6.0.
Getting connected
PCSX2 Network setup guide.
Optional emulator specific features
Faster loading
There is an optional quick-loading method for PCSX2 nightly 1.7.0 users on Windows or Mac OS. See QuickLoading. The other methods in Faster Loading will work on any PCSX2 setup.
