Broken PS2s.. is there gold inside or what?!?

[Sunnyvale]

OK, I've been selling off some broke PS2s lately. For those of you who don't know, they are through the roof in prce. You can easily get $40 for a BROKEN fattie, and $25 or more for a slim. OK, so I figured it was all for mods and benders buying them up, but I sold a lot of 2 fatties today for $95 with free shipping, and got this Email attached to the order:

"Please pack the item with the smallest box that you have. I don't mind if the item gets slightly damaged during shipping, cos more newspaper/bubble wrap will create more wastage for me. Sorry for the inconvenience caused & thank you for your cooperation."

OK, so it's waste, not function that is his concern it seems. Between their high price and consistent selling and his lack of concern over their appearance and function, I'm left thinking: Are these all getting gutted for precious metals, or what? Anyone know?

[SparTonberry]

They're not trying to build nukes out of them are they?

(people still remember that?)

[Gameguy]

I don't get it either, they're worth more broken than working.

[Emperor Megas]

They're not trying to build nukes out of them are they?

(people still remember that?)

Yes, sadly.

[Peonpiate]

Not Gold. But Titanium is imbedded in the CPU and GPU [Fat model only] in small quantities.

[Sunnyvale]

I don't get it either, they're worth more broken than working.

Yup. If you wanna get top-dollar for your PS2, list it AS-IS, and put the words 'not broken' in your title. Oh, and don't include anything but the console. WTF?!?

[Kyle15]

Where's the buyer from? Someone bought a set of PS2 network adapters from me last month and sent the exact same message.

[Sunnyvale]

Where's the buyer from? Someone bought a set of PS2 network adapters from me last month and sent the exact same message.

California. Same guy?

[crazyjackcsa]

I don't get it. There isn't enough of anything inside worth scrapping. Even with the high price of metals. Scrapping a computer strictly for scrap, won't net you more than $15. I can't see a PS2 worth anymore.

The thing with the metal inside electronics is it's really hard to get out, and you need special chemicals and things to do it. It isn't a do it at home kind of thing.

[skaar]

This is intriguing.

[WCP]

The CIA is sending the parts to the contras in Honduras. It's very hush-hush.

[Sunnyvale]

OK, so not enough metal to mess with... Then WTF?!? Missing the drive door and the expansion port cover=the same price as one that looks gorgeous with a modem attached. I'm all kinds of confused....
God, I hope this happens with Gamecubes! I'll be a millionaire!

[Kitsune Sniper]

And I say again, people buy these and stick a hard drive in with ISOs 'em to resell in Mexico for a nice profit.

[Sunnyvale]

And I say again, people buy these and stick a hard drive in with ISOs 'em to resell in Mexico for a nice profit.

Aha! Thanks, Kitsune! Now it makes sense...
Sorry I didn't see you post that elsewhere

[Gameguy]

And I say again, people buy these and stick a hard drive in with ISOs 'em to resell in Mexico for a nice profit.

Why can't this be done with working systems? It only seems like the broken ones are selling for higher prices.

[RARusk]

Parallel computing is the only thing I can think of. Sony was using PS1 and PS2 boards to help iron out the concepts for their CELL chips I believe.

I guess certain motherboards are better for that than others I suppose.

As for the consoles being sold in Mexico I am assuming that they are using Free McBoot with either HDLoader or Open PS2 Loader unless someone has managed to self boot the programs off of the hard drive - if that is the case I want to know how.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Why can't this be done with working systems? It only seems like the broken ones are selling for higher prices.

Because the working systems can still be used when the hard drive breaks.

No working drive means you have to take it back to the guy who sold you the system to have the drive replaced, which means more money.

As for the consoles being sold in Mexico I am assuming that they are using Free McBoot with either HDLoader or Open PS2 Loader unless someone has managed to self boot the programs off of the hard drive - if that is the case I want to know how.

No, that's it. Most people just ask for a memory card when they do the thing.

[Sunnyvale]

Because the working systems can still be used when the hard drive breaks.

No working drive means you have to take it back to the guy who sold you the system to have the drive replaced, which means more money.

So what you're saying is to keep a few for myself, and break the rest discreetly. Damnit, that just goes against my grain. I'm just gonna quit testing them

[wingzrow]

That titanium thing was funny but it's GOT to be the fact that you can run hard drives filled with games on them. I did that myself and not only does this let you run 30 or so games, the games LOAD faster too.

IT's the entire reason why 80% of my PS2 internet adapters were international sales. I'm sure someone out there is hogging these to sell systems modded in Africa.

[Rickstilwell1]

What I want to know is why some people care about the phat PS2 systems' production numbers. People always ask my uncle on ebay when he sells a system what the numbers on the back are.

My aunt's brother did get a very early PS2, like when it first launched and for some reason when I borrowed it I was able to play non-analog-stick-compatible games using the analog stick in addition to the D-Pad. Games like Beyond the Beyond for PS1 were working with the sticks which is very unusual.

When I got my system in 2002 or so, that function didn't work on mine.
Perhaps only the VERY early systems could do that???