What do I need to know about PSP hacking?

[TakingBackSunday]

I've got some spare cash from my birthday and I'm thinking about getting a PSP.  Which model do I need to look for if I want to hack it?  What all should I know?  Is the Go absolutely useless?

[Himu]

if you're interested in a vita, might as well get a psp go, because psp go is pretty easy to hack these days iirc and you'd be buying your games via psn for psp go anyways if only for vita psp bc.

but if you're not interested in psn or buying your games digitally, then a 2000 or 3000 model would suffice but 2000 is the easiest to hack.

[cool breeze]

depends on how far you want to go

TN-E HEN is the easiest.  You can play ripped/downloaded games, apps and a few other tasks by dragging two files onto the memory stick.  It works with every model (1000 to 3000 and Go).  On the PSP, just activate the TN-E HEN, which allows for unsigned apps to run, and from there you can run emulators or iso loaders or whatever.

Full CFW stuff, which I personally don't bother with anymore, is supposed to be better and that works with the 1000 and 2000.  I don't know if it's on the 3000 or Go yet.

For the hardware, I think the only two sold as 'new' are the 3000 and Go.  Don't know what the MSRP is these days, but I got my Go for $100 a while back and it was totally worth it.  I play my PSP games on that (have to use my old 2000 to rip UMDs still).  But the Go has a smaller (but best of the bunch) screen, is less comfortable to play for extended hours, worse battery life, requires more proprietary shit, non-removable battery, etc.  I use it because, well, I really like the Gameboy Micro too, so it's a theme.

also, at least on the Go with TN-E HEN, 100% of games don't run perfect.  Most of the popular ones seem to be fine, but like Mega Man Powered Up had crackling sound occasionally.

to briefly get into the minor differences between the 2000 and 3000: the screen on the 2000 has bad ghosting.  3000 fixes this, but it can have interlacing-like small lines on the image).  Go has the best PSP screen, even at the smaller size (I think it's 3.5 or .7 inch compared to PSP 4.3).

[demi]

what a poor, get out of here with this shit

[TakingBackSunday]

I'd rather just do that TN-E HEN that you're talking about.  And it sounds like the 3000 is for me.  What all do I need for that, linkzg?

[MyNameIsMethodis]

piracy is against the rules do you want this board shut down

[iconoclast]

BrandNew is obviously putting CFW on his PSP for homebrew purposes, it's wrong to automatically assume CFW is for piracy.

[Eel O'Brian]

yeah, get the 3000 - you can still download psn games to the memory stick, and you'll be able to play umd games that are never coming to psn

[naff]

Nobodies mentioned that if you get one with official firmware > 6.35 you cannot use the full capabilities of cfw i.e. get one second hand because first hand PSPs will (i assume) be updated past 6.35 to 6.38 or whatever is the current OFW. There's light and full CFW, both do the same job afaik, Go and 3000 use light CFW, which means you have to boot it into memory every time you turn on your PSP but it's like a button click and 5 second wait if you set it up right so no probs. Anyway, prob best to do your research outside of the Bore....

Get a PSP GO. Best handheld ever made

[cool breeze]

I'd rather just do that TN-E HEN that you're talking about.  And it sounds like the 3000 is for me.  What all do I need for that, linkzg?

I don't know the policy on posting links, but if you search for TN-E HEN, you'll find the files you need.  I think a version exists for later firmwares and there are ways to downgrade if needed (current official firmware is 6.39 I think, I'm at 6.20 and see no reason to upgrade). 

When you have the file, you just drag and drop on the memory stick.  That lets you run other homebrew apps like a backup loader or emulators and the like.

I'm sure more has happened since I last checked out the scene months ago.  I just haven't had a reason to look for updates yet.