PCSX2 Setup Guide: First Time Configuration (v1.6.0)

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PCSX2 Setup Guide 1.6.0 First Time Configuration

If you don’t have a PlayStation 2 (PS2) video game console and you want to play PlayStation 2 Games on your personal computer, PCSX2 is the best way to play your favourite PS2 games on PC/Windows and PCSX2 is also available for MacOS and Linux operating systems.

What is PCSX2 ?

PCSX2 is a PS2 emulator that is absolutely free and completely open-source. It uses MIPS CPU Interpreters, Recompilers, and a Virtual Machine to manage hardware states and PlayStation 2 (PS2) system memory in order to simulate the PlayStation 2’s hardware.

PCSX2 System Requirements

What should be the minimum PCSX2 requirements for PC to emulate all PlayStation 2 video games? here is the answer:

PCSX2 Minimum System Requirements:

Operating System: Windows/Linux/MacOS.
Storage: 100MB (PCSX2 Emulator Software Files Size).
RAM: 512MB RAM.
CPU: Any That Supports SSE2 (Pentium 4 and Up, Athlon64 and Up).
GPU: Any That Supports Pixel Shader model 2.0, Except the Nvidia FX series.

PCSX2 Recommended System Requirements:

Operating System: Windows/Linux/MacOS Latest.
Storage: 100mb (PCSX2 Emulator Software Files Size).
RAM: 1GB or More.
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo @3.2 GHz or better OR i3/i5/i7 @2.8 GHz or better OR AMD Phenom II @3.2 GHz or better.
GPU: 8800gt or better (For Direct3D11 Support).

Where to download PCSX2 ?

You can download PCSX2 from the website “PCSX2.net“. However, keep in mind that “PCSX2.net” is the only official and safest place to download the PCSX2 emulator, and do not download from somewhere else.

You can also download the latest version 1.7.3 of PCSX2 from their Github automated builds page, if you want to download it without a doubt but this is a nightly build, so things might not work right away.

How To Download PCSX2 ?

Step 1 – Open any Web browser on your PC and go to PCSX2.net.

Step 1 Open any browser on your PC and go to PCSX2.net

Step 2 – Download PCSX2 32bit – portable from the Latest Stable option.

Step 2 Download PCSX2 32bit portable from Latest Stable.

Step 3 – Open the pcsx2-v1.6.0-windows-32bit-portable.7z file location by clicking on the Show in folder option.

Step 3 Open Show in folder.

Step 4 – Extract pcsx2-v1.6.0-windows-32bit-portable.7z file using WinRAR or any 7z Archive extracting software.

Step 4 Extract PCSX2 v1.6.0 Windows 32bit Portable.7z file using 7z Archive extracting software.

Step 5 – Open extracted folder.

Step 5 Open extracted folder.

Step 6 – Open the PCSX2 1.6.0 folder.

Step 6 Open PCSX2 1.6.0 folder.

How To Install PCSX2 ?

If you are setting up PCSX2 for the first time, here are the few steps you need to follow:

Step 1 – Open pcsx2.exe file.

Step 7 Open pcsx2.exe file.

PCSX2 First Time Configuration

Step 2 – Select your Language.

Step 8 Select your Language.

  • Language Selector → System Default (Recommended).

Step 3 – Click on the Apply button.

Step 9 Click on Apply button.

  • Note:
  1. Change the language only if needed.
  2. The system default language should be fine for most operating systems.

Step 4 – Click on the Next button.

Step 10 Click on Next button.

Step 5 – Always use the default Plugins setting.

Step 11 Use default Plugins setting.

Note: PCSX2 Plugins provided by PCSX2 are officially in the 7z archive file.

Step 6 – Always select the latest GS plugin (Recommended).

Step 12 Select latest GS plugin.

  • GS → GSdx 20200506140834 (MSVC 19.25 AVX2/AVX2) 1.2.0 [GSdx32-AVX2]

Step 7 – Always select the latest PAD plugin.

Step 13 Select latest PAD plugin.

  • PAD → LilyPad (20200506140834) 0.12.1 [LilyPad]

Step 8 – Always select the latest SPU2 plugin.

Step 14 Select latest SPU2 plugin.

  • SPU2 → SPU2-X 20200506140834 2.0.0 [Spu2-X]

Step 9 – Always select the latest CDVD plugin.

Step 15 Select latest CDVD plugin.

  • CDVD → cdvdGigaherz 20200506140834 0.11.0 [cdvdGigaherz]

Step 10 – Always select the latest USB plugin.

Step 16 Select latest USB plugin.

  • USB → USBnull Driver 20200506140834 0.7.0 [USBnull]

Step 11 – Always select the latest FW plugin.

Step 17 Select latest FW plugin.

  • FW → FWnull Driver 20200506140834 0.7.0 [FWnull]

Step 12 – Always select the latest DEV9 plugin.

Step 18 Select latest DEV9 plugin.

DEV9 → DEV9null Driver 20200506140834 0.5.0 [DEV9null]

Step 13 – Click on the Next button.

Step 19 Click on Next button

PCSX2 BIOS Setup

The “bios” folder in the PCSX2 installation directory is required to contain PS2 BIOS rom files. In order to play PS2 games using PCSX2, you will need to select the correct BIOS rom for your region in the PCSX2 Configuration window. It is essential to keep in mind that the PS2’s BIOS files are protected by copyright and cannot be distributed legally. The BIOS files will need to be obtained independently.

Step 1 – Click on Open in Explorer option.

Step 20 Click on Open in Explorer option.

Step 2 – Download, Copy, and Paste your PS2 bios rom files here.

Step 21 Download and Paste your PS2 bios files here.

Click Here To Download ⇒ PS2 BIOS For PCSX2 Emulator

Step 3 – Close this Windows Tab.

Step 22 Close this windows tab.

Step 4 – Click on the Refresh list button to get the BIOS rom list.

Step 23 Click on Refresh list button.

Step 5 – Select the latest version of PS2 BIOS rom.

Step 24 Select latest version BIOS rom.

  • BIOS rom → USA – v02.00(14/06/2004) Console.

Step 6 – Click on the Finish button.

Step 25 Click on Finish button.

Step 7 – Close PCSX2 Program Log.

Step 26 Close PCSX2 Program Log.

How To Setup PCSX2

Once the installation is complete, launch the PCSX2 emulator and click on the “Config” button in the main window.

Configuration

Step 1 – Go to the Config option and click on Emulation Settings.

Step 27 Go to Config option and click on Emulation Settings.

Emulation Settings

Step 2 – Use Preset → Safe (Default) option (Recommended).

Step 28 Use Preset Safe Default option.

  • Presets apply some speed hacks that may boost speed on underpowered
    systems, or speed up games that have unusual performance requirements.
    Uncheck this box to apply settings manually.
  1. Safest – No speed hacks. Most reliable, but possibly slow setting.
  2. Safe – Default. A few speed hacks are known to provide boosts, with minimal
    to no side effects.☑
  3. Balanced – This may help quad-core CPUs.
  4. Aggressive – May help underpowered CPUs on less demanding games,
    but risks causing problems in other cases.
  5. Very Aggressive – May help underpowered CPUs on less demanding
    games, but is likely to cause problems in other cases.
  6. Mostly Harmful – Harsh application of speed hacks. May help a very
    small set of games that have unusual performance requirements, but have
    adverse effects on most others. Not recommended for underpowered PCs.

Step 3 – Click on the GS Window setting.

Step 29 Click on GS Window setting.

Step 4 – Select Aspect Ratio: Fit to Window/Screen (Recommended).

Step 30 Select Aspect Ratio Standart 4 3.

Step 5 – Select FMV Aspect Ratio Override: Off (Default) option (Recommended).

Step 31 Select FMV Aspect Ratio Override Off Default option.

Step 6 – Enter your PC Window Screen Size on Custom Window Size.

Step 32 Enter your PC Window Size

Step 7 – Enter Zoom: 0 (Recommended).

Step 32 Enter Zoom 0

Step 8 – ☑ [Check Mark] Hide window when paused option (Recommended).

Step 34 Enable Hide window when paused.

Step 9 – ☑ [Check Mark] Double-click toggle fullscreen mode option (Recommended).

Step 35 Enable Double click toggles fullscreen mode option.

Step 10 – Click on the Apply button.

Step 36 Click on Apply button.

Step 11 – Click on the OK button.

Step 37 Click on OK button.

Memory Cards

Step 1 – Go to Config and click on the Memory cards option.

Step 38 Go to Config and click on Memory cards option.

MemoryCard Manager

Step 2 – If your PCSX2 emulator does not detect any Memory Card file, you need to Browse and select and PCSX2 Memory card folder which contains Mcd001.ps2 and Mcd002.ps2 files.

Step 39 Browse and select and PCSX2 Memory card folder.

Step 3 – ☑ [Check Mark] Auto-eject memory cards when loading savestates option (Recommended).

Step 40 Enable Auto eject memory cards when loading savestates option.

  • Forces games to re-index card contents after loading from savestates, preventing memory card corruption. It’s possible that it won’t work with all games (Guitar Hero).

Step 4 – ☑ [Check Mark] Automatically manage saves based on the running game (Recommended).

Step 41 Enable Automatically manage saves based on running game.

  • Re-index the content of the memory card each time the running software changes (only for the folder type). The memory card will not run out of space for saves as a result of this.

Step 5 – Click on the Apply button.

Step 42 Click on Apply button.

Step 6 – Click on the OK button.

Step 43 Click on OK button.

Plugin/BIOS Selector Settings

Step 1 – Open Plugin/BIOS Selector settings.

Step 44 Open Plugin BIOS Selector settings.

Components Selectors

Step 2 – Click on Folders Setting.

Step 45 Click on Folders Setting.

Step 3 – Always Use Default Settings (Recommended).

Step 46 Use Default Settings.

  • ☑ [Check Mark] Use the default cheat setting.
  • ☑ [Check Mark] Use the default Savestates setting.
  • ☑ [Check Mark] Use the default Snapshots setting.
  • ☑ [Check Mark] Use the default Logs/Dumps setting.

Step 4 – Click on the OK button.

Step 47 Click on OK button.

Video (GS) Plugin Settings

Step 1 – Go to Config – Video (GS) and click on Plugin Settings…

Step 48 Go to Config Video GS and click on Plugin Settings...

GS PLUGIN FOR PS1 & PS2 EMULATORS

Step 2 – Click on Renderer and Select Direct3D 11 (Hardware) option (Recommended).

Step 49 Click on Renderer and Click on Direct3D 11 Hardware option

Step 3 – Click on the Adapter and Select your Graphic Card if you don’t have a graphic card on your PC, you need to select Default Hardware Device (Recommended).

Step 50 Click on Adapter and Select your Graphic Card or if you dont have graphic card on your PC you can select Default Hardware Device.

Step 4 – Select Automatic (Default) on the Interlacing option.

Step 51 Click on Interlacing and Select Automatic Default.

Step 5 – Click on Texture Filtering and Select Bilinear (PS2) option (Recommended).

Step 52 Click on Texture Filtering and Select Bilinear PS2.

Hardware Renderer Settings

Step 6 – If you selected your Graphics Card as Adaptor you can select Internal Resolution as 3x Native (~1080p).

Step 53 Internal Resolution 3x Native 1080p.

Note: If you are using the Default Hardware Device as an Adaptor you need to select the Native (PS2) option on Internal Resolution (Recommended).

Step 7 – Select Anisotropic Filtering: Off (Default).

Step 54 Anisotropic Filtering Off Default.

Step 8 – Select Mipmapping (Ins): Automatic (Default).

Step 55 Mipmapping Ins Automatic Default.

Step 9 – Select CRC Hack Level: Automatic (Default).

Step 56 CRC Hack Level Automatic Default.

Step 10 – Select DATE Accuracy: Fast (Default).

Step 57 DATE Accuracy Fast Default.

Step 11 – Select Blending Accuracy: Basic (Recommended).

Step 58 Blending Accuracy Basic Recommended.

Shader Configuration

Step 1 – Click on the Shader Configuration Option.

Step 59 Click on Shader Configuration Option.

Step 2 – ☑ [Check Mark] Texture Filtering of Display option.

Step 60 Enable Texture Filtering of Display.

Step 3 – Click and Select TV Shader (F7): None option.

Step 61 TV Shader F7 None.

Step 4 – Click on the OK button.

Step 62 Click on OK button.

Step 5 – And again Click on the OK button.

Step 63 And again Click on OK button.

SPU2-X Settings

Step 1 – Go to Config → Audio (SPU2) and click on Plugin Settings…

Step 64 Go to Config Audio SPU2 and click on Plugin Settings...

Mixing Settings

Step 2 – Click and Select Interpolation: 4 – Catmull-Rom (PS2-like/slow) option.

Step 65 Interpolation 4 Catmull Rom PS2 like slow

Output Settings

Step 3 – Module: 1 – XAudio 2 (Recommended).

Step 66 Module 1 XAudio 2 Recommended

Step 4 – Increase Volume to 100%.

Step 67 Increase Volume to 100

Step 5 – Increase Latency to 100 ms (avg).

Step 68 Increase Latency 100 ms avg.

Step 6 – Select the Synchronizing Mode: TimeStretch (Recommended) option.

Step 69 Synchronizing Mode TimeStretch Recommended.

Step 7 – Select Audio Expansion Mode: Stereo (None, Default) option.

Step 70 Audio Expansion Mode Stereo None Default.

Step 8 – Click on the OK button.

Step 71 Click on OK button.

Controllers (PAD) Plugin Settings

Step 1 – Go to Config → Controllers (PAD) and click on Plugin Settings…

Step 72 Go to Config Controllers PAD and Plugin Settings...

LilyPad 0.12.1 (Id) Settings

Step 2 – Click and select Windows messaging for Keyboard API (Recommended).

Step 73 Select Windows messaging for keyboard API

Step 3 – ☑ [Check Mark] DirectInput, XInput and Monitor when in the background on the Game Device APIs option.

Step 74 Game Device APIs

Step 4 – Disable Mouse API and ☑ [Check Mark] Start without mouse focus option only if you have a PC Gamepad to use on the PCSX2 emulator.

Step 75 Start without mouse focus

Note: In this tutorial, I am going to use my PC gamepad as a PCSX2 Video Game Controller, So this setting is only for those who want to use their gamepad on PCSX2.

Step 5 – ☑ [Check Mark] and enable the Multiple Binds option.

Step 76 Enable Multiple Binds.

  • Enables the binding of multiple PS2 controls to a single PC control as well as the binding of controls that are in conflict with ports and/or slots.
  • When right-clicking in the pad list, it also lets you switch between different types of pads, like DS2 and Guitar.

Step 6 – Click on the Pad 1 option and connect your Gamepad to your PC.

Step 77 Click on Pad 1 option and connect you Gamepad to your PC.

Step 7 – Click on Quick Setup.

Step 78 Click on Quick Setup.

Step 8 – Add and set your Gamepad PC Control to PS2 Control for your PCSX2 emulator.

Step 79 Configure and Add Gamepad to your PCSX2.

Note: You need to just press one by one your Gamepad buttons to set up your PC Gamepad as a PCSX2 Gamepad.

Step 9 – Click and Apply This Settings.

Step 80 Apply This Settings.

Step 10 – Click on the OK Button.

Step 81 And Click on OK Button.

How To Run PCSX2 ?

Step 1 – Go to CDVD → ISO Selector and Click on the Browse… option.

Step 82 Go to CDVD ISO Selector and Click on Browse... option.

Note: You need to have a PS2 ISO game file on your PC to emulate PS2 ISO on the PCSX2 emulator, If you don’t have a PS2 ISO game file download it from any PS2 ROM downloading website.

Step 2 – Select your PS2 ISO game and click on the Open button.

Step 83 Select PS2 ISO game and click on Open button.

Step 3 – PS2 ISO Game is Successfully selected and listed on the PCSX2 emulator.

Step 84 PS2 ISO Game is Successfully Seleted for boot.

Step 4 – Click on Boot ISO (fast) to start the PS2 game.

Step 85 Boot ISO fast

Step 5 – Double-click on PCSX2 screen to make PCSX2 fullscreen.

Step 86 Double Click on PCSX2 screen.

Step 6 – Now you can play any PS2 game on a PC using the PCSX2 emulator, Enjoy.

Step 87 Play and Enjoy.

Growing up, I was the kid who was obsessed with classic games. Fast forward to today, and not much has changed. I'm all about emulation ROMs, diving deep into retro gaming, and sharing that nostalgia on this blog. Ready to take a pixelated trip down memory lane?

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