Type in the SCPH number from your PS2’s label to see its model family, region and features.
Every PlayStation 2 has a model number that starts with SCPH. The first three digits tell you the hardware family, from the 2000 Japanese launch model to the final 2013 Slim. The last two digits tell you the region. Together they tell you whether a console can use the hard drive, which power supply it needs and which games it plays.
It’s on the label on the back the console (or on the bottom of a Slim), starting with SCPH.
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How to read a PS2 model number
Take SCPH-39001 as an example. SCPH is Sony’s prefix for PlayStation hardware. 390 is the family, so this is an SCPH-39000. 01 is the region: the United States and Canada. Letters after the number are extras. An R on some fat models means DVD remote support, and codes like CB or SS usually mark a color or special edition.
Where to look: The label is on the back of a fat PS2 and on the bottom or back of a Slim. When you buy one online, ask the seller for a clear photo of it.
PS2 model families
| Family | Years | Type | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCPH-10000 | 2000 | Fat (Japan) | The Japanese launch PS2. |
| SCPH-15000 | 2000 | Fat (Japan) | An early Japanese revision of the launch PS2. |
| SCPH-18000 | 2000–2001 | Fat (Japan) | The last Japanese PC Card model, and the first PS2 with built-in DVD playback. |
| SCPH-30000 | 2000–2002 | Fat | The worldwide launch-era fat PS2, and the first with the rear Expansion Bay. |
| SCPH-35000 | 2001–2002 | Fat | A revised international fat PS2. |
| SCPH-37000 | 2002 | Fat | A minor revision of the fat PS2, sold mainly in Japan in several colors. |
| SCPH-39000 | 2002–2003 | Fat | The revised fat workhorse, and one of the most common PS2s. |
| SCPH-50000 | 2003–2004 | Fat | The final fat PS2 family. |
| SCPH-55000 | Special edition | Fat (Japan) | A Japanese special edition based on the SCPH-50000. |
| SCPH-70000 | 2004–2005 | Slim | The first PS2 Slim. |
| SCPH-75000 | 2005–2006 | Slim | A revised Slim with new chips and a different laser. |
| SCPH-77000 | 2006–2007 | Slim | A Slim revision with a single combined processor and graphics chip. |
| SCPH-79000 | 2007 | Slim | The smallest and lightest external-power Slim. |
| SCPH-90000 | 2007–2013 | Slim | The final PS2, with the power supply moved back inside. |
PS2 region codes
The last two digits mark the region. Sony didn’t follow the pattern perfectly; for example, the SCPH-70012 was sold in North America. Treat the label’s voltage and language as the final word.
| Suffix | Region | Plays games from |
|---|---|---|
| xxx00 | Japan | NTSC-J (Japan) |
| xxx01 | United States and Canada | NTSC-U/C (North America) |
| xxx02 | Australia and New Zealand | PAL |
| xxx03 | United Kingdom and Ireland | PAL |
| xxx04 | Europe, Middle East and Africa | PAL |
| xxx05 | South Korea | Check the label |
| xxx06 | Hong Kong | Check the label |
| xxx07 | Taiwan | Check the label |
| xxx08 | Russia | PAL |
| xxx09 | Mainland China | Check the label |
| xxx10 | Mexico and South America | Check the label |
| xxx11 | Mexico (SCPH-50011) | Check the label |
| xxx12 | North America (SCPH-70012) | NTSC-U/C (North America) |
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Frequently asked questions
Where is the model number on a PS2?
On the label on the back of a fat PS2, or on the bottom of a Slim. It starts with SCPH, followed by five digits.
What does the last digit of a PS2 model number mean?
The last two digits are the region code. For example, 01 means the United States and Canada, 04 means Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and 00 means Japan.
Which PS2 models work with the official hard drive?
Fat models with the rear Expansion Bay, from the SCPH-30000 through the SCPH-50000 families, using Sony’s Network Adaptor. Slim models have built-in Ethernet but no hard drive bay.
Which PS2 Slim has the power supply built in?
Only the SCPH-90000 family. Every earlier Slim, from the SCPH-70000 to the SCPH-79000, uses an external power brick.
What does the R mean in SCPH-30001R?
On fat models such as the SCPH-30001R, the R marks units with DVD remote support.
Which PS2 is the best one to buy?
It depends on what you want. A late fat model such as the SCPH-50000 supports the Expansion Bay accessories, while the SCPH-90000 is the simplest Slim to set up. Our PS2 models guide compares them in detail.