How to Setup PS2 BIOS On PCSX2 + ISO & Game Settings

Ever wondered what the easy ways to set up PS2 BIOS on PCSX2 would be? Well, there’s nothing difficult about it, but you must follow detailed steps to archive the whole process. If you’re one of those gamers who want to enjoy PS2 games on PC via emulation, then PCSX2 won’t be a new name to you.

Countless times, people have always wanted to relive some of the iconic PlayStation 2 classics on their devices. The possibility of doing so comes with using a strong and capable emulator like the PCSX2. It’s an industry standard emulator for the PlayStation 2 and it’s available on Windows, macOS and Linux OS. This software has proven to be the best but sometimes it’s often complicated for starters.

One of the main difficulties is the PS2 BIOS setup on PCSX2, game settings and much more. In this article, we will provide you with the best guide on how to set up PS2 BIOS on PCSX2. We’ll cover not just installing the BIOS but also talk about the overall ISO setup and minor game configurations you need to follow.

Overview of PCSX2

PCSX2 is a free and open-source emulator for the PS2 console. It allows you to play PS2 games on your PC by mimicking the PS2’s hardware through software. This enables you to experience your favourite PS2 titles on your computer. Aside from being able to run PlayStation 2 games, the PCSX2 emulator offers enhanced features that make gaming easy on PC.

The emulator has been designed to handle 99% of PS2 games without any issues. Using the PCSX2 software, you’ll get to enjoy gaming at the best frame per second on your PC. It supports cheat codes, multiple PS2 BIOS files, game configurations and much more. There’s a lot the PCXS2 emulator offers in terms of being able to play PS2 games.

Must Read: How to Install PS2 BIOS on PCSX2, AetherSX2 and RetroArch

PCSX2 Emulator Features

Talking about features!!, the PCSX2 emulator is packed with plenty, which makes it an ousting choice among gamers.

HD Gaming Support: PCSX2 allows you to play PS2 games at resolutions beyond the console’s original capabilities. Also, it supports playing games in widescreen formats like 16:9, which makes the gaming experience better. The FPS can go between 60-90 depending on your system specifications.

Save States: Unlike the PS2, PCSX2 offers save states. This feature allows you to save your game progress at any point, even in the middle of gameplay, letting you resume your adventure later exactly where you left off.

Enhanced Graphics: PCSX2 offers various graphical options that go beyond the PS2’s capabilities. You can enable features like anti-aliasing to smooth out jagged edges and improve image quality.

BIOS Compatibility: One of the standout features of the PCSX2 emulator is its support for all types of PS2 BIOS. You’ll be able to use BIOS from regions like Japan, USA, Europe and much more. Whether it’s a BIOS file for the slim model or early models of the PlayStation 2, it supports all.

Game Controller Support: Also, the emulator supports a wide variety of controllers, including modern USB gamepads like those for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 4. This allows you to choose your preferred controller for a comfortable PS2 experience on your PC.

Cheat Code Compatibility: Another amazing feature of the PCSX2 emulator is how it allows users to upload cheat codes. Unlike the native PS2 approach, you don’t need to manually enter codes in games. Once a cheat code file has been uploaded, users can access it anytime.

PCSX2 Minimum & Recommended System Requirements

Before getting downloading the emulator or running any game you need to make sure your PC meets the minimum and recommended system requirements.

PCSX2 Minimum System Requirements

• Operating system: Windows 10, Ubuntu 18.04 or higher, Debian, Arch Linux.
• CPU: SSE4.1 support, 1600 Single Thread Performance on Passmark w/ 2 physical cores and hyperthreading support.
• Memory: 4GB RAM.
• GPU: DirectX 10 (DX11 since 1.6.0) or OpenGL 3.x supported GPU and 2GB VRAM.

PCSX2 Recommended System Requirements

• Operating system: Windows 10 (x86-64), Ubuntu 19.04 or higher, Debian.
• CPU: AVX2 support, 2100 Single Thread Performance on Passmark w/ 4 physical cores with and/or without hyperthreading.
• Memory: 8GB RAM.
• GPU: DirectX 11 or OpenGL 4.5 supported GPU and 4GB VRAM.

Check our Detailed Guide on: How to Get PS2 BIOS for PCSX2: Dumping and Installation Guide

Steps to Setup PS2 BIOS On PCSX2 + ISO & Game Settings

Each step will walk you through how you can download PCSX2, install BIOS and play PS2 games.

Step 1: Download and Install PCSX2:

• The first thing you need to do is head over to the official PSX2 website to download the latest version.
• To make it faster, copy and paste this link (https://pcsx2.net/downloads/) into your browser.
• On the download page, you can choose to go for the installer file or portable file. If it’s a portable file, extract it using WinRAR. For the installer, double-click to install the .exe file.

Step 2. Setting Up BIOS

• To get the PS2 BIOS, click on this link to download the latest PCSX2 BIOS for PC.
• Once the BIOS has been downloaded, extract the .zip file using WinRAR. 
• Create a new folder and name it “PS2 BIOS”, then move the BIOS files inside it.
• Open PCSX2.
• Go to “Config” > “Settings…” in the menu bar.
• In the Settings window, navigate to the “Bios” section.
• Click “Browse…” next to “Bios directory” and select the folder containing your BIOS files (“BIOS folder”).
• Click “OK” to save the settings.

Step 3. Loading PS2 Games:

• Now that the PIOS file has been uploaded into the PCSX2 emulator, it’s time to load a PS2 game.
• Head over to https://cdromance.org/ps2-iso/ or any website of your choice to download any PlayStation 2 game.
• Once you’ve acquired the zipped file for the PS2 game, extract it using WinRAR.
• Now create a new folder and name it PS2 Games. Move the ISO file of the downloaded PS2 game into it.
• Launch PCSX2 on your PC, then go to the Settings Menu, Add Games > Then select the PS2 games folder you created. You should see the PS2 game on your PCSX2 home screen.

Step 4. Basic Game Settings:

PCSX2 offers a variety of settings to customize your gameplay experience. Here’s a look at some key settings for beginners:

• Make a right-click on any of the PS2 game you have on your RPCX2 and click on “Create Custom Configuration“, then change the SPU Block Size to “Mega“.
• Under Additional settings, kindly uncheck “Enable Thread Scheduler“. Click on GPU, then change Renderer to “Vulkan“. Set Framelimit to “60“. Anti-aliasing should be on “Disabled“. Under Additional Settings in the GPU Section, enable “Write Color Buffers“.
• Click Apply and Save the custom configurations that you have defined.
• You’ll need to enable the “Debug Tab” in the RPCX2 Settings. Go to the RPCX2 Folder > Gui Configs > CurrentSettings.ini. Open it, then press CRTL + F to find “showDebugTab” set it = “True” then save the file.
• Now head back to the RPCX2 emulator, then right-click, “Change Custom Configuration” and click on the Debug tab.
• In the Debug tab, enable “Use GPU Texture Scaling”, “VK Event hack” and “Approximate FMA”. Click on Apply, then save configurations.

Conclusion

PCSX2 is no doubt the best PS2 emulator to relive some old-time PlayStation 2 classics. It makes perfect sense, but everything solely depends on using the right BIOS file and setting up the basic configurations to work well. With the steps we’ve provided in this article, you’ll find it easy to setup PS2 BIOS on RPCX2.