Board revisions
Board Revisions Explained
Inside every PlayStation is a motherboard whose layout was revised repeatedly across the console's life. Sony used these revisions to cut costs, integrate chips, and simplify manufacturing. The board revision is printed on the PCB itself and often correlates with the SCPH number, though there is some overlap at the boundaries.
The fat PlayStation moved through a sequence of PU- board revisions, while the slim PSone uses an entirely different PM- board family. Knowing your revision helps you find the correct guidance, since component placement and available test points differ from board to board.
| Board | Typical Models | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PU-7 | SCPH-1000 / early 1001 / 3000 | Earliest design; full port complement, swap-trick friendly |
| PU-8 | SCPH-100x / 550x range | Early cost reductions begin |
| PU-18 | SCPH-550x / 700x range | Further integration of components |
| PU-22 | SCPH-750x / 900x range | Highly integrated late fat board |
| PU-23 | SCPH-900x range | Final fat revision |
| PM-41 / PM-41(2) | SCPH-101 (PSone) | Compact slim redesign board |
Model-to-board mapping is approximate. Always confirm by reading the revision printed directly on your motherboard rather than trusting the SCPH number alone.