Serials & date codes

Reading Serials & Date Codes

Beyond the SCPH model number, two smaller markings help you place a console precisely within its production history: the serial number and the date code. Together they let you distinguish between units that share an SCPH number but differ in board revision or features.

The Serial Number

The serial number appears on the underside label of the console. Serials increment through production, so a lower serial within a given model generally indicates an earlier unit. This matters most for models whose features changed partway through their run, where two consoles with the same SCPH number can behave differently depending on which batch they came from.

The Date Code

The date code records approximately when the unit was manufactured. It may appear on the underside label and is often also found on internal components and on the motherboard itself. Reading the internal date code is the surest way to estimate a console's age, since the outer label can be swapped or worn away.

1. Read the SCPH number to identify the model family.
2. Record the serial number to place the unit within that family's run.
3. Check the date code, externally and internally, to estimate age.
4. Open the console and confirm the board revision printed on the PCB.