SCPH-70012 vs SCPH-39001 — Which PS2 BIOS Version is Better in 2026 

Confused between SCPH-70012 and SCPH-39001? Both are USA PS2 BIOS files but they work differently with emulators. This guide breaks down the real difference so you pick the right one first time.

Most people just grab whichever BIOS they find first. That's a mistake. Wrong BIOS version causes game crashes, audio glitches, and compatibility issues that are hard to diagnose.

Let's fix that. If you want to download PS2 Bios files then download from below button

Quick Answer

Use SCPH-70012 for most games. It's from a newer PS2 slim model, has better compatibility with modern emulators, and runs more games without issues.

Use SCPH-39001 only if a specific game requires it or if SCPH-70012 causes problems with a particular title.

What Do These Numbers Mean

SCPH stands for Sony Computer Products Hardware. The number after it is the PS2 model number the BIOS came from.

SCPH-39001 came from an older fat PS2 released around 2002. SCPH-70012 came from a newer slim PS2 released around 2005-2006.

Newer model means updated firmware, better compatibility, and fewer bugs. That's why SCPH-70012 is the recommended choice in 2026.

SCPH-70012 — Full Breakdown

This BIOS comes from the PS2 Slimline (thin model). Sony updated several things in this version compared to older models.

Best for: PCSX2, AetherSX2, NetherSX2, RetroArch

Works well with: Most USA region games, especially titles released after 2003

Emulator compatibility: Excellent across all major emulators

File size: Around 4MB

What makes it better:

• Fewer compatibility bugs than older versions

• Better DVD player firmware built in

• More stable on modern emulators

• Works with 97%+ of PS2 game library

The only downside — some very early PS2 launch titles were designed for older firmware. SCPH-70012 runs them fine in most cases but occasionally a launch title behaves differently.

SCPH-39001 — Full Breakdown

This BIOS comes from the original fat PS2. It's an older firmware version from 2001-2002.

Best for: Very early PS2 launch titles, specific niche games

Works well with: Games that were designed for original PS2 hardware

Emulator compatibility: Good but slightly behind SCPH-70012

File size: Around 4MB

What makes it useful:

• Some early PS2 games run more accurately on this version

• Useful as a backup BIOS when SCPH-70012 has issues

• Original firmware — closest to launch hardware behavior

The downside — some games that came out after 2003 run worse or show glitches on this BIOS version.

Real Difference — Side by Side

SCPH-70012: Released: 2005-2006 Model: PS2 Slim Region: USA (NTSC) Firmware: Newer, more refined Best emulator: PCSX2, AetherSX2 Game compatibility: 97%+ Recommended: Yes, for most users

SCPH-39001: Released: 2001-2002 Model: PS2 Fat (original) Region: USA (NTSC) Firmware: Older, original Best emulator: PCSX2 Game compatibility: 90-93% Recommended: Only for specific games

Other PS2 BIOS Versions Worth Knowing

USA is not the only region. If you play games from other regions, you need a matching BIOS.

Europe (PAL) versions: SCPH-50003 — Common European fat PS2 SCPH-75004 — European slim PS2

Japan (NTSC-J) versions: SCPH-10000 — Original Japanese PS2 SCPH-18000 — Updated Japanese version

China versions: SCPH-90006 — Chinese market PS2

For a complete list of all PS2 BIOS file names by region, check the PS2 BIOS file names reference guide on AllPS2Bios.com.

Which One to Use on PCSX2

PCSX2 works with both. But the setup is slightly different.

Go to Settings → BIOS. You'll see both files listed if you have them in your BIOS folder.

Select SCPH-70012 as your default. Only switch to SCPH-39001 if a specific game tells you to or if you're testing compatibility issues.

Running into BIOS errors on PCSX2? The full fix guide is here: How to Fix BIOS Not Found Error in PCSX2

Which One to Use on AetherSX2

AetherSX2 on Android works best with SCPH-70012. The newer BIOS runs more smoothly on mobile hardware.

Setup is simple — drop the file in your phone storage, point AetherSX2 to it in settings. Full Android setup guide at AllPS2Bios.com

Can You Have Both BIOS Files Installed

Yes. PCSX2 lets you switch between BIOS files in settings anytime.

Keep both in your BIOS folder. Use SCPH-70012 as default. If a game acts weird — crashes, audio cuts out, graphical glitches — switch to SCPH-39001 and test again.

This is called BIOS testing and it's a common troubleshooting step for hard-to-run games.

Games That Run Better on SCPH-39001

Some early PS2 titles were coded specifically for launch hardware. These sometimes run more accurately on SCPH-39001:

• Early launch titles from 2000-2001

• Some Japanese imports

• Games with specific DVD timing requirements

For everything else — SCPH-70012 is the better pick every time.

Common Mistakes

Using a PAL BIOS for NTSC games. SCPH-50003 is a European BIOS. If you're playing USA games, use SCPH-70012 or SCPH-39001. Mixing regions causes black screens and timing issues.

Thinking newer BIOS always means better. For emulation purposes, SCPH-70012 is the sweet spot. Going even newer doesn't always help — the emulator matters more than tiny firmware differences.

Using a corrupted BIOS file. Both files should be exactly around 4MB. Anything smaller is a bad dump or incomplete download.

FAQs

Is SCPH-70012 better than SCPH-39001?

For most users and most games, yes. SCPH-70012 has higher compatibility and works better with modern emulators. Use it as your default.

Can I use SCPH-39001 on AetherSX2?

Yes. AetherSX2 accepts any valid PS2 BIOS. But SCPH-70012 performs better on Android devices.

Do I need both BIOS versions?

Not necessary. SCPH-70012 alone covers 97%+ of games. Keep SCPH-39001 as a backup only if you play very early PS2 launch titles.

What's the file size of a valid PS2 BIOS?

Around 4MB (4,096 KB). If your file is 512KB or 1MB, it's an incomplete or corrupted file.

Where do I get verified BIOS files?

The safest legal method is dumping from your own PS2 console. Full guide here: How to Dump PS2 BIOS From Your Own Console

Conclusion

SCPH-70012 wins for everyday use. Better compatibility, newer firmware, works great on all major emulators in 2026.

Keep SCPH-39001 as a backup. Some older games need it, most don't.

Pick SCPH-70012, set it up once, and forget about it. That's the right move for 99% of players.

For verified BIOS files and complete setup guides, everything is at AllPS2Bios.com