PS4 Syscon Tools 2.1.0 released, fixes bug in “Enable Debug Mode” function

Developers Abkarino and EgyCnq have updated PS4 Syscon Tools, a tool that will help with repair/modding/”downgrading” of PS4, to version 2.1.0. This update in particular fixes a bug with the “Enable Debug Mode” functionality.

As the name implies, PS4 Syscon Tool intends to be a swiss army knife for backup and modification of the Syscon chip on the PS4. That chip is critical in particular for repairs of bad firmware updates, as it holds information on how to revert to a previously installed firmware.

What is PS4 Syscon Tools

PS4 Syscon Tools is a free tool to dump/edit the PS4 Syscon. PS4 Syscon Tool is developed by Abkarino and EgyCnq.

Combined with a Teensy 2++ (or other compatible microcontroller) and above-average soldering skills (you need physical access to the Syscon chip), PS4 Syscon Tools lets you do the following:

Other tools such as BWE’s Syscon Writer offer similar functionality, but BWE’s licenses are not technically free: a license for Syscon Writer software comes with BWE’s proprietary Syscon Writer hardware. In this case, a Teensy2++ is used instead of BWE’s hardware offering.

From their Readme:

PS4 Syscon Tools is a free solution (software & hardware) that allow you to manipulate original PlayStation 4 Syscon chip (Renesas RL78/G13). It consists of 2 projects:

• PS4 Syscon Tools (PC client to allow you to control your PS4 Syscon Flasher hardware).
• PS4 Syscon Flasher (Hardware flasher based currently on Teensy++ 2.0 – Teensy 4.0 – Teensy 4.1).

Features:

• Syscon Flash Dumps:

  • Full (<50 sec).
  • Partial (dump any specific block or block range).
  • NVS/SNVS only.
    Note : the read process here not use the infinty loop method that continue to dump the whole memory content and pass it to TOOL0 like some other tools we use more effecient way that can read immediately any block you want.

• Syscon Flash Write:

  • Full (<1.5 min).
  • Partial (write any specific block or block range).
  • NVS/SNVS only.

• Syscon Flash Erase:

  • Full (<4.3 sec).
  • Partial (erase any specific block or block range).

• Enable Syscon Debug mode:

  • Allow you to only connect 3 wires to read/write your syscon by enabling OCD flag.

• Get Syscon Firmware Dump Info:

  • Allow you to validate your syscon dump and get its firmware info (version, hash, debug mode status, magic validation).

Note : The process done on the fly so no need to dump the entire syscon and apply the patch then rewrite like some other tools.

PS4 Syscon Tool – What’s new in 2.1.0

From the changelog:

PS4 Syscon Tools v2.1.0 change log:

• Fix bug in Enable Debug Mode function by removing Erase command and using new Extended Write command.
• Remove Auto Erase feature, and make erase happen automatically before writing in case of block to be written is not empty.
• Code clean up.
• Update version to v2.1.0 Beta.

PS4 Syscon Tool Download

You can Download Syscon Tools here

More details in the readme

Source: Abkarino