While you can certainly play Final Fantasy X on a BIOS from 2001, you will experience better sound syncing, zero memory card corruption, and slightly lower input lag by upgrading to the 90001 BIOS. It is the closest you can get to the "definitive" PlayStation 2 experience without owning the original hardware.
If you are using PCSX2 to play PS2 games, the BIOS file you select matters. The is regarded as the most robust choice for a few reasons:
Which Slim model is better: SCPH-70012 or SCPH-90001? : r/ps2
The SCPH-90001, released late in the PS2's lifecycle, was the ultimate refinement of the "Slim" form factor. Sony’s primary goal with this revision was cost reduction and manufacturing efficiency. 1. Integrated Power Supply
If you see a date older than 2008, you have an inferior BIOS.
Note: The SCPH-90001 is the only model that cannot run FreeMcBoot from a memory card alone (Sony patched the exploit in the ROM). You will need either a modchip or the "Fortuna Project" exploit for this specific model.
However, . The primary reason for using the SCPH-90001 BIOS is for its refined game compatibility, not for homebrew. The features that block FMCB on a real console have no impact on an emulator's ability to run games. Therefore, you can enjoy all the benefits of this latest firmware without any of the homebrew limitations .
To answer this, we need to look under the hood at how Sony optimized its final console, how these changes affect BIOS compatibility, and whether "newer" truly means "better" in the world of retro emulation and modding. What Makes the SCPH-90001 Different?
As Sony revised the PlayStation 2 hardware over its decade-long lifecycle, the internal system firmware evolved.
To understand if the SCPH-90001 is superior, we have to look at the advantages and disadvantages it brings to modern emulation. The Advantages of the SCPH-90001 BIOS