A hardware modder has managed to upgrade the system memory of the original PlayStation to 8 times its factory capacity. The console now runs with 16 MB of RAM instead of the standard 2 MB after a complex hardware overhaul. But most classic games cannot actually use the extra memory because they were programmed strictly for the original limits.
The hardware enthusiast known as TunerTom shared the results of this hardware project online. Retro consoles usually crash when you simply add more memory, so the modification required a specialized approach. To bypass this barrier, the modder borrowed a memory configuration from arcade cabinets that were based on the original console architecture. He stacked several 2 MB chips directly on top of each other and wired them using a custom QSB board for stability.
The upgrade yielded mixed results in practice. While a few titles showed minor performance gains, the vast majority of retro games did not change at all. The code inside these older games is hard coded to ignore anything beyond the factory 2 MB limit. This means the extra 14 MB remains largely dormant during normal gameplay.
Official designers at Sony also played with non standard console designs during the original development cycle. The company once constructed a prototype where the entire motherboard and electronics were fitted directly inside a controller housing. While that design never made it to retail shelves, this new hardware modification shows that retro hardware still has secrets for dedicated modders to uncover.
