QUERY: confused by firmware PSP for homebrew

[andrewwan1980]

I want to buy a PSP in UK so I can play PSX, DOSBox & SNES games. I had a brief read on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_Portable_homebrew but found it confusing about firmware version numbers. I guess that I should buy a PSP with firmware version 1.00 since I can probably upgrade to any firmware. Once upgraded, is it possible to downgrade back to original 1.00? What if I bought a PSP and found it was firmware 3.51, is it possible to downgrade from that?

1. Is it possible to know what firmware version are being sold in online shops such as amazon.co.uk, etc?
2. Where is the best place to buy 1st-hand legal PSP with best firmware version for homebrew?

[Triv1um]

1.50 is the best main homebrew firmware,

I think successHK sell 1.50 PSPs.

From 1.50 i suggest you move to custom firmware, but thats a whole different story. If you ever get a 1.50 psp feel free to PM me.

[bah]

Firmware 3.5 is the highest firmware that can currently be downgraded to 1.5 to make the PSP homebrew friendly.

Firmware 1.5 is a requirement for installing the custom firmwares also.

To downgrade a PSP running firmware 2.81 or above you need an (original release) copy of Lumines and this. (http://www.dcemu.co.uk/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=67048)

If the PSP has firmware 2.80 or below it can be downgraded without a copy of Lumines using this. (http://psp-news.dcemu.co.uk/downgrader-for-2-80-2-80-with-ta-082-and-hen-d-for-2-80-released-49355.html)

There is a list of downgraders down the left hand side of the DCEmu main page.

Ask any questions you have before you downgrade and take it slowly. If there are better downgraders to use then someone please correct me.

[murgero1]

some used and new psps have 2.81/2.80. uupgade to 3.50 and use the lumines exploit! then downgrade to 1.50 then up to 3.40 oe-a (custom firmware.)

[Axelius]

To downgrade a PSP running firmware 2.81 or above you need an (original release) copy of Lumines and this. (http://www.dcemu.co.uk/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=67048)

Why do you people always forget the GTA downgrader? Okay, I know it is very hard to find an unpatched copy of that game, but if there's a friend who owns it...
So:
Firmware 1.00 or 1.50: Perfect!
Firmware 1.51-2.80: Downgrading without any special game
Firmware 2.81-3.03: Downgrading with GTA: LC unpatched
Firmware 3.10-3.50: Downgrading with Lumines
Firmware 3.51 and obove: No possibility of downgrading (yet)