Top Reasons for a Slow PSP

Last week a friend of mine went to Singapore and then brought home a PSP for her kids. It was working great. All her games loaded properly. The sound was great. The controls were awesome. It was also fast. 

However, after a week or so of playing it started to really slow down. It wasn’t just slow. It was really, really slow. The main menu of her PSP was so slow that the screen was sometimes flickering. It would take you about 5 minutes or longer before you can even go to the menu where you can choose and play a game.  

If you even got to choose a game, loading time is impossible to bear. If for some reason you were able to wait (I tried sleeping), the gameplay was in slow motion. 

Image Credit: Baby Turtle 023 by cygnus921

She brought it to a shop she knows and then it turns out that when she bought the PSP, it was already the cracked PSP and the configuration was all wrong. More so, what added to the situation is that her memory was full. Her memory stick had about 2 MB of free space.

 

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE:


1. Set “UMD Mode” to M33 driver NO UMD

The PSP firmware version was 3.71 M33 but is also tested with higher versions like 3.8 M33. These firmware versions should have the UMD mode to M33 NO UMD.

 

To set the following you need to go to the Configuration Page. To go there you need to:

i.                    Turn off your PSP

ii.                  Press and hold the R button. While doing that, slide and hold the power button up. This would turn on your PSP. You should hold until the black screen appears saying “M33 Recovery Menu Configuration”

iii.                If the PSP just turns on to the normal menu, just repeat the two steps above.

 

 2. Set “Use VshMenu” to Disabled.

 It is also in the configuration page. Use the steps above and you should be able to find it.

Now after these two steps, if you continue no further, your PS would run faster – but only for the menu screen. The menu would be fast and really responsive. However, try playing a game. You would notice that loading is still slow and the gameplay is still played in slow motion.

 

Still Slow..

Image Credit: Speedy by me’nthedogs

 

3. Set the CPU speed to Default.

Now this is really important. The CPU may not really be used when playing music or in the menu screen but its very important when you play games.

There are two settings you need to adjust. Speed in XMB and Speed in UMD/ISO. For us normal users we just need to set these two to “Default”.

After this, your PSP should be running ok. However, I recommend that you do another step which would also help the performance of your PSP.

 

4. Free up memory from your Memory Stick.

You can do this using two methods. One, you could connect your PSP to your PC using a USB cable. Two, you could remove your memory stick and use a card reader. I prefer the second method but you may use any of the two.


Method Two: Remove your memory stick and use a card reader.

Image Credit: New Memory card slot by Jake of 8bitjoystick.com

 

Freeing up memory is easy, if you know what files to remove. As my friend is not really using her PSP for music and videos, majority of her files are game files. What she does is that she just puts games that she really plays. I recommend doing the same for your PSP.

Game files are located at the folder named “ISO”. The game files have a .CSO file name extension. You don’t need to delete them. Just transfer them to your hard disk. That way, when you want to play them again, you just have to transfer them back to your memory stick.

But if you have music and video files that take up much space, I recommend that you look into those first. Normally you would like to have at least 500MB of free disk space. You’d need the space for your game saves.


My friends have done the steps above with ease and have solved their slow PSP problems. Most of them, if not all, had to do all four mentioned above. The first three usually solves the problem.


 

 

 
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Written by Ige.
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  1. Randomname says:
    August 5, 2008 at 10:49 am

    How screwy, thanks. I’ve been for weeks trying to fix my PSP on my own, attaching/reattaching the memory stick and such.

    Reply
  2. Ige says:
    August 6, 2008 at 9:11 pm

    @Randomname: I hope your slow PSP problems are gone now.

    Reply
  3. carl says:
    August 8, 2008 at 4:53 am

    Thanks! At last a solution for my slow psp!!!

    Reply
  4. ladyzen says:
    August 23, 2008 at 11:02 pm

    Thanks a lot. At last my slow PSP resolved. You should try its work :)
    5 STAR

    Reply
  5. mmbuzon says:
    August 30, 2008 at 6:59 am

    thank u so much! it really solves my problem, i almost give but then i read your instruction and really helped me a lot! salamat!! Godbless!

    Reply
  6. ajl says:
    September 1, 2008 at 11:28 am

    My psp started acting strangely last night after I upgraded to 4.01 m33 and started using Remote Play. These steps seem to have fixed the problem. Thank you.

    Reply
  7. swayam says:
    September 9, 2008 at 2:16 am

    really liked the second option…it did work

    Reply
  8. atul says:
    October 14, 2008 at 7:31 am

    thxxxx alot 4 help….had been searchin 4 a solution seen weeks…..my usd speed had been somehow set 2 20……

    Reply
  9. JeZtAh says:
    November 6, 2008 at 9:30 pm

    tnx for solving my psp problem!

    Reply
  10. Pit Stop Punk says:
    November 13, 2008 at 7:26 pm

    heyeeee…..,
    cul, i jst planned to sell my psp…..as i thought it got spoilt….tanx tanx tanx a lot…ur suggestions were really helpfull…

    Reply
  11. samyak says:
    December 5, 2008 at 1:51 am

    thanks for the advice my psp is working normal again for version 4.1

    Reply
  12. trey says:
    December 27, 2008 at 11:10 am

    omg thx dude i thot my psp was broken and was like freaking out thx for saving me a lot of money

    Reply
  13. Shinkei says:
    December 27, 2008 at 9:19 pm

    Thanks for sharing. My psp decided to go slow a lil while ago after i loaded some music on my card. Only the menu and loading time was slow however, the game play was fine. Now all is ok.

    Thanks

    Reply
  14. Shahryaar says:
    January 1, 2009 at 3:14 pm

    Thankx dude…
    i thougt my psp wz gone forever…

    Reply
  15. MC J-Matic says:
    January 2, 2009 at 4:51 am

    LIFE SAVE DUDE

    Reply
  16. cralos galeano says:
    January 6, 2009 at 3:15 pm

    thanks this happened to my psp i went to a shop and had to pay 50 dollars and the did not tell me how they did that thanks

    Reply
  17. michel says:
    January 6, 2009 at 9:18 pm

    It did not work

    Reply
    • Ige says:
      January 8, 2009 at 10:05 pm

      Sorry to hear that. I hope your PSP isn’t really broken.. You should take it to a Repair Center specifically to Sony to see whats wrong.

      Reply
  18. Ige says:
    January 8, 2009 at 10:03 pm

    To all who have said that their slow PSP is solved, I’m glad I was of help! Thanks!

    Reply
  19. Adis says:
    January 16, 2009 at 12:07 am

    Thanks! my psp work great now!

    Reply
  20. Gabriel says:
    January 22, 2009 at 4:03 am

    thank you very much!!!!!! i was getting desesperate(not really) but a lil nervous thinking my psp was broken or something but after doing what u said it fixed right away so thxxxxxxxxxxxx

    Reply
  21. heman says:
    February 11, 2009 at 6:12 am

    So you saved me what? about 170 bucks for psp, and about 100 bucks for the games and stuff I had downloaded on it. T-H-A-N-K Y-O-U

    Reply
  22. kharigel says:
    March 3, 2009 at 9:47 am

    tnx you helped me out !!! damn tnx so much. . .

    Reply
  23. kuharo says:
    March 28, 2009 at 11:44 pm

    tnx man…

    Reply
  24. abigail says:
    April 11, 2009 at 7:03 am

    tnank you im almost been worried thank god for you im going to save this site so if the slow motion is coming back

    Reply
  25. Ige says:
    April 11, 2009 at 9:54 am

    To everyone I helped: Thanks as well and I’m glad I was able to help!

    Reply
  26. mark says:
    April 25, 2009 at 12:08 pm

    tyvm =]

    Reply
  27. smurf says:
    June 5, 2009 at 4:43 pm

    my umd/iso speed wont change to default…need help

    Reply
  28. kenn says:
    June 17, 2009 at 12:37 pm

    thank a lot i was able to fixed it

    Reply
  29. Ameer says:
    July 4, 2009 at 11:53 pm

    Thanx this site helped me not to bring my son’s PSP to shop. im worried since this morning but when i search in google i got this page, and now its working great. thanx so much.

    Reply
  30. jayson says:
    July 8, 2009 at 8:35 pm

    Hey…at last i resolved my problem

    CPU Speed for xmb and umd set to default…and it works fine

    Reply
  31. Dida A M says:
    August 4, 2009 at 8:11 pm

    Thanks a lot for your aid it’s very useful….

    Reply
  32. Avinash says:
    August 7, 2009 at 6:31 pm

    Amazing this really works..
    Thanks alot alot alot dude..I love you xD

    Reply
  33. Sasa says:
    August 8, 2009 at 11:34 pm

    I thought “the internet is such a great thing”.. thank you very much Ige .. *shakes hands*

    Reply
  34. Behnam says:
    August 16, 2009 at 2:20 am

    Dear Friend!
    Hello!

    I’ve just done the steps & my PSP speed problem has disappeared. I am so thankful to you & I wish you the best….

    Best Regards!
    Behnam
    Iran

    Reply
  35. vic says:
    August 19, 2009 at 9:58 pm

    Great!!!! Thanks a lot

    Reply
  36. clair says:
    September 24, 2009 at 4:34 pm

    yes
    it did help
    but i cant seem to reset UMD/ISO to disable
    it is currently on 75 and no matter how hard i try there are no other options execpt for 75.
    please tell me that there is a solution for my problem and do reply soon.

    Reply
  37. mike says:
    September 30, 2009 at 9:19 am

    great job it was wonderful works now
    i waited four months to fix this problem
    and now i did it beacuse of you advise
    this was great tips thanks

    Reply
  38. Piro says:
    October 11, 2009 at 3:06 pm

    Hey Ige.

    I tried all of the above methods, but my problem occurs when I install 5.50gen-a. Everything is working fine on 5.00 m33, but when I install 5.50 psp is just freezing on main menu. I went to the recovery, changed the vsh to disabled, but still freezing. Got any tips? Should I stay and wait for another more stable firmware (if so, I can`t play the newest games). Thanks in advance.

    Reply
  39. JED DORAN says:
    November 2, 2009 at 4:03 pm

    thank you so so much you guys are the best =]=]=]=]=]=]=]

    Reply
  40. arazou says:
    November 17, 2009 at 2:26 am

    THAT WAS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO EASY!!!!
    i was gona flog my PSP on ebay coz i fort it was busted bt its lyke brand new agen!!!! forget wotevey1 else says coz this friggggggin works!!!!

    Reply
  41. Mudvayne says:
    November 21, 2009 at 5:38 am

    Thank you very much for your help! I nearly given up and thinking of buying a new PSP. Cheers !!!

    Reply
  42. Ombray says:
    November 23, 2009 at 1:40 pm

    Thanks it really got me out of a bind save me trouble of getting it fix.

    Reply
  43. IGEisAlegend says:
    November 27, 2009 at 7:26 am

    ur 1 legend m8 thnx so much (Y)

    Reply
  44. che says:
    November 27, 2009 at 10:07 am

    my PSP’s version is 5.50 gen-b full….i tried your instructions…IT REALLY WORKS! hurray! no more lcd flickering and slowing down!

    Reply
  45. bart says:
    December 8, 2009 at 2:34 am

    thanks you are n#1 the best

    Reply
  46. Angelo says:
    December 9, 2009 at 8:11 am

    I cannot express my gratitude enough. You are my savior. Had I not seen this I would have probably discarded my psp altogether. Again thanks a lot.

    Reply
  47. Mazlan says:
    December 15, 2009 at 7:32 am

    thanks man, you are a legend :)

    Reply
  48. Irfan says:
    December 25, 2009 at 11:11 pm

    Thanks man. this is da best solution everr

    Reply
  49. young z says:
    December 28, 2009 at 4:48 am

    thankz this worked a lot

    Reply
  50. Mika says:
    December 30, 2009 at 4:11 am

    Thanks alot for ur help!!!It works just fine now!!

    Reply
Newer Comments »

  1. PSP Problems says:
    June 8, 2010 at 9:45 pm

    [...] cheap media cards can slow down your PSP too… (best to use a Sony brand) Check out this site… Top Reasons for a Slow PSP – TechieChips Reply With Quote   + Reply to Thread « Previous [...]

    Reply