How to Update to 3.80 M33-5 Custom Firmware
Finally, the update we’ve been waiting for has been released by Dark Alex. The update basically fixes the bugs causing the PSP to run slow at times. According to the readme file from Dark Alex here are the changes:
- Fixed custom CPU clock not working in games
- CPU clock has never (in any SE/OE/M33) be set at all in games that restarted using sceKernelLoadExec to use a subgame or reload themselves, after said restart happened (e.g. Castlevania). Fixed.
- Added setting to recovery to hide PIC0.PNG and PIC1.PNG in the XMB game menu by default off, when on you will probably notice a faster browse in XMB games. This setting only applies to any kind of apps/games (pbp, iso) that load from MS, but not to UMD’s.
So how are we to install this update? It’s actually so much easier right now if you have the 3.80 M33 custom firmware already. You can do it by your PSP alone via the Network Update. But for PSP fan boys out there that doesn’t have WiFi connection, here’s the guide for you.
The Requirements
- You must have 3.80 M33 Custom Firmware already installed on your PSP. If you don’t have it yet, follow my guide here.
- A sufficient battery so your PSP won’t turn off in the middle of the update.
- A Good Wifi Connection (optional)
- A USB Cable (optional)
If you are lucky and have a WiFi connection, follow these steps below.
- On your XMB Menu, just go to Settings > Network Update then choose your connection. The PSP will then detect if you have the latest custom firmware. If you don’t have it yet, your PSP will automatically download the update file.
- After the update has been downloaded, you will be asked to press X or O to begin the update. Press the corresponding button, the screen will turn black and the updated files will be flashed.
- After the flashing, your PSP will restart by itself. Enjoy!
Here’s for the guys who don’t have WiFi connections, follow this guide:
- Download the 3.80 M33-5 update.
- Extract the contents of the file you’ve downloaded anywhere you want on your computer.
- connect your PSP to your computer using the USB cable. Copy the UPDATE folder to your PSP in this directory: ms0:/PSP/GAME/
- Disconnect your PSP from your computer and go the XMB menu. Go to GAME > Memory Stick then run the M33-5 update program. Follow the onscreen instructions and wait for 10 secs.
- Enjoy your new 3.80 M33-5 powered PSP.
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- Custom Firmwares
- PSP
Made by Symmetric Web
Distributed by Smashing Magazine
63 Responses
To be honest, the update doesn’t eliminate the lag with the cso problem. Still noticing lag with .cso games. So I had to revert my cso’s to iso’s which now eat up even more space.
sir may i ask a few question, i downloaded an XMB theme for 3.80 m33 is it ok if i install it on my phat psp i already backed up my vsh folder to my pc and in case i dont like the out come of that xmb theme i downloaded, s it ok to paste it back to my psp the backed up folder of vsh? thank you thank you very much sir any comment will do sir if its ok and fine with ou thank ou and more power.
ask ko lng guys, i know this is not the right thread but stable na ba ang 3.80 m33 na update??? thanks guys…
@Mark: Hmm. I have not yet experienced the same problem. Could you tell me which game that is?
@PSPjon: If it’s a custom XMB theme, you should be careful and I don’t think it’s safe yet unless it you can get support from forums out there. But if it’s just PTF, you can change your theme anytime you like.
@em2x: I can say 3.80 M33-5 works fine with me. But if you want stable with extra features, you can stick to 3.71 M33-4.
Games as large as Tekken 5 DR, and Ridge Racer all the way down to games as small as Luxor. I’ve read around that the problem lies mainly in the new Sony driver.
@Mark: Thanks for the info. I’m sure Dark Alex or somebody out there will find a fix for that.
Question: Silly me I just found that our building has wifi.. well anyway to cut the long story short, i downloaded the latest firmware using network update.. it says in this forum that the latest is 3.80 M33-5 Custom Firmware. Now my question is, when checking system information it only says i have 3.80. Now I am not really sure if there is much difference. I am really just wondering.. wew.. having wifi really saved me all the work. -newbie Pong
@Pongster: You have just updated to the official sony firmware. 3.80 M33-5 is very different from 3.80. With 3.80 M33-5, you can execute homebrew applications on your PSP and of course play games without UMD.
I actually just found that out.. on my way in getting that then.. hehehe.. sometimes we gotta stumble to learn.. hehehe.. –silly pong
question bro.. i already have the 3.80.. now i want 3.80 m33 but the thing is it does not allow me to install since it says i dont need update anymore (i followed the instructions putting all the 3 files in UPDATES folder). does this mean i have to downgrade back to 3.71?
now i know i did something more than silly.. s-t-u-p-i-d. can anyone help me from getting cfw back? i hate myself i want to die.
@Pongster: Don’t you worry man. You can get your Custom Firmware back. You have to use Pandora’s battery, Is that slim or a phat?
Slim. Where can I have it done? Reps would be really appreciated. You see I have a trip coming this weekend going to Ilocos. I can’t NOT have my console there. Thanks Stylemo.. Would really help to know where at Makati can I have this done.. and for how much.
Using Dark_Alex’s upgrades and updates on OFW usually causes your PSP to get bricked. The usual step is downgrading to 1.50 then upgrading to 3.80 M33-5. Despertar Cementario v4 does that for slim since I think that’s the only unbricking software I know that does it well on the Slim. I suggest you look that one up before your trip.
Also you’ll need a dedicated MS and a compatible battery that you can convert into a Pandora’s Battery. I think there’s information on that in this blog. If you can’t find it, there’s also a lot of PSP-related forums and sites that have detailed instructions in doing so.
@Pongster: You could always go to greenhills or tutuban center mall and you’ll find some unbricker services. It may cost you a few bucks but it saves the hassle or you could search any psp related forums for some guides and tutorials.
question to stylemo: what is the different between 3.52 m33-4 to 3.80 m33-5? if im going to upgrade, did my vsh XMB theme will go back to original? because i already change it and i like my xmb right now cfw-3.52 m33-4. Please advise me…..thanks in advance.
@psplovers: 3.80 M33-5 is of course the latest update release. It has more new features than 3.52 M33-4.
Should you decide to upgrade, I suggest you switch back to your old XMB theme first to avoid problems.
@ Mark: I’ve read that switching your slim to 1.5 would brick your psp.. i’m off to a mall here in makati later and will have this fixed.. yup.. saves me all the hassle in having all those pandora’s battery, magic ms, etc..
I’ve upgraded to 3.80 M33-5 thanks to your tutorials stylemo, do I still have to install the 1.50 Kernel addon for 3.80 if I want to run PSP Comic v.0.9.9?
@halokilla77: yes, you do need the 1.50 kernel Add-on. Follow this guide: http://www.stylemo.com/2008/01/16/how-to-install-the-150-kernel-add-on-for-380-m33-custom-firmware/
thanks for the fast reply, if I install it says it will delete the Location Free player on the PSP. What if I want to use it in the future?
@halokilla77: Do you have a Location Free Player at home? If not, go on and proceed. You can use PIMP Streamer instead. It deletes the Location Free Player because the installer needs space on your PSP’s flash.
I have my custom firmware back.. yey! I also have upgraded my firmware to 3.80 m33-05. thanks stylemo for the tutorials.. it was just a breeze. till next upgrade. ciao!
how to update 2.82 to 3.03?
can u re-up the file?thanx
Congrats, Pongster! So your Slim was completely bricked? As in it wasn’t turning on at all?
I updated my PSP Slim firmware with 3.80 M33-5 but still, my ISO game saved in memory stick duo won’t play. Please advice.
time check: 11:03pm
Master Dino, it took me less than an hour to update/upgrade 2 PSPs (phat&slim) just awhile ago. From cfw 3.71m33-2 up to your last tutorial on cfw 3.80m33-5. The process went smoothly as I wanted. Thanks to you and Dark Alex. I feel like a pro. Can’t wait on your pandora lessons. Naks!!!!
Good luck pre!
@Mark Nope, it wasn’t bricked naman.. i just accidentally updated my 3.71 m33-2 using the network update to 3.80 original firmware. but it’s all good now.. back now to playing homebrewed games just like before but with a higher much more updated firmware.
@Viper6210 Maybe your homebrew (iso/cso) games are in the wrong folder..
boss stylemo meron na ba tutorial sa pandora battery… thanks…
To those who have PSP slim anu-ano pa yung mga encountered niyong problem sa 3.80 m33-5? lumabas lang ba yung mga problem dahil mali yung way ng pag-update or meron pa talagang bugs yung 3.8m33-5.
with my slim silver having 3.80m33-5….no problems encountered. problems occur because of lapse in updating your unit. so far….3.80m33-5 is running smoothly. ill gonna try the internet radio tomorrow at SM grocery.
ganto lumalabas sakin: the game could not be started. (80020148) help… ayaw nyang gumana
@Renz No problem so far bro. Everything’s running smoothly. I’ve updated consoles of my friends (3) and one said that tekken lagged after the update (3.80 m33-5). I haven’t had anything from the other two but a smile and thank you. I haven’t experienced that in the same game and the rest (right now I have: Socom, NBA, Tomb Raider, Virtua Tennis and Tekken). Maybe I’m not just paying much attention. Anyway, for a regular user/gamer like me, it’s just like the old thing with internet radio (cool feature since I have free access here at my station). I haven’t noticed much difference such as speed, etc.
@Michael I’ve had that problem when I accidentally updated my firmware from 3.71 m33-2 to 3.80 original firmware. But if that’s not the case with you, then maybe your games are just stored in the wrong folder. I’m just a noob so I may be wrong.
@Michael My bad.. I’ve had that error message when I was trying to run the wrong update. Which update are you trying to run? What’s your current firmware? Let us know so that we can share our insights.
(My reply earlier does not have any significance to your query.. hehehe. Sorry.)
version 3.80… san ba ilalagay ung game?
kelangan po ba talaga ang makuha ko eh ung v 3.80 m33? kasi nakuha ko lang to dun sa network update… may wifi kasi sa skul… kaso ayaw niang magplay ns iso at cso… pano po un?
@michael HEHEHE! OMG if you read the thread bro.. the same thing happened to me. You have updated your firmware to the original version. That means you can’t play homebrew games. This is what I did and my suggestion: go to a shop at your area where they unbrick psp consoles (changing firmware from original to custom). It would usually cost you 150-500. Anything more than that is a rip off.. more than 150 actually already is a rip off. This will save you time learning how to make those pandora’s battery, magic ms,etc. Let those who know and have the materials handle it. It will just take 10-15mins. Normally, they would switch it back to 3.71 m33-2 but if they’re kind enough and has the latest update, they would update it to 3.80 m33-5. Any how, the thing that you should do first is get a custom firmware for your psp. Then we can move on from there..
What happened? Is your unit brandnew?
@michael yes mike.. it should be custom. psp 101–if you’ve updated your psp from sony psp site, then you will get the original version (same thing happened to me). This won’t allow you to play homebrewed games but just games straight from umd. Now, custom firmware will allow you to do that–play games (copied) straight from memory stick.
yup , brand new sya… dec. 22 2007 ko binili… may specific customized firmware ba for slim or fat? kasi ung akin slim psp-2000 fb… un… ano nga pala yung pandora?
ui thanks sa mga information… haha… natutuwa lang ako….. thank you very much…
y cant i load/save my mlb 07 game file? everytime i do it, screen stuck then shut down. im on 3.80m33-5.
i have problem with my game file. it couldnt save/load. everytime i do it, screen stuck then shut down. im on 3.80m33-5.
@Michael Google pandora’s battery. Google all you want to know. But to make things easier, bring it to a shop and have it unbricked. As far as I know there is no specific firmware for phat or slim. But for 3.80 m33-5 on a phat, you have to have a 1.50 kernel add-on installed (tama ba mga sirs?). but hey, you have a slim so this does not concern you.
end your misery bro. go to a shop. and let the game begin..
@Jumi I’ve experienced that on NBA Live just yesterday. It automatically saves right after each game right? Then when saving, my screen blacked out and my psp restarted. I’m also on 3.80 m33-5. But it only happened once. I think i can live up with minor bugs such as this. This is the price we gotta have to pay for free games I guess. Even original games experience this I guess. But if you repeatedly experience that, hmmm.. I leave that to the experts. hehe!
Firmware 3.90 already out guys
I’ve manage to upgrade my PSP to 3.80 M33. The only problem is i can’t even see the ISO files under games and Saved games or even photos i’ve put in my PSP after installing it. Even putting the 3.80 M33-5 Update in x:PSP/Game/ folder also doesn’t have the update file show up in the xmb game memory stick. Network update doesn’t work as i always get Download Failed error when tried to download it. So what now?
@Darkstar: Try reformatting your Memory stick and resetting your PSP.
hi stylemo, thanks for everything you do. it’s really helpful and i, for one, really appreciate it!
i just want to ask one thing: i have 3.80 M33-2, can i just install the M33-5 update directly, without upgrading through M33-3 and M33-4 first?
@snarky: absolutely yes.
after i update to tis firmware i cant start to play crazy taxi:fare wars iso..any solution pls?
i have a 3.03 system software how can i upgrade to any m33 version
this thing is weird it appears as a small(172kb) rar file on my comp which wont appear on my psp
@suhayl: is this weird thing in the correct folder on your psp?
uhm,hey stylemo,my version is 3.90,but no m33,:| i cant play downloaded games,ho can i downgrade it so i can upgrade my psp to a 3.90 with m33.
i mean,how* can i downgrade my psp?:]
i have same problem as “help:]stylemo” could you answer our problems?:]
For those who have Official 3.90 sony firmwares out there, you’ll be needing Pandora’s battery. Google it guys.
ohh,i need to buy one right?:),im sorry if i don`t know a lot of stuffs about psp ,i just bought i slim last week,
anyhow,thanks:]
@drockz: you don’t have to buy it. It’s better if you know someone who knows how to do it – maybe a friend or somebody out there. It’s a complicated process and you don’t want to tinker with your new PSP and get it bricked.
ohh,well,thanks for helping, i really appreciate it.;)
thanks STYLEMO:) ill be spreading about your website,so alot of people would know it.;)
good Luck in your work.
see you around.;)
ei guys wers ur location? i have a working pandora here…
that will be P350 per upgrade… hehehe just kidding…
willing to help any1…
How do i access the XMB menu? .___.”
hello, i’m totally new to this kind of discussion… but i am willing to learn as much as i can… my friend recently gifted me with a psp slim…
she even had it converted to 3.80 m33-5
my prob is, i recently downloaded tekken6 torrent but i can’t get it to work.. is there anything i’m missing out on or forgot to do? hope you can help a newbie out. thanks!