ARK-5 is new and still being developed. If you wish to use ARK-4 see this page.
This guide will cover installing ARK-5 on the PSP and general usage to cover the basics of this newer custom firmware(CFW). It is a successor to ARK-4 (itself a successor of ARK-3, PRO and LME) with additional features and being actively updated. Some quality of life features that were introduced with ARK-5 are: usage of latest SDK and most up to date libraries, built-in CPU Overclock, better memory management for plugins, and an impressive plugin management system.
For further information, please see the ARK-5 Github.
This guide assumes you fall into one of these three categories:
- I have no custom firmware (CFW) and wish to install ARK-5
- I have ARK-4 and wish to update to ARK-5
- I have PRO or LME custom firmware installed and wish to upgrade to ARK-5
Refer to:
Chronoswitch to reinstall official firmware if you currently have permanent custom firmware installed like PRO with Infinity 2.
Updating the PSP to update to 6.61 official firmware if you currently are on a lower firmware.
Other guides may refer to PRO or LME/ME custom firmware. These are older versions of custom firmware. ARK-5 should be used instead if you wish to have the latest and only firmware currently being worked on and updated.
Downloads
You can find the latest stable release on the github page here
FasterARK Lite includes:
FasterARK & cIPL Flasher to make it permanent.
FasterARK Full includes:
DC10: ultimate recovery tool for PSP (installation and usage)
Overclock Stress Tester: app useful for finding out the maximum overclock that your PSP supports.
Custom Launcher: an Open Source homebrew replacement for the XMB.
LEDA Plugin: allows running 1.50 homebrew on any firmware and psp or vita model.
ARK-150 Addon: For PSP1000, installs 1.50 ARK firmware on memory stick to dual boot with latest firmware (installation and usage)
Installation
These next steps will install ARK as a temporary custom firmware meaning if you turn off your PSP you will have to launch the FasterARK application to regain CFW functionalities. You can complete this step for the temporary CFW to try things out if you are unsure before making it permanent.
Connect your PSP or memory card to a computer to transfer the following files:
1) Download and extract FasterARK, then copy the PSP folder to your Memory Stick
3) Safely disconnect your PSP or memory card from the computer and under the Game tab on the PSP will show FasterARK. Launch this and wait for it to complete. Your PSP should restart back to the XMB.
4) Press select and a menu should appear with text in the top right. You should now see the following:
To view some features of ARK-5, please visit this page
Making ARK-5 Permanent
- Launch cIPL Flasher on your PSP under the game menu and press cross or circle to install.
- Wait for the process to complete. You now have permanent custom firmware. Enjoy!
If you are already on ARK-4 and wish to update to this new version you can simple download and launch the update file on the PSP.
Note that Vita users must update to Adrenaline-8.
Connect your PSP or memory card to a computer to transfer the following file:
1) Download the ARK-5 UPDATE file above and copy the UPDATE folder to /PSP/GAME/
2) Safely disconnect your PSP or memory card from the computer and under the Game tab on the PSP will show ARK Update. Launch this and wait for it to complete. Your PSP should restart back to the XMB.
Note: The updater may say you are downgrading as the version numbers were changed during development; nothing to worry about.
4) Once completed press Square to delete the updater and return to the XMB. Press select and view the CFW is on ARK 5.
If the PSP is currently on 6.60 or 6.61 PRO or LME custom firmware, use Chronoswitch to remove the custom firmware and revert back to 6.61 official firmware. Refer to Updating the PSP if you need to update from 6.60 to 6.61.
These next steps will install ARK as a temporary custom firmware meaning if you turn off your PSP you will have to launch the FasterARK application to regain CFW functionalities. You can complete this step for the temporary CFW to try things out if you are unsure before making it permanent.
Connect your PSP or memory card to a computer to transfer the following files:
1) Download and extract FasterARK, then copy the PSP folder to your Memory Stick
3) Safely disconnect your PSP or memory card from the computer and under the Game tab on the PSP will show FasterARK. Launch this and wait for it to complete. Your PSP should restart back to the XMB.
4) Press select and a menu should appear with text in the top right. You should now see the following:
To view some features of ARK-5, please visit this page
Making ARK-5 Permanent
- Launch cIPL Flasher on your PSP under the game menu and press cross or circle to install.
- Wait for the process to complete. You now have permanent custom firmware. Enjoy!
- Team PRO (the original developers of ARK): Coldbird, hrimfaxi (aka. Liquid Snake) and Neur0n.
- The Ancient Gods of the PSP Scene: mathieulth, davee, Proxima, zecoxao, among other tinkerers.
- qwikrazor87 for being such a genius and all his hard work with kernel exploits and ARK-2.
- Acid_Snake for everything that he has done for ARK and continued improving it alone the way, without him the CFW scene would have not had amazing accomplishments as it does now for both the PSP and the Vita.
- meetpatty for his excellent work in fixing bugs and adding important features like cIPL and DevKit support as well as porting Time Machine and Despertar del Cementerio.
- Krazynez for his amazing work on Advanced VSH Menu and other bugfixes and features.
- SilicaAndPina for her great work unlocking pspemu with ChovySign, NoPspEmuDrm and ps1cfw_enabler that serve as the base for ARK on PS Vita.
- TheFl0w (aka. Total_Noob) for his advancements and research in CFW development and overall contributions to the scene.
- Codestation for his incredible work improving CSO speeds and creating the ZSO format.
- pyroesp for his excellent work improving VSH Menu and refactoring code.
- TheSubPlayer for all the wonderful themes made for the custom launcher.
- UnkownBrackets (maxcso) for his help understanding the DAX format and Inferno speed hacks as well as creating the CSOv2 format.
- Zer01ne, noname120, astart and other devs that have blessed me with their knowledge and wisdom.
- balika for his research in porting M33 to modern firmware that has helped improve compatiblity in ARK.
- hrydgard for the PMF player as well as being an inspiration for the custom launcher.
- isage and gray_jack for their contributions to cfw development and libraries
- Every other giant shoulder the ARK team are standing on.