mkpsxiso vs no$psx

mkpsxiso builds PlayStation CD images from an XML document, with output in .bin/.cue or .iso formats for emulators or CD burning. File order in the XML sets LBA placement, which the project says can support access-time optimization. The builder handles mixed-mode CD-XA content, including XA audio and STR video, and CDDA tracks sourced from WAV, FLAC, PCM, or MP3 files. Its related tool, dumpsxiso, extracts PlayStation disc images and can generate compatible XML. It supports 2352-sector images and CUE files, and can extract tracks, license data, and raw sectors. Generated XML follows strict LBA order and preserves timestamps and XA attributes. The project targets homebrew development, ROM hacking, and reverse engineering. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, and is GPL-2.0 licensed. Documentation covers command-line use, XML structure, track types, ordering, errors, and validation. Users supply their own Sony license data for injection. On ext4 and xfs, absent XML dates prevent 1:1 rebuilding for certain older files; Windows also has a documented directory-browsing issue with some nested structures.

no$psx is freeware for Windows that emulates and debugs PlayStation 1 and PSone software. It is intended to run without special video drivers, plug-ins, virtual CD-ROM drives, a system BIOS, or per-game configuration. Supported disc images include CCD+IMG, CDI, CUE+BIN, MDS+MDF, CHD, NRG, and ISO, alongside raw EXE files and ECM/CDZ decompression. Real CD-ROM drives require wnaspi32.dll, with the maker noting problems on Windows NT/2000 and later. Development tools include a disassembler, debugger, profiler, code and memory breakpoints, assembler, I/O map viewer, VRAM viewer, polygon viewer, TTY console, and PSX hardware specifications. The free BIOS clone may have compatibility issues; an original PSX-BIOS.ROM can be placed in the program folder. The maker says many games have not been tested and compatibility problems may occur. The listed v2.3 Windows 32-bit release adds pixel-accurate GPU rendering, texture/CLUT cache emulation, and timing reproduction. The plan price is free.