It was different. The pillars of light in the startup animation seemed taller, sharper. To anyone else, it was just firmware. To Elias, it was the peak of a lost civilization. The v2.30 BIOS was the most refined code Sony ever packed into the console. No bugs, no lag, just pure, silver-age stability.
The SCPH-90001 is famous (and notorious) for its updated BIOS. The Patch: ps2 bios scph 90001 better new
if : You want the most reliable, "newest" feeling console for playing original discs, appreciate a built-in power supply, or are a speedrunner. It was different
If you are sourcing a BIOS for use with PCSX2, the SCPH-90001 is a top-tier choice. Because it was the final retail version, it contains the most up-to-date instructions for the hardware's OSD (On-Screen Display). In emulation, using a 90001 BIOS often results in: Faster boot times into the main menu. To Elias, it was the peak of a lost civilization
I can give you the or troubleshooting tips for this exact hardware.
However, if you seek involving backups, hard drives, or custom launchers, the SCPH-90001 is actually worse than earlier models (e.g., SCPH-39001 or SCPH-50001 for fats, or the SCPH-70012 for slims).
Without specific details on what "better" or "new" means in this context, it's challenging to provide a definitive answer. However: