Download a tool like "CHD GUI" or "NamDHC".
CHD stands for Compressed Hunks of Data. It is a file format originally created for the MAME (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator) project. Its primary purpose was to represent the hard drives and compact discs used by arcade machines (like the Naomi or Atomiswave) in a single, compressed file. ps2 chd roms
Over the last few years, the format has been adopted by console emulation because it is incredibly efficient. Download a tool like "CHD GUI" or "NamDHC"
| Source format | chdman command |
|---------------|----------------|
| .iso | chdman createcd -i game.iso -o game.chd |
| .cue + .bin | chdman createcd -i game.cue -o game.chd |
| .gdi (Dreamcast) | chdman createcd -i game.gdi -o game.chd |
| .nrg (Nero) | Convert to ISO first (e.g., with nrg2iso) |
| .mdf/.mds | Use Alcohol 120% or ISOBuster to extract to ISO | For PS2 DVDs (single layer or dual layer),
For PS2 DVDs (single layer or dual layer),
createcdworks fine.
| Emulator | CHD support | Notes | |----------|-------------|-------| | PCSX2 (Nightly/1.7+) | ✅ Full | Load CHD directly like an ISO. | | AetherSX2 (Android) | ✅ Full | Works on mobile. | | Play! | ⚠️ Partial | Some builds work, not guaranteed. | | Older PCSX2 (1.6) | ❌ No | Use newer nightly builds. |
Do not rename
.chdto.iso– it won’t work. Emulators must explicitly support CHD.