dreamcats - pal, vga, play backups etc..

hello. searching for a;

+ PAL Dreamcast Manufactured before October 2000 (metal heat pipe, better compatibility, less noise..)
+ Internal VGA Modification OR a VGA Box (preferably internal with a scanline option, if its even possible)
+ Modchip OR Region Mod Hack (not very important)

anyway, as long as it contains a vga modification, pm me.

 

- you want to buy a model 1 PAL machine, it says HKT-3030 on the bottom (these are the ones with a metal heatsink) they are practically indestructible, I'm still using my first one & I play it every day

- there's no need for this, just get yourself a €10 vga cable from ebay (unless you want to cough up more for an original sega vgabox)

-you don't need a modchip, as it plays backups right out of the box, as for the region mod, again you don't need this, just spend another €10 on a decent bootdisk (DC-X is the best one out there)

you are now ready to play almost every game (a few exeptions that don't work in vga, but most of those games are crap anyway)on your HDTV in stunning quality

 

You don't even need to spend money on a bootdisc, utopia bootdisc works fine.

 

?

 

I Like utopia but it not 100% boot compatible and what about multi disc game?
If you were to use a boot disc use a gameshark it will boot anything.

 

Multi disc games work, you just have a lot of work with the disc swapping, and the disc swap sequence has to be right.

Go with the excellent custom Bios.

 

doesn't boot every game, DC-X has booted everything I've fed it so far, and I have over 300 legit games so...

Impossible, I own a 3030 PAL one & got it on launchday (well 1 or 2 days after to be exact) so it simply CAN'T be built in 2000, it plays everything I feed it. it has also been open a few times (mainly coz my ex poured hot chocolate in it when she was angry > this is why I said its indestructible :thumbsup & it has a metal heatsink inside, trust me I know what I'm talking about.

 

Well, erm... how do I say this without sounding like a damn pirate...

I have DC-X here and still did not have to pay for a boot disc

...

Aaaaanyway, the custom bios is the more elegant solution.

 

I have never heard of PAL DC that doesn't play CD-Rs. And why everyone is always recommending utopia? You can get codebreaker and any other boot disc for free also. They are also better.

 

i thought the dreamcast does not have a vga input/output/whatever, hence the modding?

taking your word for the 3030, but the quote above has me thinking if it's a bit more complicated than that.. anyone wanna chime in?

 

All PALs can read CDRs, there was no version 2 PAL. For the heatsink case, every DC has a heatsink, but first revision models(VA0) have a heatpipe too..
I have a fully modded Dreamcast black sports edition with 220v official power supply, blue power led, region free bios(aka dev box bios) and if you want I can do the vga mod for 100 euros. No box or manual...

 

Dreamcast has the capability to output VGA, you just need a cable that is wired to do it.

Internal VGA mod just means you do not need the dreamcast AV connector.

 

Dreamcast is one of the very few consoles that can output native VGA.

 

yep, if the dreamcast detects a vga cable, it automatically switches to vga mode internally, hence there's no need for a mod.

@alphagamer: I know you can also find the DC-X iso out there & burn it I was just pointing out what a good & what a bad (or less good) bootdisk is. after all he didn't say anything about wanting to play copies, the pre 2000 model can also mean he wants to be able to play indie games. (sorry, I'm one of those folks who doesn't immediately link OLD CONSOLE with PLAY COPIES; I still have some faith in humanity left )

 

When I said VGA mod, I meant a VGA port hardwired to the board directly. If you don't want to change its originality, you can use a VGA box which costs around $28 or €20 in Ebay. The components don't cost that much but there is a demand so it's overpriced IMO. You may play the homebrew games on CDR, I also don't like to play bootlegs & copies or encourage someone to play them.

 

Indeed, there are 3 different versions (I also had mine from day 1 so I can confirm this)
(the first one is JAP exclusive, two others probably all over the world).
-first Jap model with piping (watercooled + aluminium fan housing)
-first PAL model (aluminium fan housing)
-later models (plastic fan)

 

The japanese launch Dreamcast units are the best Dreamcast consoles you can get. PAL units have a very loud GD-Rom drive!

Best option is to get a japanese launch DC (orange box), a DC-X and a VGA-Box.