FS: Chinese Sega Saturn Mod Boards

Hi Everyone,

The third batch of Sega Saturn mod boards have arrived from China. These chips work the same as the previous batch. That is, you connect the ribbon cables, add +5V power, and go.

Sega Saturn Mod Boards ($14.99 each - SOLD OUT!)

2 Ribbon mod board with built-in timing crystal.


All chips were claimed by the supplier to be tested by hand, but dirty chips of questionable providence is all standard fair in the Chinese black market. Shipping will depend on buyers location. Please only buy if you know what your doing. Unfortunately due to the end-of-line nature of these items, I cannot always guarantee a replacement if stock is unavailable. Please do contact me if something doesn't work however, as I will be happy to work with you in order to get a refund. Bare in mind silly things like modifying the boards/ribbon cables and expecting a refund after your experiments fail don't count (^_^);

First PM, first serve.

Cheers!

NOTE: It has come to my attention that 64-pin Saturns may have a compatibility issue with some of these these chips. While we do have an experienced member testing this out, I'd probably recommend these chips only for 32-pin machines at this time.

 

Wow. You guys PM fast on the draw. Looks like APE was the first to PM and he's speaking up for the full lot.

But not to worry, I'll be ordering another batch soon so I should have more for sale sometime. But if your killing for a pre-modded Saturn, I'm sure APE will have loads for sale soon. (^_^);

 

Well luckily I fixed my modchip by following the trace and soldering directly to the pad. APE is about to make a killing selling these Saturns!!

 

I have 4 fully modded saturns for sale soon too.

2 model 1 and 2 model 2.

Just finishing them up

Then maybe I'll sort out the 5 dreamcasts I have afterwards.

 

And if you weren't UK I would take a model 1 so darn fast!!

 

I need a Model 2 board only, not the one with separate controller ports. I have the other parts.

 

FYI - In about a week or two I'll probably get around to ordering the next batch of chips. I'm just holding off for a bit since I'd rather combine shipping with other goods rather than ship empty. But they will come back in stock for sure (^_^);

 

Not to derail the thread but in the mean time if anyone wants a board or two from my stash I can part with some.

 

I think this thread is successfully derailed

 

Well, emphasis on some. I had figured my uncharacteristic move might cause a lynch mob to form and don't want to antagonize anyone who had their heart absolutely set on getting one this week.

On the plus side I'll be testing these with 32 and 64 pin Saturns (and if I can find a Sanyo, Sanyo) so we will have oodles of incoming information about compatibility shortly.

@Trenton_net:
Do you know if these have any sort of 0014/0019 solder pads? Or anything of the sort? I don't recall the last batch I purchased from you having anything like it.

 

Hi Ape, would you spare one board to norway? ray:

 

Hrm... Don't think so. I think these are the same as last time as there isn't any user serviceable areas on the board. Just ribbon in, ribbon out, and +5. I guess these were trying to be as plug-and-play friendly as possible.

But it would be interesting to see the comparability charts. This time it was only chips with built in timing crystals. The previous batch had a mix of chips with them and without. I think the next batch I'll get will be mixed, but that depends on your findings. I'm not sure how the chips without timing crystals manage to go without it nor a timing wire, but maybe some are more compatible than others for whatever reason.

I can probably direct my energies into getting chips of a particular style depending on your findings and recommendations. :thumbsup:

 

I flipped through a massive thread on Sega Xtreme about modding 21 pin Saturns, seems there might be something to having the timing crystal supplied on board versus taking the timing signal from the Saturn itself but there is absolutely no consensus.

Too many people trying to mod 32 pin and 64 pins without realizing that the 64 pins have a twist in the ribbon that MUST be taken into account. A few posts seem to suggest that the 64 pin Saturns use a 4mhz signal instead of a 8mhz signal (no idea if either is even accurate) and that the modchip (Racketboy's type) they are using requires a 8mhz signal making it incompatible with the supposed 4mhz 64pin Saturns.

Again that is only what I read, I have yet to attempt to corroborate any of it with any actual hardware but it does sound like a promising lead. Though if the modchip was designed in mind with this hypothetical 8mhz signal I don't know if it'd work properly when fed a 4mhz signal. Hell I don't even know offhand what the modboards need this signal for!

Much research is required, maybe someone else here knows something I don't. Where did I put that oscilloscope...

 

As far as I know (Being an electonics laymen on the subject), the removal of the timing crystal and eliminating the need for a second ribbon cable were cost saving measures. Or so I was told back in the day from stores, etc. The downside was, if you had to grab timing from the Saturn you were subject to finding a suitable source on the motherboard (which can change to thwart modders) as well as soldering a wire to it.

In all the model 1 & 2 Saturns I had, the stores never bothered with the newer chips. They always used the older style which didn't require any skill to install. In retrospect, had I'd been more informed I'd probably just do the work myself. Ah well...

 

I'd be willing to bet good money these too can be modded to fit a model 1. Problem is that without a donor Racketboy/Console Goods chip I can't make heads or tails of exactly what the mods to that particular chip do precisely. Obviously signal rerouting but which signals where and to which connector...

Probably could modify the ribbon cable and not even touch the chip itself with the same results. Wouldn't be for the feint of heart though. I'm hoping Bad_Ad84 will be able to help me figure out some of these mysteries.

 

I had already discussed with a few people that I was looking into creating 2 boards that go either side of the chip that will allow you to use 21 pin chips on 20 pin consoles.

There isnt much rerouting to do, its something like 4 or 6 wires

 

:crying:

i wanted one