Saturn FRAM mod

I've had plenty of strange Saturn issues with mods.

One console wouldn't get past the license screen until I put in a modchip. After that it would load a handful of games like Virtua Cop but with no music and lots of issues. I've also seen the Phantom flat out not work in some consoles. The RF BIOS has issues in some of them as well, doesn't matter if it works fine in one console but not in another.

It's very likely something is amiss with his FRAM or his RF BIOS. It appears most of these FRAM chips I've been buying are NOS or potentially bootleg but I can't confirm the latter. Wouldn't surprise me if he was sold a bad batch as I don't see him doing a followup saying he procured a different chip from a different supplier, or even if he bought a batch to begin with. Given his second post was three days after the first I'm guessing he either found a local supplier or did get a batch.

Out of the 4-5 Saturns I've installed RF BIOSes in and FRAM swaps I haven't had any problems that were related to that combo. Multiple revisions across the first and second models.

 

Did you recap them? Plenty of Saturn's have failing caps now

 

I Finally got round to installing the FRAM mod alongside the Region free bios on my VA0 HST-3200 Saturn. Its recapped now too.
No problems to report, holding game saves without the battery and booting NTSC/PAL/US games as expected.

 

Kewl! Where did you buy the FRAM?

 

From Guangdong for 50 cents.

 

Aliexpress.

 

Thank you

 

I've had success buying FRAM chips from AliExpress also. Done about 4 or 5 Saturn's now and they all work perfectly

 

I'm interested in this mod (i already did the N64 memcard FRAM mod).
Do you have a link to the correct FRAM chip please ?
Anything to know about this mod ? Just swap the chip ?
Thank you !

 

If you're in the USA I'll give you one for free.

 

Ah sadly i'm in France, but thank you for the offer

 

Works fine for me too

I just want to be sure. No traces to the FRAM would need to be cut if I wish to use the battery for keeping time?

 

Its fine to keep using the battery for time with the FRAM mod. You could disconnect the the Vcc line (pin28) and connect it to another 5v source. This will mean it will take no battery power when disconnected from the mains power. I've not done this myself though...

 

No it appears to work just fine as is. Just wanted to be sure that it couldn’t mess anything up in the long term