Sega Mega Drive/Genesis - Model 1 vs Model 2 vs Model 3

Guys are you quite certain about the jailbars on the mega drive 2? Ive owned 3 model 1's and a couple of model 2's and only the model 1 has ever been a problem...

 

It's possible to mod a Genesis 3 for full 32X, Master System, Virtua Racing and Game Genie support.

I'd like to know if anyone has actually done the RGB mod and what the video quality is really like on a Gen 3.

 

Not yet. Research hasn't completed yet. It's possible genesis 2 has jailbars while mega drive 2 does not. We haven't ruled that out yet.

The "worst case scenario" theory, is having jailbars a flaw in the mega drive graphics chip design. Being that deep would affect most if not all hardware based on it, or interacting with the video output from one. Regardless of cable, game program code, attached accessories, etc.

 

OK, before I mentioned there is away to remove the worst of the jail bars without any internal modding. I use the maicomsoft XAV-2s and as you can see with it's dip switches set to the right position it really can remove those jail bars pretty much 99%.







Yakumo

 

Filtering with an external device isnt removing the bars correctly.

Also, if someone in the US has a Genesis 3 they can sell me for a reasonable price (console only, save on shipping) I would appreciate it.

 

May very well be. Both my MD2's display 100% crisp with zero jail bars.

 

that is true but it does the same job as far as looks go and is a lot easier. Here's a video of it in action.



yakumo

 

My model 2 Genesis has jail bars, that I can say with 100% certainty.

 

Not wrong about the clear image Yakumo looks very nice!

 

Thanks for the pics and vids Yakumo! Looks great! Is there any way to tell which model 1s have the jail bar effect by looking at the console?

 

I'm not sure if there is a way by checking the console's serial number but taking a look at the actual board would tell you. The problem with that is shops would not allow it.

Honestly, if you are on a budget and can't aford the XRGB series and don't really care too much about scan lines then the XAV-2s is a fantastic option for a quick and easy fix to the jail bar problem and for getting a lovely image on a HD screen.

 

How much are those boxes?

 

Does this still happen on a CRT? Because that's what I plan on using.

 

About 10'000 yen new.

You know, I NEVER had this issue or maybe never noticed it 20 odd years ago when I was really in to Mega Drive at the age of 16 or so. I was quite picky about image quality even back then so I'm sure I would have noticed.

 

I've done the mods to restore Game Genie/32x/Virtua Racing support to a Genesis 3 for a member on the boards. It worked great.

He didn't inquire about RGB so I didn't even think to check it out.

 

I prefer the model 1 to the model 2, I hardly notice the jail bars but this is probably because I am playing on a crt tv. RGB via the din plug and stereo sound via the headphone jack, mines a VA6 with the ext connector.

 

Yeah one problem with my line of thinking... Is we don't have anyone here who owns both an RGB capable CRT, and the North American model 2. Including myself we don't seem very inclined to go through with providing one to such a user.

 

If you want a machine so you can add switches to it so you can play games in 50/60hz then avoid the VA7 Model 1 machines, as some PAL games running at 60Hz will give you a deafening silence where some nice music should be playing. It doesn't affect too many games but games originating from PAL regions do seem to be affected, although on VA5 or earlier revision machines they are fine.

 

Snagged a High Definition Graphics model 1 off eBay. here's hoping it doesn't have any dodgy capacitors and the sound/rgb is nice and crisp. Friend of mine has been bugging me to sort this out for him for ages, they've been collecting games for a while now but getting sick of 50hz so will be good to play them to their full potential. Once you get a fully modded console you never need another one again, well worth the venture.

 

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showth...-good-Genesis-1s-and-Genesis-2s-from-bad-ones
http://straypixels.tumblr.com/post/7768359272/not-all-sega-genesis-were-made-equal
http://milkcrate.com.au/_other/sega_comparisons/ <Audio Comparisons
http://chipmusic.org/forums/topic/2...f-genesis-md-audio-across-hardware-revisions/


I am a musician, so I can't live with anything but a model with the best audio. If that means I get jailbars. That's fine. I don't think that's much of an issue for me.

I have a HDModel 1, I should've checked the motherboard when I cleaned it a few months. But i'm pretty sure it's a VA6 Because of the FCCID.