Sega Saturn faint video flickering on LCD TV

I suspect I just didn't notice this problem before bc I was using a tiny Commodore CRT prior to hooking up to my big LCD.

If you focus ur eyes on the background you'll see a faint flickering. It feels like a poor video signal or possibly fluctuating power source? It's more like a pulse or dimming, like when a heavy load of AC is getting used somewhere in the house and you notice it on TV screens and such. Except it keeps happening over and over every second or so.

I bought the system used and had all sorts of audio video problems until I cleaned the RCA connectors and pins with Isopropyl alcohol.

If I wiggle the connector I can only make the video worse or completely absent. The cord fits snug so I'm not sure it's a connection issue?

The AV cable itself looks twisted, wrinkled at the end closest to the system. However, if I jiggle this area of the cable nothing changes. I don't think anything is broken?

I was thinking about buying a new cord but they are quite expensive just for composite or s-video. So I might try adding my own standard connectors.

Any suggestions?

 

Could be the cable i have this my self but seems the same for most saturns.
could be a damaged av socket can be replaced.

 

Yea, that's kind of why I'm leaning towards running my own standard connections from the board, which would bypass both. It should also be a lot cheaper.

I just need to find a newbie friendly schematic. Anyone know where I can find one?

 

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I forgot to mention I have a NTSC model 2

I'm thinking about splicing an old nvidia breakaway cable to the proper pins on the motherboard for s-video, composite out

But reading this.. I'm wondering if it's the problem u describe. Seem to notice after system loads.. CD spins up. Going to check that now..

EDIT: flickers without disc inserted at main menu

 

Having a disc inserted has got nothing to do with it but (like someone has already mentioned) the actual movement of the cd motor lens which I would assume would move to its reset postion on the systems main menu with no disc in the driver.

I have noticed this faint flicker before (even on a CRT) when system's moves from loading data off a disc. I'm trying to reproduce as I write this with a US model 2 and a JPN Model 2 but with no luck (CRT, Svideo setup). But I have seen this before...

 

This seems to be consistent rather than intermittent for me. It's not easy to notice unless you focus on a solid color part of the background.

When you noticed the problem were you using composite and not s-video? thanks

EDIT: I focused REALLY hard and I notice it as soon as the Saturn animation appears. I *think* that's before the CD motor kicks in. That screen comes and goes so fast I didn't even notice it before.

 

I believe both.

It just to me happened on the main Saturn logo (US version) as it was reading Last Gladiators Digital Pinball which just happen to pop in (been playing some Capcom 2D fighters previously). Been playing the system for a solid 3 hours now.

 

Mpeg artefacts are less visible on CRT's as well, the colour depth on modern screens is usually not as good.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_CRT,_LCD,_Plasma,_and_OLED

 

Is your AV cable running thru the standard Sega port? I'm wondering if soldering custom connectors to the board would even help bypass this problem. I'm still thinking about it just for the upgrade to s-video tho.



This is what I'm thinking about splicing up. The box looks insulated pretty well and would give me enough connections for s-video and 3 composite connections with one to spare.

 

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I'm using Svideo cables and are connected to the system's respective AV connector.

 

Well, I just popped in Marvel Super Heroes on my Saturn and YUP, I'm def getting flickering during the games rather hefty loading screens.

 

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US model 2. Playing on a CRT Emerson brand, Svideo cable. MSH US version.

 

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I wouldn't call em huge but yeah, Horizontal, rather faint ripples acros the screen.

Please do.

 

I get no ripples. Just the faint flickering. I wouldn't even say it flickers like off and on.. but rather, it's more like a pulse or dimming, like when a heavy load of AC is getting used somewhere in the house and you notice it on TV screens and such.

 

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Sega Saturn is very sensitive to power supply. I have early PAL Saturn model 2, but case is with oval buttons. From time to time right after power on I saw heavy distortions on screen, some background noise, and console wouldn't boot any CD at this state. By doing several on-off-on cycles problem disappeared. I googled a lot and found somebody with same problem as me, and he fixed it by adding additional capacitor to power supply. I done the same and problem disappeared. I think true problem was because of dried capacitors on power board, and this new one just strengthen circuit a bit. Although I still have this solution with additional capacitor, and it works.
That said, your case may be similar to mine, just a lighter distortion. You can try to replace capacitors on power supply, or, alternatively do same solution as me. I can't find that thread with solution, but I can do few photos of my power supply, if needed.