Sega Saturn modchip service?

Hey all, sorry if this is the wrong thread but you might be able to give me guidance. On my way to work this morning I spotted a Sega Saturn (I think Model 2) going for £15 with all leads and controllers. I am sooo tempted to get it, but of course it is currently unmodified. I specifically want a 50/60Hz mod and a modification to allow backups to be played. I've looked online and consolepassion.co.uk offers the former, but it doesn't look like they do the backups mod.

Can anyone help?

Thanks!

 

First of all, try contacting them and asking them if they do supply modchips - it's possible that they will sell them, but have just left them off their webpage. If they don't, then you can get a chip of Rob Webb (he doesn't list them on his page either, but he does sell them).

The other thing that you may not realize is that the Saturn modchip is not like the one for the PlayStation -all it does is get around the copy protection, but not the region lock. So if you want a really universal Saturn you need three things:

1) 50/60Hz mod
2) Region switch, Action replay or Region-free BIOS
3) The modchip

It's also worth pointing out that the modchips work much better with some systems than others. There are basically 4 different types of drive that are in use:

a) 20 pin - this is the original drive in the "model 1" Saturn - obviously needs a 20 pin modchip
b) 21 pin cable / 32 pin IC - this is the standard and most compatible version
c) 21 pin cable / 64 pin IC - this is a later variant, and seems highly problematic.
d) 21 pin cable / Sanyo CD drive - has an extra "Trap" board attached to the chassis. Works OK for some people.

 

Thanks TriMesh. I actually have an Action Replay so the region issue shouldn't be a problem

I have emailed two UK dealers about their services, so hopefully they can come back soon.

If they come back negative, is there anybody here who is skilled in the craft and prepared to consider payment? (I don't *think* suggesting that is against board rules...)

 

Yeah you have to make sure. I have a 64pin and I have to reset the console immediately after booting to get the backup to work, especially from the Action Replay.
If you want a switch on it too, make sure to daisy chain the modchip's 5V line to the switch's rather than using the power transformer's. You don't want to melt plastic with your soldering iron.

 

And I understand that there's no way to tell the configuration of a unit until you've opened the case, is that right?

I have absolutely zero experience in doing any computer modifications of my own. I can barely put together a bookshelf lol

 

I don't think there is any generally reliable method of identifying the drive - the local expert on these things is Druid II, so if you can get the model and serial number he should be able to give you at least a well informed guess about what it might have in it.

It's also worth asking the modchip vendor which machines their chips work best with, since there seems to be quite a bit of variation. I've had cases where two identical looking modchips behaved differently - specifically, they would both work correctly on the 32 pin machines, but only one would work on the 64 pin.

 

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Well, the good news is that London retailers Retro Game base have got back to me with confirmation they can mod both but favour Model 2s. I'll consider them at a future juncture.

 

That's because they may well have different code in them depending on when they were made - the firmware was constantly being changed with each revision that Sega came out with. According to the guy that did the original design they did attempt a certain amount of regression testing, but it was not anything like comprehensive. There were a couple of times when we had chips that worked fine with the previous release but they just wouldn't work with the new ones and we had to send them back to the get the PIC replaced.

My personal experience has been that the drives with the 64 pin chips on them are a lot more sensitive than the ones with the 32 pin chips ("sensitive" in the sense that they don't boot properly with a chip that works without problems in a machine with a 32 pin drive) - but that conversely I've never seen a chip that worked OK on the 64 pin drives that didn't work on a 32 pin.

 

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I think that both myself and Bad_Ad84 (who supplies region/BIOS chips, but I don't know if he has Saturn modchips) would offer the service usually. However, I'm a bit busy right now and I think Bad_Ad84 said he was a bit tied up when someone asked for a service a few weeks back.

I always offered the service via Saturn-Planet, but it is offline at the moment (and has been for years - oops!)

 

I'd offer but shipping back and forth across the pond is not cost effective. Soon as I can find out where the box of chips that were going to go to Druid II are at I'm hoping to actually get them to him so he can check out compatibility and MAYBE I can actually offer some for sale.

I can't wait for a comprehensive Saturn modchip to be released, this shit is ridiculous.

 

Thanks for the support chaps I have found one reliable nearby lead I could hand the Saturn over to when I'm ready, so I think tomorrow I'll take the plunge and grab it, and save up the money to have it modded in the summer maybe

 

Druid II, turns out the Model No. is MK-80200A-50, serial no. AD690022764. What say you? According to this it's a Model 2, is that correct?

 

Also can I just say I'm astounded at how cheap this thing was. £15, and barely a scratch on it, very clean. The controller's not Sega but a Superpad 8, but it seems pretty good. No games though - I played some audio CDs and it worked no problem.

 

Try to use the edit button rather than double posting immediately

Sounds like a reasonable machine. There's no such thing as a model 2 really, it's what people call the round button machines but the actual differences come down to the VA number... although there was a bit of cross-over, just to make things confusing! AD69 was made in 1996 and is VA9, I think? My brain's not working properly

If you're saving up, maybe check with myself or Bad_Ad nearer the time, as one of us may be able to do it. If you don't mind saying, what county are you in?

 

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The 64pin chip is a real pain in the ass to solder a wire to, I gave up on mine, still have the chip though.

 

Sorry about the double-posts. I'm in London, retro. I was quoted £70 for a full mod by RGB (i.e. backups and 50/60 mod). With my Action Replay I don't think the region mod would be needed.

Druid II - I'll see if I get a chance, I had a look at the case and couldn't see any screw holes though! Apart from two by the power socket...

 

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