I'm well aware that a model 1 Sega Saturn (oval buttons) cannot be fitted with a mod chip however it doesn't bother me because I'm more than comfortable with the swap method. I would like to know if it is possible to fit a region and 50/60hz switch into a model 1? I've read plenty of guides and I'm pretty good with a soldering iron, but every guide I've come across doesn't specify which Saturn version they are modding. I just wanted to check before I go out and invest in some MBB switches and a load of wire. Any help would be great.
It's possible, a bitch to do, but possible. The jumpers are the same on all saturns as far as I know. Hopefully its not a early model 1. I hear they are harder to put back together.
It's a piece of piss regardless, as long as you have decent soldering skills and can handle a sharp knife or a PCB copper remove tool then you should be fine, the tricky thing is to find places in the Saturn to add switches without the case getting in the way... There are several revisions of the Sega Saturn board but all of them have the same JP connectors, however you might need to find them... opening the machine is easy just remember to be careful when removing the ribbon cables for the drive. http://www.gamesx.com/wiki/doku.php?id=imports:sega_saturn Has the settings for the regions, a small Hex switch works quite well for this. Its missing JP1 / JP2 which is the 50/60Hz switch. Alternatively a single 3 way switch (needs to be a Single Pole, Double Throw, Centre off switch) which means you use one switch for US, Jap and Europe. http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/console/sega/saturnregion.htm JP1 / JP2 are the hardest ones to do as some Saturns it's just a case of a switch between JP1 / JP2 (as per countries shown in the GameSX page), others require a bit of cutting but will be a simple switch over JP1.
Hey! I have some pictures in my collection thread that might interest you: http://www.assemblergames.com/forums/showthread.php?p=102877 Well, many of the 21-pin modchips can be modified into 20-pin modchips easily. This conversion mod was done by Pinchy over at segaxtreme. Search the forum for a excellent scheme made by Seal1. I have done it myself too, and it works great in my MK-80200-50. If you have late PAL model 1 you just short JP1 to get 60 Hz. However, if you have an early PAL model 1 then you can not use the easy JP1 trick. On the early models you need to solder a wire directly to pin 79 for VDP-1 and when apply GND or +5V to switch 50/60Hz. The early model 1 units have a big laser board with two power supply wires. I.e. EMW10447-005E / ENR-007 is a laser board that is common in the early models. For imports I would just use an Action Reply Good luck
You don't have to pull up the pin leg and risk breaking it, you can trace back, find the trace well before the JP and cut it and solder onto a tiny spot on the board.
No way Are you talking out of experience? If you have done that, then I would be very interested to know how. The trace to pin 79 comes from under the VDP-1. There is a via on the other side of the PCB, right under VPD-1, that is connected to pin 79 and JP1, but cutting that trace did not work. There is some more going on under the VPD-1 chip. I don't see how one can cut the trace to pin 79 easily. I can be wrong of course, but I have spent a few hours on this one...
I'm talking from experience as I did it a number of times a few years ago, I did quite a few machines and not once did I have to pull up Pin 79. I need to look at a Saturn now to tell you how I did it but it just required a trace cut (and there is a place where it can be done easier) and then solder a thin wire to a point then to a switch and ground.
Good Would you do that? I probably have some high-res PCB scans of an early PAL model 1 if that helps. I am very curious since pin 79 on these units have a trace that goes to JP1 and a second trace that goes under the chip. It is the second trace that is causing problems, almost like if it is connected to GND (50Hz). I am wondering how you did it and if we are talking about the same model
Thanks for the advice guys, my new Saturn arrived today, gonna open it up soon and see what can be done. Will probably forget the region mod as an action replay/disk swapping will suffice but the 60HZ mod is a must, with any luck I can just short JP1.
Hmm, facing a new problem. Has anybody come across a Saturn that just won't accept the disk swap method? I've been an expert at it for many years....this machine just won't take it.
I think the disc swap on the model 1 is different than the model 2. Thus I think the systems that are easier to mod are harder to do the swap trick on. I can't remember now though, but I'm pretty sure that was the case. Be sure that your swapping with a disc from the same region as your system, you must region patch any CD-Rs before you burn them or they won't boot.
Hmm, well, this Saturn is a Model 1 with an EMW10447-006E / ENR-007 CD board. Appearance wise, both internally and externally it's the same as my previous saturn although I cannot say the same about the CD board numbers as the previous model sits in a garbage heap somewhere. Anyway, I've been trying to boot a backup of Panzer Dragoon Saga I have, it's PAL in region and I know the ISO works as I've used it for many years now. I've tried booting with many different games (as apparently they don't all work with the swap method.) I've tried every method, and I've recently tried region switching a copy of Radiant Silver Gun just to be sure that the Panzer dump hasn't corrupted.... ...everything I'm doing is exactly the same as I used to do with my previous model 1 saturn but still no luck...getting very frustrated now. EDIT: Problem solved, changed my region patching program, Radiant Silvergun booted on the first attempt.....now where's my soldering iron?
