Sega Saturn No Video, No Sound

Just installed a Rhea into the unit today. It powers on with the light turning green, however no video or no audio. I am connecting the system via CSYNC RGB cable bought from retro console accessories into my XRGB Framemeister. Any Ideas of what my problem may be? Caps? PSU? No bulging or leaky caps, no visible damage on the MB. Feeling pretty down, any and all advice appreciated.

 

If it was working before you swapped out the CD drive for the Rhea, It's very likely there is a ribbon cable connection issue between the Rhea and the motherboard. Normally when the CD drive's ribbon cable is disconnected, it would produce the same symptoms.

 

The drive was broken on the sega saturn I purchased, but was told it was in working condition other than that. The broken drive was still installed when I purchased the unit. I will reinstall the broken drive and at least see if I can even get a bios screen.

 

Nothing

 

So, I got the console running, but now I am having an issue with the controllers. Only some of the inputs work. I can press some buttons and they register, others won't. Also I have to plug it in and out several times to get this level of functionality. I am thinking either the ribbon cable between mb and controller port or a fuse. I'm thinking if it was a fuse it wouldn't work at all though.

 

Have you tried the controller in another sega saturn if possible?

 

Haven't tried the controller in a different saturn

 

Damn, I forgot about Saturn's that have a separate controller PCB (After seeing them plenty of times in later model 1's and model 2's with 64 pin drives :/). They can produce the same symptoms too if disconnected (or damaged ribbon cable in this case). I'm assuming one or more pins on the ribbon cable is critical and stops the Saturn from booting if it doesn't make a connection.

One of the pins can be causing a break in your controller inputs. Best thing to do to check this is out is, get your DMM (Digital Multimeter), set it to continuity mode, place one probe on 1 pin and place your other probe on the same pin on the opposite side. If it beeps or reads as around 0.1 ohms then you got a connection. If you don't get a beep or shows no ohm reading then there is a break.

If you don't have a DMM or find a break in the ribbon cable, i think the only thing you can do is get a replacement. I took some measurements of controller board ribbon cable:
62 mm - Overall length
6.2 mm - Exposed ends
1 mm - Pin Pitch
0.3 mm - Thickness
10.5 mm - Backer (Stiffener)

Thing is i cant seem to find a replacement ribbon cable with the same or really close measurements.The closest i could find is here but should still work:
http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/0152670403/WM11126-ND/4427272

 

Indeed it was more ribbon cable issues. I got it working, now to get everything configured correctly on the sd card!

 

The Rhea is amazing, I'm having a lot of fun with this. So far my only complaint (besides lack of menu) is how much of a pain it is to get my cdi to play. I had to use an old version of daemon tools and the newest disc jugglar to get it to work. I tried alcohol 120, the newest version of daemon tools, and Imgburn to no success. Just want to say thanks to Deunan for the Rhea, Turfster for the Sega Saturn and helping me out, and Zero-2k11 for helping me out. I was at the point of all hope lost, and then everything just came together!