Sega Saturn Region Free BIOS

You do not NEED my chip - but the ones I sell are a direct replacement. Pins are in the same order as original etc.

I know the chip has the bios burned to it. Flash has a WE line which eprom will not have (this is one of the connections connected to VCC you were asking about - your chip doesnt have it)

 

I have checked data sheet.

Connect pin 1 to ground and do not connect 42 to anything - rest wire directly.

start wiring from pin 21 and 22

 

I just start to think and yes it is much more simple and clean with your chip.
I will order 2 from you, and 2 Dreamcast chip too.

I figure how my region switch were working so I can fix it back to original position.
I'll keep the frequency switch on the back of my Saturn, and the modchip too, it should work properly.

Thanks anyway for your support, but I realised that it's more simple your way.

Thanks again.

 

x

 

En effet si tu n'es pas trop habitué à souder, la méthode avec la flash surface mount est beaucoup plus facile. Une fois la puce bien positionnée sur le PCB, il suffit ensuite de mettre un peu de flux sur les contacts et puis d'appuyer sur le dessus des pins de la puce avec le fer a souder pour effectuer la soudure sans effort. Puisque le pinout est identique à la ROM du saturn, les chance de faire une erreur lors de la réalisation du mod sont très minime.

Autrement avec le ERPOM, tu devras couper 40 fils, les dégainer aux extrémités, mettre de l'étain a chaque extrémité pour finalement essayer de souder tout sa sans te mêler dans tous les fils puisse que le pinout du saturn et du EPROM sont complètement différent!

Btw, avec le BIOS modifier tu peux utiliser ton modchip sans problème. C'est que j'ai fait moi-même également.

 

Thank you for all thoses answer but I have one more question:
What will be the boot sequence on my French Pal Saturn?
If I want the jap boot sequence, leaving the region switch to Jap don't affect the boot sequence, only the bios has it, right?

Et ca fait plaisir une pointe de Français merci. ^^

 

x

 

This is just perfect. :thumbsup:

 

Turns out my model 1 oval button 2nd rev PAL Saturn has a 21 pin connector so I can bung a chip in alongside this BIOS and have an access light. Schweet! And an overall nicer looking console.

Definitely gonna get Bad_Ad84 to do it though, after having killed my Dreamcast. lol

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/eurekaworks/DSC_0002-17.jpg

 

x

 

I'm about to install the precious, but questions first.

1/ I have this Saturn, just to be sure, is the bios located in the red rectangle on pics 2, named MPR-17940-T?



2/ About the chip installation, is this position correct after removing original one?



Then:

So I lift pin 1,2,43 & 44.
I left pin 1 unconnected and do this:



3/ Am I doing it right?

 

Completely correct.

As I said, much easier than the dip chip you had

 

Yes, very much.
Heating the solder iron.

 

DONE! Works flawlessly.
Thanks again Assembler community for that huge improvement of Saturn way of life. :thumbsup:

Unsolder:


Lifting pins:


Removing the bios was difficult. I lost control of my tool during the process...But no damage on the mobo.


Few more steps:


Finally:


Solder points are not very clean but it works.
I'm closer to the perfect Saturn, 3 more steps ahead: modchip, 220v power in, 50/60 switch.

I - Modchip

I've got one modchip from my Pal system.
Here is the modchip:



Here is my pal system, where the modchip was installed:



Here is my Jap:


1/ Do you think I can install it on my Jap system?

II- 220v power in

I would like to put the Power unit of my Pal system into my Jap system to get rid of the 110/220 adaptator.

Here is my pal power:


Here is my Jap power:



Exact same size.

On the Pal one, here is the pinout:

• +9
• +5
• +3.3
• GND
• GND

On the Jap:

• +5
• +5
• +3.3
• GND
• GND

2/ Do you know a possible way to adapt this power?
3/ If not, do you know if a 220v with the Jap pinout exist?

III - 50/60 hz switch

Here is a pic of my jap mobo:



4/ Am I doing it right?

 

chip will work if they are both 21 pin without issue (from pic, it looks like they are).

 

Félicitation, belle job propre!!

For the power I guess you could cut the trace providing the +9v out on the PSU pcb, then link the unconnected pin to the +5v line.

Any idea what the +9v power in the PAL? I'm assuming is just for SCART switching??

One thing to check is if the current spec are write somewhere on the PSU pcb cause your PAL PSU most provide at least the same current on the +5v line as the original one.

I see 2A for the PAL board, but can't see on the jap pcb.

 

Thank you for the modchip, it works! ray:

Merci du compliment. ;-)
For the specs, they are not written anywhere on the Jap power board.
I was thinking about doing that mod too:



I think it's correct, no?
If yes, I'll try it even lacking af specs.

Last thing, do you think this 50/60 switch is correct?



So close to perfection. :Rock:

Edit: Power is working! Only switch to go.
Search for the switch connected to the reset button, if you have links.

 

Is their any reason to want running in 50Hz?? To me I would just always run it in 60Hz?? no?

The link I have:
http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/console/sega/saturn5060.htm

 

x

 

I used pin 79 method myself, wired directly to the 5v pin of the PSU.