Somewhat OT: Help with the Saturn cartridges (4 in 1's etc.)

Are these safe to use in the cartridge port? I've heard some of the 4/5 in 1's can damage the port, and I only have one Saturn (just bought a used one). I want a cartridge that can act as a converter (to play imports, obviously), a memory card, and a RAM cartridge. Any help is appreciated

 

Well, they're only made to go into the cartridge port...

 

I once read in a faq that the third party Saturn carts have PCBs that are just slightly thicker than any officially made ones. So you could have trouble inserting one of these if you use a 4-in-1 since it would have widened the contacts in the system. However, if you had a 4 in 1, what other cart would you need to put in there besides the ROM cart for KoF '95?

 

Yeah, the PCB is slightly thicker, so it may cause slight damage, but if you leave it in and don't unplug it, you'll be fine.

I had trouble with mine. Wouldn't work with MetalSlug in my old PAL Saturn, but works fine with it in my NTSC-J Saturn. Odd.

 

The Saturn has a really shitty cart port. Even the 2nd smaller model has the same crappy port. I've lost count the amount of times I'Ve had to re-insert the 4MBIT cart to play some games. Memory carts too are a problem. I had my whole Magica Knight Rayearth save damaged because the cart came lose while I was playing the game. HOw it came lose when the saturn doesn't move is a mistery.

Yakumo

 

I have a third party 4 in 1 and I can say too that it has lots of contact problems. Just yesterday I was trying to play KoF 97 with a friend and I had to unplug and plug the cart like 10 times to get it working right, because the game froze when loading.
Also, I lost my savegame for Shining Force 3 that was stored in the 4 in 1, which caused me to lost interest in the game, because I was almost at the end of Scenario 1. But I honestly don't know how the savegame got screwed up

 

not many problems

I havent had to many problems with a 4 in 1. Mines worked perfectly. The trick is not to constantly plug and unplugg it. If your having problems with it, first try blowing the cart port and the cart itself, then insert it again. If that doesnt work then try putting it all the way in, then slightly pull it up. Sometimes you have to tilt the cart a certain way.

 

re

I'm probably going to get one off of Lik Sang. I have a model I US Saturn, but it doesn't look like the cartridge port has been used, so I should be okay. I don't plan on removing the cartridge, so it should be fine. Thanks again.

 

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I opened mine - had bit screw handy - and filed the edge of PCB connector so it's more like the official power memory cart. Put it back and haven't had cart slot problem.

Mine's from lik-sang and the fist one was DOA and lik-sang replaced it right away... works like charm...

now all I need is new M/B with ISA slot... and new case... and new CPU and new...

cheers

 

yakumo, whats this second smaller saturn you speak of?

 

what??? simes cartriges games where made on saturn?! rayer:

some are officials or they are just pirated games?

 

Sorry cahaz, no cart games on saturn. It has a slot located behind the drive lid for a variety of add-ins that resemble Megadrive cartridges. These carts are used for various things - there's a cart to backup the saves on the Saturn (much like a memory card on a PSX or whatever), there's a 4MB RAM cart needed by some Capcom games for all that 2D fighter goodness (apparently some games like Metal Slug take a 1MB RAM cart too), and KOF '95 has its own special ROM cart it uses.

Taemos, if you live in the US, I recommend getting the AR 4-in-1 cart from http://www.jandaman.com. I ordered mine from there last summer, and it arrived within a week and works great. I haven't had a single problem with the thing, and if you just keep the cart in there all the time and dont swap it around, you shouldn't, either.

 

It's just the 2nd version of the Saturn. THe original had power and access LEDs and oval buttons. THe 2nd version had no access LED and round buttons. My carts that I use are official. It doesn't matter what type of cart you get. You'll still always have a problem with the Saturn's cart port. I love the saturn more than any other console but why did Sega give it such a shitty cart slot? :smt022

Yakumo

 

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I just filed out at both edge to make the PCB connector looks like this:

\_/

If you look at the official memory cart its edge is already filed away.
You will need gamebit screw to open the cart though unless ARP4-1 uses normal screw - mine didn't. You can use knife to shave away bit by bit or file them away. I advise to use knife since you have more control over it.

I pull out and plug in ARP cart all the time and so far haven't had any issue although I only use it on one Saturn only just in case...

cheers

 

Yeah, I think the Saturn cart slot problem is the bane of every saturn gamer (except dodgy lenses perhaps) :Hangman:
I got a 4-in-1, but I rarely use it nowadays as I got an official memory card now (much better with direct save, my 4-in-1 erased my savegames plenty a time) and the official 4M ram cart - which just looks better :smt033
BTW, I doubt any of you would ever get one, but the Netlink modem also uses the cartridge slot and it has a much thinner connector than the unofficial cartridges.

Finally, months ago someone on SegaXtreme claimed to have seen a pirate original Saturn Mahjong (sp?) game on a cartridge, but he never posted any pics.

 

This is really interesting Anti, has there been any followup on this?

/me wonders if there could be any sort of cheap homebrew dev solution to come from the cart port being able to run games, if the Mahjong is real...

 

Many people already use Action Replays with PC-links for a cheap homebrew dev solution.

 

True, but it would be cool to have something like a GBA flashcart to store small homebrew projects on (something vaguely like the Jaguars BJL) :smt023

 

I use the Boom 4mb Plus cart, seems a bit dodgy compared to the Datel 4 in 1.

It does act as a memory card of sorts, but seems selective as to when it clears its memory, or it just stores it short term, im not sure, i had a few problems when my Saturn battery runs out.

Anyone know if the Boom Plus 4mb has problems with any 4mb games, i heard it might, ive only used it as a straight converter.

 

Yeah, that's what I meant, not as a conduit for homebrew, but as something to flash programs onto and run on any Saturn.