DC-X question & Dreamcast woes

[Ostrog]

Hello all. I'm new here, though I've been lurking about the site for a fair bit now. A few months back, I got hold of a DC-X boot disc. And while it works as it shouuld, it makes the oddest sounds while booting up - the usual Dreamcast whirrs and such, only faster, sort of a grinding sound. I didn't think much of it at the time, since it worked fine, and my games all played normally.
But recently, the DC started making these rather unhealthy sounds, like it was scratching the cds - though there's no visible damage on the discs. The games load up and play alright, but I've noticed the music skips at times - Tech Romancer does this from time to Time, and there's a slight delay in Bangaio's music as well. And there's that scratching noise going on while it's playing.(I've tried the games on another DC, and they work fine)
What I'm wondering is: is the DC-X supposed to make those noises while booting up? Could the disc be aggravating the Dreamcast's drive somewhat, or am I just paranoid?

Thanks in advance.

[Commander Marklar]

Yea, it is -- I think it's because it has like a million sessions on it so the laser is buzzin' back and forth like.

As for skipping music and stuff, are these NTSC games? Maybe they're booting in 50hz...

[Ostrog]

Cheers for the info, mate - that's put my mind at rest. As for the games, they're PAL games, and so's the DC. I think I was running 'em in 60hz, though.

[Resonance]

I am the only one who has a DC laser that sounds like a mini saw? Noisy as feck when loading!

[Madbury]

Tech Romancer does this from time to Time, and there's a slight delay in Bangaio's music as well. And there's that scratching noise going on while it's playing.(I've tried the games on another DC, and they work fine)
What I'm wondering is: is the DC-X supposed to make those noises while booting up? Could the disc be aggravating the Dreamcast's drive somewhat, or am I just paranoid?

Thanks in advance.

I had exactly the same problem with Tech Romancer. PAL copy running on a US DC.

It turns out it was the early symptoms of the laser/disk reading bit wearing out. If it is this then your machine will start to freeze or reboot (especially in Tech Romancer). I tried all that cleaning the power contacts to the mobo stuff and that didn't help. In the end I had to get a replacement CD unit from Lik Sang (I think) and that fixed it. Prety easy to fit aswell.

[Ostrog]

That's cleared up the mystery somewhat, as the game did reboot at one point. Guess I'll have to check out Lik Sang at some stage.
Thanks.

[Darwock]

Does DC-X boot games that support VGA mode in VGA mode? I've tried all the different versions of Utopia I could find but no luck with any of them.

So I either get NTSC-J Ikaruga in slow ass PAL chipped-console speed, or PAL Rez in low-ass s-video resolution..

[Commander Marklar]

Yup.

The workaround for Utopia is to unplug the cable so Utopia boots in composite. Swop the discs over and plug the VGA lead in, close the drive door.

[Ben-K]

Works for me if I just turn the monitor off and on again....saves me pissing around with cables..

[dj898]

get CodeBreaker as it works in VGA mode unlike DC-X...
I never get DC-X shown in VA mode on my PAL/NTSC/NTSC-J DC...

[Dragon2k4]

Hmmm, so by using DC-X often it would mean faster wearing down of dc's lasers? Wouldnt it be better to get DC modified?

[Sane]

DC-X does make an alarming amount of noise when booting up. I would recommend using a Codebreaker instead. If you're using a PAL DC, codebreaker will boot all your imports in 60hz, as opposed to other bootdiscs like utopia or action replay. It also supports VGA mode. The only use I found for the DC-X is booting (some, not all) 50hz PAL games in 60hz. But 50hz only PAL games are rare really, plus you get sync problems doing this sometimes.

[Resonance]

Where do you get codebreaker from?

[Ostrog]

Hmmm, so by using DC-X often it would mean faster wearing down of dc's lasers? Wouldnt it be better to get DC modified?

That's pretty much what I was afraid of. And I just got hold of Virtual On yesterday. Guess I'll dig out my old Utopia disc and see if it works on that one...
I've never heard of Codebreaker though. Where can you get it?

[Oh! My Car!]

Just wondering if Street Fighter Alpha 3 (JAP) works with DC-X before I order one. Also, what's this about 'codebreaker' what is that and where from?

Also, in general would a chipped machine be better than using a swap disc (which could nacker the laser?)

thanks