Dreamcast+Saturn Region Mod

[Robster]

Manage to get both today quite cheap.
I want to mod them so I can play NTSC games.

I thought I would do it myself this time and I am wondering if someone knows of a guide already written or if someone can give me some advice.

Even if I bugger it up then I'll just get another one and keep the old ones for practice. I dont have any experience at all with soldering so there is a good chance I'll f**k it but I've got to learn sometime.

Lik sang are selling the chips for d/cast but I have not seen one for the Saturn.

Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks guys.

[Naiera]

The chips that exists for the Saturn won't enable imports to be played. Take a look at GamesX.com.

[Manmonkey]

PM Saurian, He should be able to advise you on a region MOD for the Saturn.

[MartyG]

The Action Replay cart for Saturn allowed you to play any region games.

NCSX have them in Stock at $29.

The DC Mod is a four wire install (and it's pretty easy) - but the Utopia boot disc does the job just as well.

Regards
Marty

[Geezer]

The Utopia disc is seems to play most if not all games at 50Hz-get a DC-X instead. Also, apparently a chipped PAL machine won't play everything in 60Hz. I'd say a DC-X boot disc is by far the best option

[bangaio]

For the DC get DCX that is all you need the chips like has been said only allows 50htz for some games.

Saturn, you need to get it double switched. This costs a wee bit and gives you a region selction switch and a 50/60 switch as some games in 50htz are full screeen ish so would be too big played at 60. Works a treat!

[Saurian]

It's an awkward mod with the Saturn - a combination of 3 jumpers determines the machine's region, you have to fit 2 switches with logic set up to switch on/off different combinations.

http://www.geocities.com/muttfox/saturn/satmod4.html

http://www.mameworld.net/pc2jamma/satmod1.html

Materials you need are: (http://www.cricklewoodelectronics.com/)
2x toggle switches (DPDT) (give cricklewood a call as they sell very small double pole double throw switches - perfect for the job)
Multimeter (to indentify what's what and to test that tracks are broken when you cut them)
Kynar wire (www.londonconsole.com)
Heatshrink (to insulate connections to the switch)
Small drill with suitable bit to drill the casing to fit switches

I've use my own switch configuration for the switches- instead of using 2 switches for region and another for videomode like they suggest I put the PAL/NTSC select on one of the region switches. So that when the machine is booted in NTSC - you can choose US/JPN on the other switch (alternatively PAL + US = UK)
You get 6 points on the back of each switch - I'll try and explain the way I wire them - key:

1 = 5v
2 = ground
3 = PAL/NTSC select line
4 = JP6/7
5 = JP10/11
6 = JP12/13

Switch 1
1 --- 2
3 --- 6
2 --- 1

Switch 2
1 --- 2
5 --- 4
2 --- 1

For line 1 and 2 (5v and ground) I use a continous length of wire for each, just strip a small amount of sleeve, fold and solder at each point linking across the 4 points across the switches (use the heatshrink on each point). Certain tracks on the motherboard need to be cut - use a small scalpel and test with your multimeter to make sure the cut is succesful. Make sure you identify what each jumper point is before you start wiring - use your meter to test from the PSU points (they are labelled) to the jumpers.

Things to look out for:
It's better to keep all wiring together and following a neat path from the jumpers to the switch position (I use back-right of the case). The shield casing that fits over the motherboard can crush wires running under it when everything is screwed together so be careful when fitting. Use heatshrink over the wires running under the shield and insulation tape over the board/metal surfaces they are near to counter this.

[MD]

You could use a hex switch (4 internal switches, goes from 0 to F) that way you only have one switch and you can pass the machine off as a debug machine.