Saturn Action Replay 6 in 1 & 50/60Hz Mod Question

[Kristofski]

Hi there,

I've recently aquired a PAL Saturn from eBay, planning to finally play all the amazing looking games I could never afford as a kid. I've just got a couple of questions I was hoping some of you Saturn Vets could help me with.

I obviously needed a RAM expansion and memory cartridge, so I figured it would just make sense to get a combination cartridge as it would also handle the multi-region issues and save me some modding work. So I bought an action replay 6 in 1 card.

Q1. If I were to mod it to switch between 50/60Hz mode would this be compatible with the 6 in 1 that I've just bought? (I.e. Would I, in effect have a fully region and refresh rate slectable machine?)

Q2. With the PAL release games that are uncompensated (I.e. suffer from slowdown and border) Would simply switching to 60Hz mode solve all of the problems? I ask this because it's a lot easier to pick up dirt-cheap PAL games than US or JAP versions over here.

Sorry if these are noob questions, I've had a good look through the other threads in this forum and none seem to quite cover this issue.

Thanks in advance

[davidleeroth]

1. I don't see why not. But as the region mod is easy to do and you're going to open tha console anyway, you might as well do the region mod as well.

2. No. PAL games played on 60Hz strech the picture too much. If my memory serves me right, on Sega Rally roughly half of the rev counter (and time display on the upper part) is shown. I'll check this one later today just to be sure.

[Papercut]

2. No. PAL games played on 60Hz strech the picture too much. If my memory serves me right, on Sega Rally roughly half of the rev counter (and time display on the upper part) is shown.

Some games are pal optimised and some games are not. Which means that some Pal games run fine in 60Hz, and some don't.

[Kristofski]

Cheers guys, advice most appreciated. I think I'll do the 50/60Hz mod first and then see how I feel about the multi-region one. I figure the less soldering I do, the less chance I have of messing it up permanently. Also I heard that if you accidentally switch the region switch by mistake when it's on it can mess your Saturn up, whereas it can be switched between 50/60Hz mode without any problem when a game is running. Plus I only have to make one hole in the case.

Thanks again!

[Saurian]

sorry - double post

[Saurian]

Also I heard that if you accidentally switch the region switch by mistake when it's on it can mess your Saturn up, whereas it can be switched between 50/60Hz mode without any problem when a game is running

It isnt true

You can flick either the region or video mode over any time without problem. You just change region then hit reset to apply the setting -

The Saturn mod is easy - the only thing you have to be careful of is that you isolate the region jumpers first and make sure you have indentified each point correctly. Use your multimeter to make sure the jumper commons are isolated from 5v and ground,

Easiest way to assign the switches I feel is this way:

x2 DPDT switches -

(switch 1) *PAL/NTSC select*
____
|1 2|
|3 4|
|5 6|

1 = 5v
2 = 0v
3 = jp12/13 common
4 = vid select
5 = 0v
6 = 5v

(switch 2) *Language select, ENG - JPN*
____
|1 2|
|3 4|
|5 6|

1 = 5v
2 = 0v
3 = jp 6/7 common
4 = jp 10/11 common
5 = 0v
6 = 5v

Mod works as follows:
NTSC + ENG = USA
NTSC + JPN = Japan
PAL + ENG = UK
PAL + JPN = no use

[Kristofski]

Right-o, cheers for the info.

[Pavey]

Is there a 6 in 1?
I know of the 4m Auto.

[Kristofski]

Not sure what the difference between a 6-in-1 and 5-in-1 is, but this is the item I bought.

[Pavey]

Thats what i have. Its called the Action Replay 4m Auto. Not sure about the 6-1 business though.
Nick

[Kristofski]

Oh! One thing I forgot to ask, Saurian.... does that mod you posted work on both the oval and round button verisions?

[Papercut]

does that mod you posted work on both the oval and round button verisions?

It should do, those jumpers are meant to be labelled on all versions of the Saturn.

There are pics of different Saturn PCBs here:

http://www.gamesx.com/importmod/saturncon.htm