Genesis Mega Drive Project [Archive] - Retrogaming Roundtable

77punk

01-11-2008, 09:21 AM

Hello all. I really want to trick out my Sega Genesis Model 1. This guy has some cool stuff going on and I wish i could find any of the documents he used to figure this stuff out.
http://www.hot.ee/tmeeco/MYSMD2.JPG

At this time Im information gathering still but I will update this post with updates

UPDATE:
Current mods in Sega Genesis Model 1
Green LED from SMS installed
Red stock LED mounted above Start button on controller
Overclock Mod (original clock speed and 13.4mhz)(no halt button)
Region switch (US - JP)
JP game alteration of cart slot
RCA jacks for Video and Mono Audio

LONG LIVE SEGA HARDWARE!

Jimmy Yakapucci

01-11-2008, 04:59 PM

I think that the only one of those mods that I could do would be the "Real Blood" mod. :beaten:

JY

evildragon

01-11-2008, 05:00 PM

I know whom did those mods. I could get him here, or relay messages for him, if you'd like.

77punk

01-12-2008, 09:55 AM

evil, you DA man.. I also picked up the ben heck book so i can learn more about systems through that hopefully.

77punk

01-12-2008, 07:30 PM

evildragon

01-12-2008, 07:52 PM

system now has the overclock switch, av jacks, stock SMS green LED, Im trying to figure out the language mod but ive cut the traces and tried wiring jp1 + jp2 differently but its still playing in english everytime.
The game will only change language if the cartridge has the other language.

A good test is Sonic 2. If you go to the options screen, in english it says "Sonic and Tails", but in JAP mode it says "Sonic and Miles"..

InsaneDavid

01-13-2008, 02:40 AM

The game will only change language if the cartridge has the other language.

A good test is Sonic 2. If you go to the options screen, in english it says "Sonic and Tails", but in JAP mode it says "Sonic and Miles"..

Streets of Rage is another one, it will load as Bare Knuckle in JPN mode. Of course region locked games such as Streets of Rage 2 will give you an error message in JPN mode or EUR mode (USA+50Hz). Region locked cartridges are the way to go for testing.

Please don't refer to it as a language mod, it's a region mod and a region mod won't translate your games.

Genesis / Mega Drive region settings...
USA + 60Hz = USA
JPN + 60Hz = JPN
USA + 50Hz = EUR

Research is the better part of discretion when you're starting to mod systems. Far better than slapping in jumpers and slicing up PCB's in a rush. Personally the guy's system in the picture linked to in the original post looks like a smuldering pile of crap to me. The trick to mods is to have them be clean and look like they were there to begin with. Who the hell wants to take the case apart and move jumpers on pins to change regions? I don't have any Genesis systems for sale right now but I do have a Saturn up that can act as an example (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=106124). To each their own however.

77punk

01-13-2008, 09:36 AM

David, im all about researching and whatnot (google right now is my best tool) and I love to make thing clean looking. I am just intrigued on how much he did with his and its inspired me. I know its a region mod and the language mod is in another location. I see that now one of my systems i loading sonic 2 to say sonic and miles, but the streets of rage 2 is still working as usual. fun stuff.

Looking forward to completing the S-Vid mod and any other things i can find to do.

InsaneDavid

01-13-2008, 04:02 PM

All sounds good. I really, really, REALLY don't like harshing on other people's mods but that picture was driving me crazy. LOL As an R&D mod board to try stuff with and tinker with then find smoother ways to do stuff it's fine but it seemed like they were calling that a completed system.

77punk

01-14-2008, 06:22 PM

I finally figured out what it was. I was tring the combination backwards so it just didnt let me select. Im happy with my system now but am still looking for cool things to do with it. When I get a better camera I will make sure to snap pictures of it. I am actually going to make a wireharness for it when I know im content with all the mods on it.

I think that would be just the coolest mod is the tubes that say Sega that the one guy had modded. Its complete overkill but great stuff IMO. Thanks all for your advice and such, like always.

:)

evildragon

01-14-2008, 06:36 PM

These are the mods on my Genesis.

http://macteens.com/gallery/albums/userpics/12094/genmod.jpg

Non TMSS model too..

RCA jacks are going to be replaced with gold plated ones soon, as soon as Radio Shack restocks.

77punk

01-14-2008, 08:38 PM

what mods are the switches for?

These are the mods on my Genesis.

http://macteens.com/gallery/albums/userpics/12094/genmod.jpg

Non TMSS model too..

RCA jacks are going to be replaced with gold plated ones soon, as soon as Radio Shack restocks.

InsaneDavid

01-14-2008, 08:46 PM

what mods are the switches for?

My guess would be one for USA/JPN and the other for 60Hz/50Hz (to boot EUR region games in 50Hz then switch back to 60Hz to display on a standard USA NTSC Television). Nice clean mod there, evildragon. Gets in the way of the Power Base Converter but very nice work! You know you can tap true stereo sound at the headphone jack? I'm redoing my Mod Services page at my site with new pictures today, when it gets back up I'll post the link.

77punk

01-14-2008, 08:49 PM

very cool about the splitting the audio. How does that compare to the crystal clear audio mod? Ive been looking at that one and finally found good instructions.

evildragon

01-14-2008, 08:52 PM

Yes, my audio jacks were tapped from the headphone jack. More like directly from the output on the OP amp chip, for a tad cleaner interior mod.

Yes, switches are for region mods.

If I ever used the PBC, I would dremel out the area where my mods are, but even that would be cleanly done.

My Genesis is modified for Component video, and since I use an HDTV with a scaler, 50Hz games that won't switch to 60Hz after boot, run just fine at 50Hz..

I put all switches and jacks on the very back for it to cosmetically be out of site. Being on the side wouldn't look clean to me.

evildragon

01-14-2008, 08:53 PM

very cool about the splitting the audio. How does that compare to the crystal clear audio mod? Ive been looking at that one and finally found good instructions.
The CCAM is for Model 2 Genesis'.. It's only to clear up the crappy op amp used.

Genesis 1 has good enough audio it doesn't really need it..

77punk

01-14-2008, 09:19 PM

nice, its done.. thanks fellas. must do more and more... did you guys see this wacky stuff?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oonyMnUc1cg
it looks like he even changed up the power supply, even though its a model 2..

InsaneDavid

01-14-2008, 11:33 PM

If I ever used the PBC, I would dremel out the area where my mods are, but even that would be cleanly done.

That's what I ended up doing with mine so it would fit on my JVC X'Eye. I tired to keep that clean but you have to cut away around 60% of the plastic on the PCB for proper clearance. Again, beautiful work.

evildragon

01-14-2008, 11:37 PM

That's what I ended up doing with mine so it would fit on my JVC X'Eye. I tired to keep that clean but you have to cut away around 60% of the plastic on the PCB for proper clearance. Again, beautiful work.
Thanks for the comment, very appreciated. This would actually be the first compliment after about 20 other people saw and commented on another forum.

InsaneDavid

01-15-2008, 01:16 AM

I've updated my mod services page (http://www.classicplastic.net/dvgi/modservices.html). While it's not all the mods I've done, it features the mods I consistently do under contract. And of course the main site (http://www.classicplastic.net/dvgi/).

evildragon

01-15-2008, 02:14 AM

nice mod page..

incase you thought my RCA jacks were for audio and video, they weren't..

both RCA jacks are audio, left and right.. grabbed from the OP amp itself. I plan on making a second op amp so the volume slider doesn't affect rear audio...

what the pic doesn't show is my component video mod...

InsaneDavid

01-15-2008, 04:17 AM

both RCA jacks are audio, left and right.. grabbed from the OP amp itself. I plan on making a second op amp so the volume slider doesn't affect rear audio.

Every time I've offered to do that or get to work on it I always am told that the person paying for the mod wants to be able to control the audio volume with the volume slider. LOL

77punk

01-15-2008, 11:06 AM

im tring to trace back the audio to before the switch but im getting confused when the switch is involved. Does anyone know where the audio starts or is before the switch?

evildragon

01-15-2008, 11:42 AM

im tring to trace back the audio to before the switch but im getting confused when the switch is involved. Does anyone know where the audio starts or is before the switch?
I'm confused, what are you doing with audio and switches?

The switches in my picture have nothing to do with audio.

77punk

01-15-2008, 11:50 AM

i know. im saying the stock headphone slider switch, im trying to grab the audio before that point, so the slider switch doesnt control the volume. Any clues? Isnt that what you were talking about before?

evildragon

01-15-2008, 12:08 PM

Yes, the input on the OP amp, but I have to design another OP amp, as the input line is far too quiet, and still requires amplification.

77punk

01-15-2008, 12:47 PM

Ah, understandable. Where is the OP amp located? Any schematics on it at all?

Has anyone tried the internal power supply that the one guy had in his Genny 2 video? Its pretty interesting..

Yes, the input on the OP amp, but I have to design another OP amp, as the input line is far too quiet, and still requires amplification.

evildragon

01-15-2008, 02:01 PM

The op amp is the chip that says SONY on it and is at the front near the volume slider..

You can find the datasheet for this chip easily on Google in PDF format.

I'm not going to bother with the internal power supply mod, i have something else on mind ;)

The Gennys expansion connector for the Sega CD has two pins for voltage input.. These two pins are tied directly to the input line of the Gennys voltage regular, so it's essentially like putting power on the DC input jack.

So, I'm gonna split the Sega CD's DC jack to also go to these pins (well, one of them anyway, both go to the same place), and just use a DC power brick on the Sega CD that has twice the amps..

77punk

01-17-2008, 02:18 PM

very nice. I hope all goes well with that seeing that sega cd players are somewhat expensive compared to the genesis unit itself.

Thanks for the sound chip info.

I got a hot glue gun today to make sure all the wires stay very firm in place. I want to add a hinge to the back of my genny so i can just flip it open. :)

I have a spare (caseless) master system and i wish there was some way i could smash both of them together..here is to dreaming.. he he thats what the base converter was for anyways.

77punk

01-18-2008, 09:18 AM

Here is finally a picture of my system. It has an "O" on the side of the switch that tell me it would be set to overclocking, the other switch is for US JP and the audio jacks are for mono (havent gotten around to the splicing from the headphone jack yet) and video.
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k4/horror77/IM002305.jpg

Dont mind the kitten in the picture. she loves sega as well.

ooXxXoo

01-18-2008, 10:37 AM

Nice Mods everybody!..These are some of my Sega Family upgrades(s-video,RCA Jacks and languages switches for all of them)
http://usera.imagecave.com/capcom2000/HPIM4094.JPG

77punk

01-18-2008, 10:58 AM

very nice. sega!

is the xeye thats hiding have the same hookups?

ooXxXoo

01-18-2008, 11:17 AM

Yes,Indeed.
http://usera.imagecave.com/capcom2000/HPIM4347.JPG

77punk

01-18-2008, 12:03 PM

oOoOoOoO you have my dream set up. SEGA!

Ill be there soon enough. I want to try to make a programable genny cart one day. Anyone do this on here?

InsaneDavid

01-18-2008, 03:14 PM

77punk, just in case you haven't done it yet, you realize the cartridge slot has to be widened to accommodate Japanese Mega Drive cartridges correct? I'm guessing that you probably know this from research but if not then the opening in the top shell has to be made bigger since the JPN Mega Drive cartridge footprint is bigger.

77punk

01-18-2008, 04:04 PM

Yeah i have done that as well. I have just a couple of JP games but they rock. Even though my US version of Sonic 2 says sonic and miles under options, it still says Streets of Rage from my US cart. Is that right? Would i need the Bare Knuckle JP cart to get it to say that.

I like the other name better. BARE KNUCKLE!

77punk, just in case you haven't done it yet, you realize the cartridge slot has to be widened to accommodate Japanese Mega Drive cartridges correct? I'm guessing that you probably know this from research but if not then the opening in the top shell has to be made bigger since the JPN Mega Drive cartridge footprint is bigger.

InsaneDavid

01-18-2008, 04:29 PM

Yeah i have done that as well. I have just a couple of JP games but they rock. Even though my US version of Sonic 2 says sonic and miles under options, it still says Streets of Rage from my US cart. Is that right? Would i need the Bare Knuckle JP cart to get it to say that.

I like the other name better. BARE KNUCKLE!

A USA Streets of Rage 2 will not load in JPN region, you'll get an error.
A USA Streets of Rage should load as Bare Knuckle in JPN region with Japanese text. It's entirely possible that there were different revisions of cartridges. Here's how my SOR displays in USA and JPN modes...

http://www.classicplastic.net/digitalpress/DP-SORcompare01.jpg

77punk

01-18-2008, 04:59 PM

InsaneDavid

01-18-2008, 06:54 PM

Crazy, I must not have the trace cut far enough or something cause my Streets of Rage 2 works without a hitch and my Street of Rage works and is in english but the first time it shows the name its all messed up, like half way between saying Bare Knuckle and Streets of Rage.

When i reset the system it loads the name perfectly after.

Hmmm, I'd check your cutting around the bottom of the VIA that runs to pin 107 of the 315-XXXX chip. (I assume that's what you did to isolate it, cut around where it meets up with the +5v plane on the underside of the board) You may also want to check your connections to make sure you don't have a poor solder point that runs to your region switch. You might also want to make sure that your +5v and GND connections are solid. An easy way to find good connection points is to trace them back from the Sega CD interface. A26 / B26 meet up with +5v (USA). A01, B01, A12, B12, A30 and B30 of the expansion port are GND but GNDs are easy to find (JPN). There should be a nice big solder point for each, usually on a capacitor leg.

EDIT: the above instructions are for a Model 2 Genesis. LOL Anyway, yeah, check where you cut the JP2 trace and make sure your solder points are't flowing into one another.

Here are a couple pictures of some Model 1 Genesis mods I've done, you know how small everything inside is...

GEN-1R-0005...
http://www.classicplastic.net/digitalpress/DP-GEN-1R-0005(01).jpg

GEN-1R-0006... (audio and video jacks had not yet been put in at the time of top picture, in fact only the video lead is in place at the time)
http://www.classicplastic.net/digitalpress/DP-GEN-1R-0006(01).jpg

77punk

01-19-2008, 01:12 PM

evildragon

01-19-2008, 02:48 PM

I did my mod differently..

On my system, with traces cut, the system default to ENG, 60Hz..

So, I only ever needed two 4 wires, never 6..

InsaneDavid

01-19-2008, 06:30 PM

I did my mod differently..

On my system, with traces cut, the system default to ENG, 60Hz..

So, I only ever needed two 4 wires, never 6..

I don't like leaving things up to chance, I want to make sure that my GND's are grounded and my +5v connections are true. Floating switches came back to bite me on the ass with Saturn mods in the past.

InsaneDavid

01-19-2008, 06:39 PM

thanks for the awesome pictures. I wish i had a nice camera. looks like my JP1 and JP2 trace is merging together for some reason, thats probably the reason. Thanks again for the advice. Im still looking for cool things to do so post if you know any other cool gen mods.

The jumpers should have a common point (left side when looking at from the front) that runs to the processor. Make sure your switch leads are both taken from the right side of the jumpers, that's where the difference is (JP1 is GND, JP2 is +5v).

My camera is actually an ancient Sony Mavica FD-73. LOL I've seen no reason to replace it though, takes great close up detail pictures - those I posted have been scaled down considerably.

evildragon

01-19-2008, 06:40 PM

I don't like leaving things up to chance, I want to make sure that my GND's are grounded and my +5v connections are true. Floating switches came back to bite me on the ass with Saturn mods in the past.

I've never had a problem on thankfully. Just like the NES10 disable hack. I just clipped pin, no problem since, never grounded it.

However, my early rev Gen 1, non TMSS, when just cut, it defaults to JAP mode.