Anyone interested in Dreamcast BIOS chips?

[APE992]

Preface: If I've violated the rules somehow I apologize in advance.

Trying to setup a group purchase here:

http://www.assemblergames.com/forums/showthread.php?p=485566

But not getting much response. I'm looking to buy a set of 29LV160TMC-90 chips which can be dropped on top of the Dreamcast's BIOS mask rom and flashed using Dreamshell. At this point in time you can use link83's hacked BIOS that has the Katana devkit boot-up animation as well as being region free and capable of booting mil-CD games just fine.

Or you can flash this: Dreamshell (http://www.dc-swat.ru/).

The main benefit being it boots straight to a dashboard of sorts and allows you to play games off the SD card reader. Plans for that are on DC-Swat as well, pretty easy to build honestly.

The quote I got earlier this month pegged chips at $1.50 each IF and only IF I bought 50 chips. 30 chips was around $3.00 each (all USD). The quote didn't including banking fees as well as shipping fees so the price clearly would be a bit more than $1.50 each, not even including the cost it would take to ship it out to you.

Anyone interested?

[APE992]

Bumpity.

So far we've got 23 of the 50 spoken for. I'm also able and willing to do installation jobs for those who can't solder.

[chandler_455]

I would def be interested especially if you could build me the card reader and install for me

[APE992]

I would def be interested especially if you could build me the card reader and install for me

I have the majority of the parts necessary for a card reader actually. Missing the SD card slot itself IIRC but that is an easily sourced part.

Would you want it internal or something like those that plug into the serial port in the back? The latter might cost more as I'd have to source a connector and those typically only come on coder's cables or link cables.

If you had a Dreamcast in hand it would lower initial costs as well but I'm hoping to procure a few tomorrow if you'd rather wait to see what I manage to find.

Addendum: I do have feedback I can furnish if anyone is wary of such a low post count.

[chandler_455]

oh no im not worried the serial port would be cool but if you can make an internal one and make it look good i could furnish you a dreamcast

[Lanzo]

Im am kind of interested but honestly I don't really know how to do any of this stuff. I do have an extra dreamcast though.

[APE992]

Im am kind of interested but honestly I don't really know how to do any of this stuff. I do have an extra dreamcast though.

I've done two of these installs myself so far. I'd be happy to do one for you once I receive the chips. I'll put you down on my list of those to contact once I have them if you'd like.

[MrSmiley381]

I'm going to give this thread a bump and say to sign me up for just about any option available. I really want my Dreamcast to become its ultimate form. I know how to solder and all I need are instructions.

[APE992]

I'm going to give this thread a bump and say to sign me up for just about any option available. I really want my Dreamcast to become its ultimate form. I know how to solder and all I need are instructions.

The instructions are about as easy as they get:

http://www.dc-swat.ru/blog/hardware/16.html

Scroll down a bit for the diagram. Keep in mind that the wire going from WE (pin 44) to the TSOP chip (pin 9 specifically) will differ a bit. IIRC that is the diagram for Dreamcasts that have 256kb flash chips as opposed to older models with 128kb flash chips (storing PSO data amongst other details). If your DC has a VA0 model motherboard the chips I'm getting aren't going to be appropriate.

Though the VA0 boards were mainly in the oldest Dreamcasts that had heatpipes for cooling.

I put in the request yesterday to actually make the purchase but haven't heard anything back yet. :(

[APE992]

Bump to the top.

CHIPS HAVE BEEN ORDERED!

I have no ETA but they charged me $50 for FedEx so I'd anticipate it within a week or so. 11 chips are currently not spoken for, if anyone wants one or would like me to install one for them send me a PM.

[APE992]

https://supportforums.motorola.com/servlet/JiveServlet/showImage/2-142671-2617/Bump_Mario.gif

8 chips have yet to be claimed. My supplier said that the order would ship within a week.

[APE992]

7 left.

[ooXxXoo]

Dude, you are charging way too much for those chips :shameful: ...

[APE992]

Dude, you are charging way too much for those chips :shameful: ...

Unless you're interested in getting a quote from a supplier for 400 chips then no, I'm charging cost+shipping. I also haven't collected a single cent from anyone at this point putting the entire cost of this in my lap until I actually have a box on my door step from China.

I don't appreciate being called a liar and a thief.

Though feel free to buy them from eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/2pcs-MX-29LV160TMC-90-SINGLE-VOLTAGE-3V-ONLY-FLASH-MEMO-/220758025137?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item33663423b1

For $9.50 each.

[theclaw]

The listing says $14.99 for me. ._.

Yeah I too have an extra Dreamcast to test and offload. Not doing any good sitting here.

[APE992]

The listing says $14.99 for me. ._.

Yeah I too have an extra Dreamcast to test and offload. Not doing any good sitting here.

There is the cost of shipping you didn't factor in. $14.99+4=$18.99=9.495=$9.50

My chips? $1.50 from the supplier $2.70 in pure cost thus far which is $6.80 cheaper. I'm not trying to make any money off of these, just get a small stash for myself and sell the rest to any interested parties. Though ooXxXoo is here to just cause trouble as he has trouble with those who didn't fail English classes.

[theclaw]

Where are you getting those numbers? I don't see any mention of a bulk purchase discount, just combined shipping. It'd be $18.99 after shipping for one that I can tell.

[APE992]

Where are you getting those numbers? I don't see any mention of a bulk purchase discount, just combined shipping. It'd be $18.99 after shipping for one that I can tell.

Math.

You use "buy it now" on that auction for 2 chips. $18.99 is the total cost after shipping. Divide by two and you find the price per chip you have to pay if you went with their auction (which amounts to $9.50 rounded up to the nearest cent). I never said they had a bulk purchase discount.

The price per chip I'm currently offering was sold to me at $1.50 per chip with a fee for using PayPal (presumably to cover the cost of their fee) and shipping which made each chip cost me $2.70.

What they cost when I send them out varies based upon how many are wanted (I've had requests from as few as 1 chip to as many as 10) and how far I have to send them (most interested parties are within the United States but I've had multiple requests from Germany and the U.K.).

I'm just passing on the savings as I get it since I have no desire to make any money off of these chips. Anyone who wants to pass on what amounts to the final cost is free to do so since I don't exactly force people to sign contracts in blood.

[theclaw]

Oh... 2 chips, that I didn't get. My bad! Well I shouldn't be bugging you here then. Dreamcast doesn't have enough import games I'd want to get a second modded one.

[APE992]

Update:

My supplier said they'd ship today which was about 10 hours ago which would have been early afternoon for them in China. Probably means later today (Wednesday in the U.S., Thursday in China).

[APE992]

Update to the update:

They've shipped.

[APE992]

Those who have sent me payments have had their chips mailed out Monday and Tuesday. Enjoy!