By request: The Saturn Mod How-To

[Raedon]

http://www.lan-kwei.com/saturnE/43f78740.gif

Hello friends, I've been getting more emails and PM's on this so hopefully this will keep me having to answer the same question over and over. Being a very dead system (sega gone, older sega system) I don't see a problem with this Modification anymore.

Saturn MOD chip How To

First thing is to determine if you can, in fact, mod your Saturn. There are around 4 board changes and 2 System types for the Saturn, and only one works with the current MOD chips you can get. The MOD chip sellers will tell you they work with all models or all System 2's but they do not.

The Variations are:
System 1 - 20 wire ribbon (original)
System 1 - 21 wire ribbon (rarest Saturn)
System 2 - 21 wire ribbon 32 pin IC Chip (modable saturn)
System 2 - 21 wire ribbon 64 pin IC Chip

First you need to see if you have a system 1 or system 2 Saturn. The system 1 is easily distinguishable with oval Power/Reset buttons and 2 LED's (one power/one disc access) while all System 2's have Round buttons and only one LED (power.) Note the SEGA logo is moved from next to the power button on the System 1 to the middle front over the controller ports on the System 2.

http://www.videogamebible.com/Neo-Gaming/Article%20Library/Articles/System%20Overviews/saturn.jpg http://ebay2.ipixmedia.com/abc/M28/_EBAY_823384b2ac25cf64ddbedcf363b34d47/i-1.JPG
System 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- System 2

Now if you have a System 2 we can continue. System 1's can't be modded.

First step is to open up your Saturn; all you will need is a Philips head screw driver. There are 5 screws on the bottom. take them out and turn the console over and lift off the top.. Voala!

Now you will see from left to right the Power Supply, the cd-rom, and the I/O ribbon to the main board underneath the RF shield (you won't be messing with the main board. This makes the Saturn mod the Simplest mod around.)
Now on the cd-rom board you will see one of the following. a 32 pin IC (pins on 2 sides) or a 64 pin IC (pins on all four sides.) If you have a 64 pin IC you can't mod your Saturn. If you have the 32 pin IC chip as in the picture (middle circle) then we can continue..

http://www.lan-kwei.com/installE/2e58fda0.jpg

This is the easiest mod out there. 2 wires, one is going to the 5V power rail (not the red, yes stupid of them, can be blue, green or black.) the other is a timing wire and is going to the 3rd pin from the right on the 32 pin IC chip (red, yes stupid.)

Get you cheapo soldering iron out and get it warm.

k.. pull the ribbon out of the main board and stick the mod chip in it's place after inserting the ribbon into the mod chip in the slot provided.
http://www.lan-kwei.com/installE/2e25fe90.jpg
The mod chip will be facing the inside of the system. It really can't be done backwards as the ribbon is to short.

Now you will need to solder the power wire to the 5v on the Power supply.

*WARNING *WARNING* *WARNING* *WARNING* *WARNING* *WARNING*

This part is the only part that can kill equipment. the power supply outputs 5v and 10v. hook the power up to the 10v an poof! melted mod chip. The power grid we are soldering to has the 10v and the 5v right next to each other so be careful!

http://www.lan-kwei.com/installE/2eefc2f0.jpg

Solder the power wire to the 2nd grid on the Power supply as is done in this picture. note the top grid above where you will be soldering is ALWAYS the 10v line. DO NOT solder the power to the top slot.

This part is the hard part. heat up the timing wire and put a little flax on it, then drop a little solder on the wire before getting over the board. using a toothpick put a little flax on the 3rd pin from the right of the 32 pin IC chip. Holding the wire to the 3rd pin touch the iron to it. the solder should flow from the wire onto the flaxed pin with little effort.
http://www.lan-kwei.com/installE/2f000650.jpg

Thats it! test it out w/ some backup game and your all done!

Cool program to use

here is some software you might find useful. If you don't want to use a 5 in 1 cart for imports use this program to remove contry codes from a cd image. Great for games like Radiant Silvergun, make it US :)

http://www.litespeedcomputers.com/sx/misc/downloads/satcw32.zip

[zektor]

Thanks for the info. I'm sure many will find it useful!

[Raedon]

@Buyatari - stop pushing your "opinion" and modarator power by editing any of my posts ever agian.. PERIOD! Just because you feel it's not right to modify a classic system don't push that crap on me OR edit my posts! That was so wrong what you did in Buy and Sell.. :hmm:

[zektor]

@Buyatari - stop pushing your "opinion" and modarator power by editing any of my posts ever agian.. PERIOD! Just because you feel it's not right to modify a classic system don't push that crap on me OR edit my posts! That was so wrong what you did in Buy and Sell.. :hmm:

What am I missing here???

[Raedon]

http://www.digitpress.com//forum/viewtopic.php?t=6043

[omnedon]

System 1's can be modded for import use, but not readily for backup use.

http://www.students.uiuc.edu/~bng/satmod/terr/importmod.html

It's a matter of allowing some jumpers to be switchable. Not terribly invasive either, no chipping required. Just some wire, some solder, and a DPDT switch.

[Raedon]

Saturn mod chips don't make imports playable, they only have one purpose; to allow you to play backups. But a $20 5 in 1 cart or a $9 import cart will.

[Buyatari]

@Buyatari - stop pushing your "opinion" and modarator power by editing any of my posts ever agian.. PERIOD! Just because you feel it's not right to modify a classic system don't push that crap on me OR edit my posts! That was so wrong what you did in Buy and Sell..


How long have you been a member of this forum? You can't sell mod chips or back-ups here and you know that. My "opinion" had nothing to do with this.

ALSO

If you check the rules above in the emulation forum you will see this.


What CAN be discussed:


Emulator projects having to do with gaming systems no longer in mass production. These include: Atari 2600, 5200, 7800, XE, Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo, NES, Sega Master System, Atari Jaguar, Sega Saturn, Atari Lynx, various old computers (Vic-20, C64, MSX..etc) and the like. I think most of you get the idea. Machines no longer making a profit in other words. N64, Gameboy, PSX...etc discussion is prohibited. If you are not sure if chatting about some other system's emulation status is or is not complying with the rules, it is perfectly fine to simply ask

PSX is specifically listed as prohibited.

Adam

[slurpeepoop]

How to Mod Your USA Saturn To Play Imports

by slurpeepoop, supreme engineering whiz

STEP 1. Buy Gameshark for Saturn ($40)

STEP 2. Insert Gameshark

STEP 3. Play Import


Alternate Method of Modding Your USA Saturn To Play Imports

STEP 1. Buy Ultra Madness ST-Key Cartridge ($10)

STEP 2. Insert Cartridge

STEP 3. Play Import


I apologize for the massive amounts of technical jargon included in this how-to, but when dealing with such sensitive and specific electronic parts, I had to be as clear as I could by using lingo only someone with a PhD would understand. I would add pics for those still having trouble getting their USA system to play imports, but they would be too complex for the human mind to comprehend. If you can decipher the complicated instructions above, you should have no trouble. I also offer a 18 week mail order class on how to mod your Saturn to play imports, in which I break down the above commands into a simple, easy-to-follow 400 point course. Inquire within.

[Raedon]

Then just lock the thread, don't go putting words into my posts agian.

I had nothing to sell and nothing to gain, I was just trying to help Butta play some imports on a PSX.. no one mentioned piracy or the selling of backups (like anyone here would pay for backups, the thought is rediculous.) Your imagining things. :roll: And not only that you pissed off two old DP members.

[punkoffgirl]

Then just lock the thread, don't go putting words into my posts agian.

I had nothing to sell and nothing to gain, I was just trying to help Butta play some imports on a PSX.. no one mentioned piracy or the selling of backups (like anyone here would pay for backups, the thought is rediculous.) Your imagining things. :roll: And not only that you pissed off two old DP members.

If you're not allowed to sell "backups" or "copies" in the forums, then it follows that mod chips, or modded systems wouldn't be allowed either.
It doesn't matter if piracy is mentioned or not. These are copyright infringment issues that we'd rather not mess with, period, rather than wading through all the gray area. This has been stated before by Joe himself.

[NE146]

heh unless they're complete tools, who the heck "sells" backups or copies. I thought SHARING is what makes that whole scene go 'round :P LOL

[JeffD]

Thanks for the post Radeon, I'll have to give this a try. I'm a retard with a soldering iron, so I'll practice on some junk first.

later,
jd

[Buyatari]

Raedon- Look dude it wasn't anything personal. You can believe what you want but I would have done what I did no matter who posted it. If you want to communicate that information to him do it via private message or email.

I did assume you were offering to sell him a mod chip. It was in Buying and Selling after all. Since his post was that he wanted one and you were replying to his message with inclosed pictures on how to install it. But even if you weren't offereing to sell him one emulation discussion on the PSX is prohibited in these forums.

You can't post that stuff here. Maybee you don't agree with the way I handed it. If so, i'm sorry about that. I did what I thought was best.

Adam