Need help modding model 1 saturn with model 2 modchip

[mysterio82]

I need help with modding a model 1 (ovel button) saturn. I've modded my model 2 with 32 pin IC no problem, and used my spare mod chip (had my experienced with soldering and knowledgable on chips father alter it following racketboy's tutorial) for my model 1. Here's the issue- with mod chip installed, saturn gets no boot up sequence, just shows Sega Saturn image, then goes blank, whole time the disc drive acts dead. If I remove the mod chip, and have the ribbon from the drive go into the saturn board as normal, the saturn boots up just fine.

I did notice that my model 1's motherboard is NOT the same as what's pictured. The board that's pictured looks like early model 1 Saturn, with power and reset buttons connected by wires on the top shell. My model 1 mother board is like the 64 pin model 2 (the model I have a hard time modding successfully) just using the model 1 disc drive assembly (manufactured october 95). I can still play my backups because of my modded 32 pin model 2, but I'd rather use the model 1 because to me the model 2 is a cheap looking version of the model 1, especially the floppy eject button where's model 1 has a solid button. Plus having a backup Saturn wouldn't hurt (my most treasured console).

I'll post some pictures of my Saturn and the mod chip alteration. Hopefully somebody can see if I did anything wrong, or if the alteration to the chip following a guide for a EARLY MODEL 1 saturn isn't compatible with a model 1 saturn using a different board. ANY help will be greatly appreciated.








Sorry for the crappy quality pics as this cam is CRAP with macro. I'm leaving in a bit to get a better cam. Hopefully these will suffice for now.

[Ziggy]

Yeah the pics are a little hard to see, specifically the quality of the solder joints. Did you double check your work on the mod chip? Check for any bad joints or bridges.

[mysterio82]

I just bought another camera for better MACRO pics, well this NEW cam is crap. Pics are WORSE (blurry) than my old Polaroid. Moron saleman told me that this NIkon (I've never heard of them) ranks up with the best, the dudes full of crap. I'm going BACK to grab a Kodak since I've seen some nice pics taken with them.

I believe my solder joints are good, I've gotten on them with a microscope to check. My father was soldering them using modified head gear using a microscope to look through for tiny solder joints like in this chip. He's retired from electronoics but he has 20 + years of Mil Spec experience so I took the chip to him.

I'm confused, I wonder if model 2 mod chips altered as in Racketboy's tutorial will work on THIS version of model 1 motherboard? It could even be a bad chip as my 1st chip was a bad one, I'm using my 2nd chip in model 2 now, and this was my 3rd chip (backup). I NEVER tested it in my 32 pin model 2 to see if it was good (I should've done that)

[gtmtnbiker]

especially check the "fingers" where it looks like you added some solders. You don't want any of those "fingers" to be touching each other.

[mysterio82]

it looks like the "FINGERS" touch but they don't. The camera doesn't really show detail but with a magnifying glass or microscope you can see that they are gapped and don't touch.

[gtmtnbiker]

it looks like the "FINGERS" touch but they don't. The camera doesn't really show detail but with a magnifying glass or microscope you can see that they are gapped and don't touch.

Don't assume with a visual inspection. Verify with a multimeter.

[mysterio82]

it looks like the "FINGERS" touch but they don't. The camera doesn't really show detail but with a magnifying glass or microscope you can see that they are gapped and don't touch.

Don't assume with a visual inspection. Verify with a multimeter.

Please explain to me what I should be seeing when using the multimeter as I'm alone on the rest of this project now. My father is very peticular with this stuff, and since he didn't have a schematic for the Saturn's motherboard he was very iffy on doing the chip for me. Since the chip didn't work he said he's done and won't do anymore work on this project until he gets proper information and schematics of the saturn and chip (fat chance on that)

As I said, I'm alone on this and could use ANY bit of info. I'm no wheres skilled as my father in electronics but I was able to mod my model 2 doing the solder of the 14th pin of the 32 pin IC (I know that mod is cake) I'm hoping I can do this mod other wise this model 1 saturn is usless to me as ALL my Saturn games are copies as I sold all the originals a few years ago for financial reasons.

[gtmtnbiker]

Please explain to me what I should be seeing when using the multimeter as I'm alone on the rest of this project now. My father is very peticular with this stuff, and since he didn't have a schematic for the Saturn's motherboard he was very iffy on doing the chip for me. Since the chip didn't work he said he's done and won't do anymore work on this project until he gets proper information and schematics of the saturn and chip (fat chance on that)

As I said, I'm alone on this and could use ANY bit of info. I'm no wheres skilled as my father in electronics but I was able to mod my model 2 doing the solder of the 14th pin of the 32 pin IC (I know that mod is cake) I'm hoping I can do this mod other wise this model 1 saturn is usless to me as ALL my Saturn games are copies as I sold all the originals a few years ago for financial reasons.

What you need to do is to take a multimeter and put it on the Ohm/Resistance setting. Let's say that you have 26 fingers (A through Z) on the board that ends up in the socket. You would put one probe on A and another probe on B. It should be an open circuit or at least have higher non-zero value. If it reads 0 or very low value (0-100 ohms), you're likely to have a connection between the two fingers that should not be there.

[mysterio82]

Ok i used a multimeter like you said and not just tested the fingers, I tested ALL solder points that were altered, making sure no extra solder caused an accidental bridge or anything and everything checks out. i tested ALL traces that were cut to make sure they were all the cut and those check good. I tested the ends of each wire making sure they were good and they check out. So, now what? lol Could it be possible I have a bad chip?

[mysterio82]

these were taken with my new Kodak cam, hopefully they're better than the polaroid. It's so hard to get a good clear close up shot of something as small as the mod chip.