Saturn Mod Problem. Model 2 no boot. Yes, I Googled/searched

[fluffy]

I'm guessing that's 0.4-0.5 ohms, not Kohms. You should be able to measure voltage at the input point, so give that a shot. Otherwise, you might have a dead chip too.....

[rantak]

okay, so i finally screwed with this.

the resistance between pin 14 and a/b is 0.4-0.5 so i think i am okay and my a/b solder should work. i don't have my digital camera so i can't take any pics right now...

is there something else i should check to ensure the mod chip is getting power and thus powering the cd board? right now the disc is not spinning and it's sending me straight to the cd player with the "checking disc format" message. when i unplug the chip and plug the cd board back to the mb it works fine and boots up commercial games.

I finally got my Saturn (had a bit of bad luck at ebay, one broken console and then a problem with courier) and tried to install the modchip yesterday. I have exactly the same symptoms as you have, seems like it doesn't get power. The disc wont spin. I soldered the a-b method and soldered to the second plug from the top at the power supply (it had 5 contacts if it matters). The saturn is a model 2 PAL machine. I also noticed that the modchip got really hot, but it could be normal. Also the console doesn't realize if the lid is open.

Any tips on what I could try next?

[D_H]

With regards to fluffy's post with pics, it looks to be installed the wrong way around, the chips should face away from the cd player.

Thats why the ribbon is pushing the chip out

[aaron]

With regards to fluffy's post with pics, it looks to be installed the wrong way around, the chips should face away from the cd player.

Thats why the ribbon is pushing the chip out

http://www.racketboy.com/retro/2005/01/ ... ation.html

you sure about that?

[D_H]

With regards to fluffy's post with pics, it looks to be installed the wrong way around, the chips should face away from the cd player.

Thats why the ribbon is pushing the chip out

http://www.racketboy.com/retro/2005/01/ ... ation.html

you sure about that?

My bad,

Its the other way around for the 64 pin IC, and this way around for the 32 pin IC.

I have only installed on a 64 pin IC, and not a 32 pin IC, so it looked wrong to me.

Sorry it is in fact the right way around

[fluffy]

I finally got my Saturn (had a bit of bad luck at ebay, one broken console and then a problem with courier) and tried to install the modchip yesterday. I have exactly the same symptoms as you have, seems like it doesn't get power. The disc wont spin. I soldered the a-b method and soldered to the second plug from the top at the power supply (it had 5 contacts if it matters). The saturn is a model 2 PAL machine. I also noticed that the modchip got really hot, but it could be normal. Also the console doesn't realize if the lid is open.

Any tips on what I could try next?

Seems like you installed it right, not that I'm an expert, although you could try soldering to pin 14. Japanese Saturn's need that, as the A/B doesn't work, and this might be the case with a Euro/PAL system too.....

Also, it shouldn't get hot. Something's wrong there... Can you test to make sure the chip's getting 5 volts and not 12 or something? Post pictures if you can.

[D_H]

Seems like you installed it right, not that I'm an expert, although you could try soldering to pin 14. Japanese Saturn's need that, as the A/B doesn't work, and this might be the case with a Euro/PAL system too.....

I have a Euro/Pal Version 2 64 pin IC Saturn, the A-B method worked fine for me. I used a the wire not a solder bridge on mine, thought it would be easier to remove the wire than a solder bridge if the A-B method never worked.

Boots 100% from turning on.

60% from reset and swapped disc, opening and closing the disc lid then works 100%

[rantak]

I finally got my Saturn (had a bit of bad luck at ebay, one broken console and then a problem with courier) and tried to install the modchip yesterday. I have exactly the same symptoms as you have, seems like it doesn't get power. The disc wont spin. I soldered the a-b method and soldered to the second plug from the top at the power supply (it had 5 contacts if it matters). The saturn is a model 2 PAL machine. I also noticed that the modchip got really hot, but it could be normal. Also the console doesn't realize if the lid is open.

Any tips on what I could try next?

Seems like you installed it right, not that I'm an expert, although you could try soldering to pin 14. Japanese Saturn's need that, as the A/B doesn't work, and this might be the case with a Euro/PAL system too.....

Also, it shouldn't get hot. Something's wrong there... Can you test to make sure the chip's getting 5 volts and not 12 or something? Post pictures if you can.

The system is a 32pin btw. I soldered A directly to pin 14 with the same results. The chip got hot again, and I turned the saturn off.
I need to buy a multimeter and test stuff like the voltage and resistance between a-b and pin 14, I'll try to post pictures during the weekend.

EDIT: I bought a multimeter. The A-B method should work since it connects to pin 14. I've tried with both pin 14/a-b and also I tried a different plug for the power (3rd from top). The euro power source outputs like this:
9v
5v
5v
0v
0v

Nothing really works, and the modchip gets really hot (I think that if I would leave it on it would burn itself). I'm starting to think that the chip is defective, since I have compared my install with numerous pictures from the web and nothing is different. Also the console works fine without the chip.

[taipion]

I've been trying to read through the threads but since my technical knowledge is somewhat limited I've been stuck trying to understand what to do exactly. I have a modded saturn that worked fine after modding but a few months later it stopped reading CDs. In fact I was playing a few games one day, every thing was fine, I turned the system off to swap CD's and then this happened. System boots up fine but displays "checking disc format" and the CD does not spin at all, and the laser does not move at all.

I have a model 2 saturn [64 Pin] and i got a mod chip from here. My mod chip is facing the same direction as the previous poster's picture,and it looks like my chip is standing straight at a 90 degree angle (if that matters). i did the A-B solder method for the Signal wire. Again It worked fine for several months.

Also being the fact that installing the chip was my 1st expedition in to soldering, I'm very cautious as to what I should try. I sincerely appreciate and help given.

[fluffy]

Well, I got my replacement chip yesterday, and it works great! Bought a 50pk of CD-R's to celebrate! Thanks Racketboy!


taipion: I can't help a ton, since I've only modded a 32-pin model, but it kinda sounds like the chip isn't getting power or the signal from pin 14. Check this site for troubleshooting and 64-pin installation instructions. Also, remove the chip if you can and see if it'll play any originals.

rantak: I don't know what else to suggest. *BUMP* perhaps?