more saturn mod chip blues

Post by **xraydash** » Tue May 06, 2008 5:47 pm

You've heard this one before, as there are at least a dozen threads dedicated to the problem: New mod chip from racketboy, model 2 32 pin, installed according to instructions, and.... it doesn't work! No boot up animation, two green cubes at the CD player screen, and displays "checking disc format." Take the chip out and it plays originals just like before.

I do have a twist to this recurring theme- The disc spins very slowly when the power is turned on before coming to a stop after a few seconds. Doesn't matter if the lid is opened or closed. It spins either way. Won't do it from "reset" though.

Is something maybe not getting enough power? The only thing in the instructions both here and at Classic Gaming Sega Style that wasn't clear to me was hooking up the power wire. Both say something to the effect of plugging it in to the second pin from the top. By "plugging in," does that mean jamming it down in there somehow so it's touching the metal parts? I don't really see how it plugs in other than that. And what about this?- "Please note the power wire MUST solder to the power socket directly!" Meaning the metal parts sticking up through the plastic? I didn't try soldering this connection yet because I wanted to make sure it worked first.

I promise I have read every post about the issue here in the forums and all comments in the mod chip articles. I also googled like crazy. I tried the A+B method as well as neatly soldering the signal wire to the 14th pin. (That's how it is at the moment.) And yes, I carefully filed the edges of the connector so the chip fits nicely all the way down into the slot.

Is there something else I need to try? Should I beg racketboy to exchange this one for a new chip? Any advice at all would be greatly appreciated.

Post by **fluffy** » Sat May 10, 2008 1:54 am

When I was troubleshooting mine, I had that same very slow spinning, but only when I pulled the mod chip out. It was still connected to Pin 14 and +5v, though, so that is what I assumed was the problem.

When I got my replacement, which works great now, I found that after I filed the connector a bit there was a small amount of play in the connector. Basically, I could shift the chip from one side of the socket to the other, and I found that my chip works when shifted "up", but not "down", so to speak.

The power wire needs to connect in to the +5 connector from the power supply, which I believe is the 2nd pin from the top (as you said). Jamming the wire in the hole or soldering it should do the same job, though I opted to solder it for reliability.

Post by **vlame** » Sat May 10, 2008 2:48 am

would you like pics of my final install?

Post by **xraydash** » Sat May 10, 2008 6:43 pm

fluffy wrote:When I was troubleshooting mine, I had that same very slow spinning, but only when I pulled the mod chip out. It was still connected to Pin 14 and +5v, though, so that is what I assumed was the problem.

When I got my replacement, which works great now, I found that after I filed the connector a bit there was a small amount of play in the connector. Basically, I could shift the chip from one side of the socket to the other, and I found that my chip works when shifted "up", but not "down", so to speak.

The power wire needs to connect in to the +5 connector from the power supply, which I believe is the 2nd pin from the top (as you said). Jamming the wire in the hole or soldering it should do the same job, though I opted to solder it for reliability.

Thanks for the tips. racketboy graciously let me return my chip for an exchange so I'll give it another shot in the near future with those in mind. I seriously tried every which way with the one I just sent back.

I'm hoping I was just a victim of the law of averages. I didn't realize he sold 50-60 of those a month (as he told me.) You read the forums/comments and it sounds like most of them fail! Obviously the majority of people don't weigh in with their success stories.

vlame wrote:would you like pics of my final install?

If you wouldn't mind, I would especially love to see a nice clear picture of how you hooked up the power wire to the power supply. Thanks!

Post by **vlame** » Sat May 10, 2008 7:26 pm

Post by **xraydash** » Sat May 10, 2008 8:31 pm

Okay, cool. I'm sure I didn't do anything "wrong." Looking forward to taking another crack at it!

Post by **Adderall** » Mon May 12, 2008 7:43 am

I used to do the "loop" method install, but had much better luck soldering directly to the pin. I don't know if you tried both ways.....

Post by **xraydash** » Mon May 19, 2008 6:42 pm

Success! racketboy sent me a new chip and it fired right up. I just shaved the sides a little bit, looped it through A+B method, added a little extension to the power wire, wrapped that around the pin, and it worked. Now I'll got back and solder the wires in so they won't shake loose. I'm just relieved it was the chip and not me.

Thanks for the exchange, racketboy!

Post by **vlame** » Mon May 19, 2008 6:48 pm

what's your time limit on chips, RB? i think prophet138 needs help.