Dreamcast Region Mod Chip

[paulkhanti]

So, I've been thinking about modding my Dreamcast to play all those oh-so-tantalizing Japanese-only games, and of course, for Shenmue 2. I don't have that much soldering experience, but I'm not a shoddy solder-er either. As in, I can do it. The thing I'm worried about is the actual act of taking the Dreamcast itself apart. I've heard that most game systems are quickly put together in a factory, tested once, and then sent out to be sold.

So, if I take it apart, is there a chance of it simply not working? Does anyone have experience taking apart game consoles? I'm a semi-noob at this

[vgmastercleveland]

I dont know much about dreamcast modchips, but burning games is always an option. Its actually quite simple.

[paulkhanti]

I do burn games, but I've just been feeling like putting in a modchip, so I wouldn't have to burn games anymore. I own a lot of imports that've just been collecting dust.

[vgmastercleveland]

I see... I have always been afraid of taking apart newer consoles and consoles with disk drives as well, as I have heard stories of people completely screwing up their systems.

[Ziggy]

Don't wanna use a boot disk? (Did you know that you can use a boot disk to boot your retail imports?)

The Dreamcast mod chip is outdated in my opinion. Even if you don't wanna use a boot disk, I think a region free BIOS is a much better alternative to the chip. And besides, I don't think the DC chip is easy to find any where (too bad the code is available as far as I know, it would be simple as pie to make those chips).

http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/console/sega/dc-dev-bios.htm

It's been a while since I've read that guide, but it explains how to use your Dreamcast to flash the new BIOS chip. It's very important to note though, that if you can get some one to flash the BIOS to the chips for you, then the only thing you have to do is remove the factory BIOS and solder in the new one.

[paulkhanti]

Oh wow, I've never seen that guide. I'll have to look into flashing the bios. But when I take it apart, if I do everything right, there's no chance of something happening that'll just make my Dreamcast stop working?

[jinn]

i have 4-wire region free chips and BIOS chips for sale, just in case you need one.

[Ziggy]

But when I take it apart, if I do everything right, there's no chance of something happening that'll just make my Dreamcast stop working?

Unless you break something, I think you'll be fine. Just don't do it up in a tree during a lightening storm, or the medium of a freeway.

edit: If a console was put together with such lack of care that simply opening it up would render it broken, then you should also be afraid of breathing too hard around it. All you really have to do for this is pop the top off and possibly remove the drive (to gain access to the location on the main board) which is nothing too complicated as far as the Dreamcast is concerned. Now say, if you were gonna take apart the drive and put it back together, then you might wanna worry if it's still gonna operate correctly. But I think you'll be fine, I'd worry more about your soldering than opening the console up.

[paulkhanti]

But when I take it apart, if I do everything right, there's no chance of something happening that'll just make my Dreamcast stop working?

Unless you break something, I think you'll be fine. Just don't do it up in a tree during a lightening storm, or the medium of a freeway.

edit: If a console was put together with such lack of care that simply opening it up would render it broken, then you should also be afraid of breathing too hard around it. All you really have to do for this is pop the top off and possibly remove the drive (to gain access to the location on the main board) which is nothing too complicated as far as the Dreamcast is concerned. Now say, if you were gonna take apart the drive and put it back together, then you might wanna worry if it's still gonna operate correctly. But I think you'll be fine, I'd worry more about your soldering than opening the console up.

Ah, alright, I'm confident of my soldering. Thanks for the feedback bro!