MD/Mega CD/32X Region mod or import from America?

[Menegrothx]

I live in Europe and I own a PAL Mega Drive (model II) with Pal Mega CD (model 2) and I'm wondering which is the cheapest way to go when collecting for Mega CD and 32X. It seems that 32X and Mega CD games are some times a lot more expensive in ebay uk than in the US ebay and some games are a lot harder to find in PAL format. I dont really need or want any particular Genesis games, but I think I can save a lot of time and money by purchasing NTSC versions of Mega CD/32X games as they are a lot easier to find and cheaper.

So which is the cheapest route for me: buying Genesis and American MCD+32X and 3 step down converters or buying PAL 32X and modifying the whole MD/MCD/32X-combination to play NTSC games?
I dont know anything about console modding so I dont know how easy it is to do that (if its even doable at all) and I need to pay for some one to mod my console(s) for me.

To me it would be ideal if I could have one of those NTSC/PAL-switches in my Mega Drive and change it to 60hz every time I pop in an American MCD/32X game in the machine, while also being able to play PAL MD/MCD/32X games by switching it back to 50hz. But I'd also be ok with changing the whole mess into a "Genesis" (plays only American games but works on European 230V) as it's most likely cheaper to buy a secondary Mega Drive for playing my Mega Drive games while playing the CD and 32X games on the fake Genesis, as buying a Genesis/MCD/32X combination from Ebay and having it delivered to Europe costs somewhere between 350 and 450 dollars most likely (correct me if I'm wrong), and the step down converters cost 15-20 euros a piece as far as I know.
I have only one PAL Mega CD game at the moment so getting rid of it and buying it in NTSC format aint a big deal, but my Mega Drive collection is a lot bigger so I'd rather not go through the trouble of selling all of my Mega Drive games just so I could repurchase them for the Genesis.



If any one here is intrested in changing a Genny/Mega CD/32X-combo to a Mega Drive with Mega CD, Pitfall and some cash, I'm open to suggestions

[Curlypaul]

The vast majority of MD cart games are not region locked, so most of your collection will still work on the Genesis. Only the later games tended to region lock.

CD games, however, are region locked and will refuse to load on a machine from a different region. Not sure about the 32X though.

I think your best option is to import some US kit and take advantage of the cheaper CD and 32X games, while still being able to play most of the PAL games on the Genesis.

tbh, fitting switches to the model 1 MD is not particularly difficult (the model 2 is pretty damn fiddly though) so maybe if you kept your MD, switched it out, and imported the CD and 32X. Maybe somebody could confirm if a US 32X will work in a UK MD if it has switches?
See no reason why it wouldn't as the region locked games can only identify the consoles region by the combination of language and output frequency that the switches are set to.

I collect CD games, and you are right the prices are crazy on some of the PAL games that are a few quid for the US or JPN versions

[samsonlonghair]

buying Genesis and American MCD+32X and 3 step down converters [...] and the step down converters cost 15-20 euros a piece as far as I know.

You don't need to buy step down convertors if you already have a 230v power plug for your Mega Drive. The power adapter from your Mega Drive will power a Genesis; likewise, the power adapter from your Mega CD will power your Sega CD. The same holds true for your 32X

as buying a Genesis/MCD/32X combination from Ebay and having it delivered to Europe costs somewhere between 350 and 450 dollars most likely (correct me if I'm wrong),

I'm not sure where you get this figure. I know that a Genesis + Sega CD + 32X shoud cost about sixty-five to seventy-five U.S. dollars. That's fifty to fifty-six euros. I have no idea what shipping might cost you.

It seems to me that if you can get a reasonable price for shipping, importing an American Genesis, Sega CD, and 32X is your best option.

[Menegrothx]

You don't need to buy step down convertors if you already have a 230v power plug for your Mega Drive. The power adapter from your Mega Drive will power a Genesis; likewise, the power adapter from your Mega CD will power your Sega CD. The same holds true for your 32X

Isnt the 230V way too much for the 110V Genesis? I was under the impression that plugging a NTSC machine straight into PAL power plug will fry the insides of the machine.

I'm not sure where you get this figure. I know that a Genesis + Sega CD + 32X shoud cost about sixty-five to seventy-five U.S. dollars. That's fifty to fifty-six euros. I have no idea what shipping might cost you.

Well that's a bit high estimate maybe. After a quick eBay search I saw a 32X console with 2 games going for 89.95 dollars, I think it was the only one with shipping available to Europe (56.85 dollar shipping costs according to the calculator). I know that shipping costs dont grow linearly, but if just the 32X (albeit in the original box with 2 games) costs that much to ship, the whole package costs like 150 dollars.

I've seen some really cheap packages with all 3 consoles and loads of games but they're always auction only and no shipping to Europe. Even in the UK and German eBay sites it can be hard to find good packages with shipping to all of Europe

tbh, fitting switches to the model 1 MD is not particularly difficult (the model 2 is pretty damn fiddly though) so maybe if you kept your MD, switched it out, and imported the CD and 32X.

Sounds pretty good to me, model 1 looks a lot better anyways. American 32X/CD works on PAL Mega Drive?

[Hateshinai]

A US 32X works fine on a PAL Megadrive that has been modded with a 50/60Hz switch. That's what I use.
I don't see a reason why a US Sega CD wouldn't work.
Modding a Megadrive is quite easy. The first time I ever used a soldering iron was to mod one. The most difficult part is cutting a hole for the switch.
Megadrive 2 is marginally more difficult but still no big deal.
If you import the consoles you might consider asking the seller NOT to send you the power bricks (as I did) since they weigh a ton and you might save quite a bit on shipping. Just replace them with European ones. That way you will avoid having to buy step-down transformers.
The output of US and Euro power supplies is the same. The console gets the same voltage in either case. Don't worry.

[Hateshinai]

http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... lit=import

[Menegrothx]

http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... lit=import

Thanks!

[theclaw]

32X uses video frequency as lockout. If a 32X without 50/60hz switch, is installed onto a system containing one, then 32X games may only be played in the attached 32X's factory mode.

In addition 32X brings up RGB from the console, having its own encoder chip. So an NTSC 32X not modified would still display NTSC color from composite. No matter the MD.

That also means all MD models lacking RGB output are 32X incompatible until and unless fixed (Wondermega 1, Laseractive, etc).

As for Master System converters... Sega never released the model 2 shaped version with either card slot or Japanese top slot (no JPN SMS games on MD2 officially). However the MD1 converter does just fit CDX/Multi-Mega, despite blocking the CD door, letting it play more SMS games than MD2.

Speaking of CDX/Multi-Mega, 32X functions but the shape is unstable. Bumps may lock up games! Sega didn't release a spacer for that combination.

[ApolloBoy]

Isnt the 230V way too much for the 110V Genesis? I was under the impression that plugging a NTSC machine straight into PAL power plug will fry the insides of the machine.

It doesn't matter since the power supply steps down the outlet voltage (whether it be 120V or 220/240V) and outputs the voltage suitable for the Genesis. If you were talking about a system with an internal power supply that isn't switchable, then yes it would be a problem.

[Menegrothx]

It doesn't matter since the power supply steps down the outlet voltage (whether it be 120V or 220/240V) and outputs the voltage suitable for the Genesis. If you were talking about a system with an internal power supply that isn't switchable, then yes it would be a problem.

Ive decided to go for the Genesis rather than modifying my Mega Drive since I found a place where I can get one for relatively cheap thanks to Hateshinai.

Just to make sure, I checked my Mega Drive AC adaptors and they arent all similiar. Is that a problem with import Genesis/32X/Sega CD?

1st one says Input AC 230V HZ 50 Output DC 9V 1.2A. This one I use with my Atari Jaguar CD
2nd one says Model 1602-05 Input 240V-50HZ Output 10V-1.2A. Its the one I use with my Sega CD and it has a white plug attached to it
3rd one says Model MK 1636-18 Input 230V-50HZ Output 10V-850ma 8.5VA. I use this one with my Mega Drive.
All three are official Sega products with Sega or Mega Drive logos.

Im using a Linux boot CD which uses American keyboard layout so I cant find where colon etc keys are, sorry about that.