racketboy.com

So I just got a modchip from here for a Saturn I purchased recently. I installed it today using the A+B method and while I'm happy I managed to not brick my system with my first attempt with a soldering iron something is amiss as the Saturn will not read any burned games. It plays original games perfectly fine but with burned copies it only plays the audio tracks from the game. I'm pretty sure the images are fine as SSF runs them fine both virtually mounted and from the CD itself. I'm wondering if it's a problem with the media I'm using: memorex CD-Rs at 4x and 8x; these are new and quickly boot up only to play audio tracks. I managed to find an Imation CD (slightly scratched) which caused the system to hang at the Saturn logo for a good while before going to the audio player again. pics below, any help would be appreciated

I always tell myself that for troubleshooting a modchip situation, it would be nice to have a reference cd/dvd. That is, a burned image known to work in another Saturn. If it works in yours, then you know it's a burning issue. If it doesn't work, then it's a modchip/installation issue.

A friend of mine had a sanyo and he was able to get some games to work but not others. He ended up selling his and buying another model 2 non-sanyo unit that works flawlessly.

Did you search this forum for previous posts with sanyo Saturns? Another board to search is segaxtreme.net which is somewhat of a dead board but has lots of good archival information.

Try burning your games at a slower speed.

I think you can turn up the laser to read burned media better.

EDIT: Found it, on here too.

http://www.racketboy.com/retro/2005/02/modify-saturn-to-read-cd-rw-media.html

You shouldn't have to tweak the laser to read CD-Rs. Doing so will cause premature death of the laser.

I think Memorex is actually CMC media. aka the Coaster Making Company. Try and find some good Taiyo Yuden CD-Rs. And yeah, burn them as slow as possible. You may need to find an older CD writer to burn at less than 4x.

Tried some other brands, still getting audio only. Found some other posts on segaxtreme and signs point to me having the worst possible version of this system for modding. Wish I knew about the internal revisions before buying this thing. It's still fully functional as a normal Saturn so hopefully the store I bought it from will accept it back.

Anyone know where to buy a model 2 32 pin IC Saturn online? I'm having trouble finding specifics, don't want to risk buying a new console and finding another bloody sanyo board inside.

If you have the time, you could email the sellers of any round button's you find on eBay. Tell them you're looking for a specific revision of the system, and if they could open it up and take a picture of the inside for you. I'm sure some won't want to be bothered, but others wont mind.

So I managed to find my old Saturn from my childhood. In a stroke of luck/irony I got it to work, and upon opening it up it turns out to be a 32 pin IC. I removed the modchip and put it into my old Saturn (getting the ribbon cable out of the modchip was a nightmare!), and all of the sudden all those games I burned at 8x on the memorex CDs work without a hitch. So screw Sanyo.

lol, well, congrats and enjoy!