Pal Saturn 60hz mod made simple

[ConsoleFun]

Hello everybody.
Sorry for bumping this thread.I have recently got a Model1 PAL Saturn, and i wanted to do the 60hz mod, but all the tutorials out there are for later Model1 Saturns, or for Model2 ones.Mine is an earlier Model1 version, i don't know if it's a launch model...on the motherboard it says:837-11892-01:PAL.

Now after a lot of googling, i came across this thread, and read that 2 users made this mod on an earlier Model1 Saturn, namely TmEE and Panzer Mike.So i would be very grateful if one of you could give me a few pointers on how to do this switch mod on my Saturn, not necessarily step-by-step (although that would be nice:), i'm kind of a noob when it comes to these things), mosty the part about doing the small cut and adding a small wire in one location (which location is it?), and also do i have to solder a wire to the 79th leg of that chip?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

The only way to 50/60Hz mod a 837-11892-01:PAL model of the Saturn is to lift pin 79 on the VDP chip.

Check out my collection thread for a photo of this mod:
http://www.assemblergames.com/forums...ead.php?t=6836

CF

[retro]

PAL = 50hz = black borders and slower gameplay.
NTSC = 60hz = perfect gameplay, fullspeed

i never talked about the number of games. also all the saturn i saw had switchable power supplyes...

Then what did you mean by this?

it takes 5 mins, give you the advantage of having the 60hz videos and allows you to play the USA games (far more and better than the euro ones).

It sounds like you're saying there are far more USA games than European games, and they're better.

Consider yourself lucky. There are three different ones and they're incompatible. Trust me. And if you don't....

A type and B type power units are not compatible

Power Supply changed from providing 3 voltages (3V, 5V and 9V) to providing one (5V). Not compatible with previous versions.

Incidentally....

A = VA0
B = VA1-VA5
C = VA9

I would assume that VA6-VA8 are type B. If there's anything after VA9, I would assume it to be type C, but it isn't impossible that there's a fourth type (perhaps Japanese-only and incompatible with PAL PSUs).

[karsten]

50hz gaming is better than 60hz? no way. i don't like black borders and crushed pictures so any NTSC game is better than a PAL one (sure there are PAL-60 games too...)

concerning voltage i don't understand what you printed, but i guess i was lucky maybe? in any case i suggested taking the PSU from a PAL machine to fit into a NTSC JAP one (like i did), not the way around. i don't think they have changed the voltage saturns internally run. or they did?

[snk2]

The only way to 50/60Hz mod a 837-11892-01:PAL model of the Saturn is to lift pin 79 on the VDP chip.

Check out my collection thread for a photo of this mod:
http://www.assemblergames.com/forums...ead.php?t=6836

CF

Thanks for the info, only one question: where exactly do i solder the wires for +5V and ground on the board?Underneath the board to the JP1 jumpers, or to the SW4 jumpers?

[ConsoleFun]

Thanks for the info, only one question: where exactly do i solder the wires for +5V and ground on the board?Underneath the board to the JP1 jumpers, or to the SW4 jumpers?

I would take 5VDC and GND directly from the PSU.

CF

[retro]

snk2, doesn't the French site I posted help you? All the information is there - even if you can't read the site, just look at the pictures ;-) If you need +5V, however, you can indeed take it direct from the psu or a +5V line on the board (check the datasheet for a chip, for example).

Kartsen, the second quotes are from the service manual. It states that there are, as I said, three types of PSU. None are cross-compatible. It also states that the third revision has changed voltage - there is now no 3V or 9V line. In short, yes you were lucky ;-) hehe. That said, I think VA1 to VA5 at least should be the same, so you have a fair chance.

As for the 50/60Hz issue, it isn't the games! You can run PAL games at 60Hz with the switch, too! The issue is often poor coding. Incidentally, 50/60Hz doesn't determine the full screen issue, that's just the screen refresh rate. The borders are due to PAL having a BETTER resolution (625 lines) than NTSC (525 lines).

[snk2]

I successfully completed the 50/60Hz mod today on my Saturn, took the 5v and gnd from the psu, and lifted the 79 pin on the vdp chip.Thanks everyone for the help, i am now a happy Saturn camper!

[ConsoleFun]

I successfully completed the 50/60Hz mod today on my Saturn, took the 5v and gnd from the psu, and lifted the 79 pin on the vdp chip.Thanks everyone for the help, i am now a happy Saturn camper!

Congratulations mate! Well done!

[ConsoleFun]

snk2, doesn't the French site I posted help you? All the information is there - even if you can't read the site, just look at the pictures ;-)

No mate. The only way to mod a 837-11892-01:PAL is to lift pin 79.

As you know any 50/60Hz mod on any Saturn will result is GND (50Hz) or 5VDC (60Hz) being applied to pin 79 of the VDP-1.

What makes the 837-11892-01:PAL special is that it has not only one, but two, traces going to pin 79. The second trace is the problem. It is hard to see (and cut), as it is behind the pin, and it goes straight to GND under the chip itself.

Just cutting the trace in front of the pin (as mmmonkey suggest in the end of his guide) or using JP1 (as suggested in the french guide) therefore does not work on this particular model.

[Druid II]

Err... what?? 240 games in Europe and 245 games in the US. That's 5 more games!!

It all depends on how you count, but your numbers are surely inaccurate. There are 20+ titles non-usa titles that were released in Europe. See here:
http://www.satakore.com/exclusive-JPN-EUR.php

As for how many games were released, if you count all commercial releases (including rebundles and rereleases), and all german/spanish/french/etc conversions, there are 299 PAL and 258 USA titles. Many of those are regional dupes though, some games like Fifa Road to World Cup had as many as 5 different releases.

[retro]

No mate. The only way to mod a 837-11892-01:PAL is to lift pin 79.

As you know any 50/60Hz mod on any Saturn will result is GND (50Hz) or 5VDC (60Hz) being applied to pin 79 of the VDP-1.

What makes the 837-11892-01:PAL special is that it has not only one, but two, traces going to pin 79. The second trace is the problem. It is hard to see (and cut), as it is behind the pin, and it goes straight to GND under the chip itself.

Just cutting the trace in front of the pin (as mmmonkey suggest in the end of his guide) or using JP1 (as suggested in the french guide) therefore does not work on this particular model.

Mmm, interesting! Cheers for the info. And yeah, certainly lifting the pin is always going to do it and avoid the need to cut the board.... but watch out for the pin snapping ;-)

It all depends on how you count, but your numbers are surely inaccurate. There are 20+ titles non-usa titles that were released in Europe. See here:
http://www.satakore.com/exclusive-JPN-EUR.php

As for how many games were released, if you count all commercial releases (including rebundles and rereleases), and all german/spanish/french/etc conversions, there are 299 PAL and 258 USA titles. Many of those are regional dupes though, some games like Fifa Road to World Cup had as many as 5 different releases.

Nah, my numbers are spot on! Repacks and language conversions don't count for the point of how many GAMES there are! You can't say - well, the US has Andretti Racing making one game, but Europe has Andretti Racing in English, Andretti Racing in French and Andretti Racing in German, making 3 games! Nonono, it is ONE game with three VARIANTS. Likewise for, say, Bomberman in card and plastic cases, or Crypt Killer with different artwork. Same GAME, different packaging / artwork. Oh, and I don't count demos in this, either! Or the Photo CD ;-)

Also, I did mention that some of those releases were only available in one territory or the other, so you can't use that argument either, I'm afraid ;-)

My point was that his claim that the US have FAR more games than Europe was incorrect.

[fishfash]

The links will still be there and probably marked the same, just look around.

e.g. : http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/console/se...urnregion3.htm (yeah that's for region switching, but you get the point).

What about this?

http://guidesat.free.fr/tutoriaux/switch/switch01.html

Great thanks :icon_bigg

I used the tutorial from the French site and was able to mod my Model 1 Saturn to 60 HZ. I have a 171-7131A - 837-12135 version.

I also just soldered the two points together with a small wire as I just required the 60HZ option only, and did not require a switch.

Out of interest, by lifting Pin 79, I presume just by doing this puts the Saturn into 60HZ mode ? I presume by adding the wires to Pin 79 are so that one can switch between 50HZ and 60HZ ?

Thanks.

[fishfash]

Great thanks :icon_bigg

I used the tutorial from the French site and was able to mod my Model 1 Saturn to 60 HZ. I have a 171-7131A - 837-12135 version.

I also just soldered the two points together with a small wire as I just required the 60HZ option only, and did not require a switch.

Out of interest, by lifting Pin 79, I presume just by doing this puts the Saturn into 60HZ mode ? I presume by adding the wires to Pin 79 are so that one can switch between 50HZ and60HZ ?

Thanks.

Just to quote myself :lol:

I have now added a toggle switch into my Saturn.

I have noticed though that the Saturn no longer auto switch's to the RGB scart channel when turning on. I also only get a composite signal when I switch to 60HZ, but I get an RGB signal via 50HZ.

I also have another model 1 saturn which I have modded with the 50/60 hz switch by lifting pin 79. With this saturn it auto switches to the scart channel when turned on and I get an RGB picture on 60 HZ.

I am using the same cables for both Saturns.

Has anyone else come across this issue ?

Thanks.

[Bearking]

Hey i posted this on NFGgames a while ago but no one has helped me so far. I'm hoping someone in here can point me in the right direction.

"Hello

Been trying to make my Japanese Model 1 Saturn display in 50Hz for those few PAL games that wont run in 60Hz properly. I already have the region mod figured out, no problem. And i have 50/60Hz modified several PAL machines with great results.

This Saturn is the very first model 1 Saturn. The one with double LED's. The motherboard says V0.5.

I figured that Jumper 1 would be a good place to start since that's the one used when doing this mod on a MegaDrive. I located JP1 in no time and confirmed that it was indeed connected to pin 79 of the Videochip. Just like this guide says: http://mmmonkey.co.uk/console/sega/saturn5060.htm

The common point between JP1 and JP2 was connected by a thin trace to 5V. I cut that trace, made sure there was no connection and soldered wires to the three points:
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...g?t=1280249790
Blue is common, Green is Ground and Yellow is 5V.

After connecting these wires to a switch the mod should now be working... (common to middle leg... )

Well when the switch is set to 60Hz (5V) the Saturn works perfectly like it always has. When set to 50Hz (Ground) this is what happens:
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...g?t=1280253597

I only get a black screen when using my XRGB-3

My PAL Saturn which has the same mods works perfectly in 50Hz on my TV and XRGB-3.

Can i do something to make this Saturn show in 50Hz too or can it simply not be done?

Here are two pictures showing the Motherboard on both sides:
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...g?t=1280254253
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...g?t=1280254253

Thank you "

I read in this thread that there are Saturns which can only be modded by lifting pin 79 on the videochip and supplying that with GND/5V. Naturally this was my next attempt and i would say that the procedure went very well even though i don't like bending legs on chips :)

Unfortunately now nothing works. When turning the Saturn on i only get a black screen with very little to no noise at all. This does seem to change a bit when switching between 50/60Hz.

I'm guessing there is a good change that the Saturn has fried. Have tried to 50/60Hz mod other JAP Saturns (Model 2) using the same theory and both times they have died. I simply don't understand why when my PAL models works great afterwards.

I'm leaning towards it can't be done, but then again i saw a fully modded Skeleton JAP Saturn on eBay a few years ago, so it must be possible right?

Hope someone can cast some light on this. Thank you :)

[splith]

The garbled video output looks like it's outputting a 50Hz signal in 60Hz mode, i.e. the crystal is wrong.

The same thing happens on an NTSC SNES if you do the 50/60 swap and change the crystal over to a PAL one

[Bearking]

What is a crystal and how do i change it?

[splith]

Well it's an 'xtal' on the motherboard usually, and mainly a silver rounded-corners component. Though sometimes can be plastic, and might be inside the chip and unchangable, getting the schematics for the board would be your best hope, that is if that is the problem with it. (I know nothing about this)

[Bearking]

For some reason i was thinking RC cars crystals... ;) I know of the things you are talking about. The component that best fits the description is this one although it might be too small?

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...g?t=1281738919

[splith]

Yeh that's one, though that's probablhy for the CPU not the GPU

[Bearking]

Hmm so overclocking a Saturn could be possible that way?

EDIT: What pin would the crystal be connected to on the video chip?