Dreamcast Devbox Bios on retail Console!

[-=FamilyGuy=-]

I am ordering up a small amount (20) of the MXIC chips needed to be able to flash a new bios onto the system. I only need about 4 or 5 of them. If anyone is interested in them as well let me know...This will be a *FUN* project ;)

Me want one!

FG

[APE]

Me want one!

FG

Ditto. Blood will be shed if I cannot get in on this.

[AltRN8]

I would be up for buying a couple of the MXIC if there are any you end up parting with.

[-=FamilyGuy=-]

I am ordering up a small amount (20) of the MXIC chips needed to be able to flash a new bios onto the system. I only need about 4 or 5 of them. If anyone is interested in them as well let me know...This will be a *FUN* project ;)

Just to be sure, this is the chip needed for this mod (MX29LV160 / SOP44 or equivalent): http://www.dc-swat.ru/blog/hardware/16.html

If so I'll definately take one or two.

FG

[LVNeptune]

Just to be sure, this is the chip needed for this mod (MX29LV160 / SOP44 or equivalent): http://www.dc-swat.ru/blog/hardware/16.html

If so I'll definately take one or two.

FG

It is :)

Took me awhile to find a GOOD source of them... I am having them shipped in a day...They should be here in about 7-10 days...I might expedite shipping though. Didn't think so many people would want in on this.

[LoveMHz]

Well you know I'm on board, so go ahead and ship me a couple ;)

[Bearking]

If you have any left and don't mind shipping a single one i'll be more than happy to buy one :)

[LVNeptune]

Just an FYI, received them in today :) about half are taken already...

If anyone needs any send me a PM...Pricing is pretty cheap :)

[Bearking]

If i remove the CAPACITORS on the motherboard for faster SD card readings will the Dreamcast still be able to connect to other unmodded consoles using a link cable?

Also when removing the CAPACITORS will i need to bridge the two soldering points the resistors were mounted on or just leave them open?

Say i want to use the bios chip from LVNeptune only for DreamShell will i still be able to use my modchip with the old bios for region free gaming?

And how does the region flash in DreamShell work? Do i need to connect R512 to 12V like when using the regions flash cd?
http://mmmonkey.co.uk/console/sega/dc-region.htm

[LVNeptune]

"If i remove the resistors on the motherboard for faster SD card readings will the Dreamcast still be able to connect to other unmodded consoles using a link cable?"

Where did you read that?

Also, regarding the modchip...As long as it is wired up to the original bios chip then yes, it should work.

[Bearking]

"If i remove the resistors on the motherboard for faster SD card readings will the Dreamcast still be able to connect to other unmodded consoles using a link cable?"

Where did you read that?

I didn't. It's a question :)

Will link games still work if i remove the resistors in connection with the serial port for faster SD readings?

[-=FamilyGuy=-]

I didn't. It's a question :)

Will link games still work if i remove the resistors in connection with the serial port for faster SD readings?

You're confusing two modification, region changer and dual bios.

This chip is for Dual Bios, the resistor thing is for region changer.

DUAL BIOS MOD: http://translate.googleusercontent.c...rKqIhWFn19t7Sw

FG

[Bearking]

I'm not, but i did mistake resistors for capacitors... sorry :)

Consider it a follow-up to a question of mine on page 2:

I see that the Neo Geo Pocket to Dreamcast link cable connects to the serial port of the DC. Could that be used to make a SD adapter? It's a lot easier to find than the link cables :)

And you (Family Guy) wrote this back:

THis cable could be used yes, but you still might have to desolder capacitors from the motherboard in order for it to works, so you can't expect it to work on any Dreamcat without opening it.
This is one of the main reason this cable might never see the light IMHO, as the buyer would still have to mod it's DC, and the SD-Cable is so easy to make that if someone isn't able to build his own one and needs to buy one, he probably can't remove the Caps neither.

Cheers,

FG

So if i remove those CAPACITORS would the Dreamcast still be able to play link-up games with other unmodified consoles? Also after removing them should i bridge the connections they were soldered to or just leave them open?

[DarthCloud]

Look like many people will do this mod soon. I guess this will help some.

If like me you got the very first DC version (mine was manufactured in August 1999) you will end up will a motherboard that use 5v BIOS ROM & a 32-pin FLASH chip (5v also).

The 29LV160 flash is 3.3v only. But luckily the DC bus seam to work fine with both 3.3v and 5v recognized as logic '1', the MX chip do also recognize 5v as logic '1'. (I didn't check the voltage level on the bus, so it's just speculation, but should be right since it work fine.)

So with a simple modification to the mod you can still do the BIOS mods with the same MX flash chip.

What you need to do is supply the MX chip Vcc and reset pin with 3.3v that you can get from the IC302 pin 1. Also since those DC use another flash chip (32 pin) the /WE line is located on pin 7 (unlike the 40pin flash which use pin 9). Now you're ready to start DreamShell and flash the chip!

EDIT: Btw if LVNeptune ran out of flash chip I have 9 left which I can sell pretty cheap too.





I sucessfully flashed mine with Link83's region free BIOS. The dev intro is so cool. Now I need to pickup a PAL copy of Shenmue 2 :)

Click to watch the video :)

[Bearking]

Awesome :) Just a couple of questions:

Pin 23 on the original Bios (Vcc) should not be lifted right?

And the two lifted pin 12's on both chips should not be connected to each other, right? I guess this is pretty self explanatory since the pin must be lifted on the flash rom as well, but it never hurts to make sure :)

My Dreamcast is newer than yours, but i assume my questions apply for both kinds.

[DarthCloud]

Awesome :) Just a couple of questions:

Pin 23 on the original Bios (Vcc) should not be lifted right?

And the two lifted pin 12's on both chips should not be connected to each other, right? I guess this is pretty self explanatory since the pin must be lifted on the flash rom as well, but it never hurts to make sure :)

My Dreamcast is newer than yours, but i assume my questions apply for both kinds.

No you don't lift the vcc from the original bios only pin 12.

No you don't connect the two OE line, you only put a pull-up resistor to them. and then connect each line to the switch so you can toggle between the two bios chip.

But yes the schematic is a bit misleading with those red dot on vcc pin, It just show where you can take Vcc

[Bearking]

That's what i thought. Thank you for making sure. Now nothing can go wrong :D

[-=FamilyGuy=-]

I can't swear, but I don't think it'd be a problem.
You should not short them, only remove the caps from the motherboard, don't do anything else.

FG

I'm not, but i did mistake resistors for capacitors... sorry :)

Consider it a follow-up to a question of mine on page 2:



And you (Family Guy) wrote this back:



So if i remove those CAPACITORS would the Dreamcast still be able to play link-up games with other unmodified consoles? Also after removing them should i bridge the connections they were soldered to or just leave them open?

[Bearking]

I doubt i will ever need to link the systems, but it would be nice just in case i get a second TV, Virtual On and Twin Stick :)

Thanks for the help :)

[LVNeptune]

All are being snail-mailed out today. Should receive in <2 weeks for the 2 int'l and a few days for the locals :)