andretrek
Lurker
Joined: March 2017
Posts: 2
Location:
|
Post by andretrek on Mar 14, 2017 21:13:13 GMT
Hello, I just bought my very first Sega Saturn, a white Japanese model. I've never had any experiences with the device before this so i thought i'd ask here, because i've noticed that my Saturn gets warm to the touch on the left side (the side with the power supply) after about an hour of play. For reference, the sticker on the Saturn's back says 100v, but I'm using a converter with output rated at 115v. I've used this converter for all my other consoles since the voltage here is 220v and I've never had any issues, but this is my first 100v Japanese device. I imagine this is normal, but I figured I'd ask to be safe.
|
|
|
Post by zyrobs on Mar 15, 2017 2:51:17 GMT
It's normal.
|
|
|
Post by atolm on Mar 15, 2017 6:26:55 GMT
of course the AC to DC power supply is going to be warm. You ever grab a laptop power brick that's been plugged in for a while?
|
|
andretrek
Lurker
Joined: March 2017
Posts: 2
Location:
|
Post by andretrek on Mar 15, 2017 10:26:00 GMT
I figured it was normal, I was just worried because my converter doesn't output 100v, so I thought maybe that could cause problems. On that note however, yesterday the Saturn just suddenly powered off by itself while I was playing Rockman X4. Any idea what could've caused that? I had only been playing for about 15 minutes when it happened and did not notice any other issues, and afterwards I turned the Saturn on again and played for about 30 minutes and nothing happened this time.
|
|
HennessySlick
Saturn Player
Joined: March 2017
Posts: 56
Location:
|
Post by HennessySlick on Mar 15, 2017 11:07:43 GMT
Hi andretrek! I found this video while looking into a power problem I was having. It's a DIY solution that replaces the power board altogether with an external laptop brick. I have yet to try this myself (I have the parts in the post!!) but the video is really detailed and shows you step by step how to do it, explains why each wire goes where, and costs less than £30 to do - might be worth trying!
|
|
|
Post by barryburton on Mar 15, 2017 11:31:50 GMT
Haven't read the video, but why would you replace it with an external PSU? Would make it easier to take to other countries i guess.
|
|
HennessySlick
Saturn Player
Joined: March 2017
Posts: 56
Location:
|
Post by HennessySlick on Mar 15, 2017 14:19:01 GMT
Haven't read the video, but why would you replace it with an external PSU? Would make it easier to take to other countries i guess. That's the idea. It basically allows you to use a laptop power supply brick. In the video, it's explained that you can get laptop power bricks that accept both 110v and 240v, so you could easily take it to another country with no issue, provided you have a travel adapter. Also, it means if your external PSU breaks, you can easily replace it without having to open the console - think of how easy it is to get a laptop charger compared to how easy it is to get hold of a spare working Saturn power supply for your specific Saturn model. Furthermore, it's actually smaller on the inside of the Saturn, reducing heat and providing more room for other modding. I recommend watching the video!
|
|
|
Post by atolm on Mar 15, 2017 16:00:23 GMT
it's actually smaller on the inside of the Saturn, reducing heat and providing more room for other modding. I recommend watching the video! What exactly would one plan on stuffing in there other than the normal mod chip (which are obsolete at this point) ? A fog machine?
|
|
|
Post by Anthaemia. on Mar 15, 2017 23:29:10 GMT
Although the initial Saturn prototypes didn't feature any type of cooling solution, all retail models had small vents on the sides for airflow, while early Japanese variations even shipped with a fan placed in a similar position to where Sega later used the same approach on the Dreamcast. I've long since forgotten the source for this, but I seem to recall someone once isolating a power connector that remained in at least some revisions prior to the 1996 casing redesign, meaning it could still be possible to attach a small fan - has anybody here ever tried this out?
|
|
|
Post by zyrobs on Mar 16, 2017 1:14:19 GMT
Although the initial Saturn prototypes didn't feature any type of cooling solution, all retail models had small vents on the sides for airflow, while early Japanese variations even shipped with a fan placed in a similar position to where Sega later used the same approach on the Dreamcast. I've long since forgotten the source for this, but I seem to recall someone once isolating a power connector that remained in at least some revisions prior to the 1996 casing redesign, meaning it could still be possible to attach a small fan - has anybody here ever tried this out? The Japanese VA0 units all had traces on the board for the fan connector as well as all the necessary components to drive it electronically. Launch units also had the vent holes, and a place in the plastic mould to hold the fan in place. They changed the case design subtly through the years, and the vent holes were removed over time. But, no retail units ever shipped with a fan. As for prototypes, we wouldn't know if any of them had ever used that fan. The launch Saturn motherboard was already on its fourth revision (REV D). We've seen a REV C prototype but that one only differed in capacitors. It is entirely conceivable that earlier revisions may have used the fan at some point; it was clearly designed to be able to support one, but perhaps it was abandoned early on, either due to cost, or due to it ultimately not being needed. What did have an actual cooling fan was the Sophia development box, which predated the retail units by some months.
|
|
|
Post by Anthaemia. on Mar 16, 2017 1:45:15 GMT
I've seen a few posts over the years where owners of the very earliest Saturn models posted shots confirming there was at least still the necessary hole and traces for a fan, but now that you mention it, none of these actually showed such a thing in place - never mind having it fully working! (Surely it would be possible if the connectors remain, though?) As for the Sophia development kits, I suspect cooling was more of a problem with prototype designs prior to the hardware being finalised. Then again, if this was the case, how do you explain those "champagne" variations not having any kind of ventilation? On a related note, I'd love to either acquire an original or recreate that particular colour scheme using a donor retail system, preferably with the disc lid text and alternate Sega logo placement...
|
|
|
Post by zyrobs on Mar 16, 2017 3:32:05 GMT
I've seen a few posts over the years where owners of the very earliest Saturn models posted shots confirming there was at least still the necessary hole and traces for a fan, but now that you mention it, none of these actually showed such a thing in place - never mind having it fully working! (Surely it would be possible if the connectors remain, though?) The VA0 Japanese boards have a connector on the PCB for the fan, but it is not populated, nor is the part for a resistor and cap that leads to the connector. It's an empty trace saying "CN11 (FAN)" in the corner, nothing more. As for the Sophia development kits, I suspect cooling was more of a problem with prototype designs prior to the hardware being finalised. The Sophia got extra cooling not because it was a prototype, but because it was packing significantly more hardware inside. Then again, if this was the case, how do you explain those "champagne" variations not having any kind of ventilation? Show me some proof that they didn't have ventilation, and I'll explain it.
|
|
HennessySlick
Saturn Player
Joined: March 2017
Posts: 56
Location:
|
Post by HennessySlick on Mar 16, 2017 10:30:46 GMT
I was gonna go with air freshener but yeah I'll add in a fog machine.
|
|
|
Post by Anthaemia. on Mar 16, 2017 15:31:14 GMT
Show me some proof that they didn't have ventilation, and I'll explain it. Is this conclusive enough?
|
|
|
Post by zyrobs on Mar 16, 2017 19:01:33 GMT
The fan slot is on the other side of the machine.
But I think I get what you mean, you are talking about the other vent slots that go around the side of the consoles top, right? My best guess is that they added those holes so enough air can escape so the fan is not needed anymore, thereby saving costs.
|
|