ConsoleGoods ModChip Problem
Mar 10, 2011 12:03:17 GMT
Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2011 12:03:17 GMT
Hi, I know there are tons of threads on the web about modchip problems but
most of them are about racketboy's one and I have not found a single thread
describing the same problem I am having.
I ordered the ConsoleGoods chip from Rob Webb and it came within a couple
of days. I installed it the same day following the instructions on Rob's
website doing the following:
1) Determined my CD board is a 0019 one as it looks exactly like the
picture in the instructions, and so soldering the 0019 pads together on the
chip
2) Soldered a piece of wire to the power pad on the chip and plugged the
other end into the CD power connector exactly as shown in the instructions
3) Taped the chip to a piece of cardboard wrapped in insulating tape to
prevent the base from shorting on anything
4) Connected the original ribbon cable from the motherboard to the chip
and used the cable supplied with the chip to connect the chip to the CD
drive
5) Taped the chip down onto the motherboard top shield
And the good news is it worked perfectly straight away! However, two days
later I went to put a game in and the Saturn just dropped to the CD player
thinking the game was an audio CD. It would do this for both originals and
backups.
It has been about a week now and I have replaced the power wire on the chip
plus resoldered and restripped the wire twice. I have desoldered and
resoldered the jumpers on the bottom of the chip and I have even cleaned
the CD lens.
I have now determined that the mod chip has not stopped working completely
but in fact works intermittently. On turning on the Saturn there is
probably a 50% chance the game will boot, otherwise it will think the game
is an audio CD and drops to the CD player. The music tracks on games play
fine from this screen. I have found that, when it does this, if I open and
close the CD door a few times (forcing the Saturn to check the disc again)
it will eventually recognise the disc as a game and will boot it with no
problems.
It is definitely the chip that is the problem as if I remove it the Saturn
works perfectly. I emailed Rob about it and he replied with a few
suggestions (most of which I had already tried) and he said the most common
cause of problems was with the ribbon cables not being connected properly.
Now I know they are plugged in the right way round as the chip does work,
just not 100% of the time!! One thing that does occur though is that the
ribbon cable supplied with the chip is much flimsier than the one already
in the Saturn and I wonder if it is making intermittent contact with the
pins? I tried to wedge some card or paper behind it but the connection is
still pretty snug and I could not get anything else in at the same time as
the cable.
Last night as a last resort I tried connecting the power lead to the 5V
rail instead of the CD drive but my Saturn did all sorts of strange things
when I turned it on so I put it back the way it was quick!!
So, after all that ranting I have run out of ideas and I am asking for
help. Nothing I have done has made any difference, I have email Rob again
but no reply yet and I am wondering if the chip itself is actually faulty.
Has anyone else experienced a similar problem to this? Or does anyone have
any other suggestions?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Ps. I will post some pictures of the mod later as well.
