Which US Saturn is most reliable ?

[redraider]

Looks like I might need a replacement US Saturn, possibly have a faulty cart slot.

My first question is, which US model Saturn has the most reliable laser?

My next question is, which US model Saturn has the more reliable cart slot (stronger PCB)?

Lastly, am I correct in assuming the US model 2 is the unit to own if you are considering a modchip?

[redraider]

If I were to buy another US Model 1, I would have a working spare laser unit. Since my current Saturn is a US model 1.

Just wanted to throw that out there...

[mick_aka]

Sept 26, 2011 16:29:16 GMT redraider said:

Looks like I might need a replacement US Saturn, possibly have a faulty cart slot.

My first question is, which US model Saturn has the most reliable laser?

'model 2' nowadays but only on the basis that it's newer and less likely to have had heavy use, if you can find a new one the earlier models were a lot more reliable in that department.

Sept 26, 2011 16:29:16 GMT redraider said:

My next question is, which US model Saturn has the more reliable cart slot (stronger PCB)?

They're all made of cream cheese and unicorn jizz regardless of which version you have, just be careful with them.

Sept 26, 2011 16:29:16 GMT redraider said:

Lastly, am I correct in assuming the US model 2 is the unit to own if you are considering a modchip?

Yes, to a degree, some early 'model 2' systems have older internals.

[redraider]

Thanks Mick.

Do you happen to know a manufacturing date to look for, that denotes the begining for rev. 2 - US Model 2 MB's?

Would my US Model 1 laser be swappable with a US Model 2 laser?

[mick_aka]

Unfortunately I don't have any of that info for the US.

And the laser itself will be swappable, but the whole thing on it's assembly with the board is not.

[zyrobs]

Sept 26, 2011 17:51:27 GMT redraider said:

Thanks Mick.

Do you happen to know a manufacturing date to look for, that denotes the begining for rev. 2 - US Model 2 MB's?

Look on the serial at the back of the console:
evilboris.sonic-cult.net/saturn/index.php?type=USA&sortby=hw_gen

First column is manufacturer code,
second column is manufacturing year,
third is the hardware generation (VA #, in hexadecimal).

VA4 and 5 machines are the "older style" hardware that Mick mentioned, because they also appear on some late Model 1 machines (as VA2 and 3). They use a cdrom board with a 64pin controller IC.

VA6 to 9 use a newer board with a 32pin controller IC, supposedly the most mod-friendly boards.

VA10 and above use an even newer board, they still use the 32pin controller but they lack a crystal oscillator. If your modchip doesn't have an oscillator, you'll have to solder an extra wire to one of the cdrom controller pins.

The difficulty of installing any of those depend on your modchip. The ones I bought from Trenton were all plug & play on all my saturns.

Would my US Model 1 laser be swappable with a US Model 2 laser?

As long as you don't luck into the early unknown type boards or the later Sanyo lasers, then yes, though it can take some patience to calibrate them.

[redraider]

Great Info, many thanks !!!