Bad modchip, cd drive, or both?

[chillisincarne]

Hey guys, long time lurker.

I've had a RB modchip installed in my Saturn for years and it was wonderful but now? Not so much. All of my old CD-Rs read as audio CD's. I know these burned games don't last forever but I can confidently say that's not the problem.

I am able to play original Saturn games flawlessly and even on a rare occasion I can get a burnt game to work but that happens so infrequently it isn't even worth trying. I tried adjusting the pot to no avail.

So I'm clear: when I adjust this pot I want to turn it anti-clockwise and only a tiny amount (like 1/8 a turn)?

I don't feel like parting this thing out but I'm getting pretty frustrated.

[buckoa51]

I've got a machine behaving in a similar fashion, I also have some newer modchips and so I'll try replacing the chip at some point and let you know how it goes.

[chillisincarne]

I just pressed the mod chip into the motherboard a little further. I didn't actually feel it move but since then the console has been working with burned games for the last hour \m/

Though I swear this might be the fourth time I thought this was fixed! I'm afraid to turn it off! Will update. Please let me know, buckoa51, what your experience turns out to be.

And if someone can answer my question about adjusting the pot, I'd like to know. I did mess with it and while my adjustments were fairly small and I THINK I put it back where I found it, I'd like a better understanding of how it works  Also, should I buy a multimeter just to check I didn't leave it at an INSANE value? I hear from some sources they're useless in this case.

[mick_aka]

I know a lot of people have been running the Racketboy chips for a long time with no issues but I had nothing but problems with them.
On the other hand lots of people seem to have problems with Rob Webb's chips and mine have been faultless.

RE: pot adjustment, if the laser is on the way out its a temporary fix at best, that may last you some time but eventually you'll run into the same issue.

From memory it should be adjusted clockwise in very tiny increments.

[chillisincarne]

May 22, 2016 14:20:49 GMT mick_aka said:

I know a lot of people have been running the Racketboy chips for a long time with no issues but I had nothing but problems with them.
On the other hand lots of people seem to have problems with Rob Webb's chips and mine have been faultless.

RE: pot adjustment, if the laser is on the way out its a temporary fix at best, that may last you some time but eventually you'll run into the same issue.

From memory it should be adjusted clockwise in very tiny increments.

Hey, as it turns out the pot and CD drive were completely fine. I have discovered the modchip was not firmly seated in the motherboard and a light push fixed my system.

So now my problem is that I've played with the pot. How screwed is my system? I'm assuming the best thing I could do right now would be to invest in a multimeter and get it back near factory setting?

[mick_aka]

May 26, 2016 4:57:18 GMT chillisincarne said:

I'm assuming the best thing I could do right now would be to invest in a multimeter and get it back near factory setting?

That would be my first thought, multimeters can be had so cheaply nowadays and its a great tool to have around anyway.

[chillisincarne]

Anyone know the original factory setting on these Saturns? I've got a US model 2

[zyrobs]

May 30, 2016 0:21:43 GMT chillisincarne said:

Anyone know the original factory setting on these Saturns? I've got a US model 2

Each laser is independently calibrated, there is no factory setting that applies to every single Saturn.

[chillisincarne]

May 30, 2016 2:13:35 GMT zyrobs said:

May 30, 2016 0:21:43 GMT chillisincarne said:

Anyone know the original factory setting on these Saturns? I've got a US model 2

Each laser is independently calibrated, there is no factory setting that applies to every single Saturn.

Oh joy. Is there a "safe" range?