Hello everyone, I’m a Chinese player. I met Saturn by accident. When I was young I played pirated MD games. I saw Saturn for sale before, but I thought it was overpriced and I didn’t buy it. I thought maybe I get a SS. Its game library can complement my PS2 and PS3, and it has many fun games.

I talk about my console purchase and current condition. I don’t know repair or mod techniques. I bought this Japanese Saturn one month ago. It has a power supply modification, no transformer needed in China. The second controller port is damaged, fixed with UA glue and still stable. The optical drive works, and it has a modchip. I paid $29 for bare console.

Now the problem: I used GBSC and RGBS cable to play. It worked well last week. Yesterday there is sound but no picture. Power light on, flash cart light on, optical drive works normally.

At first I thought the power board broke. I asked a local repair shop owner online. He said this model’s power board is durable. Probably mainboard problem. Even if soldered well, other parts may fail again. Need testing. After he knew my goal: I want to fix the machine and share this story. He said it is too troublesome. He has many spare parts, but it is not necessary. Buy a better machine for flash cart use. I asked if he has spare console. He has one decent Saturn. I do not need modchip. My PS2 is only used to test game discs from different regions. I want to buy some games I like or games with interesting design for memory and collection.

I will post photos of my mainboard. Hope you can share your opinion for discussion.

My questions:

1. My priority: sentimental value > gameplay > collectibility. Which choice should I take? ​ 2. What maintenance do I need for this retro console? ​ 3. If my old machine is not worth repairing, how to pass it on with memorial meaning? I hope someone who really needs it takes it, not become trash e-waste.

Also I have another idea: find a donor console with same mainboard model, but broken shell and bad optical drive. Try to build one working Saturn by mixing good parts by myself. What do you think?

    • NaibofTabr@infosec.pubEnglish
      5·
      6 days ago

      I don’t actually know, I never had a Saturn myself. The early generation consoles didn’t need batteries because they were basically just static systems flashed to ROM chips (nothing dynamic to worry about, it executes the exact same process every time it powers on), but the cartridges had batteries to keep saved game files alive. If you have old cartridges that you’re trying to keep alive, check/replace their batteries:

      https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Super+Nintendo+Game+Cartridge+Battery+Replacement/162002

      Note that if the game doesn’t keep save files but instead uses level codes or something like that, it probably doesn’t have a battery in it (no need for dynamic memory).

      The more a device is like a computer, the more likely it is to need essentially a CMOS battery, especially if it has an onboard clock that keeps date/time information when the device is powered off (something has to keep the clock ticking while there’s no power). In PCs, if the CMOS battery is dead you will get POST when you turn it on, but no video output, just a black screen. The computer will typically appear to be working otherwise (fans, LEDs, etc). People will replaced monitors, graphics cards, even entire computers to fix a problem caused by a $2 coin cell, because they don’t know and nobody ever teaches this. I try to spread the knowledge whenever it seems relevant. You might be able to resurrect old devices with a simple battery swap.