Recently I decided to
take on a console mod project in my spare time. So I got a new
soldering iron and a Sega Mega Drive ( Japanese MD1 PAL). I like the
Japanese model and I've been thinking about getting one for some
time. Here's all the information and help I found online, with some plans and rough drawings I created to help me Mod the Mega Drive/Genesis.
NOTE: README
I wouldn't do this to your original console. If like me you still have the one you got all those years ago. Don't risk it your first time doing the mod. Pick one up online. There's a reason why you see so many FOR PARTS ONLY for sale. It's not a crazy hard mod but just don't risk butchering it. Once you got it down, it should be easy to mod your original, confidently and with more polished results.
I wouldn't do this to your original console. If like me you still have the one you got all those years ago. Don't risk it your first time doing the mod. Pick one up online. There's a reason why you see so many FOR PARTS ONLY for sale. It's not a crazy hard mod but just don't risk butchering it. Once you got it down, it should be easy to mod your original, confidently and with more polished results.
ok now thats out of the way.
Big thanks to TheDamoMonster for his video tutorials. Had them on repeat, waiting for all the components to arrive.
mmMonkey's helped allot too.
Sega Retro Also had loads of information and help with the different MD revisions.
Jack Burton not of "Big Trouble in little China" but of Boards.ie. Also did some mod work on his MD back in 2008. He's posted some good stuff.
My Mega Drive Mod Project Stuff
Waiting for the components to arrive gave me time to draw up some plans for the mod.
Wire & Switch Layout
Strip Board 10mHz Clock
Motorola 68000 dip
Strip Board / Vero Board
Working with this stuff is easy, if you got the right components, tools and have planed ahead. You'll find loads of info online, allot of it's not very useful. Opinions vary allot creating noise on allot of forums.
Louis Dratwa over at Nuts and Volts has a good article " The lost Art of Strip Board Prototyping " . It cuts through allot of the noise and dishes up the basics.
For more general electronics advice and info I highly recommend EEV Blog, by Dave Jones on youtube. Also check out The Ben Heck Show from Element 14. You'd be surprised what you can learn by osmosis. I have these on playlists, so I can put them on as I do the more mundane tasks, that don't require much concentration at work.
For a hobbyist / moder you'll find nearly every thing you need to know online eventually. As always, be willing to search for a bit.
Blue Reset Button
Looking for a Blue Reset Button for a Japanese Mega Drive? Look no further. Thingiverse has got you covered. Now all you need to do is get one printed.
Mega Drive Schematics
Thanks to http://gamesx.com and http://www.sega-16.com
Before
After
7Mhz Clock
10Mhz Clock
Address Jumpers & Switches
Not A great spot for the mod switches
( Gets in the way of the Mega CD attachment )
SONIC - 60Hz NTSC & 10mhz Clock
RGB Scart Leads
RetroGamingCables.co.uk are simply the best after market cables around. Don't bother with E-bay or Amazon for these. Most of what you find will not fit. You'll find scart,power & controller bundles all over ebay and amazon. Many legitimate secondhand consoles will come with these. Expect a
very cheap controller. Knock off power supply and a scart lead that will not fit.
Get rid of the scart right away.You'll only damage the console as these do not fit ( at all). Don't plan on using the DC power adaptor for very long. Best to get rid of this cheap fake and replace it with a Universal Power Adaptor (UPA) or an original Mega Drive power adaptor if you can find one.
Retro Gaming Cables do a great job. I wouldn't go any where else.Take your time and do some research into the variable voltage UPA.
