Title: Modding my consoles
Post by: DEL 707 on March 07, 2015, 16:16:18 PM
Post by: DEL 707 on March 07, 2015, 16:16:18 PM
I'm hoping to mod my Snes and Mega drive, add 60Hz and region switches.
I'm hoping to follow the guides on http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/ (http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/)
Silly question, if I perform these mods on my UK SNES, and also widen the slow, will it allow me to play American carts?
My main question is what kind of tools will I require.
I have an old 40W soldering iron, but the tips a bit of a brick, so I was talking to another guy at work who repairs tablets and phones and he recommend this kind of iron to me.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/60W-Soldering ... 485b5ae329 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/60W-Soldering-Iron-Station-6-Tips-Lead-Free-Kit-ESD-Safe-Digital-Display-/310770328361?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item485b5ae329)
What's the best way to make holes in the casing, some sort of mini-rotary tool?
Also where about can I get the actually components I need? Such as the switches and the screws to hold them in place?
I appreciate any help.
I'm hoping to follow the guides on http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/ (http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/)
Silly question, if I perform these mods on my UK SNES, and also widen the slow, will it allow me to play American carts?
My main question is what kind of tools will I require.
I have an old 40W soldering iron, but the tips a bit of a brick, so I was talking to another guy at work who repairs tablets and phones and he recommend this kind of iron to me.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/60W-Soldering ... 485b5ae329 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/60W-Soldering-Iron-Station-6-Tips-Lead-Free-Kit-ESD-Safe-Digital-Display-/310770328361?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item485b5ae329)
What's the best way to make holes in the casing, some sort of mini-rotary tool?
Also where about can I get the actually components I need? Such as the switches and the screws to hold them in place?
I appreciate any help.
Title: Re: Modding my consoles
Post by: zapiy on March 08, 2015, 17:43:13 PM
Post by: zapiy on March 08, 2015, 17:43:13 PM
To do what you want i would have thought a £15 soldering wand would be more than enough..
Here is a decent guide.
http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/snes-5060hz-s ... ut-switch/ (http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/snes-5060hz-switch-with-lockout-switch/)
Here is a decent guide.
http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/snes-5060hz-s ... ut-switch/ (http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/snes-5060hz-switch-with-lockout-switch/)
Title: Re: Modding my consoles
Post by: DEL 707 on March 11, 2015, 23:25:31 PM
Post by: DEL 707 on March 11, 2015, 23:25:31 PM
I got my SNES apart tonight, thought I had the right security bit, but was proven wrong. So after 10 minutes with a mini-rotary tool and an old flathead screwdriver, I finally managed to get in.
Poor girls seen better days, only 3 of the screw placements were undamaged.
But I'm looking at Mmonkeys guide.
http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/snes-5060hz-s ... ut-switch/ (http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/snes-5060hz-switch-with-lockout-switch/)
And I'm a little confused at this bit.
I've taken a picture of my mainboard, now I can see 2 PPU chips, does that mean I'm o.k to proceed?
(http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff265/DarrenEa/SNES%20Motherboard.jpg)
Poor girls seen better days, only 3 of the screw placements were undamaged.
But I'm looking at Mmonkeys guide.
http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/snes-5060hz-s ... ut-switch/ (http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/snes-5060hz-switch-with-lockout-switch/)
And I'm a little confused at this bit.
QuoteDepending on your exact console model, the layout of the board might be different to the photographs in this guide. AND... there are some later motherboard revisions that can't be modified with this standard 50/60Hz switch, the PPU chips are combined – usually called a 1 chip ppu
I've taken a picture of my mainboard, now I can see 2 PPU chips, does that mean I'm o.k to proceed?
(http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff265/DarrenEa/SNES%20Motherboard.jpg)
Title: Re: Modding my consoles
Post by: DEL 707 on March 14, 2015, 18:50:02 PM
Post by: DEL 707 on March 14, 2015, 18:50:02 PM
Well, I got it done.
(http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff265/DarrenEa/SNESMod%201.jpg)
(http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff265/DarrenEa/SNESmod%203.jpg)
(http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff265/DarrenEa/SNESmod%202.jpg)
Region lock works great, I can now play my 1 and only American game.
But I've got a problem with the 60hz switch.
Machine works fine in 50Hz mode
(http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff265/DarrenEa/SNESmod%204.jpg)
But once I switch to 60Hz, the picture goes jagged.
(http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff265/DarrenEa/SNESmod%205.jpg)
Any idea what I'm doing wrong?
I'm using a RGB scart cable (PAL) from http://www.retrogamingcables.co.uk/ (http://www.retrogamingcables.co.uk/)
(http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff265/DarrenEa/SNESMod%201.jpg)
(http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff265/DarrenEa/SNESmod%203.jpg)
(http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff265/DarrenEa/SNESmod%202.jpg)
Region lock works great, I can now play my 1 and only American game.
But I've got a problem with the 60hz switch.
Machine works fine in 50Hz mode
(http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff265/DarrenEa/SNESmod%204.jpg)
But once I switch to 60Hz, the picture goes jagged.
(http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff265/DarrenEa/SNESmod%205.jpg)
Any idea what I'm doing wrong?
I'm using a RGB scart cable (PAL) from http://www.retrogamingcables.co.uk/ (http://www.retrogamingcables.co.uk/)
Title: Re: Modding my consoles
Post by: hamie96 on March 15, 2015, 06:13:59 AM
Post by: hamie96 on March 15, 2015, 06:13:59 AM
Quote from: "DEL 707"(http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff265/DarrenEa/SNESmod%202.jpg)Pardon my bluntness, but you should really clean the case of that SNES.
Title: Re: Modding my consoles
Post by: DEL 707 on March 15, 2015, 11:44:06 AM
Post by: DEL 707 on March 15, 2015, 11:44:06 AM
Maybe when he's been a good boy and plays games at 60hz, he'll deserve to be cleaned! 
Title: Re: Modding my consoles
Post by: zapiy on March 15, 2015, 17:03:33 PM
Post by: zapiy on March 15, 2015, 17:03:33 PM
^^lol
Hey have you found the solution?
Hey have you found the solution?
Title: Re: Modding my consoles
Post by: DEL 707 on March 15, 2015, 20:16:18 PM
Post by: DEL 707 on March 15, 2015, 20:16:18 PM
1 guy on another forum had a similar problem and solved it by using an upscaler.
So I've ordered myself a CKITZE BG-460 from Amazon. If I'm lucky, it could be here by the end of the month.
So I've ordered myself a CKITZE BG-460 from Amazon. If I'm lucky, it could be here by the end of the month.
Title: Re: Modding my consoles
Post by: zapiy on March 15, 2015, 21:57:00 PM
Post by: zapiy on March 15, 2015, 21:57:00 PM
Good news.. hope it works for ya.
Title: Re: Modding my consoles
Post by: DEL 707 on March 15, 2015, 22:02:11 PM
Post by: DEL 707 on March 15, 2015, 22:02:11 PM
Slight update.
Did a 60hz mod on my Mega Drive tonight and it works on my TV, no sign of corruption.
So I tried out my SNES on the living room TV, really should have done that earlier, and it seems to work fine. So I do think it's just my TV being special.
Hoping this upscaler does the trick.
Did a 60hz mod on my Mega Drive tonight and it works on my TV, no sign of corruption.
So I tried out my SNES on the living room TV, really should have done that earlier, and it seems to work fine. So I do think it's just my TV being special.
Hoping this upscaler does the trick.
Title: Re: Modding my consoles
Post by: zapiy on March 26, 2015, 22:47:38 PM
Post by: zapiy on March 26, 2015, 22:47:38 PM
Great work fella..
Title: Re: Modding my consoles
Post by: DEL 707 on March 29, 2015, 15:30:27 PM
Post by: DEL 707 on March 29, 2015, 15:30:27 PM
My upscaler also turned up, with mixed results.
My SNES works fine at 60hz, don't like it at 720p or 1080p though, for some reason my TV doesn't give me an option to change the aspect ration to 4:3. So while the pictures fine, it's stretched.
Is has an option to run it at 1024x768, which does the job, but as a result gives me less options to control colour etc.
Does not like the Mega Drive at 60hz though, some games work, some do weird things. Sonic works fine at 60hz when plugged straight into my TV, though the upscaler, it goes a bit nutty and flashy...
My SNES works fine at 60hz, don't like it at 720p or 1080p though, for some reason my TV doesn't give me an option to change the aspect ration to 4:3. So while the pictures fine, it's stretched.
Is has an option to run it at 1024x768, which does the job, but as a result gives me less options to control colour etc.
Does not like the Mega Drive at 60hz though, some games work, some do weird things. Sonic works fine at 60hz when plugged straight into my TV, though the upscaler, it goes a bit nutty and flashy...