Time for Tune up

General Dreamcast discussion applies here. Before posting here please check the other forums in the Dreamcast section to see if your topic would fit better in those categories.

Moderators: pcwzrd13, mazonemayu

Forum rules
Please check the other forums in the Dreamcast section before posting here to see if your topic would fit better in those categories. Example: A new game/homebrew release would go in the New Releases/Homebrew/Emulation section: http://dreamcast-talk.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=5 or if you're having an issue with getting your Dreamcast to work or a game to boot it would go in the Support section: http://dreamcast-talk.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=42
User avatar
Halcyon
rebel
Posts: 20

Time for Tune up

Post#1 » Tue Jan 31, 2017 12:26 pm

Hey guys and gals,

So honestly this whole dreampi and getting back online has really breathed new life into my old and beloved dreamcast.

So now that i have a bit more money then when i did in collage, i think it is time to give the old girl a tune up.

1) So i am living in the EU and have an US dreamcast, so i was thinking about ordering an EU power supply so i dont need to use the transformer everytime i want to play. Has anyone any experience with this or have any suggestions.

2) I have to set the clock on the dreamcast damn near every time i start it up even if i played it 2 days before. So it must be real crappy now. Has anyone changed this out? If so please if possible send me the part names (if i can buy them on Amazon that would be amazing) I have the electronics background to solder something in and out but dont know exactly what i need.

3) I still use a composite cable to connect to my TV, what i am ideally looking for would be a package that would take VGA into HDMI. Does anyone have any experience with this? Again part names of things i could just buy on Amazon would be totally appreciated.

I think that is about it, any other suggestions in order to get the most out of my old friend?

Halcyon
Robots build Robots

User avatar
DR TEAMCAST
Uber
Posts: 1025
Contact:

Re: Time for Tune up

Post#2 » Tue Jan 31, 2017 4:17 pm

1) The hardware like the motherboard/etc will probably short out because it's (I assume) its designed for the 110v (I think US is 110v). So doubling the electricity its designed for will probably destroy the console if it doesn't catch on fire

2) There's many tutorials on changing the clock battery

3) the VGA cables from china work great. I know someone is making a HDMI box, similar to the VGA box
http://assemblergames.com/l/threads/aku ... box.64520/
http://assemblergames.com/l/threads/aku ... ost-932886

any other suggestions in order to get the most out of my old friend?

A GDemu or USB-GDrom if you can afford one. They're like $150+
ImageImage
Forum for Dreamcast and Saturn browsers http://bb.dreampipe.net
Media, News, Events and more for your Sega Dreamcast internet browser at http://dreampipe.net

User avatar
lastcallgames
Vagabond
Posts: 746

Re: Time for Tune up

Post#3 » Tue Jan 31, 2017 4:51 pm

I have the Chinese VGA cable I got from eBay (not the Tomee one, that one sucks), and I put it in this converter and it works like a charm on my LCD TV

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013C ... UTF8&psc=1

As for the power supply, I would probably recommend just getting a PAL DC instead of trying to replace the actual power supply in the console. It's easy enough to use a Gameshark or the like to bypass the region lock.

User avatar
SEGA RPG FAN
Developer
Posts: 601

Re: Time for Tune up

Post#4 » Tue Jan 31, 2017 5:23 pm

The PSU is modular and could be easily swapped if you found a cheap donor. However, make sure that the pinout and voltages coming off the board are the same or you are sure to damage something.
PSO Dreamcast 100% Legit: Eda FOmarl, Automaton HUcast

User avatar
mistamontiel
Shark Patrol
Posts: 1946
Contact:

Re: Time for Tune up

Post#5 » Tue Jan 31, 2017 7:11 pm

No VGA input ?

Beharbros are launching their new Akura box real soon , VGA to HDMI this Febuary 7th can purchase $85 flat

http://assemblergames.com/l/threads/aku ... 520/page-9

User avatar
Raen
Toy Commander
Posts: 550

Re: Time for Tune up

Post#6 » Wed Feb 01, 2017 12:15 pm

1 - The PSU board is interchangeable. Only the input differs: 110 V vs. 220~230 V. Find a PAL PSU board, open the console and swap the board.

2 - The clock battery is replaceable like said before - there are tutorials on YouTube on how to do it. You have the possibility to change to another equal battery or to use regular AA or AAA batteries, don't really recall which.

3 - For new users, the Akura box like said before is the best choice for a HDMI box with DC VGA mode support. You can also play the games that don't support 480p with it, by using the swap trick.

User avatar
Halcyon
rebel
Posts: 20

Re: Time for Tune up

Post#7 » Wed Feb 01, 2017 3:46 pm

Right on thanks a lot fellas, I got things all ordered and now we play the amazon waiting game. Thanks a million!
Robots build Robots

User avatar
Xerxes3rd
fire
Posts: 78

Re: Time for Tune up

Post#8 » Thu Feb 02, 2017 8:40 am

Re: #3, just be aware that 99% of the VGA->HDMI converters on the market don't maintain correct aspect ratio when converting the Dreamcast's VGA (it slightly squishes the picture horizontally). You're unlikely to notice it unless you're a stickler for resoultions. That said, I still use one anyway, because my setup is all HDMI at home.

User avatar
Halcyon
rebel
Posts: 20

Re: Time for Tune up

Post#9 » Thu Feb 02, 2017 12:09 pm

Thanks for that warning, I ordered what i could off Amazon.de

https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B01N67 ... UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B018JV ... UTF8&psc=1

So i am in for about 30 clams, worth giving it a shot. I also got a rechargable battery and will swap out the old garbage as soon as it arrives. Still on the prowl for the Power Supply Print, so if anyone knows someone who has a defective PAL DC but the power stage works i will pay for it :) Don't want to canabalize a working unit, turning on the transformer is not that big a deal, we got to keep this little babies alive and well :)
Robots build Robots

OGDCFAN99
Arabian Night
Posts: 335

Re: Time for Tune up

Post#10 » Thu Feb 02, 2017 3:38 pm

For the power supply I would buy a broken PAL dc and use it for parts.

Also its pretty much mandatory to clean the dust/dirt of the fan blades and grease the gears and worm gear in the GD ROM with lithium grease (which is safe to use on plastics). Dont use too much as it'll make a mess.

Their is many threads on this forum and others covering these topics. Not to mention youtube videos, etc. Simply google it because this thread is a bunch of regurgitated information.

  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “Lounge”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Majestic-12 [Bot]