Ask general Genesis/MD/Sega CD/32X questions here (for new members)

[RottenToTheGore]

Looking for help with my CDX, I'll copy and paste what I've posted elsewhere...

Using my CDX through the OSSC I noticed a lot of video...noise? Not sure of the term I'm looking for but kinda fuzzy, rolling up the screen, most noticeable on solid backgrounds. Confirmed the cable isn't an issue (Hooked a Genny 2 up with the same cable and didn't have the issue).

Any idea what could be causing this? I'm using an official PSU for the CDX as well.

[Assman]

Looking for help with my CDX, I'll copy and paste what I've posted elsewhere...

My CDX has noisy video too, to the point where I stopped using it as my main console (which kind of bums me out since it's too fucking cool to sit in a box). Based on what I've read here from other CDX owners, noisy RGB output is a common trait that requires modding to get rid of. I don't have the tech details beyond that, but it's worth digging around this forum to see what others have said about it.

[RottenToTheGore]

My CDX has noisy video too, to the point where I stopped using it as my main console (which kind of bums me out since it's too fucking cool to sit in a box). Based on what I've read here from other CDX owners, noisy RGB output is a common trait that requires modding to get rid of. I don't have the tech details beyond that, but it's worth digging around this forum to see what others have said about it.

Yeah, I'd hate to have to not use it. Especially due to the small form factor. Might have to see what I can do. Thanks!

[Chaos Fusion]

So I've gone over this before but finally decided to hook my Mega Drive M1 VA2 to my computer and record some audio for testing.
Using SOR2 for the test, Audacity recorded a session of the game and majority of the recording was in the red with full volume. https://i.imgur.com/fVzBJbm.png

Just want to check if these clips sound like other VA2 boards with the PreAmp error or if there is something wrong


Recorded at full volume:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1A9...V1UWkMQb-zt3hU

Recorded at Half:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1v_...dLbdJDUpyufqgt

Will add it's a Jap Console and it has been recapped. Doubt those will affect the volume but worth mentioning

[Khan]

I just got a JVC X'Eye really cheap. Not sure where to begin. When I got the X'Eye, the CD drive wasn't working(access light just blinks, I'm not sure if they all do that or not) but the cartridge side did work, only the video was extremely muddy and the audio was muffled. When I put a CD in it wouldn't spin up. I took it apart and tested the lid switch with a multimeter. The lid switch is fine. Next I tested both motors on the drive. When I put voltage through them they spin just fine. So my diagnosis was for that is the laser is defective, if the laser can't see a disc the drive will not spin, right?

Looking around the motherboard, I noticed a lot of parts that looked like they don't belong. Capacitors and resistors soldered were soldered in here and there that are clearly not part of the original circuitry(possible repair job from he factory). I thought, while I wait for the laser to arrive I'll replace the capacitors and see about these extra parts(I.e.: remove them), that should fix the crappy audio/video quality. So I ordered a kit from Console5 and installed the capacitors. Now the damn thing has NO audio or video. Awesome. It just turns on and the CD access light doesn't blink like it did before. So maybe the extra parts were necessary. Good thing I took detailed pictures before removing them. So I reinstalled the extras exactly where they were, still no luck. I'm at the end of my rope here. I've just been digging through the X'Eye service manuals wondering what the hell I could do to get this god-forsaken thing running again.

Few more details. This is a 002 revision board. So it differs slightly from the one that Thunderblaze16 posted pics of. Also, mine does not have the AV Out, only composite and RF out. No, the AV Out was not removed, it was never there. The case even lacks a cutout for it. That was one thing I wanted to add onto the board, along with S-Video but I can't find anyone that has a motherboard like mine. I posted some pictures at https://imgur.com/a/XmWw9HK. I can take some more if it would help.

[lumclaw]

I just got a JVC X'Eye really cheap. Not sure where to begin. When I got the X'Eye, the CD drive wasn't working(access light just blinks, I'm not sure if they all do that or not) but the cartridge side did work, only the video was extremely muddy and the audio was muffled. When I put a CD in it wouldn't spin up. I took it apart and tested the lid switch with a multimeter. The lid switch is fine. Next I tested both motors on the drive. When I put voltage through them they spin just fine. So my diagnosis was for that is the laser is defective, if the laser can't see a disc the drive will not spin, right?

Looking around the motherboard, I noticed a lot of parts that looked like they don't belong. Capacitors and resistors soldered were soldered in here and there that are clearly not part of the original circuitry(possible repair job from he factory). I thought, while I wait for the laser to arrive I'll replace the capacitors and see about these extra parts(I.e.: remove them), that should fix the crappy audio/video quality. So I ordered a kit from Console5 and installed the capacitors. Now the damn thing has NO audio or video. Awesome. It just turns on and the CD access light doesn't blink like it did before. So maybe the extra parts were necessary. Good thing I took detailed pictures before removing them. So I reinstalled the extras exactly where they were, still no luck. I'm at the end of my rope here. I've just been digging through the X'Eye service manuals wondering what the hell I could do to get this god-forsaken thing running again.

Few more details. This is a 002 revision board. So it differs slightly from the one that Thunderblaze16 posted pics of. Also, mine does not have the AV Out, only composite and RF out. No, the AV Out was not removed, it was never there. The case even lacks a cutout for it. That was one thing I wanted to add onto the board, along with S-Video but I can't find anyone that has a motherboard like mine. I posted some pictures at https://imgur.com/a/XmWw9HK. I can take some more if it would help.

Thanks. I'd been curious about that revision.
Needless to say it won't output RGB, and as a side effect the 32X is incompatible.

[Khan]

It would be great if someone could post some pictures of their 002 board. I just want to get mine working again.

[pyroesp]

Check polarity on the capacitors you installed, maybe you misplaced one.
There are schematics available online.
Measure voltage to see if that's ok too.

[Madness Hero]

So bought a non working Genesis 1 hdg no tmss, upon arrival It didn't turn on so I opened it up and found solder on the power supply was cracked, reflowed it and I got power but I can't get any output, there is a hum coming thru the headphone port. So I checked the output on my 7805s n while the system was on it read 4.45v. Is that normal voltage or should I be getting the full 5v? And if it's normal what other avenues should I explore? I'm about to do a board clean to see if that helps but I'm not holding my breath, any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Madness Hero]

Whelp not that anyone's responded but after running my va6 which works and measuring the 7805s on it's board I conclude that 4.45v is normal for the output leg. Next would be testing the caps which I believe are fine because they all look pretty clean with no bulging but I ordered a recap kit for it neway so when that arrives I will be installing them. So I skipped ahead to my next test which was checking pin 15s output which also seems to be fine. So now I come to the ocillator xtal, which I have no clue how to check... Any help would be awesome.

[pyroesp]

4.45V is really low IMO. What's your input voltage?
Does the 5V regulator get hot, or anything else on the 5V getting hot?

Not sure how to check the oscillator without an oscilloscope. If you have an arduino or the likes you could try with that.
Or you could just swap the oscillator with your VA6, if they're the same, and see if it works on your VA6.

[Madness Hero]

Gonna be getting a new soldering station in the next week, I'll recheck and record my voltage then and I'll also try swapping the oscillating xtal to the va6 like u said n I'll post my results. Thank for the reply!

[Madness Hero]

Okay well I've added a little bit to the workload since getting the soldering station I got a broken Genesis VA to and Sega CD One JVC variant that both need repairs. Since obtaining my new soldering station I haven't had much time to do any work but I have replaced the voltage Regulators on the VA 3 along with capacitor c1c 79 and the bottom board capacitor these changes have increased the regulator's output from 4.6 to 4.8 however I'm still not getting any sound or picture. As for the VA2 it's issues are similar to the VA 3 in the fact that I get no picture or sound however the board has a few signs of rust near pins and when it's powered on I get faint red and blue jail bars on a black screen. I recorded the vr voltage at staggeringly low 3.8. I have only had time to clean up the board n replace the vrs and have recorded no voltage change. Am I just beating two dead horses?

[Raijin Z]

Full capacitor replacement, and you might need to run a signal trace on the main ICs to see if they're alive. The latter requires an oscilloscope (cheap handheld jobs are like $20 now). Alas, the last time I used an oscilloscope was like 14 years ago, and I was checking the clock frequency in a timer I had built in solid state lab, so I only have a ghost of that knowledge now.

[Madness Hero]

Yeah, I'm going to try the full cap replacement on the VA 3 this weekend n see what happens, I have more hope for it than the VA2 because of the rust. As for the oscilloscope I'll have to put on the glasses of nerdicon n do my research there because those are unfamiliar waters to me. I have rudimentary knowledge of what I'm doing at best, just have good soldering skills lol. Kinda like a mechanic I can replace anything on it but when it comes to the engineer in level I'm left scratching my head.