Japanese saturn and 50hz mode question.

[wyvernshill]

Ok, i think i made a huge mistake.

I bought a japanese Sega Saturn model 1 (grey with blue buttons), it was modded to change the region and 50/60hz
However i seem to be permanently stuck in 60hz mode regardless of the region.

I live in the EU and i have some of my old PAL games. Quite a few of them have been optimized for the PAL region (correct speed, no borders).
My normal PAL saturn died and in a rage i bought a multiregion japanese console.

The seller tells me it is normal i cannot switch to 50hz mode since its a native japanese console.
He did however advertise it as a 50/60 switchless mod.

I think thats not true since other consoles like the snes and megadrive can perfectly switch between the two, even if they are true japanese or US consoles.

Can anyone tell me if this is true ?

I'm tempted to think there is a loose wire or something that connected to the 50hz mode.

[Guspaz]

The SNES most certainly can't switch between 50/60Hz by default: on older models, you need to lift some pins and connect them to switches (and this is on top of the region-free mod), for 1chip models you need to install different quartz crystals to reclock things.

[blizzz]

A proper switchless mod for the Saturn will allow you to play both PAL and NTSC games and switch between 50Hz and 60Hz.

[wyvernshill]

The SNES most certainly can't switch between 50/60Hz by default: on older models, you need to lift some pins and connect them to switches (and this is on top of the region-free mod), for 1chip models you need to install different quartz crystals to reclock things.

Indeed, i ment the switchless mods for those consoles.

I just need some confirmation that a japanese saturn can switch to 50hz with a proper switchless mod.

[neorichieb1971]

I played many games on the Saturn that were PAL on a 60hz machine and to my recollection it made them play like NTSC counterparts or slightly faster. But certainly not unplayable.

What games on the Saturn are optimized and causing issues?

[wyvernshill]

Well, Guardian heroes causes graphical issues and the pal optimized games like Sega Rally, Story of Thor 2 etc ... run too fast and have now severe overscan.
Basically the pal optimized games have their speed corrected (still at 50 hz, but speed is correct) and the image is filling the screen completely.

Pal games that are not optimized will have borders and run slower, switching those to 60hz will mostly correct them.

You can see what i mean through this page : http://randomisedgaming.tumblr.com/post ... z-guide-to

My problem seems that i cannot get my japanese saturn model 1 to switch to 50hz. (It is modded)
Switching to 50hz gives me no image.

So pal optimized games run now only in 60hz for me which makes them too fast, glitchy and with severe overscan, meaning a good part of the image on top and bottom gets cut off.