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How to Mod a Sega Saturn to Run 60Hz

The Sega Saturn offered many great video games displaying faster frame rates than other 32-bit consoles of the time. Unfortunately, European gamers fond of the Sega Saturn have to play their games at a 17% lowered speed than gamers in the US and Japan. While manufacturers may have ignored this problem, a simple modification will enable owners of a European (PAL) Sega Saturn to run 50 Hz games at 60 Hz.

Things You'll Need

Single pole on/off switch
Phillips head screwdriver
Drill
Hole saw drill bit
Soldering iron
Wire solder
Two lengths of electrical wire

Instructions

- 1
  Unscrew the five Phillips head screws underneath the Sega Saturn using a Phillips screwdriver. Lift the outer casing off the Saturn.
- 2
  Remove the two power board Phillips head screws, which are located to the left and right of the A/C power adapter input. Remove the Phillips head screw from the power board, which is located to the left of the Saturn CD unit.
- 3
  Detach the power cable by pulling it from its socket on the power board. Gently lift up the power board to remove it.
- 4
  Remove the screw from the Saturn CD unit with a Phillips screwdriver. Gently pull the two cables from their pin sockets, which are located on the top left and top right of the CD unit. Lift out the CD unit.
- 5
  Remove the seven Phillips head screws holding the exposed heat shield in place. Lift off the heat shield to access the Sega Saturn motherboard. Lift off the battery compartment case, which is located in the lower left side of the Saturn.
- 6
  Locate the "SW4" jumper pairs to the right of the exposed battery compartment. Solder one wire to "Point B" of the solder pad (located second from the left), and then solder the other wire to "Point A" of the solder pad (located second from the right). Solder the ends of these wires to the corresponding points of your switch. For example, solder "B" to "B," and then solder "A" to "A."
- 7
  Drill a small hole the diameter of your switch into the battery door located on the back of the Saturn using a hole saw drill bit. Insert the switch into the hole.
- 8
  Place the battery compartment case back on over the battery. Reinsert the heat shield, and then screw it back in using a Phillips screwdriver.
- 9
  Set the CD Unit into the center of the heat shield and screw it back in. Plug the two cables back into their respective pin sockets.
- 10
  Reinsert the power board, and plug the power board cable into its socket. Insert the single Phillips head screw back into the bottom of the power board. Screw in the two Phillips head screws located to the left and right of the A/C power adapter input, to the rear of the Saturn casing.
- 11
  Place the upper console case back on. Turn the console over, and then screw in the five Phillips head screws.

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