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Consoles/Sega/Dreamcast

Sega — Dreamcast

Sega Dreamcast VA0 NTSC-J: GDEMU, Recap & Dummy Load Mod

October 27, 20224 threads~1 min readSuccessful repair
RecapModchip / ODE

Full refurbishment of my NTSC-J Sega Dreamcast VA0: GDEMU install with the required dummy load resistor and VA0 resistor array mods, full recap, fan lube, shell clean and Aerospace 303 protectant.

Parts & Tools (5)

Controller board upgrade mod kit

Consoles Unleashed Dreamcast controller board upgrade mod kit for improved controller PCB performance.

Resistor arrays (VA0 GDEMU mod)

Bourns CAY16-1000F4LF 100 ohm resistor arrays fitted to the VA0 motherboard to bring the GD-ROM connector voltage down from the VA0's 5V to the 3.3V needed by the GDEMU that plugs into it.

Vapour retrobrite method

RetroRGB's write-up of the vapour retrobrite method, the hydrogen-peroxide-vapour and UV technique used to reverse the yellowing on aged plastic.

GDEMU (original)

GDEMU by Deunan, the original SD-card optical-drive emulator installed in this Dreamcast.

303 Aerospace Protectant

303 Aerospace Protectant, applied to the shell as a finishing step.

hitmanmcc
hitmanmcc

October 27, 2022· Thread 1

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VA0 #Sega #Dreamcast PSU recap, controller PCB modded with resettable fuse and also, resistor+diode for non-rechargeable CR2032 battery. Optical drive sled and gears lubed. Ready for some shooting in Ikaruga while I ponder future mods. #RETROGAMING

hitmanmcc
hitmanmcc

December 2, 2022· Thread 2· 3 tweets

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#Dreamcast maintenance continuation. With the PSU done it was now time to move on to a full recap of motherboard and optical drive PCBs. Additionally, the shell went in for some #retrobrighting too. #Sega #RETROGAMING

2 / 3

Here we can see the spa treatment facility. 😂 In the last two photos, the finished product.

3 / 3

To cap it off some test play of #SoulCalibur.

hitmanmcc
hitmanmcc

March 29, 2023· Thread 3

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There we go, NTSC-J VA0 #Sega #Dreamcast modded to be compatible with the GDEMU. Testing with some #DOA 2.

hitmanmcc
hitmanmcc

May 27, 2023· Thread 4

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GDEMU resistor mod to address excess heat from 12V line. Courtesy of the folks at the delta-island forum. Testing it out with some Jet Set Radio. 🛼 #RETROGAMING #Dreamcast #jetsetradio

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