Manic Modder

A classic modchipped PS1 with a modern twist! New install!

Details:

➡️ Mayumi v4 modchip

A popular modern "stealth" modchip. Plays back ups and any region games. Programmed and neatly installed so you wouldn't know that there are actually 8 wire points to the motherboard.

➡️ Custom BIOS mod for Disc-Based Game ID support

Replaces the original Boot Rom. Runs a patched version of the original BIOS allowing games to automatically send the Game ID data to MemCard Pro or SD2PSX memory card devices to take advantage of their modern features.

More info: https://github.com/jdfr228/PS1-Disc-Based-Game-ID

➡️ Multi Output Frequency Oscillator (M**O)

The M**O by Consoles Unleashed is an update of the dual frequency Oscillator mod originally designed by Micro. It is a dual clock mod that provides multiple output options to achieve accurate and correct GPU and Colour Subcarrier clock signals in NTSC and PAL modes on every revision of the PS1 motherboard. It will automatically switch between signals depending on the region of the software being loaded. You can play any "out of region" games (NTSC) with any type of PS1 video cable (standard composite, s-video or RGB) on a PAL console without any of the issues that This can cause. This basically makes it a perfect hybrid NTSC/PAL console.

To explain further, When using a PAL console without a dual clock mod, the console will send an out of spec signal that TVs can't handle. The incorrect NTSC 4.43 video signal coming from a PAL console using standard video cables (non-RGB) will display only black and white or a rolling picture. They can also have messed up black levels and video-audio desync if playing for too long because of the slight framerate difference (approx 1% faster or slower depending on native mode).

​The old method of just forcing NTSC to PAL-60 fixes the black & white issue but it still doesn’t output the correct framerate which can cause audio-video desync. Even if you're using RGB cables for video output you may want to install a DFO/MFO to output the correct GPU clocks and avoid frequency error. It may help with display over certain upscaler devices too.

More info: https://github.com/consolesunleashed/sony-playstation-multi-output-frequency-oscillator

➡️ Motherboard recap

Every surface mount electrolytic capacitor on the motherboard has been replaced. No worry about that for another 20-30 years.

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All mods (Mayumi v4 modchip, Flash Bios, and M**O) programmed and assembled by me. Credit goes to the creators of these mods and thanks for making them open source.

Freshly modded PS1 Console!!

Available for purchase for $340 NZD ***SOLD***

Install includes:

👾 XStation ODE

Replaces the disc drive. Play games off a micro SD card from any region. 2x disc speed loading. Supports Memcard Pro and SD2PSX game ID features. 100% compatibility with the entire library.

👾 PS1 Reset Mod

Use controller button combos:

L2 + R2 + Select + X to return to XStation games list menu

L2 + R2 + Select + Start to reset the game.

Designed by pyroesp and open sourced. I build and assemble these kits.

👾 Dual Frequency Oscillator (DFO)

In short, the DFO makes this truly a multi-region console and allows you to use any video cable you want for NTSC games on a PAL consoles. You are not limited to just RGB cables for out of region games.

The longer explanation is that this is a dual clock mod that enables the console correct GPU clocks and Colour Subcarrier clocks for both NTSC and PAL games. It automatically switches between the clocks depending on the game region. A PAL PS1 without a DFO will output slightly off spec clocks for NTSC games. This will result in the TV not being able to display correctly when using standard composite or s-video AV cables and you will get a black and white image. May also help with some video scaler compatibility.

This DFO is produced by Consoles Unleashed.

👾 3D Printed SD card mount

Nicely printed in PLA. Smooth. Professionally done.

Recently programmed and hand soldered a small batch of PS1 Reset boards and M**Os for the PS1. They will be installed in some future console builds.

The PS1 Reset mod allows you to use a controller button combination to reset the PS1. A must have mod for any Xstation or PSIO owners allowing you to get back to the xstation/psio menu with ease. Designed and made open source by pyroesp.

Source: https://github.com/pyroesp/PlayStation-1-Reset-Mod

The M**O boards (Multi Output Frequency Oscillator) by Consoles Unleashed are updated designs of the DFO/MFO by Mi213 with some extra features. When installed it allows the console to switch between correct PAL 50hz / NTSC 60hz GPU clocks, and also the PAL/NTSC subcarrier clock if needed. If you've tried to play NTSC games on a modded PAL console (with regular composite or s-video cables), and experienced no colour or other related issues, then these little boards will fix that properly.

Source: https://github.com/consolesunleashed/sony-playstation-multi-output-frequency-oscillator

A whole raft of mod kits from Consoles Unleashed installed in this Sega Master System 2 PAL console bringing back some of that which Sega removed when they released this model and some cool additions too!
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👾 Switch-less Region Change Mod

Change between 50hz and 60hz and run the games in their correct aspect ratio and speed. Includes support for a second bios and Controller Pause all on a neat quick solder board (QSB). An LED & light tube fits neatly into the Power switch to indicate the mode/region. Activated by holding down the pause button.

👾 FM Sound Expansion Module + Adapter for the Master System 2.

The FM Sound expansion module is from Tim Worthington and adds support for FM Sound as in Sega Mark III. The adapter PCB from Consoles Unleashed simplifies support for the Master System 2. The Switch-less Region mod is also designed with it in mind negating the need for an on/off switch.

👾 Japanese Bios Support

This PAL Master System 2 can switch to using a NTSC Japanese BIOS. Apart from the cool start up screen and music, it is useful when certain games require the Japanese BIOS for FM sound module support.

👾 Controller Pause Button

No more getting off the couch to hit the pause button on the console. Particularly useful for games that have pause menus with selectable items, like Alex Kidd in Miracle World.

👾 RGB Video

This RGB bypass kit replaces the RF module with a Mega Drive 2 style mini-din socket (no cut). No more RF only, this mod brings back RGB video support that was removed in the Master System 2.

👾 RGB Encoder Switcher and Dual Frequency Oscillator (DFO)

These two items combine allows composite video colour encoding in both PAL and NTSC. No more black and white video when in 60Hz.

👾 Quality console Pause button replacement upgrade

👾 Full recap ✅
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For Master System Mod kits by Consoles Unleashed see:
https://www.consolesunleashed.com/catalogue/mod-kits/sega/master-system/
Or https://www.etsy.com/nz/shop/ConsolesUnleashed

For FM Sound expansion module see: https://etim.net.au/shop/shop.php?crn=202&rn=538&action=show_detail

A classic mod, region switching for the Sega Mega Drive. Here is a cool "switchless" kit version from ConsolesUnleashed.com just installed in a Japanese VA4 Mega Drive.

This version of the kit incorporates an in-game controller reset function, CPU pause (while changing regions), and an LED replacement that changes colour depending on the active region.

A Nintendo Gamecube sent in for a GCDual 5.3 installation.

Simultaneous HDMI & Analog (RGB/Component) out.

GCDual was designed by Black Dog Technology and is now open source. Info:
https://www.black-dog.tech/gcdual-5-3.html

The TurboNanza! An internal video and audio upgrade mod, installed here last night in a NEC PC Engine CoreGrafx II.

With this kit installed you can use Sega Saturn AV cables (Composite, S-Video and RGB) to get superb video quality.

It also enables stereo sound when paired with a Turbo Everdrive for Super CD-ROM games. I better start saving! 😅

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You can buy a TurboNanza kit from some of the following places:

https://ko-fi.com/s/4d0de1c0ac

https://videogameperfection.com/products/turbonanza-pcengine-turbografx/

Small batch of SD2PSX memory cards made

Available at
https://manicmodder.etsy.com/listing/1540685043

This N64 with Tim Worthington's RGB mod came in for a general tidy up of someone else's install. RGB scart cables weren't working with it due to sync not being properly hooked up on the video output pins.

I used an AV breakout board to tidy the output wiring and fix that up. I love these little breakout boards and always use them for this mod (link below to the geber files).

I also hooked up an old school mechanical switch for the deblur on/off feature because switches are cool (and who can remember controller button shortcuts anyway)! No hot glue here to fix it in place but a 3d printed bracket instead that is held in by one of the existing screws.

Hope you taking Friday off (for those in New Zealand) and make it a long weekend. Get some retro gaming in while the weather is crap!

AV Breakout board:
https://github.com/FragolRoc/FT-N64-Buddy-Breakout

Here's a SCPH-39002 model PS2 console sent in for a Retro GEM install. The GEM provides digital HDMI video out.

A 'RePS2' PSU has also been fitted to accommodate the GEM in his particular model PS2, the last PS2 revision that maintained the iLink port.*

Lastly, a silent noctua fan has been fitted as well.

Happy retro gaming everyone!

*You can also swap in a PSU and shielding from a SCPH-5000x model to accommodate the GEM in this revision if you like.

Links to kits used:
https://www.pixelfx.co/product-page/retro-gem-universal-hdmi-upscaler-kit
https://rexusnexus.com/product/reps2/

This beautiful looking Sega Dreamcast with its custom shell was sent to me for a DCDigital install and full recap.

It now outputs digital lag-free HDMI output up to 1440p resolution and looks great.

There were a few mods already inside, including a GDEMU to replace the disc drive and a quiet fan mod.

DCDigital kits from PixelFX are all sold out now. It’s replacement will be in the form of their universal Retro GEM mod kits.

New install! A Nintendo Wii gets an upgrade with the AVE-HDMI kit from Electron Shepherd.

Digital video and audio are pulled straight from the Wii’s ‘AVE-RVL’ encoder chip and sent out with ikorb's GCVideo via a mini HDMI port neatly positioned at the rear of the console.

Really shines with these new external upscalers that have HDMI in.

https://electron-shepherd.com/products/electronave-kit

Just adding these photos to a new album under Gamecube for reference.

The little cube that could! The gamecube is one of my favourite consoles ever but I don’t often mod them! However it was a pleasure completing this job for a customer with great taste who supplied some truly awesome mod kits for install!

Here we have:

* GCDUAL by Black Dog Tech for digital HDMI and analogue output upgrade.
* GCLOADER by Black Dog Tech to replace the DVD drive and using SD cards for media.
* Blue Retro Internal Adapter and Quiet Fan mod by Laser Bear Industries for Bluetooth controller support.

Metroid Zero Mission is being played through the Gameboy Player accessory via GBI (Gameboy Interface software) and scaled to full screen 4K using the PixelFX Morph.

Full recap and jailbar fix on this PC Engine Core Grafx II ✅

New install job complete!

This PlayStation was sent in with the following kits for install
- PixelFX Retro GEM (aka. PS1Digital HDMI mod)
- XStation ODE
- Project Medusa - PS1 Internal BlueRetro Kit

It also got a full recap and the Retro GEM Lid switch mod and analog audio fix done as well.

Fresh install of the N64RGB kit from https://etim.net.au/shop/

This kit was recently purchased and sent to me to install. The kit now comes with a couple of connectors instead of just the ribbon cable wire and makes for a clean looking install. Pictures attached, see for yourself! Version 3 of the N64RGB board has options for controller reset and de-blur button shortcuts.

Fresh install of the Retro G.E.M. by PixelFX!

A universal internal digital to digital scaler with HDMI out in a Sony PS2 model SCPH-50002 console.

https://www.pixelfx.co/product-page/retro-gem-universal-hdmi-upscaler-kit

Here's a cool mod for the NeoGeo CD console Furrtek's NeoSD Loader. An ODE mod to load games from a SD card.

http://furrtek.free.fr/sdloader/

Two more recent XStation ODE installs for the PS1. One console is still available! $290.

New album of PS2 Retro G.E.M install photos from late 2023.

I'll be catching up on uploading some recent installation pictures for the albums. Here is the PixelFX Retro G.E.M (replaces the PS1Digital). This install got a full recap and XStation as well.

A DCDigital HW2 install job completed today.

Looks fantastic.

This kit from PixelFX is a digital to digital internal hdmi mod for the Sega Dreamcast and Naomi.

HW2 is an updated revision of the original DCDigital and adds features like a full polyphasic scaler with full free scaling and aspect ratio controls.

Also has CRT simulation filters, scanlines and PixelFX’s take on HQx-style smoothing filters. Makes use of HDR if the TV supports it too.

Comparison between revisions:
https://docs.pixelfx.co/DCDigital-Comparison.html

Repair diary: A MiSTer FPGA build.

The owner reported issues with the USB hub board. He reached out for help after an attempt to disassemble and reassemble the MiSTer didn't fix it.

A reported 'no display' issue was simply a case of the microSD card not being fully seated (pushed in) however the USB hub was indeed acting up when I tested it too.

I had a couple of spare USB hub boards so I figured swapping out the hub board would be the quickest fix here. Unfortunately repairs are often not as straightforward as hoped!

This (official) MiSTer case looks really cool however it can be a bit of a pain to put together. The owner had some difficulty reassembling it. A stripped screw and a couple of broken plastic spacers were the result.

With a bit of difficulty I managed to disassemble it all. Upon close inspection of the de10nano board however, I noticed a tiny resistor array (2mm total width with 0.4mm pads) had been knocked off at some stage. Eek!

The resistor array was not critical to the MiSTer working however in striving to do my best work I sourced a replacement array and a set of new spacers for the broken ones.

The broken off spacers (male screw parts left inside the metal spacers) were removed by heating them up and shoving a screwdriver down into them while melted. The melted plastic moulded into the screw thread inside the metal spacers and when cooled I was able to 'unscrew' to remove.

A tiny micro solder job on the de10nano board to replace the resistor array and a new USB hub board fitted later, this MiSTer build is now ready to send back to the owner reassembled, working, and all in one piece.

SD2PSX Memory Card (rev.4) - Latest version
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*Batch all sold*

One card works on both consoles. Put those old stacks of memory cards away!

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About the SD2PSX:

This is an open source and open hardware solution to emulate ps1 and ps2 memory cards. It creates "virtual" memory cards and stores them on a microSD card. Credit goes to the creator xyz and other devs in the scene like bbsan2k who work on it.

See sd2psx.net for more info on its features or ask in the comments

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- Latest firmware installed. Just insert your own microSD card.
- Features a OLED screen, microSD card reader, USB-C Port, and two buttons for operating the menu.
- FreeMCBoot can be installed as an auto-boot option. This requires some user set up, though I can supply a pre-configured 32gb microSD card with FreeMCBoot set up as an extra listing option for $10 (or with Fortuna if your PS2 is incompatible with FreeMCBoot).
- You can use the SD2PSX to boot into Unirom in PS1 Mode to enable region free disc loading and game ID save support on a stock unmodded PS1! Requires some additional set up also.

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*Gold fingers version and high quality ENIG surface on the PCB for those that want a more premium version. Very durable and long-lasting finish.

This was one for the personal collection. The Stellar XboxHD+ from MakeMHz for the original Microsoft Xbox.

I gave the console a 128mb ram upgrade and full recap as well. The xbox certainly looks great in clean digital HDMI.

I've done three AVE-HDMI kit installs for the Nintendo Wii this year. I am always amazed at how clean the digital video looks.

The AVE-HDMI Install kit is from https://electron-shepherd.com/products/ave-hdmi-kit

The transparent smoke shell is from Aliexpress. They are still really cheap to buy (unlike some other console shells there now) and not bad quality either!

This original Sony Playstation console was sent in for repair earlier this year with no digital audio through the HDMI upgrade. The owner had spent a considerable effort upgrading it with a PS1Digital HDMI mod from PixelFX, an XStation ODE, and a custom shell (none of which were installed by me).

On inspection I found that the audio flex was partially damaged. I gave the customer the option to order a replacement audio flex cable from PixelFX or I could try and wire the necessary points directly to the PS1Digital board and thus save time awaiting shipment, repair, and the cost of a new flex cable. The customer went with this 2nd option and, thankfully, the results were good!🙂

The NESRGB mod from Tim Worthington
https://etim.net.au/shop/shop.php?crn=203&rn=522

The AV multiout mod is designed by Voultar and available from Laserbear: https://www.laserbear.net/.../nes-front-loader-snap-fit

This one is a bit of a lengthy install. Worth a full recap as done here.

The WiiHDMI mod from https://arthrimus.com/

This was the only digital HDMI mod for the Nintendo Wii on the market for a while. The WiiDual was no longer easily available and the AVE-HDMI kit from https://electron-shepherd.com/ had not yet been released.

I really like how tidy this kit looks installed and was more than happy to have a clear case for this one.