Looks like nobody's talking about this system, so I'll be the first to speak up Anybody try to make one of these portable? I made mine portable, but it only gets about an hour of battery life...I don't mind though, cause I like the option available. However, I would reeeally like to cut down the size of the system since the motherboard is HUGE (with 27 IC chips). Has anyone ever heard of a smaller Saturn made? Maybe a hong kong exclusive or something? Post your thoughts on portablizing this great console!
I started one in playstation 32 bit. I stripped the case and everything off of mine and it could be lot smaller but it is layered so count out cutting it. The thickness comes from the cd drive though. I'm hoping to be able to fix this, maybe even get it to play dvds but that might be a lot. It's on my list for portables it's sitting on desk in front of me begging to be portablized it's just the battery life can't be great. Mine says on the wierd power supply thing that it requires 9 volts at 0.3 amps, 5 volts at 2 amps and 3.3 volts at 0.6 amps. I think that's right that's what it says any way for the top three pins.
The power issue you can work out, think about this the Dreamcast take 12, 5, 3.3 volts only advantage there is it can use a computer dc-dc power supply.
As for the CD-Rom assembly send some pics and let us look at it. Also dont bother trying to get the thing to play DVDs, at best it will play VCDs (if you buy the card), you have to remember the CD-Rom's speed is only 2x.
vskid wrote:Nerd = likes school, does all their homework, dies if they don't get 100% on every assignment
Geek = likes technology, dies if the power goes out and his UPS dies too
I heard someone on some staurn furom site did it but yea I won't. All I need to do is get some new motors and laser and then just keep the the board. I'll try and post some pics tonight.
Edit:
Does anyone know of a mini-itx power supply that outputs 9 volts, 5 volts, and 3.3 volts. Also do you think it's worth while to keep the port on the back because that would be a lot of extra work for my design.
Since computers don't use 9V, I don't know if any mini-itx power supplies output it, although you could just get seperate dc-dc converters for the 3.3, 5, and 9 volts needed.
The port on the back? If your talking about one that has an inset part (something goes inside), thats the Movie/Photo/E-book Card, you can leave that out if you dont plan to get one of those.
vskid wrote:Nerd = likes school, does all their homework, dies if they don't get 100% on every assignment
Geek = likes technology, dies if the power goes out and his UPS dies too
No, I was going to leave that one in. I mean the cartridge port the only thing I've seen that it's good for is backups and playing imports. Sorry about the pictures not getting up I was watching Aliens 2 this night and totally forgot about it. . I know I could get some converters that's just a lot of extra room. Whatever It might be alittle easier.
u guys are making this a lot more confusing than it is...youre talking about the model 2 saturns which take more than one power supply. the model 1 (or at least the 3 that i have) ONLY take 5v, making things much simpler. I know I could cut the boar din half and stack the PCBs, but that's almost impossible since there are a million traces and chips runnning everywhere...any other ideas? :/
u guys are making this a lot more confusing than it is...youre talking about the model 2 saturns which take more than one power supply. the model 1 (or at least the 3 that i have) ONLY take 5v, making things much simpler. I know I could cut the boar din half and stack the PCBs, but that's almost impossible since there are a million traces and chips runnning everywhere...any other ideas? :/
I don't know what version mine is but it certainly requires more then one voltage. Are you sure yours doesn't have two layers. There's no way to make it smaller without cutting it. You'll have to find a pirate version or use a smaller board from a different system.
yeah, thats part of the reason i started this topic...i was hoping that somebody knew of a pirate version made or ANY smaller version...i cant believe they never shrinked the size on this thing. :/
And I think you should go out and buy a model 1, it will make your life much easier with only 5v
no they didnt make a smaller version. And the reason why is because it has two processors. it's based off of the Naomi board, if that helps. maybe you could pick one of those up or something...
Anybody try to make one of these portable? I made mine portable, but it only gets about an hour of battery life...I don't mind though, cause I like the option available. However, I would reeeally like to cut down the size of the system since the motherboard is HUGE (with 27 IC chips). Has anyone ever heard of a smaller Saturn made? Maybe a hong kong exclusive or something? Post your thoughts on portablizing this great console! 
. I know I could get some converters that's just a lot of extra room. Whatever It might be alittle easier.
