Dreamcast BIOS chips

[APE992]

I've placed an order with a Chinese supplier for MX29LV160-90TMC chips. These are piggybacked upon the Dreamcast's mask rom containing the retail BIOS and allow you to flash using this:

http://www.dc-swat.ru/blog/dreamshell/20.html

A replacement BIOS of your choice. Currently that choice is between Dreamshell linked above or a BIOS hacked by link83 (who I can see browses these forums) which contains the boot-up animation from the Katana devkit. On top of the animation change the BIOS is also region free which means you no longer have to use a boot disc to play your imports. The color of the animation is still dependent upon the region set in your flash. These chips are only good for VA1 or newer motherboards. The VA0 (heat pipe model) needs a different chip entirely.

The order was placed earlier this week and was told it would ship out within a week. I'm not 100% sure of an ETA but judging by how much I paid for shipping it won't take more than about a week or two max.

The price per chip was (strong emphasis on was) $2.70 per chip but that will likely rise slightly with the addition of whatever fees are required and shipping from me to you. Willing to do international shipping. The only caveat is that out of the 50 chips I've ordered only 8 are left currently unclaimed (assuming everyone who has requested one pays for their lot when the time comes).

Anyone interested?

[weaponepsilon]

Ah, what the hell. I'd be interested? How much?

[APE992]

At the moment a guaranteed $2.70 per chip minimum. I haven't gotten the chips yet (the supplier claims they will be out soon) but as soon as I do I can collect zip codes to estimate shipping costs.

[APE992]

My supplier said they will ship "today". Given right now it is 2:05am in China it is tomorrow for them I suppose.

[weaponepsilon]

Sounds about right. I am in 56011. Tell me what the total is so I can charge up the old Paypal.

[APE992]

Truth be told I don't know exactly how much things are going to cost quite yet. I prefer for payment to wait until after the chips are in my hands for a couple of reasons but top of the list that if something unfortunate happens I don't have to run around issuing upwards of 15 refunds.

But for you, assuming the chip weighs inside an envelope between 3-4oz it'll run you ~$4. Well cheaper than the price of the chips run on eBay right now.

I have gotten a tracking number from my supplier for DHL. It doesn't have an ETA but I anticipate it within the next week.

[mikeosoft]

hi i'm new here and i'm in for one of these chips please let me know where to paypal you and shipping details. This seems like fun, i have 2 dreamcasts, one i want to put into my sega naomi universal arcade cab and this chip would be cool to boot up with the naomi style animation

[APE992]

I'm waiting on accepting any payments until after the chips are in my hands. I don't know the exact weight and I'd prefer not to overcharge for shipping as I can't afford to take a hit on my personal bank account and undercharge. For all I know I've been shipped a box of bricks.

Mainly it boils down to the fact that I feel people asking for money up front pre-order style is a bit fishy and I can't expect of others what I don't of myself.

I can tell you this for sure:

The chips have shipped from the supplier and are in Los Angeles right now (I'm about an hour outside of San Francisco). Current cost per chip is all but certain at $3 each. I'm assuming the chips weigh no more than 1oz each which means that 3 will ship for ~$1.60 or whatever postage costs these days.

All were spoken for a few hours ago but between here and the other two forums I've offered these at I'm sure I'll find one or two people who either don't respond in a timely manner or are no longer interested in acquiring them. Consider one chip yours regardless mikeosoft, I put 10 aside from myself and I don't plan on needing them all.

[weaponepsilon]

So whats the differences between the two chips that we get? An otherOS or a region free mod with different animation?

[APE992]

So whats the differences between the two chips that we get? An otherOS or a region free mod with different animation?

You can flash Dreamshell or link83's hacked BIOS if you like. If there is a 3rd option I'm currently unaware of it.

One chip per customer unless otherwise requested. All 50 are currently called for and DHL has placed the chips with "delivery courier". Sometimes this means they're handing it off to USPS, UPS or FedEx. Occasionally I've had DHL vans pull up to delivery DHL packages. I have a feeling I will be seeing the box today.

[mikeosoft]

All were spoken for a few hours ago but between here and the other two forums I've offered these at I'm sure I'll find one or two people who either don't respond in a timely manner or are no longer interested in acquiring them. Consider one chip yours regardless mikeosoft, I put 10 aside from myself and I don't plan on needing them all.

ok cool dude thanks a bunch, i'm kind of new around here, but i'm on arcade forums like neo-geo.com and arcadeoatku mostly working on my arcade machines for years, so sorry if i seem kinda weird and a newb. I'm interested in dreamcast mods because i own a naomi arcade hardware machine and system, and the carts for the system are expensive and require tons of add-ons and security chips to run properly. Plus I need to constantly reflash my naomi bios to allow for netdimm or gd-rom add ons etc... just kinda annoying, where with a dreamcast rewired to jamma connector i can have a simple system that if it dies i'm not crying at the end of the day.

i'm doing some mods to one of my dreamcasts tonight, the SD card mod, replacing the LED, adjusting the laser pot, adding a reset switch, and hacking up a controller to arcade buttons.

Anyways i really appreciate your hospitality, kinda a rare thing on the net these days. Cheers

[weaponepsilon]

Did you get the chips?

[z2442/joey]

is there any way to get a green swirl with maybe a bios patch?

[weaponepsilon]

So, whats the word on these?

[hidiosoman]

I'll buy a couple. Most likely I'll forget about this thread and never see it again, so if you do end up selling some, please PM me.