I didn't quite explain the CDr segment as good as I could have and it seems to be confusing to some people. The easiest way to say it: Unless you know what you're doing, use CDr's sparingly and overall ODE's are a better experience. Also, here's all the great other mods people in the comments have pointed out! There's no way I could get to everything in one video, so thanks for sharing!: Controller Fuse: www.mmmonkey.co.uk/dreamcast-controller-port-fix-fuse-f1-replacement/ DreamPSU: www.retropsu.com/store/product/dreampsu/ DreamConn: www.dreammods.net/dreamconn.html Controller adapter with built-in memory so no controller swap is needed: www.focusattack.com/brook-super-converter-ps3-ps4-to-dreamcast-adapter/ Detailed List of Dreamcast Models, MIL-CD Compatibility: users.skynet.be/t_chan/dc/mylist.htm Self-resetting Controller Port Fuse (US Seller): ebay.to/2P1W9ET Self-resetting Controller Port Fuse (UK Seller): ebay.to/2EQhNHt Estaran Says: I have something to add to the fan mod: Some time ago the Circuit-Board community did a bulk order of some fans that fit w/o modding the Dreamcast in any other way, you just have to swap the old fan for a new one. Here is the link to the forum post as well as for the website, where we ordered those fans: circuit-board.de/forum/index.php/Thread/18033-Sammelbestellung-leiserer-Dreamcast-Nidec-L%C3%BCfter-Keine-mehr-vorhanden-Alle-weg/?postID=464976#post464976 and www.on2tech.com/df310ri05l1c.html
Bob do you have a preferred method for those wanting to use CD-Rs? I've tried both ImgBurn and DiscJuggler and ended up with unusable burned discs. My Dreamcast is a model 0 and has no issues loading a bootdisc CD-R I burned but it either ignores or fails to fully load the 4 game discs I've burned so far.
Great video; It's nice to see Dreamcast modding content in video form (it's amazing how few instructional videos there are for things like Dreamcast BIOS mods, for example). For what it's worth, while I completely agree with you on ODDEs, a BIOS mod is much cheaper and while I admit being a bit intimidated by it without having a video guide, I recently came across this pcb that made the whole process super clean and didn't require removing the original chip - just cutting one trace, running a few wires, and soldering the resistors and new BIOS to the pcb. I found it helpful and chrome's French to English translation is perfectly serviceable and the video guide is well-done with auto-English translated captions. Definitely check it out, out of nerdy curiosity if nothing else :) dragoncity17.wordpress.com/2018/07/27/sega-dreamcast-new-bios/
When I went to college in 2002, my dad told me that he accidentally threw away my dreamcast. I waited in line at toys r us for two days back in 9/9/99, and they sold out before I could get one cuz of greedy assholes reselling them. I got one on Christmas of 1999. I was so heartbroken I never bought another system, and had my fun restoring old cars...I wanted nothing to do with video games anymore outside of the arcade occasionally (tilt at aurora mall STILL there!) I tried the crazy taxi reissue on xbox...disgusting at best. Guess what I just found yesterday?!? All my games and shit too! This is the first video on the dreamcast I watched ever. Thank you so much for sharing this amazing info. Truly impressive. I am elated that the DC still has so much support. So now I have an old school optimus stereo (radio shack) and an old school dreamcast in my old school rv (78 Chevy g30). The TV is newer. Things have gotten better/more efficient from a technical standpoint, but not from a design standpoint imo. The DC was perfect. Thanks again man, awesome vid. I was very lucky to be a teen in the 90s and nothing else would have made me attain this next level of happiness. Back to trying to master this huge map in crazy taxi 2, offspring bumpin hard, not giving a single fuck about shit.
This comment brought a smile to my face. Despite the trauma that was seemingly caused, it just goes to show how much this console meant to people. It's something I've never been quite able to put into words and I don't believe our vocabulary is capable of doing this console justice. Supposedly, the Dreamcast 'died' on March 21st of 2001. The millions upon millions of viewers on Dreamcast vids relating to mods and how to still get the most out of this thing, suggests otherwise. 9/9/99- [tbc]
@@WhoTheHellIsHarvy Agreed. It never really 'died', it just went on to live a second life. I've already done most of the mods in the video, except for the controller fuse (which I might pass on) and the internal battery replacement is next. I think I prefer Voultar's method of adding the diode so regular CR2032 can be used. The DCHDMI looks daunting and I'm happy with the Kaico HDMI/mClassic combo I have now. DoA2 & GGX looks amazing with the smoothing/anti-aliasing, but not having non-VGA support can be a letdown.
@@anthonyyu2722 That's awesome. I have two, I think I'll try modding on. Not the most technical type of person but part of me always felt this just needs to be done. My original one I will leave as is (only thing I'd do with that is use dreamshell). If there was an afterlife, and if I had the option of taking anything with me, it would be the Dreamcast.
@@WhoTheHellIsHarvy Well, you're gonna have fun doing it; I know I did. Had to look up dreamshell. Looks interesting, gonna have to check it out, or watch some videos about it. 😁 Good choice for the afterlife.
I legit dug my Dreamcast outta the garage after watching this... had it since 9/9/99 luckly i found my VMU and controller too! I'm really thinking of modding and getting into the Dreamcast homebrew scene thank you for this video!
I messed up my dreamcast as a kid trying to play at night without my parents hearing by smothering the console with pillows because the fan and disc drive were so loud.
This is awesome, i didnt know you could do all those things to a DC. I actually have two, the original one my parents bougth me a couple of months after Euro launch, and another one we got a couple of years after because we liked it so much that we wanted to have two in case ours crapped out. Both work to this day and i think ill mod the second one with all this. Thanks for the super-detailed vid!.
I recently modded my Dreamcast with the fan and battery upgrade and the console works great! Would love to get the GDEMU for my next upgrade. Keep the content coming!
Please more more of these types of videos! With so many mods and new projects available these days, it's hard to keep track of everything. I find a video like this super useful for getting started, general maintenance, tips and tricks, quick video resolution explanation useful. Also the links to parts and cables helps.
The same seller who sells the 3D printed parts for the fan mod sells a 3D printed GD-ROM base you can use with USB GD-ROM. No need to cannibalize an original GD-ROM. He also sells a similar tray to preserve airflow. Another benefit of how USB GD-ROM is mounted is the fact that you can easily slide the cable from the modded fan underneath the USB GDROM, which will certainly help airflow even further. GD-EMU is very primitive when compared to GD-EMU, although if you want to cheap out, there are GD-EMU Chinese clones that according to RUclips reviews work exactly as the original. When modding the PSU, you also need to remove the surface mounted resistor located right next to the 12v Regulator.
Wow nice tips with replacing batteries and using sockets, Its good that people mention them since it makes the job so much easier for consoles and cartridges
Hey Bob, well done on the video, as an avid SEGA fan/classic console fan/console modder fan, It's really nice to see videos like this. I've done all the steps you've mentioned in this video and can honestly say they're all really worth it. Big shout out to Dan for the work he's doing within the community, i've really been impressed with his digital audio mods for the consoles, my one tiny gripe is lack of documentation - but I can't be greedy when without his efforts we wouldn't have the options we do now :-) It would be great to see a part 2 of this video including optical audio mods, Dan's HDMI mod, maybe the DreamPI online modem setup to play online games again and maybe the controller board fuse as well! Keep up the awesome work!!
Thanks for making this video! I’m a fan of the Dreamcast (no pun intended) and I’ve been wondering what I can do to make my Dreamcast better. I accidentally broke my Dreamcast trying to look at the CD drive and haven’t touched it since, but once I get it fixed I’m definitely gonna get a bunch of quality of life improvements.
I used to hook my DC up to my PC monitor via VGA adaptor and the picture was Gorgeous. Never knew 480i could look so crisp. Looked just as good as 1080p does to me now.
love the video, I love "older" systems for their simplicity and unique designs i play Genesis on 1999 RCA 32" CRT television (modded) people like you is why i still watch You-Tube quality content is rare on You-Tube your content is true gold. I subbed and liked the video.
I'll never forgive myself for not grabbing the Sega Sports Dreamcast I saw at a local game shop for $30. I wanted to save money so I didn't want to give in to an impulse buy. Mistakes were made.
I remember when I first had a Dreamcast and no one else would get one, I loved that console. All you need to do now is mail me that modded one lol. I didnt know you could install a card into it. Great vid, makes me wish I still had mine.
I always knew I owned three Dreamcast for a reason, now I can actually give my wife a reason, I need the back ups in case I screw up this simple soldering job! But watching it, you made it look simple. Awesome video
GDEMU and DreamPSU clones are on AliExpress for $35-$38 each. The vertical battery holder can be had for $2.60-ish on eBay. There's a seller on eBay that is selling Maxell ML2032 batteries for $4.30 from Canada. All these prices include shipping! I'm about to deck out my Dreamcast! As soon as DCHDMI/DCDIGITAL comes back in stock, I am buying that too. I just downloaded a torrent with every single US dreamcast game in it in GDI format with all the artwork for GDMenu, my body is ready.
No don't replace the fan! I *love* the sound of the Dreamcast fan, that was the sound of Sega power. I don't know why; I've heard fans on other equipment, but for some reason the sound of the Dreamcast was magical.
Just wanted to say I loved the video. Dreamcast was last of the great consoles of my youth (well OK, I was oldish at this point, but I still felt young) , and after this I pretty much wandered off to my PC. Currently reliving my youth (been having fun with my Super NT) - but had been thinking what I'd really like would be to buy back a Dreamcast maybe for the odd game of Crazy Taxi. Video was perfect for giving me a recap on "what I've missed" whilst I wasn't paying attention.
Dig your stuff man. I just completed my Dreamcast (NA) library and was looking to get more out of my Dreamcast, and stumbled upon your vids. Nice work. Subscribed!
One thing I've noticed is that if you haven't used the Dreamcast in a awhile or had the system unplugged, the date screen will pop up even if the battery is good.
Yes, so if you play yours every week at least, you can recharge it enough in a few hours to hold power long enough to show the correct time the next play session you have.
Hi! I’ve just started this video, but I can tell I’m gonna love the rest! I’ve seen so much online bickering about wether or not consoles will become computers (on msg boards where people fight console vs computer all day). The Dreamcast *was* a computer! Not just because of the “Windows CE” stamp. It had (has), an optical drive, keyboard, mouse, a VGA box/cable to connect to a PC monitor and run 480p, 30 to 60 FPS, a 56k modem that can be swapped out for a broadband high-speed networkable modem, microphone for real-time VoIP (both in games or making phone calls), Japan got a camera (web-friendly video chats), removable storage that played games (VMU- so neglected!) and (I think) a mini, monochrome thermal printer). Isn’t that a computer? If the system lived long enough, it had the extra port on the back could’ve been used for several purposes! (Like a hard-drive). If anyone knows of a disc with Office-type apps like a word processor, I’d love to try it! I still play my DC more than anything. I sold my original Xbox, was given a 360 that I think I’ve turned on 12 times, tops. I’m currently building a Dreamcast w/VGA box and 19” lcd monitor + speakers into a suitcase. I got sick of hotel TV’s that won’t let you plug your gear in (often built without any extra inputs specifically for hotels). Wish me luck!
Something about the way GDR's were organized in their data tracks made them easier on the drive than CDR's. I still have two here that work relatively well. I love the GDEMU segment you did, because now I'm looking for it. Might bring my original Dreamcast back to life! Cheers!
This is why I subscribed to your channel you always have some exclusive content that is only on your Channel at least right now thanks I would love to see more videos like this on the Dreamcast
If people want, I can get a LOT more in-depth about the Dreamcast! This was meant to be a fun "overview" of some of my favorite Dreamcast stuff, but each segment alone in this could be a separate video, plus a TON more I didn't have a chance to talk about.
I would appreciate this. I just picked up a Dreamcast last month and I cannot believe just how much new tech is out and coming out for this often forgotten console. Its like there is a massive focus on it right now from all sorts of people in our little hobby. Plus, I am cautiously curious what those Sega licensed Retro-bit Controllers will be like for the Dreamcast. Oh, and thanks for what you do... I have built out quite a collection of consoles over the last few years thanks to your youtube channel and website!
Bob, GDEMUs purchased from the creator come with mounting hardware (at least mine did), including that longer screw and a plastic spacer so that the board can be secured without having to buy a 3D-printed tray. The clones, to my knowledge, simply include plastic standoffs. And, speaking of the 3D-printed tray, it would be nice to know what print material is best for these parts, for those who would prefer to either print them themselves or contract it out instead of buying premade at inflated prices. I ended up purchasing mine via 3D Hubs, and I got mine printed in translucent red PETG; the parts came out neat-looking, but the forward part doesn't actually clip into the upper case, and everything is kind of thready; still needs a good sanding.
Might be worthwhile replacing both regulators with TracoPower switching ones. Heat won’t be a problem then and it’ll make the power supply more efficient. Won’t need that janky resistor either
I use the inexpensive SD card adapter that runs off the serial port. It works great and I think I was able to test it operating no slower than a disc. Yes, you need to boot from a burned CD but it's not a constant strain on the laser.
When I bought my SD card adapter it even came with the boot CD, I just had to ensure that I also had the files on the SD card for proper use. I haven't tried running any games off it yet as I've been rather busy, but the only part of the set up that could be a bottle neck would be the serial port itself as modern SD cards are way faster than any optical drive of this generation.
@@SmallSpoonBrigade Same though I'm pretty sure mine didn't come with the latest version of the software. (Which is weird because it hasn't been updated in years) I don't think I've run into bottleneck issues but is extremely picky about which image files it will launch.
Thank you for info and link to the gdemu! Also, is you wanna play the dreamcast with the arcade pad please read this. NEVER EVER plug a controller in or out while the dreamcast is on. That the most common way to blow out the controller port.
Wow that was a super useful video. Everything you need to know in one place. Thanks!!! I ended up ordering the parts for the battery holder mod from your sources.
Thanks for the video. I did the battery replacement, fan replacement and GDEMU install with the resistor. My fan seems just as loud as the OEM Dreamcast fan was.
Man you be been on a tear! Totally thought the internal battery swap and fan were harder than I could do bit this seem do able! Thought the USB gdrom was a bit harder to come by as the person doing it wasn't too reliable. There is a way to directly add a hard drive (even compact flash) but requires quite a bit of soldering if I remember. I'm happy with the gdemu (though I waited forever to get that sucker) but I didn't know about the power supply issue .Don't know if the SD card reader is worth mentioning (believe there is a way to transfer saves and can load homebrew or emulators) or dreamPi. Look forward to the dc hdmi!
Would also like to see the brooks converter in action. Hopefully Retrobit gets the wireless dc controllers soon. The lightconn and dreamconn are also technical marvels.
I'm still so sad my modded Dreamcast got stolen years back. :( I hadn't painted it, but along with a broadband modem, I'd swapped the red power LED for blue, and traded stickers with a buddy in Euro who had the blue swirls. This was early 00's days, and after my clear-cased VMU LED mod I was happy as a clam. It got stolen when a roommate and myself were moving out around the same time, and I keep meaning to buy another and do it all over again and more....at least I still have my keyboard and mouse.
Very valuable video ;) Thanks for sharing. I might think of GD emu since yes GD rom unit can be tricky at times. When it's not the lens it could be the small white gears that may be the cause of not launching GD's.
The Code Breaker disc allows you to force VGA and boot all regions as well. I have been using it for at least 10 years, always works and I am still using my original Dreamcast I bought in 1999.
Cool stuff, man! I was team Dreamcast all the way in the early 2000s. I would've done this years ago if I knew how. Liked and subbed! Why doesn't Sega get the hint and license out a Dreamcast clone console? Or, since the parts are much cheaper these days, just start manufacturing and selling them again. They would sell WAY better than they did in 1999.
Thanks for the tips had no clue my internal battery was dead. Think we should put a piece of kapton tape over it just in case it fell out and caused a short circuit.
I’m surprised you didn’t mention drramshell and the sd card-serial port adapter. Way cheaper (and slower) than the gdemu. Also it’s a way better use of the bios mod
It is funny how time changes things. I remember for some time. that in my area it was almost impossible to find anything but that sports pack bundle Dreamcast. It looked great as a console, but I do not like sports or sports games, so I avoided it like the plague and never bought one. It one one of the very few limited consoles I never bought. I never can really think of it as limited, since there were so many of them made, but I would now gladly add one to my collection if I found one on good enough condition with low use...
I use the gdrom board by mnemo and replaced the fan with a noctua and its awesome, haven’t noticed any high temperatures, but I plan on using a pico psu at some point and the controllers and light guns by dream mods are sick, nothing like using a light gun on a new tv and Bluetooth in a controller with no wires
Great video! I'm curious would you ever do a video comparing all the power supply options now available for the dreamcast? I'm a bit torn between the options but not sure how to make the best decision?
My VMUs batteries die super quick when not even used for about 4 weeks, I can't be bothered to replace them anymore. I've done the battery mod, replaced the capacitor, resister and changed the LED from orange to blue because in the UK we have the blue swirl (opposed to America's orange and Japan's red). Getting the solder out of the holes can be a real pain without a desolder gun. Remember to use 99.9% isopropyl alcohol to clean the joints before and after, and flux over the joints when applying heat to protect the PCB from burning and make them heat through better, I tried copper braid but found a good desolder pump worked best for the holes. That's if the solder within wasn't too poor quality, also have to be careful not to tear the pads off of the legs are bent flat. Another thing I'd add, my Dreamcast sounded like a photo copier, it was worrying but apparently common. I used white/clear silicon grease a bit liberally on the disc drive's rails and it's noticeably quieter.
24:15 12V on SCART Pin 8 Status & Aspect Ratio is used to tell the TV that the device is on to switch to it and the aspect ratio of the device is 4:3. If that line is set to 5V it tells the TV it's 16:9. However not every TV will automatically set the aspect ratio to what voltage is given.
Yeah, it seems like a scenario where people might have to manually set the input and aspect ratio anyway, so I figured it's best to remove the regulator and go from there. I'm always a fan of doing whatever has the least chance of error and the worst thing that can happen after removing the regulator is...nothing :)
@@RetroRGB Yeah the automatic input switching and aspect ratio switching was on some TVs I used was rather annoying so this isn't a huge lost for me. Anyways great video you've made! I always wanted to get a Dreamcast but for me the only way to get one "easily" is to get one at my local fleh market which I haven't seen once, but now you rose my desire to get a Dreamcast ASAP elsewhere! Thanks Bob.
Oh man, thank you, this is great stuff! I think you just gave me the solution to get my copy of Vigilante 8 to play when using my Toro. I never had problems with Bust a Move when the switch was set to RGB, but Vigilante 8 never wants to boot properly unless I use composite.
The Lir2032 battery is bad because it is 3.6 volts instead of 3 volts. ML2032 is correct. I had an lir2032 from ebay in mine and continued to receive a time prompt when turning on my Dreamcast after having it off for an extended period of time.
@@djgates06 He's talking about the battery in the system, that is a rechargable ML2032. The two batteries in the VMU are regular CR2032 which can be bought on eBay in a 10pk of Sonys for cheap.
My PS2 laser died after about 3 years of moderate use with original PSX and PS2 game discs. My Dreamcast laser still works perfectly to this day. I've always had terrible luck with Sony's lasers and great luck with Sega's.
The pound cable is great, Sure it is not RGB on a Pro CRT but it is so convenient and still great quality, Only down side a few games will not work as the pound cable is a VGA cable as far as the dream-cast games are concerned. I have a Dreamcast in a Kiosk that uses an old commodore CRT and Composite and it looks good, I pull it out and bring it into my office for use with HDMI and my Monitor so between the two I can play all games. I gave up on failing CD's long ago, I went through so many so I got a USBGDROM board, I have the older USB GDROM that has one USB port in the back of unit instead of two facing inside. I have a 256gig Thumb stick with every game I want and more but I know the whole library would need a little more then that since I only run GDI files so each game is 1gig no matter what.
You forgot to mention that you don't need a region chip if your DC can read CD-r discs since they can read a boot disk that lets you boot discs from other regions. This is also almost a free method, since you download and burn it yourself and the boot disc is only read for a couple of seconds so it shouldn't be causing problems for the drive.
I don't understand the power supply issue with the ODE. Why would not drawing as much power overheat the regulator? I'd think it'd be cooler. If you use the resistor is the idea that it dissipates the heat instead of the regulator?
This was a great video. I was intrigued by your method for modding the power board so it didn't emit so much heat. I had a power board that kept overheating the pins meaning I had to routinely take it off and bend them gently into place on my launch UK dreamcast model. I eventually replaced the whole power board with a DreamPSU, an indiegogo project that moves the power board out of the Dreamcast enabling you to use a standard external 12v power supply. It's worked great for me!
Love your content. Great channel! A really nice video of Dreamcast solutions and mods. This will be a big help when I can get my hands on another Dreamcast soon hopefully! My dad had two Japanese Dreamcasts he acquired from the Arcade company he worked for at the time (which I subsequently worked for too). I believe those were region free as well. Anyway, we sold those... darn :/ BTW, cool Rust In Peace guitar on the wall at the end of the video! Do you play?
Yeah, I've heard of that, but never had a chance to use it myself. A friend has one and loves it. Also, the MODE is now available as well: ruclips.net/video/TJL9y6MPfDs/видео.html / bit.ly/sagmode
I didn't quite explain the CDr segment as good as I could have and it seems to be confusing to some people. The easiest way to say it: Unless you know what you're doing, use CDr's sparingly and overall ODE's are a better experience. Also, here's all the great other mods people in the comments have pointed out! There's no way I could get to everything in one video, so thanks for sharing!:
Controller Fuse: www.mmmonkey.co.uk/dreamcast-controller-port-fix-fuse-f1-replacement/
DreamPSU: www.retropsu.com/store/product/dreampsu/
DreamConn: www.dreammods.net/dreamconn.html
Controller adapter with built-in memory so no controller swap is needed: www.focusattack.com/brook-super-converter-ps3-ps4-to-dreamcast-adapter/
Detailed List of Dreamcast Models, MIL-CD Compatibility: users.skynet.be/t_chan/dc/mylist.htm
Self-resetting Controller Port Fuse (US Seller): ebay.to/2P1W9ET
Self-resetting Controller Port Fuse (UK Seller): ebay.to/2EQhNHt
Estaran Says:
I have something to add to the fan mod: Some time ago the Circuit-Board community did a bulk order of some fans that fit w/o modding the Dreamcast in any other way, you just have to swap the old fan for a new one. Here is the link to the forum post as well as for the website, where we ordered those fans: circuit-board.de/forum/index.php/Thread/18033-Sammelbestellung-leiserer-Dreamcast-Nidec-L%C3%BCfter-Keine-mehr-vorhanden-Alle-weg/?postID=464976#post464976 and www.on2tech.com/df310ri05l1c.html
Bob do you have a preferred method for those wanting to use CD-Rs? I've tried both ImgBurn and DiscJuggler and ended up with unusable burned discs. My Dreamcast is a model 0 and has no issues loading a bootdisc CD-R I burned but it either ignores or fails to fully load the 4 game discs I've burned so far.
Great video; It's nice to see Dreamcast modding content in video form (it's amazing how few instructional videos there are for things like Dreamcast BIOS mods, for example). For what it's worth, while I completely agree with you on ODDEs, a BIOS mod is much cheaper and while I admit being a bit intimidated by it without having a video guide, I recently came across this pcb that made the whole process super clean and didn't require removing the original chip - just cutting one trace, running a few wires, and soldering the resistors and new BIOS to the pcb. I found it helpful and chrome's French to English translation is perfectly serviceable and the video guide is well-done with auto-English translated captions. Definitely check it out, out of nerdy curiosity if nothing else :)
dragoncity17.wordpress.com/2018/07/27/sega-dreamcast-new-bios/
@14:00 thats flux residue and is can be conductive check the rest of you console for any other areas affected as you may see strange operation(s).
Yeah..the fan 3D printed modkit doesnt exist anymore,is there another link :)
RetroRGB is this gdemu the official board or a clone I didn’t see a serial number
When I went to college in 2002, my dad told me that he accidentally threw away my dreamcast. I waited in line at toys r us for two days back in 9/9/99, and they sold out before I could get one cuz of greedy assholes reselling them. I got one on Christmas of 1999.
I was so heartbroken I never bought another system, and had my fun restoring old cars...I wanted nothing to do with video games anymore outside of the arcade occasionally (tilt at aurora mall STILL there!) I tried the crazy taxi reissue on xbox...disgusting at best.
Guess what I just found yesterday?!? All my games and shit too!
This is the first video on the dreamcast I watched ever. Thank you so much for sharing this amazing info. Truly impressive. I am elated that the DC still has so much support.
So now I have an old school optimus stereo (radio shack) and an old school dreamcast in my old school rv (78 Chevy g30). The TV is newer. Things have gotten better/more efficient from a technical standpoint, but not from a design standpoint imo. The DC was perfect.
Thanks again man, awesome vid. I was very lucky to be a teen in the 90s and nothing else would have made me attain this next level of happiness.
Back to trying to master this huge map in crazy taxi 2, offspring bumpin hard, not giving a single fuck about shit.
This comment brought a smile to my face. Despite the trauma that was seemingly caused, it just goes to show how much this console meant to people. It's something I've never been quite able to put into words and I don't believe our vocabulary is capable of doing this console justice.
Supposedly, the Dreamcast 'died' on March 21st of 2001. The millions upon millions of viewers on Dreamcast vids relating to mods and how to still get the most out of this thing, suggests otherwise.
9/9/99- [tbc]
YA YA YA YA YA!
@@WhoTheHellIsHarvy Agreed. It never really 'died', it just went on to live a second life. I've already done most of the mods in the video, except for the controller fuse (which I might pass on) and the internal battery replacement is next. I think I prefer Voultar's method of adding the diode so regular CR2032 can be used. The DCHDMI looks daunting and I'm happy with the Kaico HDMI/mClassic combo I have now. DoA2 & GGX looks amazing with the smoothing/anti-aliasing, but not having non-VGA support can be a letdown.
@@anthonyyu2722 That's awesome. I have two, I think I'll try modding on. Not the most technical type of person but part of me always felt this just needs to be done. My original one I will leave as is (only thing I'd do with that is use dreamshell).
If there was an afterlife, and if I had the option of taking anything with me, it would be the Dreamcast.
@@WhoTheHellIsHarvy Well, you're gonna have fun doing it; I know I did. Had to look up dreamshell. Looks interesting, gonna have to check it out, or watch some videos about it. 😁 Good choice for the afterlife.
For me, the days when i spend with my Dreamcast was like a dream come true.
I miss these days
These videos makes me want to get an original Xbox and a Dreamcast.
Seriously these videos are a godsend for people that work on and collect retro consoles.
Your work is highly appreciated!
I legit dug my Dreamcast outta the garage after watching this... had it since 9/9/99 luckly i found my VMU and controller too! I'm really thinking of modding and getting into the Dreamcast homebrew scene thank you for this video!
Dreamcast seriously has one of the most elegant designs.
I like the sound my dreamcast fan makes. its nostalgic
Same
Are tou kidding me!! I always tought that noise was the cd drive, not the fan! Daim! Thank you Bob!
The fan is the "WHOOOOOOOO". The drive is the "GRONK GRONK SCREEEK!"
I can speak Dreamcast.
You can grease the gears on the GD-ROM drive to reduce mechanical noise. There are RUclips videos on how to.
same here hehehe
It's almost unbelievable that that fan was TOTALLY silent. I had headphones in. I'm a little skeptical. How??
@@zborgerd 😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣
Please do this for every single console lol I could watch this stuff ALL DAY.
How many illusions this console brought me when i was young.. best gaming console ever made, far ahead from its time..
like the little touch with the offspring at the beginning, crazy taxi never sounds right without YA YA YA YA YA!
I don't even have a dreamcast any more, not for a long time, but seeing a new video about it like dreamcast is still a new thing makes me happy
I like the original fan. The DC sounds like a Fighter jet
Ikr
You never second guess if its on or off
It really made Airforce Delta more immersive.
I messed up my dreamcast as a kid trying to play at night without my parents hearing by smothering the console with pillows because the fan and disc drive were so loud.
No.
Love these! Hope there's some sort of massive Dreamcast resurgence. Such a beautiful beast!
It seems to actually be happening now.
@@darkwitch8648 Yeah right. In fact with a lot of Sega stuff. Buy what you can before it gets too expensive!
This is awesome, i didnt know you could do all those things to a DC. I actually have two, the original one my parents bougth me a couple of months after Euro launch, and another one we got a couple of years after because we liked it so much that we wanted to have two in case ours crapped out. Both work to this day and i think ill mod the second one with all this. Thanks for the super-detailed vid!.
This is a fantastic overview, and has motivated me to get my two dreamcasts out of storage to see what I can do with them. Great job!!
I recently modded my Dreamcast with the fan and battery upgrade and the console works great! Would love to get the GDEMU for my next upgrade. Keep the content coming!
Please more more of these types of videos! With so many mods and new projects available these days, it's hard to keep track of everything. I find a video like this super useful for getting started, general maintenance, tips and tricks, quick video resolution explanation useful. Also the links to parts and cables helps.
Just finished all the mods, Dreamcast is running quiet and cool.
The same seller who sells the 3D printed parts for the fan mod sells a 3D printed GD-ROM base you can use with USB GD-ROM. No need to cannibalize an original GD-ROM. He also sells a similar tray to preserve airflow. Another benefit of how USB GD-ROM is mounted is the fact that you can easily slide the cable from the modded fan underneath the USB GDROM, which will certainly help airflow even further.
GD-EMU is very primitive when compared to GD-EMU, although if you want to cheap out, there are GD-EMU Chinese clones that according to RUclips reviews work exactly as the original.
When modding the PSU, you also need to remove the surface mounted resistor located right next to the 12v Regulator.
Wow nice tips with replacing batteries and using sockets, Its good that people mention them since it makes the job so much easier for consoles and cartridges
Hey Bob, well done on the video, as an avid SEGA fan/classic console fan/console modder fan, It's really nice to see videos like this. I've done all the steps you've mentioned in this video and can honestly say they're all really worth it. Big shout out to Dan for the work he's doing within the community, i've really been impressed with his digital audio mods for the consoles, my one tiny gripe is lack of documentation - but I can't be greedy when without his efforts we wouldn't have the options we do now :-) It would be great to see a part 2 of this video including optical audio mods, Dan's HDMI mod, maybe the DreamPI online modem setup to play online games again and maybe the controller board fuse as well! Keep up the awesome work!!
Thanks for making this video! I’m a fan of the Dreamcast (no pun intended) and I’ve been wondering what I can do to make my Dreamcast better. I accidentally broke my Dreamcast trying to look at the CD drive and haven’t touched it since, but once I get it fixed I’m definitely gonna get a bunch of quality of life improvements.
I used to hook my DC up to my PC monitor via VGA adaptor and the picture was Gorgeous. Never knew 480i could look so crisp. Looked just as good as 1080p does to me now.
love the video, I love "older" systems for their simplicity and unique designs i play Genesis on 1999 RCA 32" CRT television (modded) people like you is why i still watch You-Tube quality content is rare on You-Tube your content is true gold. I subbed and liked the video.
That Todd and the Book of Pure Evil shirt just earned you my subscription. Great video!
I'll never forgive myself for not grabbing the Sega Sports Dreamcast I saw at a local game shop for $30. I wanted to save money so I didn't want to give in to an impulse buy. Mistakes were made.
Bro... That was a damn steal. Sometimes impulse buying is the way to go as in the long it probably is cheaper compared to looking at the product now
I prefer the white dreamcast 100 %
I remember when I first had a Dreamcast and no one else would get one, I loved that console. All you need to do now is mail me that modded one lol. I didnt know you could install a card into it. Great vid, makes me wish I still had mine.
I always knew I owned three Dreamcast for a reason, now I can actually give my wife a reason, I need the back ups in case I screw up this simple soldering job! But watching it, you made it look simple. Awesome video
GDEMU and DreamPSU clones are on AliExpress for $35-$38 each. The vertical battery holder can be had for $2.60-ish on eBay. There's a seller on eBay that is selling Maxell ML2032 batteries for $4.30 from Canada. All these prices include shipping! I'm about to deck out my Dreamcast! As soon as DCHDMI/DCDIGITAL comes back in stock, I am buying that too. I just downloaded a torrent with every single US dreamcast game in it in GDI format with all the artwork for GDMenu, my body is ready.
No don't replace the fan! I *love* the sound of the Dreamcast fan, that was the sound of Sega power. I don't know why; I've heard fans on other equipment, but for some reason the sound of the Dreamcast was magical.
I always thought it was going to explode. lol
I came down to the comments because I knew this comment existed. Thank you for your existence 😅
It just wouldn't be right without that bootup whine..lol
Just wanted to say I loved the video.
Dreamcast was last of the great consoles of my youth (well OK, I was oldish at this point, but I still felt young) , and after this I pretty much wandered off to my PC.
Currently reliving my youth (been having fun with my Super NT) - but had been thinking what I'd really like would be to buy back a Dreamcast maybe for the odd game of Crazy Taxi.
Video was perfect for giving me a recap on "what I've missed" whilst I wasn't paying attention.
Dig your stuff man. I just completed my Dreamcast (NA) library and was looking to get more out of my Dreamcast, and stumbled upon your vids. Nice work. Subscribed!
One thing I've noticed is that if you haven't used the Dreamcast in a awhile or had the system unplugged, the date screen will pop up even if the battery is good.
It only charges it when its powered on? , and it goes flat on its own over time ?
Yes, so if you play yours every week at least, you can recharge it enough in a few hours to hold power long enough to show the correct time the next play session you have.
its because you need ML2032 battery and not Lir2032
The battery holds 2 weeks +- ,after that time it's luck when the date is still set. Not a big deal
Hi! I’ve just started this video, but I can tell I’m gonna love the rest!
I’ve seen so much online bickering about wether or not consoles will become computers (on msg boards where people fight console vs computer all day). The Dreamcast *was* a computer! Not just because of the “Windows CE” stamp. It had (has), an optical drive, keyboard, mouse, a VGA box/cable to connect to a PC monitor and run 480p, 30 to 60 FPS, a 56k modem that can be swapped out for a broadband high-speed networkable modem, microphone for real-time VoIP (both in games or making phone calls), Japan got a camera (web-friendly video chats), removable storage that played games (VMU- so neglected!) and (I think) a mini, monochrome thermal printer). Isn’t that a computer? If the system lived long enough, it had the extra port on the back could’ve been used for several purposes! (Like a hard-drive). If anyone knows of a disc with Office-type apps like a word processor, I’d love to try it! I still play my DC more than anything. I sold my original Xbox, was given a 360 that I think I’ve turned on 12 times, tops. I’m currently building a Dreamcast w/VGA box and 19” lcd monitor + speakers into a suitcase. I got sick of hotel TV’s that won’t let you plug your gear in (often built without any extra inputs specifically for hotels). Wish me luck!
Something about the way GDR's were organized in their data tracks made them easier on the drive than CDR's. I still have two here that work relatively well. I love the GDEMU segment you did, because now I'm looking for it. Might bring my original Dreamcast back to life! Cheers!
This is actually a well done and detailed video! I love my Dreamcast and have done a lot of these mods. Great job!
Came for the mods, stayed for the Todd & the Book of Pure Evil t-shirt
You had my like at the seaman reference. No shame I love that game.
@@ReveriePass I'm everywhere 😂
Thank you so much Bob! Your just the nicest and I love all the info on your site and the videos you put up.
So great! Good YouTubing: As a non native speaker (German) I understood every word. First class production.
Hallöchen, du sprichst auch Deutsch? Nice!
Coming back to this. Thanks for all the awesome info. Long live Dreamcast!
Space channel 5 theme in the background... nice!!! Favorite game!
This is why I subscribed to your channel you always have some exclusive content that is only on your Channel at least right now thanks I would love to see more videos like this on the Dreamcast
If people want, I can get a LOT more in-depth about the Dreamcast! This was meant to be a fun "overview" of some of my favorite Dreamcast stuff, but each segment alone in this could be a separate video, plus a TON more I didn't have a chance to talk about.
I would appreciate this. I just picked up a Dreamcast last month and I cannot believe just how much new tech is out and coming out for this often forgotten console. Its like there is a massive focus on it right now from all sorts of people in our little hobby. Plus, I am cautiously curious what those Sega licensed Retro-bit Controllers will be like for the Dreamcast. Oh, and thanks for what you do... I have built out quite a collection of consoles over the last few years thanks to your youtube channel and website!
i dont own a dreamcast, but i like that type of infovideo. lookin forward for more like this. thumbsup bob
Bob, GDEMUs purchased from the creator come with mounting hardware (at least mine did), including that longer screw and a plastic spacer so that the board can be secured without having to buy a 3D-printed tray. The clones, to my knowledge, simply include plastic standoffs.
And, speaking of the 3D-printed tray, it would be nice to know what print material is best for these parts, for those who would prefer to either print them themselves or contract it out instead of buying premade at inflated prices. I ended up purchasing mine via 3D Hubs, and I got mine printed in translucent red PETG; the parts came out neat-looking, but the forward part doesn't actually clip into the upper case, and everything is kind of thready; still needs a good sanding.
Excellent video to cover Dreamcast options. I just use RetroTINK on my Dreamcast for HDMI output to LCD TV.
Great vid great tip about the replacement battery
You've been going balls out with the presentation lately, and it looks awesome!
This video is amazing dude!!
I’ve just bought a Dreamcast and this is going to be sooooo
Helpful 😃
Currently I do not have any soldering equipment or know how to use it !!😖😝
Went in to cbeck out Dreamcast mods. Can't ignore the Todd & The Book Of Pure Evil shirt.
Nice 👍
I love the S-Video quality the Dreamcast had especially back in the day on big Flat Screen Tube Tv's
Great stuff. I ended up learning more than a few things from this, so thanks!
Might be worthwhile replacing both regulators with TracoPower switching ones. Heat won’t be a problem then and it’ll make the power supply more efficient. Won’t need that janky resistor either
I use the inexpensive SD card adapter that runs off the serial port. It works great and I think I was able to test it operating no slower than a disc. Yes, you need to boot from a burned CD but it's not a constant strain on the laser.
When I bought my SD card adapter it even came with the boot CD, I just had to ensure that I also had the files on the SD card for proper use. I haven't tried running any games off it yet as I've been rather busy, but the only part of the set up that could be a bottle neck would be the serial port itself as modern SD cards are way faster than any optical drive of this generation.
@@SmallSpoonBrigade Same though I'm pretty sure mine didn't come with the latest version of the software. (Which is weird because it hasn't been updated in years)
I don't think I've run into bottleneck issues but is extremely picky about which image files it will launch.
Thank you for info and link to the gdemu!
Also, is you wanna play the dreamcast with the arcade pad please read this. NEVER EVER plug a controller in or out while the dreamcast is on. That the most common way to blow out the controller port.
Wow that was a super useful video. Everything you need to know in one place. Thanks!!! I ended up ordering the parts for the battery holder mod from your sources.
This was super helpful/informative, thanks!
Thanks for the video. I did the battery replacement, fan replacement and GDEMU install with the resistor. My fan seems just as loud as the OEM Dreamcast fan was.
I never even owned a Dreamcast so what did I just watch? Actually impressed with your vid man it was very thoroughly done. Thanks!
Man you be been on a tear! Totally thought the internal battery swap and fan were harder than I could do bit this seem do able! Thought the USB gdrom was a bit harder to come by as the person doing it wasn't too reliable. There is a way to directly add a hard drive (even compact flash) but requires quite a bit of soldering if I remember. I'm happy with the gdemu (though I waited forever to get that sucker) but I didn't know about the power supply issue .Don't know if the SD card reader is worth mentioning (believe there is a way to transfer saves and can load homebrew or emulators) or dreamPi. Look forward to the dc hdmi!
Would also like to see the brooks converter in action. Hopefully Retrobit gets the wireless dc controllers soon. The lightconn and dreamconn are also technical marvels.
I'm still so sad my modded Dreamcast got stolen years back. :( I hadn't painted it, but along with a broadband modem, I'd swapped the red power LED for blue, and traded stickers with a buddy in Euro who had the blue swirls. This was early 00's days, and after my clear-cased VMU LED mod I was happy as a clam. It got stolen when a roommate and myself were moving out around the same time, and I keep meaning to buy another and do it all over again and more....at least I still have my keyboard and mouse.
Working on a towel is a great way to prevent scratches to your unit and helps stop small screws from rolling away.
Very valuable video ;) Thanks for sharing. I might think of GD emu since yes GD rom unit can be tricky at times. When it's not the lens it could be the small white gears that may be the cause of not launching GD's.
The Code Breaker disc allows you to force VGA and boot all regions as well. I have been using it for at least 10 years, always works and I am still using my original Dreamcast I bought in 1999.
Cool stuff, man! I was team Dreamcast all the way in the early 2000s. I would've done this years ago if I knew how. Liked and subbed! Why doesn't Sega get the hint and license out a Dreamcast clone console? Or, since the parts are much cheaper these days, just start manufacturing and selling them again. They would sell WAY better than they did in 1999.
I love the pause when he says allows you to talk to fish people and their fu**ing on the side camera 🤣🤣🤣
Best soldering video I've seen to date, great job!
Thanks for the tips had no clue my internal battery was dead. Think we should put a piece of kapton tape over it just in case it fell out and caused a short circuit.
This is one of most comprehensive and easy to understand video of Dreamcast mods/stuffs. Well done 👍🏼
I’m surprised you didn’t mention drramshell and the sd card-serial port adapter. Way cheaper (and slower) than the gdemu. Also it’s a way better use of the bios mod
Not going to lie this is one of the most amazing videos I seen in awhile to the point where Im motivated to do a lot of these mods
I love the looks of that Black Dreamcast
Is that kind of special release, or just mod?
@@sliczny18 i believe it came bundled with NBA 2k
I would love to put a mini-PC in that black Dreamcast, it would be awesome.
@@sliczny18 It was the Sega Sports limited Edition.
It is funny how time changes things. I remember for some time. that in my area it was almost impossible to find anything but that sports pack bundle Dreamcast. It looked great as a console, but I do not like sports or sports games, so I avoided it like the plague and never bought one. It one one of the very few limited consoles I never bought. I never can really think of it as limited, since there were so many of them made, but I would now gladly add one to my collection if I found one on good enough condition with low use...
I use the gdrom board by mnemo and replaced the fan with a noctua and its awesome, haven’t noticed any high temperatures, but I plan on using a pico psu at some point and the controllers and light guns by dream mods are sick, nothing like using a light gun on a new tv and Bluetooth in a controller with no wires
This video was just amazing and beautifully done.
Thank you!
Thank you for making and uploading this video
Great video!
I'm curious would you ever do a video comparing all the power supply options now available for the dreamcast? I'm a bit torn between the options but not sure how to make the best decision?
My VMUs batteries die super quick when not even used for about 4 weeks, I can't be bothered to replace them anymore.
I've done the battery mod, replaced the capacitor, resister and changed the LED from orange to blue because in the UK we have the blue swirl (opposed to America's orange and Japan's red). Getting the solder out of the holes can be a real pain without a desolder gun. Remember to use 99.9% isopropyl alcohol to clean the joints before and after, and flux over the joints when applying heat to protect the PCB from burning and make them heat through better, I tried copper braid but found a good desolder pump worked best for the holes. That's if the solder within wasn't too poor quality, also have to be careful not to tear the pads off of the legs are bent flat.
Another thing I'd add, my Dreamcast sounded like a photo copier, it was worrying but apparently common. I used white/clear silicon grease a bit liberally on the disc drive's rails and it's noticeably quieter.
24:15 12V on SCART Pin 8 Status & Aspect Ratio is used to tell the TV that the device is on to switch to it and the aspect ratio of the device is 4:3. If that line is set to 5V it tells the TV it's 16:9. However not every TV will automatically set the aspect ratio to what voltage is given.
Yeah, it seems like a scenario where people might have to manually set the input and aspect ratio anyway, so I figured it's best to remove the regulator and go from there. I'm always a fan of doing whatever has the least chance of error and the worst thing that can happen after removing the regulator is...nothing :)
@@RetroRGB Yeah the automatic input switching and aspect ratio switching was on some TVs I used was rather annoying so this isn't a huge lost for me. Anyways great video you've made! I always wanted to get a Dreamcast but for me the only way to get one "easily" is to get one at my local fleh market which I haven't seen once, but now you rose my desire to get a Dreamcast ASAP elsewhere! Thanks Bob.
Oh man, thank you, this is great stuff! I think you just gave me the solution to get my copy of Vigilante 8 to play when using my Toro. I never had problems with Bust a Move when the switch was set to RGB, but Vigilante 8 never wants to boot properly unless I use composite.
Is the Toro good? Bought a Hyperkin cable and thinking I made a mistake.
The Lir2032 battery is bad because it is 3.6 volts instead of 3 volts. ML2032 is correct. I had an lir2032 from ebay in mine and continued to receive a time prompt when turning on my Dreamcast after having it off for an extended period of time.
Are u talking about the battery in memory vmu or does that mean u need change battery in the system ??
@@djgates06 He's talking about the battery in the system, that is a rechargable ML2032. The two batteries in the VMU are regular CR2032 which can be bought on eBay in a 10pk of Sonys for cheap.
Very cool recap! Hope there will be more for other machines! great job!
I didn't even realize there was a black Dreamcast released. I now need one.
"fish....people." okay, subbed
My PS2 laser died after about 3 years of moderate use with original PSX and PS2 game discs. My Dreamcast laser still works perfectly to this day. I've always had terrible luck with Sony's lasers and great luck with Sega's.
The pound cable is great, Sure it is not RGB on a Pro CRT but it is so convenient and still great quality, Only down side a few games will not work as the pound cable is a VGA cable as far as the dream-cast games are concerned. I have a Dreamcast in a Kiosk that uses an old commodore CRT and Composite and it looks good, I pull it out and bring it into my office for use with HDMI and my Monitor so between the two I can play all games. I gave up on failing CD's long ago, I went through so many so I got a USBGDROM board, I have the older USB GDROM that has one USB port in the back of unit instead of two facing inside. I have a 256gig Thumb stick with every game I want and more but I know the whole library would need a little more then that since I only run GDI files so each game is 1gig no matter what.
Excellent video, and I hope you'll be making more videos going through available mods and accessories for each console :)
Todd & The Book Of Pure Evil was an awesome show, sadly got cancelled after 2 seasons, The redhead chick was absolutely stunning in it
You forgot to mention that you don't need a region chip if your DC can read CD-r discs since they can read a boot disk that lets you boot discs from other regions. This is also almost a free method, since you download and burn it yourself and the boot disc is only read for a couple of seconds so it shouldn't be causing problems for the drive.
Great video breakdown of process sir, much appreciated! I have ordered parts via links, subscribed and liked, cheers!
Jesus Christ, Bob! Amazing work! This is exactly the kind of video I like to see from you \m/
Kongrats and thanks man,good and informative video for all Dreamcast Fans!
I don't understand the power supply issue with the ODE. Why would not drawing as much power overheat the regulator? I'd think it'd be cooler. If you use the resistor is the idea that it dissipates the heat instead of the regulator?
This was a great video. I was intrigued by your method for modding the power board so it didn't emit so much heat. I had a power board that kept overheating the pins meaning I had to routinely take it off and bend them gently into place on my launch UK dreamcast model. I eventually replaced the whole power board with a DreamPSU, an indiegogo project that moves the power board out of the Dreamcast enabling you to use a standard external 12v power supply. It's worked great for me!
You are truly needed and appreciated. Thanks
Great video very high quality. Thank you.
You should show how to run Skies of Arcadia in VGA for the PAL version or just RGB for the NTSC version.
Nice video bro thanks for the tips i love the sega dreamcast :D
Love your content. Great channel! A really nice video of Dreamcast solutions and mods. This will be a big help when I can get my hands on another Dreamcast soon hopefully!
My dad had two Japanese Dreamcasts he acquired from the Arcade company he worked for at the time (which I subsequently worked for too). I believe those were region free as well. Anyway, we sold those... darn :/
BTW, cool Rust In Peace guitar on the wall at the end of the video! Do you play?
for the ODE, another option I've heard about is a CF card reader mod. This mod still lets you use discs, unlike GDemu.
Yeah, I've heard of that, but never had a chance to use it myself. A friend has one and loves it. Also, the MODE is now available as well: ruclips.net/video/TJL9y6MPfDs/видео.html / bit.ly/sagmode