Saturn Set-up Help

The MODE for Sega Saturn is slightly more involved than other systems when doing its install. There are a couple of commonplace mistakes that are frequently seen that we will attempt to highlight here. We will also talk about resolving audio or video errors that manifest after install.

Ribbon Cable

The Saturn ribbon cable that attaches from the CD assembly to the mainboard is the main culprit for many MODE installations. This is due to both improper placement as well as damage to the pins caused by reinstalling the cable carelessly. The "pins" of the cable are the exposed metal portion of the ribbon and they can be crushed or bent when forcing the cable back into the connector. This can cause unexpected audio or video issues. Additionally, the pins can only be placed into the Saturn and MODE in one direction. When viewing the connector on the Saturn or MODE please note which side has what appears to be ridges or looks like the tines of a comb. This is the side that the exposed pins on the ribbon cable need to face. If the ribbon is backwards (on either end of the ribbon) the Saturn will not boot past the bios menu. Also note that the 20 and 21 pin connectors have these ridges reversed from each other on MODE.

The 2-Pin Power Cable

If you have a Model 2 Saturn you will very likely need to use the 2-Pin Power Cable. This seems to be because the Model 2 have regulators on the motherboard that reduce the power by the time it reaches what used to be the CD assembly. To compensate TerraOnion provides a cable which must be placed in the +5V and Ground pins on the power supply. Please refer to the manual to view proper placement based on power supply type. Proper attachment of this cable involves wedging the wires into the tension clasp of the power supply connector so it is snugly attached. Failure to attach these cables properly can cause electrical shorting which could damage your Saturn or MODE.