Saturn Action Replay Plus 4M Auto Dual Boot Mod

[MicroNut99]

Hey guys here is a simple mod i have done to my Action Replay 4M Plus cartridge so i can dual boot the Action Replay firmware as well as the Pseudo Saturn Kai Lite firmware or a different firmware, For anyone interested here is the guide i've done....

Just wanted to add with this mod it's possible to enable direct save support on the second bank by flashing a Memory Card Plus firmware to it. Since I rarely use codes I just leave it on bank 2 and am able to both save to cart and use RAM games with no issues. Pairs great with a Fenrir.

This is all I've ever wanted out of a Sega cart.
Thank all of you!

 

[RazorX]

Very Good

Mine is already with pseudo saturn. If I do this schematic, how would I put the original ActionReplay flash back into the cartridge?

Thanks

if i remember correctly you'd want to boot up the pseudo saturn flasher disc and then remove the cartridge and leave it booted then do the mod and plug it back in and flash pseudo saturn kai lite back onto it then after it's flashed on there change the switch position and flash the original action replay firmware on it and that should be it done.

 

[RazorX]

This is all I've ever wanted out of a Sega cart.
Thank all of you!

you're welcome

 

[L2000]

I also joined to say thanks for making this mod public . Just wanted to know if a switch could be added to switch between 1mb and 4mb mode if the cart in your tutorial is the same ?

 

[RazorX]

I also joined to say thanks for making this mod public . Just wanted to know if a switch could be added to switch between 1mb and 4mb mode if the cart in your tutorial is the same ?

i only tried for a short time to see if i could do that but i had no success but i didn't put too much time into it so it maybe possible.

 

[L2000]

Thanks for the reply @RazorX , would you mind sharing your research on this as I’ve been interested in if this would be possible since I stumbled across your initial post , I’ve tried tracking the traces to and from the switches on the carts that have this feature but always run into a brick wall as the only visual resource I have are the low res images of those carts online , and those are so varied it gets confusing . I will completely understand if you do not wish to share your own research into this particular cart in your tutorial.

 

[xrider]

Hello,

Thanks RazorX for the tutorial.

Great job finding out that A17 was unpiloted and connected to GND. We can now use 100% of the eeprom's capacity

 

[RazorX]

Hello,

Thanks RazorX for the tutorial.

Great job finding out that A17 was unpiloted and connected to GND. We can now use 100% of the eeprom's capacity

not a problem

 

[RazorX]

Thanks for the reply @RazorX , would you mind sharing your research on this as I’ve been interested in if this would be possible since I stumbled across your initial post , I’ve tried tracking the traces to and from the switches on the carts that have this feature but always run into a brick wall as the only visual resource I have are the low res images of those carts online , and those are so varied it gets confusing . I will completely understand if you do not wish to share your own research into this particular cart in your tutorial.

Hello,

Thanks RazorX for the tutorial.

Great job finding out that A17 was unpiloted and connected to GND. We can now use 100% of the eeprom's capacity

I've stripped the motherboard and scanned it in at 1200 DPI, I'm sure this will be of use to someone 😀

Saturn Action Replay Plus 4M Auto Board Scans & Measurements (1200 DPI)

As the title suggests i have stripped and scanned my sega saturn action replay and scanned in the motherboard at 1200 dpi so you can see and follow any of the traces for anyone who is interested in recreating or modding it. Front: Back: Board Measurements: Main Components: Notes: C3...

segaxtreme.net

 

[Matilija]

I tried this mod, and when the switch is in ground mode, all is well, but if it's in VCC mode, the console won't power on at all. I'm guessing there is something wrong with the switch I installed.

Nvm, found the problem, pin 17 on the top Eeprom had a small solder bridge still connecting to the pad that I missed, it looked like it was lifted, but there was a hairline solder trace still there.

 

[RetroSaurus]

Thank you for this tutorial. I would never say this was possible!

Although now I’m wondering (probably a stupid or naive question): Is there a single cart firmware which combines Action Replay AND Memory Cart Plus at once?

Cheers