Sega Saturn display problem

Tech Talk
1

Hi guys,
Unsure where to post as as I opened a thread before and they said to post here.

I’ve hooked my sega saturn up, it’s av cable to scart. It came with it from when I bought it from eBay, and had it boxed for 10 years until now …so i get this screen?

https://m.imgur.com/W3fLYWE

This just needing needing a different wire for my hdtv?

…and the clock keeps restarting. .I’ve heard this is something to do with a battery but that’s a minor issue for now?

2

The clock issue is a dead backup-save battery. It uses a CR2032 battery, commonly used in watches. I bought a new one at wal-greens for cheap and it was easily changed, through the back panel.

I think it’s worth it simply to bypass the damn clock-set screen every time you turn your system on.

As for the video? I don’t know. Never touched SCART. I have my Saturn outputting S-Video, and connected to a S-Video-to-HDMI adapter for mine.

3

Alpha is right with one thing, try getting another CR2032 battery.
No they don’t charge but they last for a decade or two. Its the same battery used to save BIOS information on Computer motherboards and Keyring car door remotes.

As for your scart issues, make sure both ends of the cable is properly seated.
Is this the same display as before?

How are you connecting your scart cable to your TV.
My Best guess is ether their a issue with Sync or if its a newer TV the broadcast from the Saturn is too out of spec for the TV.
Many HDTVs now are very picky on the signals they receive, worst being most older game consoles are off spec for NTSC and PAL standards.

4

Ok thanks guys for clearing up the battery issue.

Its PAL. As for the tv and cable I used it years ago on an old CRT blocky tv and worked fine. They fit perfectly ok as of now but still the same display problem.

I’ll look into this s-video to hdmi wire. Is this a good/best quality image I can get?

5

You could probably find a way to get better image quality out of the Saturn but, S-Video is probably the easiest for those desperate to upgrade from composite. The Saturn can naturally output S-Video out of the box, so no mods need to be done. Only the proper cable.

Here is what i use:

Saturn S-video cable.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FEO58G8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

S-Video-to-HDMI converter.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019T0WFA4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

^^ This is what i use and it’s great, and simple to set-up. Just plug everything in and make sure its switched to S-Video. After gaming with composite on my HDTV for about a year, S-Video through HDMI was a sweet step up in quality.

6

RGB is the best output the Sega Saturn can output without some sort of Mod. Anyone says otherwise is wrong.
RGB is miles above S-video, like how S-video is better than composite video and RF.

An RGB Scart to HDMI would be a better solution than S-video ever would be.
You already have a Scart cable, no need to buy a S-video cable. And the cheaper RGB Scart to HDMI converters are the same price as a S-video top HDMI converter.

Here is a quick list of which Scart to HDMI converters to avoid.
https://www.retrogamingcables.co.uk/SCART-TO-HDMI-CONVERTERS-TO-AVOID

There are better converters out there like the OSSC and XRGB-mini Framemeister but they are more expensive.

7

I’ll take your word for it. As I don’t know anything about Scart.

But for the record, S-Video through HDMI with my Saturn is pretty nice. Games like Panzer Dragoon and Guardian Force look great.

8

Jesus christ there’s a fair few to avoid, some of them look legit too.

Yeah scart cables here in uk are 10 a penny, ive heard not so much in other parts of the world.

Thanks guys :slight_smile:

9

The problem Im pretty sure is the Saturn will be sending a analogue PAL signal (50hz) signal, and your TV is expecting something different.

3 ways round this I can think are:

  1. Scart to VGA cable (If your TV supports VGA) This may work. Its only like a £4 cable so maybe worth a shot??? Depends on your TV still, as a lot wont accept a signal from VGA under a certain resolution.
  2. Scart to HDMI converter. As others have said, a nice option but cheap ones may cause an issue with LAG, others that reduce lag are considerabley more expensive.
  3. Wire up your own converter with a Gonbes converter. These were designed to run arcade boards on newer TVs. Ive used them and are quite good and cheap. This option may not be ideal as there is wiring and power and stuff to sort out. But good results at a cheap price. I was actually going to make one for my saturn.
    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gonbes-Portable-Genuine-GBS-8220-V3-0-High-CGA-EGA-YUV-to-VGA-2-VGA-SP-/182327282738?hash=item2a738d8c32:g:YEsAAOSw-0xYXoQ3
10

There some problems with your post.

  1. Scart is not VGA. The Scart to VGA cables you do see are for specific equipment only and isn’t an actual Scart to VCA converter. What should be said its a Scart to HD-15 cable.
  2. I had the Gonbes converter, its terrible, and Most Newer HDTVs now lack VGA. If you are concern over lag don’t get the Gonbes, it lags more than the Framemeister.

The difference between Scart and VGA

  1. Scart isn’t a format on its own. It a connector type meant to carry multiple video formats. Scart can carry Composite, Component(YPrPy), and RGB (not all at the same time) or scart can be bi directional.
  2. When most people say Scart what they really mean is Scart RGB. Scart RGB is very similar (if not the same as Arcade RGB) 15 Khz carrier frequency. VGA is on a 31khz Carrier frequency.
    Older CGA, EGA, and other 80s Microcomputer VGA monitors are compatible with 15 Khz RGB, as well as some TV sets (mostly European, but american sets can be modified to accept RGB).
11

I bought a scart to hdmi converter box from eBay (was recommended by Adam Koralik from youtube and some other guys) anyway you were right @Darksakul , the hdtv was too picky for my rgb scart, but connecting this its worked well and has many settings 50/60hz pal ntsc and different screen sizes like 1080, 720 etc etc… although some of them look the same or slightly blurred more than others. Overall look quite sharp on a big hdtv

12

There is a number of people in the Retro Gaming/ Retro system modding community that at odds with what Adam Koralik says.
Good source of Info for the future besides here, other gaming forums such as Shmups forums, Nintendo-age and the Neo Geo forums, RetroRGB.com and the You Tube channel My life In Gaming
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpvtp7mH0Cdq8FQUxcjDq0Q

You also see where my own bias comes from

The important thing, is finding that solution that works for you.

13

Thanks man, I’ll check those out. Tbh I’m very impressed with the level of communication and help i get here. Its great!

What is the best screen ratio for saturn games, I know its what looks best to the user but is there any specific setting which can optimise the fluidity and graphics of gamplay. I mean, the saturn on a hdtv should i be running in full spec 1280, 1080, 720 and what he 50 or 60. Sorry for the million questions.

14

My life in gaming is the shit. I bought a PVM and Scart cables for all my old consoles that support them since following that channel. I recommend the same for anyone who want’s the best natural picture quality without the input lag.