Amazon Internal HDD Kit Query
Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2024 1:41 pm
Has anyone got any experience with the kits currently being sold on Amazon that are a from my understanding SATA-to-IDE converters but with the GD-ROM connector on the IDE side, as well as a replacement BIOS chip?
I was considering installing a GDEMU in my Dreamcast, but it's a VA0 model, and to successfully function I'd need to replace a lot of tiny little resistor arrays to prevent damage to the GDEMU itself.
However, I have done a stacked BIOS chip mod on an older console, with a switch to swap between the stock and modded chip before. Although that was way back in the prehistoric era of the early 200Xs... and I didn't really use the mod for anything useful. I did it just because I could.
But, those kits that are being sold on Amazon... and assumedly in other places at a much lower price too... use the custom BIOS chip to enable booting the console directly into DreamShell, which can then be used to access a storage drive connected to the GD-ROM connector.
I've seen a couple of videos on YouTube of some Chinese seller offering pre-modded consoles with 2.5" IDE hard drives installed on a similar board to the ones being sold on Amazon, but I can't seem to find anyone who has had experience with these SATA options.
I know it may seem hypocritical of me to state that I am more comfortable replacing a BIOS chip than the resistor arrays to allow my VA0 console to not murder a GDEMU if attached.
But, the resistor arrays are much smaller, especially in terms of the solder points spacing than the BIOS chip, and as I mentioned above; I've done a BIOS mod before.
However, I'd like some input from the community before I not only pay money for a product that has absolutely no coverage or reviews, as well as potentially risking damage to my console.
What may initially be a £30 to £40 investment for the mod kit may end up resulting in having to replace my entire console if these products are not good.
I'm also extremely curious regarding the images of the BIOS chip that comes with these kits, because it isn't the self-contained IC I am familiar with, and looks to be a smaller alternative attached to an adapter board.
I understand that production of the original components is likely to end at some point, but I haven't seen these alternatives sold as separate products anywhere else than these kits.
Finally; if these kits are functional, and work without killing the host console...
Are they any good.
As in; is running games from a hard drive this way good?
Or should I just save my money for another Terraonion M.O.D.E. to have installed permanently in my console?
I was considering installing a GDEMU in my Dreamcast, but it's a VA0 model, and to successfully function I'd need to replace a lot of tiny little resistor arrays to prevent damage to the GDEMU itself.
However, I have done a stacked BIOS chip mod on an older console, with a switch to swap between the stock and modded chip before. Although that was way back in the prehistoric era of the early 200Xs... and I didn't really use the mod for anything useful. I did it just because I could.
But, those kits that are being sold on Amazon... and assumedly in other places at a much lower price too... use the custom BIOS chip to enable booting the console directly into DreamShell, which can then be used to access a storage drive connected to the GD-ROM connector.
I've seen a couple of videos on YouTube of some Chinese seller offering pre-modded consoles with 2.5" IDE hard drives installed on a similar board to the ones being sold on Amazon, but I can't seem to find anyone who has had experience with these SATA options.
I know it may seem hypocritical of me to state that I am more comfortable replacing a BIOS chip than the resistor arrays to allow my VA0 console to not murder a GDEMU if attached.
But, the resistor arrays are much smaller, especially in terms of the solder points spacing than the BIOS chip, and as I mentioned above; I've done a BIOS mod before.
However, I'd like some input from the community before I not only pay money for a product that has absolutely no coverage or reviews, as well as potentially risking damage to my console.
What may initially be a £30 to £40 investment for the mod kit may end up resulting in having to replace my entire console if these products are not good.
I'm also extremely curious regarding the images of the BIOS chip that comes with these kits, because it isn't the self-contained IC I am familiar with, and looks to be a smaller alternative attached to an adapter board.
I understand that production of the original components is likely to end at some point, but I haven't seen these alternatives sold as separate products anywhere else than these kits.
Finally; if these kits are functional, and work without killing the host console...
Are they any good.
As in; is running games from a hard drive this way good?
Or should I just save my money for another Terraonion M.O.D.E. to have installed permanently in my console?