Dreamcast-Talk.com

This may be a stupid question, but I have tried to find a working DC 2 times, and both have not worked! One was used, one was brand new in the box! I know there are 3 types(Something like 0, 1, and 2). All the DCs I have had have been model 2s. Are they all this unreliable now? Can I find a model 1 or 0(if these are reliable), or should I just forget about the dreamcast, and move on to different systems?

Sorry to hear that, but all is not lost. First of all you might like to tell us what was wrong with those Dreamcasts as they can usually be fixed quite easily. There are people on here who can take you through the process.

Where do you live ? In the UK Gamestation sells used Dreamcasts for £29.99 complete with a guarantee. Maybe other countries have similar shops/deals ?

I wouldn't give up on the Dreamcast just yet as it's a fantastic system with some outstanding games, VGA/ED TV capability plus Broadband connectivity. And a great community

Edit: Sounds like you've just been unlucky so far.

There are plenty of places to buy DCs online. But if you bought one new in box which doesn't work - it probably just needs either of a few simple fixes.

Something to keep in mind is that every single dreamcast is now over 10 years old. Depending on where they were stored for this time, some connections may have oxidized and/or the disc drive's laser may need an adjustment (even for new in box models).

http://www.instructables.com/id/Dreamca ... ue-repair/
^Read this for how to adjust the laser intensity. It may have slipped during the past few years and now won't read discs. FYI basically every DC is going to have this problem at some point - one of my DCs didn't exhibit it at all for the last 11 years until just this last week, and it's been babied.

For any oxidation:

Open it up and detach the GD-ROM module. Attach and detach it several times until you "feel" it might be making proper contact with the mainboard again.

Do the same thing to the power supply connector as both might have oxidized on all the years it has been stored.

dodge2461: Avoid rev 2 models at all cost. They are easily the most unreliable units of the 3 revisions for Dreamcast. Their build structure appears to be of poor quailty and to make matters worse, its main components (GD Drive and Motherboard) are not compatible with the other 2 revisons (without some needed modification) so they cannot be interchanged with others if there ever comes a time down the road where you need to salvage said parts with the more common rev1 unit or even the rev 0.
I own 2 rev 2 units. One was purchased back in 2004 preowned at a gamestop. This very seemed to have been refurbished by Sega as it has a sticker that claims such a thing. My other unit was purchased recently (smashpack DC console edition complete and in new condition). It didn't work out of the box so I had to open it up and tinker with the drive. Luckily I got it to work after a few hours of maintenance. Always go for rev 1 or 0 units in the future.

Note: please keep in mind that my statement makes no such claims to previous revisions of Dreamcasts working 100% certainty. Keep in mind that purchases for these products are preowned and one cannot fully gauge the amount of care these products had from their previous owner(s). Dreamcast to me are very reliable if proper measures and care are taken.

Really, don't get a REV 2. They suck so much. This was SEGA's 'cost cutting' model as the Dreamcast died. As CD AGES said, get a model 0 or 1. Shouldn't be too hard, as model 1's are by far the most common. If you can't find one locally, try eBay.

And get the Rev 0 over the Rev 1 if possible.

Rev 0 have heat pipes so run cooler and have quality parts.

Considering he's having to go thru some lengths to just find any Dreamcast around his area, such advice could prove to be difficult, as such I've (as well as Alec1382) have put a more emphasis in finding the more common rev 1 unit over the rev 0 unit. Heat pipes or not, the DC doesn't suffer from overheating.