Official Rhea Discussion

Don't see why you would not want too, as checking the Ribbon cable is a must, if the Saturn is returning to the main BIOS screen, as this is a comms error most of the time.

However, I think you have answered you're own questions there, if the console had issues before replacing the CD drive and will most likely be nothing related to the ODE and SD card, etc. My guess is faulty caps on the motherboard/PSU maybe?? Try replacing the PSU?

 

If the motherboard is faulty why doesn't give errors with small SD cards? I am afraid of checking the Ribbon cable because I read that is very fragile, but should do it. Also will try to leave the Saturn open with a fan on the PSU to check if this improves stability.

Edit: With the Saturn opened and a fan pointed to the PSU problem persists. I removed the ribbon cable and put it the other way, problem still happens. As the Saturn is opened I managed to see that when a game quits to Saturn bios Phoebe Led blinks (SD card error).

 

Yeah, but like I say, if the issue was there before using the stock Cd drive, then it's not the ODE and not rocket science to figure that out.

I don't know why it doesn't give errors on small SD cards and yeah, the ribbon cable can be fragile due to it not being ZIF (Zero insertion Force). It's only if you keep removing and re-inserting could cause issues, yet again that is not the issue. The issue is the console MB/PSU or combination of the two, so if I was in you're shoes, i'd look into that before messing with the ODE/SD, otherwise you will be running in circles. That is my opinion

 

Yes maybe is that, as I have the feeling that the warmer is the Saturn, the less prone to crash. What can I check that has these symptoms, caps, motherboard, PSU?

 

Rhea/Phoebe only supports up to 32gb officially, which is why you have problems. Just use a smaller card.

 

I have been using a 64/128gb SD error free on Rhea and Pheobe and he mentioned he had issues before using the stock Cd-rom.

 

It seems like duenan only sells Rhea. When was the last time he opened orders for phoebe?

 

I have been using a 64gb card without issue as well. If temp seems to be affecting operation, pop open your Saturn and look for loose solder pads that need to be reflowed.

He just did a Phoebe order like two months ago. He alternates.

 

Had some testing and here is the evidence:
1) Cold Saturn (all night off) with a 32gb card inserted runs Magic Carpet intro during 5 hours without problems
2) After these 5 hours with warm Saturn I insert 128gb card and runs Magic Carpet during 2 hours without crashes, I turn off Saturn
3) The next morning with cold Saturn the 128gb card runs Magic Carpet during 3 minutes and crashes. Again if I leave it warm during 15 minutes or so it seems the crashes are gone.

Conclusion is that something is bad with my Saturn (maybe a capacitator) but the problem doesn't happen with smaller cards. At the moment I will continue to warm a bit the Saturn before playing, if problems arise more often then I will try reflowing some pads, but I am not good with a soldering iron.

 

I've seen some units that had issues unless they were "warmed up", but that would not explain why it does not happen if you use smaller cards.

Can you take a pic of the Saturn with the top off?

 

I used a PNY 64gb and it gave me no issues. It really does depend on the sd card, which is a bummer. The device is so amazing that it feels like a pointless thing for me to be disappointed in.

 

It makes me wonder if there are two problems occurring simultaneously: The too big card and the Saturn's mystery problem, it could be just a question of which one rears its head at any given point...

 

Hi, opened the Saturn and I think I got a leaking cap on the PSU. Please look at the pictures and tell me if this is leaking or some kind of grease.

Also, can the Saturn be damaged if I still use it before replacing that cap?

 

That's glue, not leakage.

I'd try replacing the TOP202YAI on that power supply, if that doesn't make a difference then I'd recap the main motherboard, paying most attention to the caps near the power connector, and the ones around the PLL (IC20).

Or just settle using a 64gb card; it's not like you need such a ridiculous amount of games on one card. There probably isn't even so many Saturn games worth playing.

 

Thanks for all that info, another thing I noticed on my Saturn, that happens randomly is like an horizontal line interference (similar as if it loosed vsync), I thought it was the RGB cable or even the TV but I have read that is associated with faulty PSU. I am going to try to find the TOP202YAI or TOP204YAI in my town and check if it does solve the problem. Maybe I should open a new thread with this as it is not related to Rhea/Phoebe.

 

There is a known problem on those power supplies where horizontal lines start crawling on the screen, the power supply starts buzzing, and CDs will fail to load - but it happens AFTER the unit has been on for a long time. Which is the opposite of what is happening to you.

Regardless, that problem is also caused by the TOP202YAI failing. That part is not under production anymore, but there is a modern replacement part, the TOP224YN. I've switched them out in a couple of power supplies now.

 

I have swapped my PSU with another one from a model 1 saturn that works flawlessly and the symptoms are the same. I checked the motherboard and to my eyes it seems ok, so i stop looking for solutions and concentrate in gaming after heating up the console.

Thanks for your help, maybe my saturn has something bad, maybe is just some kind of issue with the sd card but not worth the hassle to find the problem.

 

Hi Everyone,
I'm new to the forum although been lurking for a while - Very keen to get my hands on a Rhea board, although ordering is suspended at present. Anyone know when orders will be taken again? I doubt any sane member would have one for sale but would be interested if one became available.

Cheers

MJ

 

Nobody can answer that question of orders, as only Deunan can. Keep checking the site and have a RSS feed setup, as it's not actually hard to miss his updates and order his ODE's. I have 2 GDemu's, 1 Rhea and 1 Pheobe in my collection, yet for some ordering 1 device is a chore for them.

 

I had RSS apps set to notify me of changes to his site (aka he opens orders). I created a wordpress account so that I would be emailed when his blog was updated. I posted a comment on his blog and ticked the boxes to be notified when a new post was made. And I STILL never got notification that pre-orders were open. So it's not always a matter of "being easy" to get the device. I've since resorted to checking the blog twice a day.