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Topvint

@topvint.co.uk

380 followers 280 following 1.3K posts

Restoring, fixing and otherwise tinkering with game consoles and electronics. #retrogaming I now have an online shop! I sell pre-modded consoles, small mods and send-in services. Find out more at topvint.co.uk

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Topvint @topvint.co.uk · 15d

Original Xboxes are by far the most popular of my services, with more than twice the sales of the next categories, Mega Drive and PS2.

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Topvint @topvint.co.uk · 15d

PrometheOS let's us enable RTC use and adjust the time and date. The project page says that it should last 6-10 years 😎 Customer didn't want a new HDD so I installed UIX-Lite in his existent partitioned HDD. Maybe it can hold 2 or 3 games? 🤔😂

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Topvint @topvint.co.uk · 15d

Now about that battery. It is a Real Time Clock, in the form of an X-RTC mod from Team Resurgent. It also doubles down as a LPC port rebuild. It doesn't come with a way of holding a battery, so I just used a normal battery holder and routed it to the top for easy access

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Topvint @topvint.co.uk · 15d

Had to deal with the home of some guests that had vacated long time ago (or they are hiding very well!) 🕷️

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Topvint @topvint.co.uk · 15d

That's right, leaky capacitors. In this case it was causing no power. Sometimes they still work, other times it can create video artifacts or other effects. I see more and more of these now. It is no longer just the clock capacitor folks...

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Topvint @topvint.co.uk · 15d

But first, can you spot what (other) problem this console has?

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Topvint @topvint.co.uk · 15d

Order #4677

What? A battery with an modchipped #OGxbox?

Check below 👇 to find out what this is about 😁

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Topvint @topvint.co.uk · 17d

I heard the Sega CD model 1 is more messy and difficult to service. Hopefully I get to work on one sometime soon! In the meantime, check out my other Sega CD 2 services
topvint.co.uk/product-cate...

Mega-CD 2 - Topvint

topvint.co.uk

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Topvint @topvint.co.uk · 17d

Memory is now formatted and ready to go. Sonic CD is one of the games with a memory management menu

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Topvint @topvint.co.uk · 17d

The new memory needs to be formatted. Interestingly to access this menu you need to start the console without a CD, wait for the CD player menu, and then insert a CD so that the options button appears 🤷

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Topvint @topvint.co.uk · 17d

Once we make some space, I remove the chip with hot air and replace with new one. A wire is required to make sure the console doesn't get confused with the bigger-size chip (256KB vs 64). Is possible to bank-switch but we are not doing this here. I also remove the battery

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Topvint @topvint.co.uk · 17d

We need to replace the volatile memory SRAM chip with a non-volatile FRAM, so we don't have to worry about the battery to keep our games saved (which BTW is soldered to the motherboard) The chip is unfortunately under that bodge mess...

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Topvint @topvint.co.uk · 17d

Doesn't look like it, but there are a lot of capacitors. My trusty Hakko worked well but the capacitor legs are small and surrounded by many SMD components, so work is somewhat slow

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Topvint @topvint.co.uk · 17d

The CD pickup barely has any electronics in it and is all offloaded to the main board. I'm curious about what I assume is a massive round ferrite core, lodged into the shell, in which all the wires connecting to the motherboard are wrapped around..

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Topvint @topvint.co.uk · 17d

This model manufactured by Funai has an interesting bodge in the form of a small board with two extra chips, very much a-la Sega style. .

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Topvint @topvint.co.uk · 17d

Order #4640

I recapped and FRAM-modded this #SEGA Mega CD 2. Straight forward but interesting 🤔

Curious what I did? Check below 👇

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Topvint @topvint.co.uk · 21d

You are missing the joys of soldering! 😂 As you see I have picked it up more and more in the past year.

I will send you a DM later, excited to work on it!!

Topvint @topvint.co.uk · 21d

Oh, cool!
Very happy to refurbish it for you mate. I have done the model 2 but not model 1. Send me a DM if you want to go ahead. This definitely qualifies as part of my Free Modding program 👍

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Topvint @topvint.co.uk · 21d

You sure is not Aladdinboy? 😁

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Topvint @topvint.co.uk · 21d

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Topvint @topvint.co.uk · 21d

I also offer an N64 refurbishment service, but nothing else for now. What should be my next supported mod? Who wants to commissions me for it? 😁
topvint.co.uk/product-cate...

Nintendo 64 - Topvint

topvint.co.uk

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Topvint @topvint.co.uk · 21d

There is a new version of this mod which simplifies with only one flex and no PCB, but doesn't provide some of the advanced features. It is however much quicker.
bsky.app/profile/topv...

Topvint @topvint.co.uk · Jul 12

Order #3874-3

I installed a RGB mod into this #Nintendo64, but things didn't start very well...

Curious why? Check below 👇

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Topvint @topvint.co.uk · 21d

Oh, I initially removed the security sticker with hot air for preservation. The customer explained that the mod shop back in 97 had made adjustments a few times, so even if I didn't damage this sticker, there was sign of previous stickers that had been removed without care

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