[Spindash54]

Well my 32X has worked fine on my Genesis 1 and 2's for years, metal prongs and all. I had gotten it new for 30 bucks years ago. And Chaotix is still the only game I ever used with it.

[Meat Miracle]

The way I understand it the 32x is just a finicky piece of shit that decides if it works or not based on how the stars align at that moment.

Anyway to stay on topic: is there a chance we could collect all the serial numbers for different MD motherboards here?
What I have is:

Megadrive 1
- 171-5872-20, no 837-x number, PAL VA4, found in MK-1600-03, MK-1600-05, MK-1601-15, MK-1600-18
- 171-5963-10, no 837-x number, USA VA6
- 171-5963-21, no 837-x number, PAL VA6, found in MK-1601-07
- 171-5963-30, no 837-x number, PAL VA6, found in MK-1601-03, MK-1601-05, MK-1601-18
- 171-5963-40, no 837-x number, PAL VA6.8
- (171-x unknown), 837-6656, presumably JPN VA0
- (171-x unknown), 837-6832, ntsc (unknown) VA1 (presumably jpn)
- (171-x unknown), 837-6992, USA VA2
- (171-x unknown), 837-7071, USA VA3
- (171-x unknown), 837-7138, ntsc (unknown) VA4
- unknown, VA5
- unknown, USA VA6
- unknown, USA VA7

Megadrive 2
- unknown, PAL VA0
- 171-6534A-21, no 837-x number, PAL VA1, found in MK-1631-50
- 171-6534B-20, no 837-x number, PAL VA1.8
- 171-6534B-21, no 837-x number, PAL VA1.8, found in MK-1631-50
- 171-6534B-21, no 837-x number, PAL VA1.8 (the -21 one seems to have less pcb holes around the power input, that's the only difference I noticed)
- unknown, JPN VA1
- unknown, USA VA0
- unknown, USA VA1.8
- unknown, USA VA3
- unknown, ASIA VA1.8
- unknown, VA4. This one uses a 315-5960 with an integrated 68k.

Genesis 3
- 171-7545C, 837-x unknown, VA1(?)
- 171-7652D, 837-x unknown, VA2(?)
(the motherboard revision is not printed anywhere, but based on the serials it should go up at least to VA2)

I have picture proof for all of these numbers. It looks like many models have no 837-x serial at all. Since most pictures I found only have the front of the board, the 171-x number is missing.

Also, it seems the earliest PAL model for Megadrive 1 was VA4.

This post has been edited by Meat Miracle: 30 August 2012 - 11:00 AM

[Black Squirrel]

There are many different types of PAL - a French Mega Drive is likely to be slightly different from a UK one. There could be dozens of minor variations to take into account slightly different TV setups.

I don't think it's as clear-cut as the internet likes to think it is. The stickers on the underside can vary between country so I imagine the boards can too.

This post has been edited by Black Squirrel: 11 July 2012 - 08:11 AM

[Meat Miracle]

The motherboard is still the same in them regardless if they are UK or French, or even on some ASIA PAL model. There is NOTHING region specific on the motherboard, other than PAL or NTSC, and they likely reused a lot of them to save costs. Even the underside stickers have little variation. Only the actual box / manuals have some, if any, variation.

For example, the Samsung Saturn used the exact same motherboard as a japanese saturn - the only difference were a few components on the board (jumpers and bios rom). Power supply, packaging, etc, were all different, but the motherboard itself was the same.

This post has been edited by Meat Miracle: 11 July 2012 - 08:43 AM

[MooMoo]

Sorry to be so noobish, I don't know much about the differences in hardware bar the obvious visual properties, but I recently bought a replacement MD1 so my old MD1 could retire, and though its cosmetically and regionally identical, the new one has "made in Thailand" and the patents stamped into the plastic, whereas the old one had "made in China" and a patents sticker. My old one had a date stamp inside also, but the new one does not. Is it possible to determine which would be the older or newer Mega Drive? Is there likely to be any differences between the two? I was just curious with them having different areas of manufacture and a different shell with the patent stamping on one.

[Meat Miracle]

Best bet is opening them up since no one figured out how the serial codes correspond to manufacturing/internal hardware.

They could very well have the same hardware, with just the shell being manufactured elsewhere/elsewhen, though.

[SpeedStarTMQ]

I think newer versions are made in China. Older versions seem to be made elsewhere. My uncle no longer has his Mega Drive but I did nab the controller before he lost it/got rid of it when moving, and it's made in Taiwan. My Mega Drive I (which does not have the HD Graphics sign on it) is made in China, as are the controllers, as is everything to do with my Sonic 2 bundle Mega Drive II.

Serial numbers are no help because no one knows what the heck is going on with them.

Interesting also to note that the official blue start buttoned Mega Drive controller I bought in Cash Converters a few years ago has "made in Taiwan". According the the wiki page, these controllers were the original Japanese, though I have no idea how one got over here in the UK:


So everything seems to point out that "Made in China" means it's a newer model though I really need confirmation on this.

Lastly, another factor I've found is that the two "Made in Taiwan" controllers have a smooth finish, whereas the other controllers have a tiny little bumped surface like there's some sort of slight grip on the controllers, whereas the old ones are totally smooth. No one's pointed this out either.

This post has been edited by SpeedStarTMQ: 16 July 2012 - 04:04 AM

[Meat Miracle]

"Made in xyz" is not a clear indication of whether a model is newer or later, because they very probably had manufacturing/assembly plants at several location, active at the same time. The Saturn at its peak was made in 10 different plants in 7 different countries, at the same time. And the Megadrive was a hell of a lot more popular than the Saturn.

Also, the PCBs and the plastic cases were probably made at different locations too.

Like I said, your best bet is opening it up and checking the actual dates on the board and the case.

[MooMoo]

Meat Miracle, on 16 July 2012 - 10:54 AM, said:

"Made in xyz" is not a clear indication of whether a model is newer or later, because they very probably had manufacturing/assembly plants at several location, active at the same time. The Saturn at its peak was made in 10 different plants in 7 different countries, at the same time. And the Megadrive was a hell of a lot more popular than the Saturn.

Also, the PCBs and the plastic cases were probably made at different locations too.

Like I said, your best bet is opening it up and checking the actual dates on the board and the case.

Yeah, only my Chinese one appears to have a datestamp though, I wouldnt know how to go about dating the Thai one. :/

This post has been edited by MooMoo: 16 July 2012 - 01:26 PM

[Meat Miracle]

It should have some form of datestamp on the inside. Either on the plastic case, or on the motherboard. Or if neither is present, you can still approximate from the manufacturing dates on each ICs (which is grossly inaccurate because IC stock may have been way older than the actual manufacturing, but it's still a date).

[MooMoo]

Just wondering, does the pin connector at the back of the MD1 give you stereo sound? Or is the front output still the superior source of sound?

[SpeedStarTMQ]

Back pin gives mono sound only I'm afraid. Found this out when I bought a normal RGB. Had to buy an RGB with an extra bit of lead with a headphone jack connector. Totally worth it and you can buy them for about £9 online- try eBay if need be!

[MooMoo]

Meh, Id just spent about £10 on the scart. :T I'll make do, the picture is great at least.

[SpeedStarTMQ]

Too bad, I have a spare mono cable I'd have been happy to give a discount on for you! I initially bought one too before I realised :P

[MooMoo]

I do have a headphone jack - jack wire I could use to plug into the TV, but I doubt Id even notice really. Its not something Id really pick up on unless I had proper speakers I reckon. The picture improvement was my mail goal, and thats sorted. I guess I can just use headphones anyway now I have the new and more functional MD.