Can you overclock a Model 2 Genesis?

[Genesis Knight]

I know it can be done with an M1, but I want to overclock my M2 so I can use the AV cables. Is it possible?

[David J.]

You can use AV cables with a Model 2, they make them you know?

[Joe Redifer]

Why would you want to overclock a game console? What good would it do to have the processor running faster? Would it decrease the slowdown in some games? Is it worth it?

[David J.]

From Wikipedia:

It is possible to overclock the Sega Genesis' Motorola 68000 chip by almost over 300% (the current known world record is 25.4 MHz), though it may not be completely stable beyond a certain point on each console. In a guide at Epic Gaming, the How-To carefully explains this process. Some chips can clock higher than others, and other factors come into play such as how tolerant the system's arbiter, RAM or VRAM are to overclocking. You can perform the process without buying anything (if you have wire, solder, a soldering iron, and 1 or 2 switches), though you can only overclock the chip to 13.4 MHz without the purchase of inexpensive oscillators. Overclocking the Genesis may seem a bit odd; however, in some games, such as Sonic the Hedgehog 2, the Genesis' 68000 CPU would struggle to display many sprites or crunch a heavy level of physics calculation; for example, after you get hit and the rings fly out of your character. Overclocking the chip by even 3 MHz can totally eliminate this. The overclock can be achieved by simply linking with a wire the chip's CLK pin (usually pin 15, it depends on the chip) to pin B15 of the cartridge slot's pin, which carries a 13.4 MHz signal, thus overclocking the chip; however it is advised to switch to 13.4 MHz after boot with a halt/clock switch pair (as is outlined in the guide) to reduce the likelihood of glitches or sound problems.

Another curious modification to the Genesis is to replace the stock 68000 processor with a 68010. The 68010 is a somewhat enhanced version of the 68000 which is a bit more efficient internally and features rudimentary support for virtual memory management. According to modder Robert Ivy, upgrading the CPU to a 68010 doesn't necessarily make the games run faster, it just reduces how much they slow down in intensive situations. Also, for some reason, sometimes the DAC's digital audio output sounds cleaner and less distorted. However, the 68010 is not 100% object code-compatible with the 68000, so machines modified with a 68010 processor may not be able to run certain games properly.

[j_factor]

Uh. The M2 never came out. Panasonic canned it due to lack of interest.

[Genesis Knight]

"You can use AV cables with a Model 2, they make them you know?"

Yes, I know, because I'm using them. To clarify, I want to overclock my Model 2 so that I can play on an overclocked Genesis system via AV cables. Overclocking a Model 1 wouldn't be much use because then I'd have to play through RF.

"Why would you want to overclock a game console? What good would it do to have the processor running faster? Would it decrease the slowdown in some games? Is it worth it?"

Indeed, it would eliminate slowdown in games, which I think you must admit is desirable. F-22 Interceptor, for instance, would be pretty darn fun without the slowdown.

"Uh. The M2 never came out. Panasonic canned it due to lack of interest."

M2 is referring to the 2nd model of the Genesis.

__________________________________________________ ____________

Okay, so back to my original question, or maybe even a little broader: has anyone overclocked their Genesis at all, regardless of model type?

[David J.]

Show me where you read that you can't used an overclocked Model 1 with AV cables. Overclocking a Genesis should have _nothing_ to do with what you use to hook it up to your TV.

[Genesis Knight]

The AV cables that I've got for my Model 2 won't fit in the non-RF jack on the back of the Model 1. I guess I have to buy something extra? All I've got for the Model1 is RF.

(no, I'm not saying that overclocking messes up output.)

[Joe Redifer]

I think he just means he doesn't have A/V cables for his model 1, nor the $6 required to buy them off eBay. You'd also need another $6 for a cable to run from the stereo headphone jack to the stereo system.

[David J.]

Ah, so all you need are Model 1 AV cables. However... I got Model 2 cables working with a Model 1. I have a Model 1 and I use that cable that came with the 32X, I think it was the conversion cable? and Model 2 AV cables whenever I don't have my 32X hooked up. Looks just as good.

Model 1 AV cables are pretty common, in the past I linked to a site that sells them for a buck, but the shipping is $6.

[Joe Redifer]

If you use the model 2 stereo AV cables with the model 1 using the 32X conversion cable, you will get no sound. The mono model 2 cable works, though. Of course the ONLY way to get stereo out of a model 1 is to have a wire coming from the headphone jack that goes off to somewhere cool.

[David J.]

I use the mono cables that came with the 32X.

[j_factor]

"Uh. The M2 never came out. Panasonic canned it due to lack of interest."

M2 is referring to the 2nd model of the Genesis.

Yeah, I know, I was just making a Joe Redifer style silly post. Everybody loves his shenanigans. How come it's only cute when he does it?

[Joe Redifer]

Because I'm me! :)

I did laugh at your comment, though. Lack of interest? That's an understatement if I ever heard one. Also don't forget that Genesis Knight hates online sarcasm.

[Genesis Knight]

And therefore I am extremely wary. =P

Thanks for the info, everyone. I'll go hunt me up some of those cables.

[David J.]

http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=search&item=CB-64&type=store

The shipping is six dollars, sadly.

[Genesis Knight]

"Yeah, I know, I was just making a Joe Redifer style silly post. Everybody loves his shenanigans. How come it's only cute when he does it?"

Because you don't have a bushy tail, buck teeth, and twinkling eyes like Redifer does.

[Zebbe]

How come the console is clocking 7,6 Mhz if it CAN clock 13,4? You don't drive to work with a Fiat if you have a Volvo in your garage...

[Genesis Knight]

Apparently the 13.4 is a little-used speed designed to help out polygonal games like F-22 Interceptor. It's got drawbacks, though, so that's why they made it optional and went with the more stable 7.6 speed.

[Zebbe]

Is there anything risky using it with a modification?

[David J.]

Overheating...

[Zebbe]

Oooh... that sound's bad! Maybe I'll skip this modification then.

[Genesis Knight]

Everything I've read tells me that there's no overheating, David J.

[j_factor]

If anyone cares, I was actually wrong about the 3DO M2! Sort of....

Panasonic did can the console, but 3DO M2 wasn't just a console, it was also an arcade board. And it was used. For one game. Which was actually released. So!

[Joe Redifer]

Which game?

[j_factor]

Looking into it, I was wrong again! It wasn't just one game, but two games.

The one I was thinking of was Battle Tryst, a 3D fighter. But there was another game called Polystars. Both were by Konami, and both are ridiculously rare.

The 3DO M2 was also used for a weird system that showed off real estate to potential buyers. I.. really don't know what that was like.

Panasonic paid $100mil for two ultra-obscure arcade games and a real estate demo station. Smartest thing Trip ever did.

The screenshots and footage shown by 3DO to hype the M2 console looked amazing -- like, on the level of Xbox/Gamecube/late DC games (and this was before anything had been shown on Dreamcast). But what little I've seen of the two games that were actually released looks merely PSX/Saturn quality. Although I have no idea what the specs are.

[Genesis Knight]

Gravedigging, yadda yadda.

Nobody knows of a way to do this?

[xBino]

GK,

Overclocking Genesis 2 doesn't give you the same results as Genesis 1. I think it has something to do with the circuitry that's been redesigned for the M2 to make it smaller and more compact.

Heat isn't an issue either. My nomad can be overclocked (I believe Nomad is based off of M2 architecture) either at 10mhz or 12mhz. Unfortunately, anything over 12mhz results in artifacts and crashes. The 10mhz OC helps with games that don't work well @ 12mhz. Nowhere near as stable as M1 @ ~13.7mhz.

Spending time and money to OC an old console like this can seem ridiculous. But I really appreciate the lack of slowdown in my games. Who wouldn't appreciate playing Viewpoint without lag?

[evildragon]

actually, the problem about the overclocking, is more to do with the 68k they used.. the model 2 Genesis has a surface mount version of the 68k.. a small chip too.. that's the reason right there, it's just not the same type of chip..

[Robivy64]

actually, the problem about the overclocking, is more to do with the 68k they used.. the model 2 Genesis has a surface mount version of the 68k.. a small chip too.. that's the reason right there, it's just not the same type of chip..

This is not correct. The smalleer surface mount package is only a change in the package, the core remains exactly the same as its DIP counterpart. The limitationlies within the modified bus arbiter and combo GLU/VDP chip .

[evildragon]

This is not correct. The smalleer surface mount package is only a change in the package, the core remains exactly the same as its DIP counterpart. The limitationlies within the modified bus arbiter and combo GLU/VDP chip .
thanks for the correction..

i was not completely sure about the model II genesis, as this is only what i was told...

[Fonzie]

"Apparently the 13.4 is a little-used speed designed to help out polygonal games like F-22 Interceptor. It's got drawbacks, though, so that's why they made it optional and went with the more stable 7.6 speed."

Ummm, I have high doubts about this information... You mean that it is possible to input your own clock speed from the cartridge port (with a clock situated into the cartridge or re-rooting the 13.xx mhz pin) ?

Any confirmation would be appreciated.
Also, i ran the game and did not find any "option" about this ... wow :D Would be nice.