The Blog

Sega Saturn Phantom Universal Modchip Installation Tips

Nix McRetro // 12th January 2020 // Guides, Sega, YouTube

This one went into a Victor V-Saturn that had recently been unmodded. We’ve fitted the much newer Phantom Universal, developed by Bad_Ad84 and Zer0-2k11. If he’s still out there, here’s to you, Bad_Ad84! The chip lets CD-R backups boot, but the region lock is still there; imports need something like... Continue reading

Sega Saturn Phantom Universal Modchip CD Drive Identification

Nix McRetro // 6th January 2020 // Guides, Sega, YouTube

This week we’ve got a bunch of Phantom Universal videos recorded way back in 2016. Hopefully they’re still relevant to the Saturns of today! The chip sits between the Saturn motherboard and CD-ROM drive and lets compatible CD-R backups boot, but it leaves the separate region lock in place. With... Continue reading

Dumping the Apple 341-0813 Mac Classic ROM

Nix McRetro // 5th January 2020 // Apple

Dumping the Apple 341-0813 Mac Classic ROM

Ah yes, the old Apple 341-0813 ROM, stored in a TC534200P-F749 mask ROM. Its pin layout matches the M27C400 EPROM, whose programmer profile worked for reading it. The GQ-4X’s D27C4000 / uPD27C4000 profile also produced usable reads. These were read profiles for this ROM, not programming settings for a mask... Continue reading

Super Famicom and the Green Line of Doom (Part 2)

Nix McRetro // 4th January 2020 // Hacks, Nintendo, YouTube

After three and a half years I can finally put this one to rest and purge it from my mind. The Samsung TV I was using it on has also since died. Is that a little too convenient? It might just be. Continue reading

Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2013) Repair

Nix McRetro // 2nd January 2020 // Apple, Repairs, YouTube

My then-current Retina MacBook Air, with its butterfly keyboard, was already showing the familiar w and Return-key symptoms covered by Apple’s Keyboard Service Program for MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro. Annoying. I really did miss my old MacBook Air sometimes. It had superior key travel. When did Apple announce... Continue reading