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! With Rhea already around and the Satiator on the way, we’re definitely getting closer to a CD-less society.

The Phantom Universal sits between the Saturn motherboard and CD-ROM drive, allowing compatible CD-R backups to boot. It doesn’t remove the console’s separate region lock, so games still need to match the region unless another solution is used. Before installing the chip, though, we need to work out which type of CD drive is inside the Saturn.

First, disconnect the console from power and make sure there’s no disc left in the drive. There are five screws underneath the case, which can be removed with a suitable Phillips screwdriver. Once they’re out, the top shell lifts away, giving us access to the CD mechanism.

With the cover removed, we can identify the drive without taking the entire console apart. In this particular Saturn I found a JVC mechanism, which I checked using the markings on the drive assembly. The circuit board layout and chip arrangement can also provide clues, although the part markings are a more useful starting point.

The important distinction is the ribbon cable. Check the actual connector and consult the appropriate Phantom Universal installation manual for your particular Saturn model and CD drive mechanism before choosing the installation instructions. Rather than relying on a blanket JVC-versus-Sanyo pin-count rule, make sure the manual matches the hardware in front of you. Those connectors can look rather similar, and using the wrong instructions probably isn’t going to end well.

If you need to remove the drive assembly, the power and ribbon cables should be disconnected carefully. The drive sits on rubber mounts to reduce vibration, and the ribbon cable has exposed contacts on one side. I made a point of checking the orientation before removing it so everything could go back the same way.

One other thing to keep clear of is the power supply. Its capacitors can retain a dangerous charge even after the machine has been unplugged, and there’s no need to be poking around that section just to identify the CD drive.

That’s the drive identification sorted. The actual Phantom Universal installation comes next, once we’ve established which connector and instructions apply to this Saturn.

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