Saturn Core Does Not Launch Games

[rhester72]

Glad to hear it!

[gusmoney]

No true, it must be your settings as every game i throw at it works.

He has the Antonio Villena 4C ram and refuses to try a standard 2-chip variant.

@kolwe-x

You obviously sorted it out. Have fun.

Oh ok so he is acting ignorant. The developer said those rams would no work properly because of bandwidth.

I am in a similar spot with having potentially the same RAM issue. Do we know where that RAM was said not to work? Also, which developer, the Saturn core guy or Villena?

[rhester72]

I'm not sure whether a formal statement was made, but if RAM is the issue, it's obvious...the games just won't work reliably (i.e. a handful may work sporadically, but that's it).

Sound issues are NOT a function of incompatible RAM.

[gusmoney]

Games are not working for me but I would say "obvious" regarding RAM as being the issue is not certain. Potentially could be the Bios, the game files I have, the CHD conversion I performed, etc.

[rhester72]

Games are not working for me but I would say "obvious" regarding RAM as being the issue is not certain. Potentially could be the Bios, the game files I have, the CHD conversion I performed, etc.

Sorry, allow me to add another qualifier.

If your games aren't working, and you have 4-chip RAM modules...don't complain, the RAM is the problem.

If your games aren't working and you have 2-chip RAM modules, describe the issue in detail and folks will help as they can.

With proper images and BIOS, the public core is highly reliable...but then, that's the case with any other core.

[gusmoney]

Thank you for the feedback. Trying to get to the bottom of my problem and I wasn't totally aware of the RAM being classified as you clearly describe.

This problem speaks volumes to Villena's products. They can be great but if my RAM is the problem that would mean I need a second replacement stick from my original purchase. Might give a future buyer pause.

[JakubH]

I am in a similar spot with having potentially the same RAM issue. Do we know where that RAM was said not to work? Also, which developer, the Saturn core guy or Villena?

Hi,

Sergiy wrote about this on patreon, quoting:

"This is the first core in which the memory chips are interleaved (run in parallel) to obtain the required bandwidth. This is a necessary requirement for the core to work in single sdram mode. Due to longer track lengths and more load on chip ports, it is not possible to guarantee normal work on 4 chip sdram module. Sorry."

[gusmoney]

Thanks, JakubH. I am a Patreon of his but I need to be more proactive tracking down his communiques.

I am in a similar spot with having potentially the same RAM issue. Do we know where that RAM was said not to work? Also, which developer, the Saturn core guy or Villena?

Hi,

Sergiy wrote about this on patreon, quoting:

"This is the first core in which the memory chips are interleaved (run in parallel) to obtain the required bandwidth. This is a necessary requirement for the core to work in single sdram mode. Due to longer track lengths and more load on chip ports, it is not possible to guarantee normal work on 4 chip sdram module. Sorry."

[MrsBison]

Hi there,

have a strange issue...

99% of my Games running well. I tried In the Hunt (USA) It dont start. Japan version too.
Than i tried the Europe version. First didnt start than i set the system manual to europe --> restart than it worked well.
It runs better than the arcade core. Less slowdowns... So anyone running a US / JAP version which works ?

To be honest the best version of In the Hunt which runs nearly flawless depending slowdowns is the PSX version.

Knd regards

[Retro-Nerd]

For "In the Hunt" you have to disable the joypad in port 2 (in Mister Core settings). Then it boots fine. It's a game bug, happens on real Saturn hardware too. Same for Shinobi X/Legions.

[MrsBison]

Hey

Ok great news.

Thanx alot.

[grokr]

I'm having a problem getting Super Tempo to load. I get a black screen after the blue SEGA logo disappears. I'm running the latest build from update all. I've tried every bios from archive.org with the game with no luck. I have Two 2C v2.9 RAM. All my other games so far load fine. The image( bin/cue format) works on my Saturn fine. Any ideas or suggestions?

[FPGA64]

I'm having a problem getting Super Tempo to load. I get a black screen after the blue SEGA logo disappears. I'm running the latest build from update all. I've tried every bios from archive.org with the game with no luck. I have Two 2C v2.9 RAM. All my other games so far load fine. The image( bin/cue format) works on my Saturn fine. Any ideas or suggestions?

The core is Alpha and not finished so waiting is the only option

[grokr]

I'm having a problem getting Super Tempo to load. I get a black screen after the blue SEGA logo disappears. I'm running the latest build from update all. I've tried every bios from archive.org with the game with no luck. I have Two 2C v2.9 RAM. All my other games so far load fine. The image( bin/cue format) works on my Saturn fine. Any ideas or suggestions?

The core is Alpha and not finished so waiting is the only option

I'm a Patreon of the core developer and he said it should work. The guy who runs Video Game Esoterica on YouTube also said it works. So, I'm kind of hopeful that it's something I'm doing wrong.

[Chris23235]

I'm having a problem getting Super Tempo to load. I get a black screen after the blue SEGA logo disappears. I'm running the latest build from update all. I've tried every bios from archive.org with the game with no luck. I have Two 2C v2.9 RAM. All my other games so far load fine. The image( bin/cue format) works on my Saturn fine. Any ideas or suggestions?

The core is Alpha and not finished so waiting is the only option

I'm a Patreon of the core developer and he said it should work. The guy who runs Video Game Esoterica on YouTube also said it works. So, I'm kind of hopeful that it's something I'm doing wrong.

Same here, black screen after the Sega Logo. Maybe it is our dump of the game that's the fault?

[FPGA64]

I get a black screen too, dual ram one 2.9 and one 2.5. Nothing else gives issues. This is with the CHD version

[JakubH]

I have no idea with what core VGE tested Super Tempo, but this game with the current core does not work. It certainly worked with some earlier core, so this is a regression.

[grokr]

Does Sergiy take reports of what does not work?

[Retro-Nerd]

Sure, if you have a Github account:

https://github.com/MiSTer-devel/Saturn_MiSTer/issues

[pbsk8]

I have the boot.bin the games folder

Tried super tempo with japan on osd menu and in the hunt with usa selected, and both only black screen.

The bios doesnt even show up when I start the core, but if I run the bios from the bin option it runs, but not the games.

Other games like guardian heroes and bomberman run fine.

[FPGA64]

Boot rom should be called boot.rom not boot.bin

For best compatabiliity a 2.9 or 3.0 Ram is needed. 2.5 tends to give scratchy sound. The Ram must also be the 2 chip variety. 4 chip Ram will not work with the core.

[pbsk8]

Boot rom should be called boot.rom not boot.bin

For best compatabiliity a 2.9 or 3.0 Ram is needed. 2.5 tends to give scratchy sound. The Ram must also be the 2 chip variety. 4 chip Ram will not work with the core.

Other games are running, I have v2.5 2 chip

and according to this video it should be boot.bin

https://youtu.be/fGLlipBkHlA

[FPGA64]

Boot rom should be called boot.rom not boot.bin

For best compatabiliity a 2.9 or 3.0 Ram is needed. 2.5 tends to give scratchy sound. The Ram must also be the 2 chip variety. 4 chip Ram will not work with the core.

Other games are running, I have v2.5 2 chip

and according to this video it should be boot.bin

https://youtu.be/fGLlipBkHlA

Video is out of date. It used to have to be boot.bin because a bug in the core caused a crash. Its needed to be boot.rom now for many months

[dshadoff]

It might be useful for somebody (or as a group effort) to track on a spreadsheet or something, which games:

• work well
• have issues which require workaround (i.e. skip opening animation, disable controller 2, etc.)
• have breakage
• and which bios is used
• and tested version of the core (release date)

This would probably be better for communicating known issues and providing instant help

[FPGA64]

The list already exists on Discord as a pinned message in the Saturn section

[FPGA64]

I have the boot.bin the games folder

Tried super tempo with japan on osd menu and in the hunt with usa selected, and both only black screen.

The bios doesnt even show up when I start the core, but if I run the bios from the bin option it runs, but not the games.

Other games like guardian heroes and bomberman run fine.

From the Discord Compatability

Super Tempo is no Boot
In the Hunt with Japanese Bios works fine and the sheet says USA bios works too

I would get hold of the region free bioses so you dont have to deal with region issues

[JakubH]

I have the boot.bin the games folder

Tried super tempo with japan on osd menu and in the hunt with usa selected, and both only black screen.

The bios doesnt even show up when I start the core, but if I run the bios from the bin option it runs, but not the games.

Other games like guardian heroes and bomberman run fine.

"You will need to disable the second controller port for some games, like “In the Hunt”, “Shinobi Legends/X” and “Night Striker S”.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... EJqN4EgIg/

[pbsk8]

I have the boot.bin the games folder

Tried super tempo with japan on osd menu and in the hunt with usa selected, and both only black screen.

The bios doesnt even show up when I start the core, but if I run the bios from the bin option it runs, but not the games.

Other games like guardian heroes and bomberman run fine.

From the Discord Compatability

Super Tempo is no Boot
In the Hunt with Japanese Bios works fine and the sheet says USA bios works too

I would get hold of the region free bioses so you dont have to deal with region issues

satbios.png (21.15 KiB) Viewed 7343 times

So I can get any of these and just rename to boot.rom? Which one would you recommend?

[FPGA64]

I use the Hi-Saturn V1.02 (Jap-RF). The RF means region free

[pbsk8]

Boot rom should be called boot.rom not boot.bin

For best compatabiliity a 2.9 or 3.0 Ram is needed. 2.5 tends to give scratchy sound. The Ram must also be the 2 chip variety. 4 chip Ram will not work with the core.

do you have example of games with scratchy sounds? I would like to test with my v2.5 ram