Sega Saturn VA SD / VA3 Switchless Region Mod Install Guide

This guide will show you how to install a switchless region mod into a Sega Saturn VA3 console to make it multi region.

Sega Saturn 171-7131A VA PAL SD (VA3) Solder Map

Region Jumpers

The jumpers control the region of the Saturn by being connected to ground or supplied 5V in various ways. This is permanently set on the Saturn mainboard but can be overridden by cutting the ground connection or 5V supply to the jumpers common side and controlling these via a modchip.

The jumpers are usually in pairs JP1/JP2, JP6/JP7, JP10/JP11, JP12/JP13.

The jumper pairs share common pads that are connected by a thin trace. They will then have two adjacent pads, one is a ground point and the other is a 5V supply.

The below table shows which connections the common pads will have to make the console a specific region. It is these connection that will need breaking depending on the specific console region

On this revision VA PAL SD, link traces between JP10 Common to +5V, JP12 Common to 5V, and JP7 Common to Ground, will need cutting.

The component at JP1 Common to Ground does not need removing to achieve video rate switching.

Notes

• PLL Pin 1 is not connected to VDP2 Pin 79 so does not need a trace cut or pin lift to achieve video rate switching.