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Overclocking Your Sega Genesis/MegaDrive

Posted by simoniker on from the sonic-go-faster dept.

Deven "Epicenter" Gallo writes "I've recently been working on a project to alleviate the slowdown inherent in older game systems. How you ask? By overclocking them! I've managed to perfect overclocking the Sega Genesis / MegaDrive. The processor (a Motorola 68000, running at a stock speed of 7.6 MHz) can be pushed to 16.0 MHz in my experience, and I am still working on higher. The machine doesn't overheat and is entirely stable at these higher speeds."

28 of 372 comments (clear)

  1. I already have a hard enough time... by tsunamifirestorm · · Score: 4, Funny

    keeping up with Sonic ;)

    1. Re:I already have a hard enough time... by ComradeX13 · · Score: 2, Funny

      The question is, can you overclock Dr. Robotnik?

    2. Re:I already have a hard enough time... by playbass · · Score: 2, Funny

      Now its super sonic the hedgehog.

      --
      "The life of a repoman is always intense!" --Harry Dean Stanton
    3. Re:I already have a hard enough time... by sbeast702 · · Score: 0, Funny

      Dammit... I always thought that slow down effect was just slow motion programmed into the game... thanks for spoling that for me! :(

  2. That does it... by SteveTheRed · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm going to overclock my Timex Sinclair!!!

    --

    I, for one, welcome our new robot overlords
  3. This is about as interesting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... as the time I slapped a Type-R sticker on my Casio FX-1000 solar-powered calculator. Before I did that, it took 950 milliseconds to calculate 69! Afterward, it calculated 69! in 940 milliseconds flat.

    Or, wait, maybe it was because the sun came out.

  4. Now what about other consoles? by SDMX · · Score: 3, Funny

    Someone needs to recreate this with a NeoGeo. Metal Slug needs to be played free of all that ridiculous slowdown. =]

  5. Kinda seems pointless... by Moocowsia · · Score: 1, Funny

    Afterall TVs dont do much more than 30Hz and most games were made to run at about 30 FPS without the overclock. Essentially any improvements won't be noticible.

    --
    Moo!
  6. 16mhz is fast! by Snagle · · Score: 5, Funny

    16mhz is what the Palm Zire runs at too. That means if someone ports Palm OS 4.1 and you attach a VGA/LCD thingy you can have a Sega brand PDA. True, you are sacrificing portability, but hey, I think there are some kids at my school with pockets big enough for a Genesis.

  7. FPS? by red_dragon · · Score: 3, Funny

    So now kids will start bragging about how many frames per second they get on Flashback, eh? That's just what we needed right there.

    --
    In Soviet Russia, Jesus asks: "What Would You Do?"
    1. Re:FPS? by richie2000 · · Score: 3, Funny

      What, you haven't overclocked your TV?

      --
      Money for nothing, pix for free
  8. anyone want to place a bet.... by npistentis · · Score: 3, Funny

    as to how high his cute little hit counter registers before his server reaches critical mass? maybe he should've turbocharged that machine first...

    --
    Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!
  9. They knew it all along by Space+Coyote · · Score: 2, Funny

    It's obvious that this could be done, after all the Genesis has Blast Processing

    --
    ___
    Cogito cogito, ergo cogito sum.
  10. Poor Server by General+Sherman · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's a shame he didn't overclock his server to twice it's original speed. Those 10-25MB .avi's really don't help.

    --
    - Sherman
  11. WHY OVERCLOCK by isolenz · · Score: 1, Funny

    the genesis / mega drive ALREADY has blast processing, why the hell would you want / need anything faster!
    Stupid people, marketing is where it's at.

    PS, Cowboyneal RULES!!!!!!!!!!
    --
    isolenz

  12. An easier way... by wardomon · · Score: 4, Funny

    Plug it into the 220 outlet behind the stove. It'll run really fast for a couple of seconds and then you can get on with your life.

    --

    - - - If the sun is a star, why can't I see it at night?
  13. Famous last words... by djupedal · · Score: 4, Funny

    The machine doesn't overheat and is entirely stable at these higher speeds.

    The machine doesn't overheat and is entirely stable...

    The machine doesn't overheat ...

    The machine doesn't ... ...work ?

    1. Re:Famous last words... by djupedal · · Score: 2, Funny

      ...this is how most people delude themselves in the name of 'science'.

      The goal was to overclock...if they fall off the bench and break in the process, they failed due to overclocking.

      Reminds me of how in Japan, if you are injured in a car accident, and don't die within the first 12 hours, you are not counted as a traffic fatality.

      Parachutist dies from the sudden impact with the ground, not because he jumped out of an airplane?

      Man eats glass and dies....not because he ate glass, but because he swallowed? - c'mon....

  14. Re:Sega slowdown... by LocalH · · Score: 3, Funny

    WTF? You're trying to say that the NES' horrible OAM cycling is INTENTIONAL and is a valued part of the experience? You're on crack.

    --
    FC Closer
  15. We can't let the Sega fanboys beat us. by Maul · · Score: 3, Funny

    Finally, we can recreate the glorious console wars of the 16-bit era!

    I'm going to overclock my Super NES.

    I'm not going to let those Sega fanboys get the upper hand on this. They already taunted us SNES owners about their "blast processing" in the early 90s.

    --

    "You spoony bard!" -Tellah

    1. Re:We can't let the Sega fanboys beat us. by evilviper · · Score: 2, Funny
      But really, if you aren't running NeoGeo, you're eating squirrel burgers. ;-)

      Considering the price of the system, I'd say:

      If you aren't running NeoGeo, you can afford to eat!
      --
      Slashdot gets worse every day... Pipedot: News for nerds, without the corporate slant
  16. You know... by TWX · · Score: 4, Funny

    " ... as the time I slapped a Type-R sticker on my Casio FX-1000 solar-powered calculator. Before I did that, it took 950 milliseconds to calculate 69! Afterward, it calculated 69! in 940 milliseconds flat."

    Personally, I prefer my sixty-nine bangs to take a little longer than that...

    --
    Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
  17. Re:Correct me if I'm wrong... by qoa · · Score: 2, Funny

    I liked to think of the slowdown on Metal Slug for Saturn as adding to the excitement. Kind of like an action movie.

    --
    Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
  18. I always like that feature :) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I always like that feature :)
    Gives you time to go "ARGH!", punch something, and recover :::)))

  19. Overheating by Jacek+Poplawski · · Score: 2, Funny

    Overclocking 8-bit computers like Atari 800XL is very good thing, because these computers where often used to keep your legs warm in winter (if you don't believe me, ask older collegue, who had 8-bit computer), so additional overheating can only help :-)
    Stability is of course different problem. Overclocked Atari may work almost as badly as Windows XP.

  20. It can overclock Sonic, but.... by ProppaT · · Score: 2, Funny

    The real question is, can it overclock my Ballz?

    --
    Wise men say, "Forgiveness is divine, but never pay full price for late pizza."
  21. Re:Hmmm.. by ArsonSmith · · Score: 2, Funny

    The analogy in nature? Ants can carry 50 times their weight, but we can't.

    I could easily care 50x an ants weight. you weakling.

    --
    Paying taxes to buy civilization is like paying a hooker to buy love.
  22. But I won't be able to read fast enough... by generationxyu · · Score: 2, Funny

    How would I ever memorize the Zero Wing Intro?

    --
    I mod down pyramid schemes in sigs.