Recap guide

Recap the Sega Saturn

The community names EMI filters, the battery and the laser as the usual Saturn failures, with a recap as a sensible refresh. Boards run VA0 to VA6.

Open the interactive checklist Tick off each capacitor as you replace it. It saves in your browser.

Check first. A recap is not always the answer here, so look at the guides before you order parts.

Which board do I have?

Boards changed during production. These notes come from the linked sources, and many are only partly documented, so check the board in front of you.

• Model 1 VA0 (1994-1995) (Medium confidence). How to tell: T-shaped power connector, power supply in the top case and separate daughterboards; HST-3200 Japan, MK-80000 US, MK-80200-50 PAL. Capacitors: ConsoleMods does not give its caps; RetroSix says a cap list exists for VA0 but the page was not opened. Capacitor list differs from other revisions: not known. Source
• Model 1 VA0.5 and VA0.8 (1995) (Medium confidence). How to tell: Nearly identical to VA0 with resistors moved underneath; boards 171-6874E (Japan) and 171-6962C (US). Capacitors: No cap information found. Capacitor list differs from other revisions: not known. Source
• Model 1 VA1 (1995; 171-7006C NTSC, 171-7069B PAL) (Medium confidence). How to tell: Power supply plugged straight into the motherboard by a 5-pin header and a 20-pin optical drive connector. Capacitors: ConsoleMods says VA1 is the last revision with SMD electrolytic capacitors. Capacitor list differs from other revisions: yes. Source
• Model 1 VA SG, called VA2 (1995-1996; 171-7128B, Japan) (Medium confidence). How to tell: SGRAM memory and a 21-pin optical drive connector, NTSC only. Capacitors: ConsoleMods says it is the first revision to use through-hole electrolytics throughout. Capacitor list differs from other revisions: yes. Source
• Model 1 VA SD, called VA3 (1995-1996; 171-7130B NTSC, 171-7131A PAL) (Low confidence). How to tell: SDRAM instead of SGRAM; not found in US consoles. Capacitors: No cap information beyond the through-hole change before it. Capacitor list differs from other revisions: not known. Source
• Model 2 early boards (VA SG VA2/VA4, VA SD VA3/VA5, 1996) (Low confidence). How to tell: Circular power and reset buttons and no activity LED. Capacitors: No cap information found. Capacitor list differs from other revisions: not known. Source
• Model 2 VA6, VA7, VA8, VA9 (1996; 171-7207A, -7208C, -7209C, -7291B/C) (Low confidence). How to tell: VA6 has the controller port board on the mainboard and a 4-pin power header; VA9 shares one layout for NTSC and PAL. Capacitors: No cap information found. Capacitor list differs from other revisions: not known. Source
• Model 2 VA10, VA11, VA13 (1996-1997; 171-7287C, -7288B, -7288D, -7455D) (Low confidence). How to tell: VA10 merges the 68000 and SCSP into the 315-5965; VA13 is the last revision for consoles outside Japan. Capacitors: No cap information found. Capacitor list differs from other revisions: not known. Source
• Model 2 VA15 (1997-1998; 171-7462B) (Low confidence). How to tell: Final Saturn board with both SH-2s merged into a single 315-6018 chip. Capacitors: No cap information found. Capacitor list differs from other revisions: not known. Source

Where to start

Clues from write-ups and forum threads, not a diagnosis. Low confidence means one thread or one repair; high means several write-ups agree.

• Color smearing (Medium confidence). ConsoleMods says the EMI filters are known to go bad, causing color smearing. The page has no cap list. Source
• Where the lists are (Low confidence). The ConsoleMods hub links a replacing-capacitors page, a Console5 kit and disc drive repair notes. Source
• RGB output caps (Low confidence). A video notes page mentions 220uF caps on the RGB output. It is not a recap guide. Source

Tips, tales and maybes

Found in write-ups and forum threads. These are other people's reports, not tested by us. Check part references and values against your own board.

• Tip: Which replacement type (Low confidence). On a VA0 no-video recap thread (seen on the lr.ggtyler.dev Reddit mirror) a reply said a full SMD kit is unlikely because Saturn caps are fairly large, and recommended aluminum polymer parts as the best match for the footprint and behaviour. It said ceramic and tantalum do not suit every position. Source
• Story: Model 2 blank screen, caps looked fine (Low confidence). A Model 2 Saturn with a blank screen, no language menu and a CD drive that spun for 5 to 10 seconds had caps that looked fine. The PSU swap and cable tests ruled those out, leaving the BIOS, the video output or the board, and no resolution is shown. Source
• Tip: No picture or sound after adding RCA (Low confidence). For a $9 Saturn with no picture or sound, one iFixit answer said to check solder joints, the 5V, 9V and 3V rails, leaking caps and burnt parts, and added that the Saturn has issues with varistors and fuses. The owner's rails read slightly high, so a new supply was suggested. Source
• Story: Black screen or chirping after recapping (Low confidence). Three iFixit questions (seen in a ts.ifixit.com feed, no answers shown) report recapping that did not cure the fault: a power board that chirped with all rails near 0.45V after all radial caps were replaced, a Model 2 VA15 with a black screen after a recap, and a black screen after changing the 16V 10uF caps. Recapping is not a guaranteed cure for no-video or no-power Saturns. Source

Before you start

• Boards changed during production. Check your board number against the guides before you order parts.

Manuals and technical documents

Service manuals, schematics and datasheets for this machine, kept in our own library. Check your own board and part numbers against them.

• Sega Service Manual - Sega Saturn (PAL) - No. 013-1, June, 1995 (Service manual)

All 1 documents for Sega Saturn in the library

Guides we used

This page and the interactive bench are built from these. They have the photos and the full detail, so please read them and support their authors.

• Saturn Mods Wiki (hub) (Write-up) by ConsoleMods Wiki, CC BY. Hub linking Replacing Capacitors, a Console5 kit, disc drive repair, video notes and troubleshooting
• Saturn: General Troubleshooting (Write-up) by ConsoleMods Wiki, CC BY. Only EMI filter smear covered, no cap list
• Saturn: Video Output Notes (Write-up) by ConsoleMods Wiki, CC BY. Notes on RGB output 220uF caps, sync and encoder; not a recap
• Sega Saturn (RetroSix Wiki) (List) by AngelSix (RetroSix Wiki). Hub that links capacitors by board revision plus schematics; the cap page itself would not open in the fetch tool, so values unconfirmed

Saturn VA0 837-11076 (SMD)

31 capacitors. Console5's kit for this board is SMD. Console5 also lists the SH1 board 838-10834 (C121 47 uF; C108 and C122 are empty on its board), which is not in this checklist.

Saturn VA0 837-11491 / 837-11493 PAL (SMD)

32 capacitors. CE54 is the PAL-only part. Console5 also lists the SH1 board 838-10834 (C121 47 uF; C108 and C122 are empty on its board), which is not in this checklist.

Saturn VA0.5 837-11493 / 837-11076-02 (SMD)

32 capacitors. Console5 also lists the SH1 board 838-10834 (C121 47 uF; C108 and C122 are empty on its board), which is not in this checklist.

Saturn VA1 837-11613-01 / 837-11891-01 (SMD)

33 capacitors. The last SMD revision. CE58 is for PAL. Console5 also maps the PIO board 839-0801. Console5 lists CE33 and CE34 as 22 uF 6 V parts.

Saturn VA SG 837-12126 (through-hole)

35 capacitors. CE56 and CE57 are on the PIO board. CE38 is empty (Console5 says it is electrically disconnected).

Saturn VA SD / VA PAL SD 837-12133 (through-hole)

36 capacitors. CE56 and CE57 are on the PIO board and CE58 is PAL only. The source cap map has four labels that look like typos (CE20, CE40, CE10 and CE4). We read them as CE29, CE49, CE18 and CE3, the parts that sit in those spots on the matching boards.

Saturn VA6 SG 837-12459

24 capacitors. On VA6 to VA10 the CE52 label is a long way from the capacitor. Console5 puts it in the upper-left corner of the board.

Saturn VA7 837-13137

27 capacitors. CE52 is in the upper-left corner, far from its label. CE38 is empty. The map we drew from is labelled 837-12460 VA7 and shows the same parts.

Saturn VA7 PAL 837-12292 / 171-7424A

31 capacitors. Console5 lists CE38, CE102, CE104, CE105, CE112 and CE113 as empty.

Saturn VA8 837-12468

25 capacitors. CE52 is in the upper-left corner, far from its label. CE38 is empty.

Saturn VA9 PAL

31 capacitors. Console5 says CE45 is sometimes 10 V and that 6.3 V is safe.

Saturn VA10 OCU 837-12647 / 837-12842

23 capacitors.

Saturn VA11 / VA13 837-12650 / 837-12845 (also 837-12848-01 / 837-12843)

25 capacitors. Console5 sends the VA11 to this list. It lists CE23, CE38, CE57 and CE101 to CE113 as empty. Console5 says CE45 is 10 V on some boards and 6.3 V is fine.

Saturn VA15 837-13137

27 capacitors. Console5 lists CE38 and CE101 to CE114 as empty.

Saturn PSU (100-120 V) Fujitsu KS350-1401-H022/02, H022/03, H024/05, H024/06

Mains-voltage supply. The big primary capacitor can hold a dangerous charge, so only work on it if you know how to discharge it safely. Console5 lists eight capacitors.

Saturn PSU (100-120 V) Fujitsu KS350-1401-H030/01

Mains-voltage supply. The big primary capacitor can hold a dangerous charge, so only work on it if you know how to discharge it safely. Console5 lists seven capacitors.

Saturn PSU (100-120 V) Fujitsu KS350-1401-H031/04

Mains-voltage supply. The big primary capacitor can hold a dangerous charge, so only work on it if you know how to discharge it safely. Console5 says its kits may use 100 uF for C2 in place of 68 uF.

Saturn PSU (100-120 V) Panasonic / Matsushita ETXSE077J1B

Mains-voltage supply. The big primary capacitor can hold a dangerous charge, so only work on it if you know how to discharge it safely. Four capacitors.

Saturn PSU (100-120 V) Phihong PSM3507

Mains-voltage supply. The big primary capacitor can hold a dangerous charge, so only work on it if you know how to discharge it safely. Five capacitors.

Saturn PSU (100-120 V) Voltek S-7194, S-7208, 34288-4, -5, -6, VTOP001 / 34288-7

Mains-voltage supply. The big primary capacitor can hold a dangerous charge, so only work on it if you know how to discharge it safely. Console5 says a 220 to 240 V version of 34288-7 uses slightly different parts, listed further down.

Saturn PSU (100-120 V) Voltek S-7218, 34507-8

Mains-voltage supply. The big primary capacitor can hold a dangerous charge, so only work on it if you know how to discharge it safely. Six capacitors.

Saturn PSU (100-120 V) Voltek 34588-4, 34588-5

Mains-voltage supply. The big primary capacitor can hold a dangerous charge, so only work on it if you know how to discharge it safely. Five capacitors.

Saturn PSU (100-120 V) Yamaha XQ155

Mains-voltage supply. The big primary capacitor can hold a dangerous charge, so only work on it if you know how to discharge it safely. Nine capacitors.

Saturn PSU (100-120 V) Yamaha XQ468

Mains-voltage supply. The big primary capacitor can hold a dangerous charge, so only work on it if you know how to discharge it safely. Ten capacitors.

Saturn PSU (100-120 V) Yamaha XQ981

Mains-voltage supply. The big primary capacitor can hold a dangerous charge, so only work on it if you know how to discharge it safely. Ten capacitors.

Saturn PSU (100-120 V) Yamaha XR258

Mains-voltage supply. The big primary capacitor can hold a dangerous charge, so only work on it if you know how to discharge it safely. Eight capacitors.

Saturn PSU (100-120 V) Yamaha XS205 Rev C

Mains-voltage supply. The big primary capacitor can hold a dangerous charge, so only work on it if you know how to discharge it safely. Three capacitors.

Saturn PSU (100-120 V) Yamaha XS205 Rev D / XS450

Mains-voltage supply. The big primary capacitor can hold a dangerous charge, so only work on it if you know how to discharge it safely. Three capacitors.

Saturn PSU (220-240 V) Panasonic ETXSE077E1C

Mains-voltage supply. The big primary capacitor can hold a dangerous charge, so only work on it if you know how to discharge it safely. Five capacitors.

Saturn PSU (220-240 V) Fujitsu KS350-1401-H025/01

Mains-voltage supply. The big primary capacitor can hold a dangerous charge, so only work on it if you know how to discharge it safely. Eight capacitors.

Saturn PSU (220-240 V) Fujitsu KS350-1401-H025/01, second list

Mains-voltage supply. The big primary capacitor can hold a dangerous charge, so only work on it if you know how to discharge it safely. Console5 gives a second list under the same name. It says its kits substitute 47 uF for the 22 uF at C2.

Saturn PSU (220-240 V) Voltek S-7195 (34288-7, 220-240 V)

Mains-voltage supply. The big primary capacitor can hold a dangerous charge, so only work on it if you know how to discharge it safely. Console5 says the 100 to 120 V version of 34288-7 uses slightly different parts.

Saturn CD board JVC EXL-P604

Six capacitors.

Saturn CD board JVC EXL-P605

Six capacitors. Console5 says the list should work for the P608 too, but that needs confirming.

Saturn CD board JVC ENR-007 B / D

Console5 shows C208 as empty and says C211 may be on rev D only.

Saturn CD board Hitachi JA00292

Fourteen capacitors.

Saturn CD board Sanyo CDK94V5SGC

Console5 also lists two unnumbered parts: 100 uF 6.3 V near the spindle motor, and 0.47 uF 50 V. They are not in this checklist.

Shopping list

577 capacitors in all, grouped by value. Buy a few spares.

• 123 x 10 µF, 16 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 76 x 220 µF, 4 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 70 x 100 µF, 6.3 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 59 x 47 µF, 6.3 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 32 x 22 µF, 6.3 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 26 x 220 µF, 6.3 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 18 x 330 µF, 6.3 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 17 x 47 µF, 16 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 16 x 1 µF, 50 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 16 x 330 µF, 16 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 12 x 2700 µF, 6.3 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 10 x 2200 µF, 10 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 9 x 100 µF, 200 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 8 x 4.7 µF, 25 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 8 x 10 µF, 25 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 7 x 100 µF, 10 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 6 x 1200 µF, 10 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 5 x 220 µF, 10 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 5 x 2200 µF, 16 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 4 x 2.2 µF, 50 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 4 x 47 µF, 10 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 3 x 10 µF, 6.3 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 3 x 47 µF, 25 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 3 x 120 µF, 200 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 3 x 1000 µF, 10 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 3 x 1000 µF, 16 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 3 x 3300 µF, 10 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 2 x 4.7 µF, 50 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 2 x 22 µF, 6 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 2 x 22 µF, 16 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 2 x 33 µF, 400 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 2 x 470 µF, 10 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 2 x 560 µF, 25 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 2 x 1500 µF, 6.3 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 2 x 1800 µF, 6.3 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 2 x 4700 µF, 10 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 1 x 0.33 µF, 50 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 1 x 10 µF, 50 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 1 x 22 µF, 400 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 1 x 33 µF, 25 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 1 x 56 µF, 400 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 1 x 68 µF, 200 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 1 x 100 µF, 180 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 1 x 180 µF, 16 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 1 x 470 µF, 6.3 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay
• 1 x 1000 µF, 25 V (check your board): Amazon · eBay

Console5 capacitor kits for this machine

Console5 sells ready-made capacitor kits. Kits come in different versions, so match the board number in the kit name to yours and check the listing before you buy.

• Sega Saturn Surface Mount SMD Cap Kit
• Sega Saturn Cap Kit
• Sega Saturn Power Supply Cap Kit Fujitsu KS350
• Sega Saturn Power Supply Cap Kit Fujitsu KS350 H030 01 7 Piece Kit
• Sega Saturn Power Supply Cap Kit Fujitsu KS350 H031 04
• Sega Saturn Power Supply Cap Kit Panasonic ETXSE077J1B 4 Part Kit
• Sega Saturn Power Supply Cap Kit Phihong PSM3507
• Sega Saturn Power Supply Cap Kit Voltek
• Sega Saturn Power Supply Cap Kit Voltek S 7218 34507 8
• Sega Saturn Power Supply Cap Kit Voltek 34588 5 5 Piece Kit
• Sega Saturn Power Supply Cap Kit Yamaha XQ155
• Sega Saturn Power Supply Cap Kit Yamaha XQ468 XQ981
• Sega Saturn Power Supply Cap Kit Yamaha XR258 35M07
• Sega Saturn Power Supply Cap Kit Yamaha XS205
• Sega Saturn Power Supply Cap Kit Yamaha XS450
• Sega Saturn Power Supply Cap Kit Panasonic ETXSE077E1C 220V 240V
• Sega Saturn Power Supply Cap Kit 220V Fujitsu KS350 1401 H025 01
• Sega Saturn Power Supply Cap Kit 220V Fujitsu KS350 1401 H037 05 4 Piece Kit
• Sega Saturn Power Supply Cap Kit Voltek 220V 240V
• Sega Saturn CD-ROM PCB Cap Kit JVC Exl P604 Exl P605
• Sega Saturn CD-ROM PCB Cap Kit JVC Enr 007 Enr 007B Enr 007D
• Sega Saturn CD-ROM PCB SMD Cap Kit Hitachi JA00292
• Sega Saturn CD-ROM PCB Cap Kit Sanyo CDK94V5SGC

Skip the sourcing

• Ready-made kit: Amazon · eBay
• Already recapped: Amazon · eBay

While you are in there

• Need the machine itself?: Amazon · eBay
• A box of spare capacitors: Amazon · eBay

Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. These links only search by name. Disclosure

Step by step

1. Photograph both sides of the board before you touch anything. Zoom in on every capacitor. The photo is your map when you are three hours in.
2. Unplug it, take out the batteries and let it sit. Old power supplies and CRT parts can hold a charge. If your machine has a tube, leave the tube and its board to a professional.
3. Open it up and keep the screws sorted. A muffin tin or an egg carton works. Different screws go in different holes, and the holes never forgive you.
4. Look for leaks. Clean any sticky residue off with isopropyl alcohol and a soft brush. A leaked capacitor leaves brown crust and can eat copper traces. Look at the traces under it, not only the part itself.
5. Mark the polarity of every capacitor on the photo before it comes off. On an electrolytic, the stripe marks the negative leg. The board usually shows a half-shaded circle or a bar for the same spot.
6. Remove the old capacitors one at a time. Surface mount: add fresh solder to both ends and rock the part off, or use flux and a low-melt alloy. Through-hole: heat one leg at a time and clear the hole with wick or a pump.
7. Clean the pads and check for lifted pads or damaged traces. Clean flux off with isopropyl. A bad pad needs a jumper wire, not hope.
8. Fit and solder the new capacitor, matching polarity. Same capacity, same or higher voltage, and it has to physically fit. Work from the smallest parts up.
9. Clean the flux off and look at every joint. A good joint is shiny and shaped like a tiny volcano. A dull blob or a ball is a cold joint: reflow it.
10. With a multimeter, check for shorts across the power rails before you power it on. Use the continuity or resistance setting. A reading near zero means stop and look for a solder bridge.
11. Power it up and test everything: video, sound, controls, the lot. If something is wrong, check polarity first. It is the most common mistake and the easiest fix.

Tools

• Temperature-controlled soldering station. Steady heat so you do not cook pads. Most recaps are done between 320 and 350 C. Top: Hakko FX-951 · Mid: Hakko FX-888D · Budget: Pinecil
• Good solder. Rosin-core 63/37 flows and looks right. It is cheap and it matters. Kester 44 63/37
• Flux. Flux is what makes old joints let go and new joints flow. MG Chemicals flux pen · Chip Quik flux syringe
• Low-melt alloy (for surface mount). Melts old solder on both ends of a surface mount part at once, so it lifts off cleanly. Chip Quik SMD1
• Desoldering tool. Clears the old solder out of through-hole pads. Top: Hakko FR-301 · Mid: Engineer SS-02 pump · Budget: Solder wick
• Fine tweezers. For holding small surface mount parts exactly where you want them. ESD-safe tweezers
• Board holder. A third hand for the board, so both of yours are free. PanaVise circuit board holder
• Magnification. You cannot fix what you cannot see. Surface mount parts are tiny. Top: Stereo microscope · Mid: Head visor · Budget: Lighted magnifier
• Multimeter. Continuity, shorts and rail voltages. The one test that saves boards. Top: Fluke 117 · Mid: Fluke 101 · Budget: AstroAI
• ESR and capacitor tester. Checks old capacitors and your new ones before they go in. Top: Peak Atlas ESR70 · Budget: LCR-T7
• Isopropyl alcohol (99%) and a brush. For cleaning leaked goo and flux. Use the high-percentage kind. MG Chemicals 99.9% isopropyl
• Brass tip cleaner. A clean tip transfers heat. A dirty one does not. Hakko 599B
• Fume extractor. Pulls the smoke away from your face. Hakko FA-400 · Budget: Small bench fan
• Precision screwdrivers. Most old gear uses a mix of Phillips, Torx and security bits. iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit
• Kapton tape. Heat-proof tape to protect parts that sit close to the one you are changing. Kapton tape

Safety

• Good airflow, or a fume fan. Solder smoke is not for breathing.
• Safety glasses on. Solder spits and clipped legs fly.
• Iron in its stand when you are not holding it. Know where the cord is.
• Touch bare metal first, or use a wrist strap. Static kills old chips.
• No tube, no mains power supply. Leave those to a professional.
• Wash your hands after, especially if you used leaded solder.

Values are shown as published in the guides above, and boards changed during production. Check the board in front of you. A recap involves hot tools and, on some machines, dangerous voltages. You do it at your own risk.

More

• All recap guides
• The interactive Recap Bench
• Fix a dead vintage computer
• Sega Saturn (Japan) on the timeline
• Sega Saturn (North America) on the timeline