How To Setup the Sega Genesis / CD / 32X | Retro Gaming How To

Today we go over the nonsense that goes into the setup of the Sega Tower of Power.... How ridiculous can it get?
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[@smoothoperator149]

Playing N64 music while assembling the Sega monolith is diabolically sociopathic 🤣🤣

[@COIFISHGAMING]

Now you are Plugging with POWER!

[@solarsolistical6358]

You made the x32 install look easy, that was the most painful part of this whole set up. I finally got it in. Thanks!

[@worsethanhitlerpt.2539]

So glad now we have Mini Systems that require no assembly but simply dont work on certain TVs like my Turbografx Mini

[@1607trojan]

Was aware about the power supply but didn’t really know about all that shielding even after all these years but probably cause I don’t own one. Learned something new today 😁

[@TheCartCollector]

Yeah, it’s wild just how much goes into this setup. And it’s even more wild (to me at least) how varied everyone’s experience is with them. Like there are several people online saying that the shielding is completely unnecessary. But my set up was barely working when I didn’t use it, and then all those problems magically went away when I put the shielding in place.

[@UncleUncleRj]

@@TheCartCollector Wow. Yeah, I'm positive I didn't use the shielding as a kid, because I played my 32x Genesis so much, including taking it to my friends houses, unlocking and rebuilding the whole monster, and I don't recall ever using the clips or bottom pieces. I don't think I had any issues, but I guess if I ever experienced problems with it, I might have just chalked it up to normal console issues?? (ie blowing in the nintendo carts)

[@Meshamu]

I think the manual I got with my Genesis, which was the second model, mentioned all the ways of hooking up either of the models of Genesis, to either model of Sega CD, but had nothing about the 32X, since it wasn't a thing yet.

[@therollingcreeper1]

me too

[@lelemnz]

It's funny how you're setting up a Sega console with the background music from the Bomb-on Kingdom from Mario 64 🤣

[@TheCartCollector]

Gonna be real, I didn’t even notice that until the video had already been out for like 2 weeks. Gave me a good laugh when I noticed and you’re the first to point it out haha.

[@djsone3499]

It's good to see a guide for this. I turned 10 in 1991 so I managed to collect a gen 1 genesis, 32x, and gen 2 sega cd when they were new. I carted that around for a few decades but last year found when I wanted to connect it some of the cables were unplugged/missing. It took some trial and error to get it working, and without a CRT it's even worse. I bought an hdmi converter that doesn't output audio for some reason (could be a mono output issue) so I had to use the headphone out to my stereo receiver, and the power supply for the sega cd seems to be dead. It's like trying to keep an old car going past its prime.

[@Owazrim]

I fidled around with the clips, watched another video and then found this one and a couple minutes I was done. The description of the lower clip clipping on the cart slot covers sold it for me. Thanks!

[@Renk1]

Nice video, thanks! I bought a 3-in-1 PSU from a French store, Retro Game Supply. I actually bought two, one for my PAL MD1/MCD/32X and one for my modded MD2/32X. You can pick a US PSU as well. Works excellent and helps immensly with the cable mess and you only need one power outlet.

[@kyungrix1112]

This also reminds me of the first "graphics cards" for PCs! I had a Voodoo 2 and it required a patch cable from the motherboard VGA port to the input of the Voodoo2 and then you plugged the monitor into the other port on the Voodoo2. They weren't video cards yet, they were just 3D Accelerators. super weird stuff

[@MuseumStandard]

Now that makes sense! Whenever I hook up my 32X, it's always a hassle and almost a game to get it to work. Turns out you need those brackets, because if you do it without them, you have to seat that giant mushroom POS just right for it to work. I rarely ever use it at all, but man, it looks freaking cool with all 3 together. You see when the Doom cart went in, the 32X didn't wobble! The whole thing moved!

[@enricosalerno3621]

For the md2 you don't need the metal strip in order to attach the 32x. Those metal things were only to be used with the MD gen1

[@logandaniels4476]

Where I live its called the genesis

[@anderslarsen1321]

@@logandaniels4476That is because you live in the US… In Europe,S.A and Asia it is called Megadrive.

[@dwightdixon8508]

I remember buying and booking up the 32x with my Sega Genesis then the Sega CD. It was a ridiculous abomination with all the clips, AV cords & 3 power supplies! I got real upset putting the clips on tue cartridge flaps as it scratched them. Was so angry but after it was all put together it ran flawlessly but the amount off cables out the back was a nightmare. I still have all 3. Just the Genesis + Sega CD looks awful when compared to the competitors TurboDuo which was an all in one super sleek piece of awesomeness of a gaming machine. Good detailed vid, brings back memories

[@kyungrix1112]

I loved the Sega CD. I bought one from a pawn shop back in 1994(?) with my entire first paycheck from my first ever Job. It was $100appx . I got the gen 2 version but I had a gen 1 Genesis, it looked crazy put together. I enjoyed going to various stores and hunting for Sega CD games because they were all on deep discount due to lack of sales. good times!

[@kyungrix1112]

I didn't have any of those EMI shields, it worked just fine without them.

[@Bradferd333]

@@kyungrix1112 That's what I want to hear! I found one on Ebay, but I don't think the shields are included

[@Will_Bx_NYC_718]

I never knew it took so much just to get all three of these consoles to work together. I was an SNES fan back then. Never had a genesis until I bought a Nomad in 1998.

[@PlasmaSnake369]

I remember playing 32X games at my friend's house and we just popped it in without any plates. I had a different friend that had the Sega CD attachment again with no plates. I kind of find it hard to believe that you couldn't just pop all three together and play a game, though I'm not aware of any 32x CD games worth playing anyways

[@TheCartCollector]

I have heard so many different things from so many different places about it. I fully believe that these systems worked without all the plates, and that in general, you probably don’t need them. But I also know what I experienced. I definitely had some issues getting them to work properly when I didn’t use them, and then those problems magically went away when I put all the plates and clips in place. So you’re mileage may vary, I guess haha.

[@protocetid]

Genesis Nomad was ahead of its time

[@aortaplatinum]

You know your console add-on is well designed and not rushed to market when you have to include colorless, metal, easily losable EMI shields

[@worsethanhitlerpt.2539]

Next time I recommend using a 5-ton crane and scaffolding for safety

[@DawezyDRK]

Amazing to see how fast it went from power on to the actual game ... without being connected to the internet or needing some mandatory platform to launch your games from (Steam, etc). I really do miss those days huh, those Sega Mega Drive Mini I & II I ordered have been getting alot more use from me lately, polygons right? who needs'em lol sprites all the way.

[@protocetid]

Last 2 sentences is Sega making the Saturn before realizing their grave mistake.

[@bazanontherocks9915]

So I found a genesis with the cd add on. Do I need the 32x part to Get it running ?

[@TheCartCollector]

You only need the 32X to play 32X games or CD-32X games. If you have just a Genesis and CD, then that’s fine. It will play all regular Genesis and Sega CD Games

[@susanfit47]

ISame thing for me. I did know it took me so way possible for all my 3 Nintendo systems to work together: The NES, the N64, and the Super NES. And I did that in 2002. I was an Nintendo NES, Nintendo Game Boy, Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo GameCube fan back then. My late-grandmother brought me a Sega Genesis in 2003.

[@ethan_lord]

Wow dude, crazy set up. Cool video

[@TheCartCollector]

It is quite ridiculous. Thanks for watching man!

[@Jump_Ace]

I've never owned a Sega console but I always wondered how it all worked. Great vid buddy, thanks!

[@Gigatech151]

A super THANKS for this video.... This was really good.

[@GamingPlus10]

I've got mine hooked up right now. I need to hook my model 1 cd model 1 genesis and power base converter right next to it for ultimate redundancy!

[@retrogameg4721]

The metal clips for the 32x to meet the genesis model 2 are not needed. It clicks in there exactly how it should. The metal clips were for the model 1.

[@dad7275]

Beware of third party power supplies! I bought one that powers all three and it destroyed my 32x's tv display!! Stick with your original adapters. Take my word for it from horrible experience. But I did enjoy the video and now want some metal clips for my 32x (when it returns from repair).

[@lukemoore3559]

I only have the sega cd mounting plate and screw and the 32x spacer and honestly thats all i need for it to work.

[@Retroloft556]

Im so jealous. I want my Sega tower of power back. SO EXPENSIVE.

[@lecashcrash2521]

Wait what about the sega cd you dont need rf cable to it?

[@dangerrrman]

This was great, thanks for making this video

[@bipedalspecies2086]

Two questions; how is the audio since the original Mega CD needed an audio patch cable and does the powerbrick do the different voltages for the different consoles? I just got my first Mega CD and it's a 2 and so is the console, I'm not sure if that was handled internally by then or if I should split the audio off the 9 pin din and mix it like with the original model. I still have my original Mega drive/Genesis and someday it will get a Mega CD as well, I really would like that original Mega CD, I drooled over it at the time.

[@zaxchannel2834]

I heard that most of the shielding was because of the FCC hounding Sega

[@israelrice]

I was 14 or 15 when the Sega CD came out and to this day I want one like crazy but just can’t justify it when I get the opportunity to buy one.

[@nickbarnes3107]

Now that is an awesome system I owned it back in the early 90s.

[@griffiam03]

Thanks for the help with those goddamn metal clips!

[@zachtwilightwindwaker596]

How did you manage the plug all three in? The AVGN couldn't do it with a single power strip (He could have moved the adapters further down though if that works).

[@TheCartCollector]

I used a power strip into one of the wall outlets to plug two of the power supplies into, and then used the second outlet at the wall for the other plug. It’s an absolutely asinine design, but there are ways to make it work.

[@zachtwilightwindwaker596]

@@TheCartCollector So you plug the TV into the power strip as well?

[@TheCartCollector]

It could fit depending on the strip that you use. The one I have now for stuff like this can fit both bricks and then have a free plug between them that could fit the TV plug. But in this case, I actually had the tv in a a separate outlet for this video. There’s an outlet in the corner (you can actually see it in the video), and that’s where I plugged the tv. And then there’s another outlet on the other side of the window where I had the SEGA monster all plugged into.

[@FantasyNero]

Thank you so much for making this video, i still love Sega Genesis Games SEGA should have done the Sega Saturn Backward compatibility with Sega Genesis + CD + 32X, a Sega Genesis cartridge under the Disc slot so you can backward compatibility for older games, that would be huge successfully, instead of all these installations, plug and play the way customers be satisfied.

[@marialinares4201]

Do you need to plus the sega cd

[@DCFC79]

Never owned any of the Sega consoles but I was aware of the mega cd etc but no idea how much effort it was to put all 3 together just to play a game.

[@rudolphzendejas3287]

this was amazing 👊🏻👍🏻

[@stevennutz1109]

I bet re seating the 32X itself probably helped more than the metal shims.... I'm still running this setup that I bought new in the early 90's sans shims.. no problems.

[@TheCartCollector]

That is also very possible.

[@deluxedoorman]

I just bought a model 2 genesis. Now I'm suddenly in the market for a sega cd and 32x as well lolol

[@TheCartCollector]

That is exactly what happened to me haha.

[@n0_XcusZ]

My younger brother had the original. The one where the Sega Genesis set on top of the CD drive.

[@lord_beethoven1169]

So I am guessing the Sega CD doesn’t require AV output because it is attached to the side of the Genesis?

[@TheCartCollector]

Correct. It just outputs through AV out of the genesis.

[@RKR2969]

Thanks for not adding a link to get the metal pieces

[@protocetid]

The community made a an improved Doom port for the 32X that will play off music from the SCD if you combine the three.

[@tentongeek9104]

Great video! Thanks!

[@joonboi84]

Would’ve been great to boot up a sega cd 32X game. As that utilized all three fully

[@TheCartCollector]

I would have had I had one. I actually just got my first one of those this passed weekend.

[@owomushi_vr]

I always thought that this setup needed more cables and more power adapters

[@calibomber209]

Will the 32x make genesis carts better?

[@proximalelk6186]

No

[@MrG_wasTaken]

Awesome tutorial, Nintendo boy here and finally got my genesis and was like…WTH is all this?

[@marialinares4201]

The reason i keep on clixking this video😮

[@jayshreve4567]

Too bad the sega tower of power supply isnt available at the moment. ANYONE HAVE A LINK TO SOMETHING THAT'S ACTUALLY AVAILABLE?

[@TheCartCollector]

That’s a shame that it’s become unavailable. I was able to find one over on Rondo products / Castlemania: rondoproducts.com/products/rondo-products-tower-con-kit?dt_id=504345%3Bap%3A232754 YMMV on this one though. I haven’t tested it so I can’t say whether or not it’s any good.

[@gangstasenpai1049]

Not sure what sega was smoking when they thought combining all those like that was a cool idea

[@protocetid]

there were employees who thought the 32X was a bad idea

[@joel6689]

Waoooo.... sega was actually crazy

[@sahilhossain8204]

Lore of How To Setup the Sega Genesis / CD / 32X | Retro Gaming How To momentum 100

[@lordw9609]

Great to the point video thanks

[@thebudman1980]

So on model 1 Genesis that has way better sound the way the sound is mixed. The proper setup. Get a headphone cable that is male on both ends. Dirt cheap if you don't have one. Plug that into front panel of Genesis headphone jack after the genesis is attached to the sega cd. Then take that cable. Plug that in mixing port. Only cable that fits. Then take audio video cable plug into back of Genesis and plug only the yellow video to the tv. Now with an extra red and white plugs. Connect the sega cd audio to the tv. Now the audio is mixed properly. If you add 32x. You unplug the video cable from the Genesis and use that correct cable to go from Genesis to the 32x in port. Av out goes to the TV. If you only have a genesis and nothing else. Plut in the headphone jack to tv for stereo or if you have a 32x with genesis and no sega cd. Do the same. Rear port is mono on Genesis 1 with the HD written on the top. The best Genesis. Now revisions of these models matter but it's hard to find. Some gen 1 revisions better than others and same with Genesis 2. Also the 32x actually doesn't output audio but doesn't mean some titles don't have better processed audio that then goes to the cartridge slot of the Genesis. And if you have a sega cd. Out the sega cd to the tv after the headphone cable is plugged into the mixing port of the sega cd. Instead of using the adapter. You only need a headphone jack cable to the white and yellow plug. I have those for my Samsung phone so i can output to an old stereo that's the wired type before all this digital this way then i have a head phone to headphone for line in out from phone to my car. Wait are you using two cables connected from the stereo headphone audio out to the tv? Because just get a longer cable that does the same thing. Walmart used to have them for under 5 dollars. Closer to 3 dollars. Headphone jack to long red white cable. That's what looked odd. Get rid of the extra connection this way. Carries only audio without that 3rd wheel.l yellow plug. Because what you did was use adapter into headphone jack then through red white and yellow plug committing the yellow. Extra connection allows more interference. You probably want a 6 foot 3.5mm headphone to rca audio cable. Instead of connecting a cable to a cable. I used to get these from Walmart but probably have better quality ones somewhere else. But for a few bucks it works and it's less cables then connecting a cable into a cable. Rule of thumb anything analog. Shortest best shielded cable that will work for you gives best audio or video. Less signal loss and interference in the cable. But sometimes you have to use a longer cable. The one cable will mean you don't need to plug a cable into a cable. Goes from headphone to audio in on tv on one cable.

[@DragonHiss4]

Don't order those "Trident" all-in-one cables for a setup like this - they're intended for a Model 1 Genesis (the long one with the headphone jack) and those add-ons. The Model 2 Genesis seen here uses the exact opposite type of power (center positive, while Model 1 is center negative), so the combo cable would fry your console!

[@SonnyBoiP]

I dont remember having to do all this lol

[@omarguerrero6417]

How old were you when you realized he was missing a piece that goes on the left side

[@OmaeWaMoShindeiRYU]

do you mean his fingernail?

[@yuckluck2]

stack the game genie with sonic and knuckles 3 to create the gaming tower of babel

[@TheCartCollector]

I for sure would have had I had a Game Genie and Sonic and Knuckles at the time.

[@alienboy1322]

The Cd and 32x could have been their individual ports. But no...said Sega.

[@dakotathomas511]

you absolutely do not need the metal plates cool you have them though

[@TheCartCollector]

While I can accept that most people have gotten by just fine without them, I did have a noticeable change to the ease of use when I had the plates installed. Maybe it’s just a quirk with my system, but they 100% made a difference.

[@PaulieAFantoneJays19]

@ 1:45 ...What happened to your fingernail?, looks very painful

[@marialinares4201]

Can i buy ur wii u

[@TheCartCollector]

Sorry, but I am not really looking to sell any of the things in my collection right now. Luckily though, I did a little looking on eBay and you can find one there thats not TOO expensive.

[@bingeMAFIA]

Big Genesis fan but then releasing rhe 32x, Sega CD, and Sega Saturn so close to each other. WTF. 🤦🏻

[@JetScreamer_YT]

My CD broke!

[@MechaTengu21]

The process to setup this alone is proof enough the CD and 32X are terrible ideas.

[@davion4777]

When you people ask “why the Dreamcast failed?” Go back and look at this. Everything started here. Sega was panicking trying to release all this useless junk and lost all credibility with their fans by the time the Saturn was released. Dreamcast got killed by terrible previous management ideas, the release of the PS2 was only the icing on the cake.

[@nostalgiafreak1265]

The 32X was a fake some people scam online

[@TheCartCollector]

The 32X is a very bizarre but very real real thing my friend. And mine is legit.

[@idaholana]

@@TheCartCollector Yes considering the high price might mean it’s a legit copy because SEGA doesn’t sell any

[@rocketraccoon1976]

WTF??? 😳

[@lap456]

Do to those chips that cound be added to SNES game carts I saw the 32X as juck and The Sega CD to me had nothing to offer since i never into those Laserdisc based arcade games or even any arcade game. In fact in school wean the SEGA kids tried to use the no blood in SNES Mortal Kombat thing to win to thier side I yell at them I don't play those kind of games to just sunt them up. The school braod hered that and passed an law. That law removed The SEGA Channel form the Cable TV systems 'less then 2 mouths after I came online", made the arcades higter popple to keep an eye on what the kids where playing, Stores coundn't sell games like Nigth Trap to any one without an ID, made video stores was on longer afred puses chagers if they felt that your where renting an video game for someone under age and lasty made the PTA very happy. Rember this was before the ESRB.

[@protocetid]

Ironically the base system could do polygons better than base SNES, and the 32X was way ahead of anything the SNES could do with helper chips. Most developers didn’t bother properly using the add on

[@redictheredgehog]

32gen CD…

[@ParticleSon]

This video would have made sense if it came out years ago but it is very recent and has been done by others years ago. They have the 3-1 adapters now. I got one a couple years ago.