Sega TeraDrive External Overview

[@felixokeefe]

Hey I had an Amstrad mega pc. Same concept. only it had a 386 with a 40MB hard drive if I remember correctly. The mega drive was on an ISA card and showed up as Midi card in windows 3.1. So you could use the mega drive midi voices in windows. Sadly it didn't have sound card (soudblaster compatible) functionality.

[@vwestlife]

The DOS command to clear the screen is CLS, not CLEAR or CLR. :-)

[@NixMcRetro]

+vwestlife Damn *nix machines! They've made me forget basic DOS commands... sorry DOS, I've been unfaithful! Thankyou! I'll be sure it use it when I'm messing around with the Duron or the P4 :)

[@MRooodddvvv]

+vwestlife yep! CLEAR it's linux

[@NixMcRetro]

+MRooodddvvv Why can't they all just get along! :)

[@MRooodddvvv]

***** for same reason as they all use different screw types i guess ;)

[@NixMcRetro]

+MRooodddvvv Hahaha, well at least some things got standardised along the way - like USB!

[@SparkstarScope]

Man, how have I never heard of this? A personal computer with a built-in Mega Drive sounds like a Sega fan (like me)'s wish come true if you'd ask me.

[@hitkid2456]

It was Japan-only like Aiwa Mega CD and their earliest efforts.

[@statusquo9520]

So if wanted both console and PC in 90s you had this ?

[@hitkid2456]

Well there was the Pippin @ World too, he he

[@ultraplayer7436]

Which online shopping website does have the teradrive

[@stylesoftware]

holy camera-work batman

[@NixMcRetro]

*tries to remember if camera work was good or bad* Thanks! I try my best!

[@maxtonjohan8064]

i realize I'm quite off topic but do anyone know of a good place to stream newly released movies online?

[@luccamathias9942]

@Maxton Johan I watch on FlixZone. You can find it by googling =)

[@spencerotto5161]

@Lucca Mathias yup, I have been watching on flixzone for years myself :D

[@maxtonjohan8064]

@Lucca Mathias Thanks, signed up and it seems to work :D I really appreciate it!!

[@GreekRetroGeek]

Sonic on that old Macintosh monitor looks like the original gameboy on drugs!

[@miro5052]

is it powerful enough to run win95

[@BluesM18A1]

the genesis sound chip is very similar to an adlib or soundblaster, it would be interesting if the teradrive actually used its chip as a pseudo-OPL2 sound card.

[@NixMcRetro]

Ah yes the YM2612 used in Mega Drives / Genesisesesess, closely related to the YM3438 in the TeraDrive. Did I spell Genesisiseses right?

[@randomcontentcreator123-l4d]

the viewSONIC monitor goes well with this thing

[@michaelpope3880]

Thanks for the vid...i like the teradrives...obscurity meets goodness

[@NixMcRetro]

+Michael Pope It's a pretty heavy unit too. IBM really added a lot of solid bits to it. Like VCRs from the 80s before they made them all plastic and rubbish! Actually, same applies to PCs!

[@jordandavies2614]

Did you use a step down transformer to get it to work is Australia?

[@NixMcRetro]

Yep! Step down was the only way! 😊 (Short of replacing the PSU)

[@novostranger]

A useful Megadrive.

[@jeremyjohnson8844]

Good lord, by 91 you'd at least expect a 486.

[@GadgetUK164]

Great stuff! That has to be a first - Megadrive in green screen mono lol =D

[@NixMcRetro]

+GadgetUK164 That actually came through? Well I guess it wasn't all for nothing! :)

[@MrAlan1828]

I've got a Model 2 too, where did you get the XTIDE card?

[@NixMcRetro]

+Alan Yau Built from scratch courtesy of Sergey at Malinov.com - www.malinov.com/Home/sergeys-projects/xt-cf-lite They've got a great list of projects over there :)

[@SharifSourour]

Talk about obscure! You're right 286 is pretty weak for the time. Sega really spread themselves too thin.

[@NixMcRetro]

They clearly were aiming for an outdated diverse portfolio to sell onto Sammy, I bet they knew their consoles beyond Mega Drive were largely doomed :-)

[@Bikeguychicago1]

Does the CD-ROM drive (if it has one) support the Sega/Mega CD discs as well?

[@segaunited3855]

It doesn't have a CD ROM. Mega CD used its own SDK. Teradrive is nothing more than a MegaDrive SDK.

[@Lachlant1984]

Do the keyboard and mouse plug in on the front? If you switch from PC mode to MD mode, does the PC keep running or does it stop. Is that six square screen that comes up when you start the computer stored in ROM or is it on the CF card? I didn't see any expansion slots on the back of the machine, does the computer have any ISA slots in it?

[@NixMcRetro]

+Lachlant1984 Yep, PS/2 straight into the front! PC -> MD mode kills the PC and visa versa. The six square screen is similar to the four square screen on the IBM PS/2 Model 25 and you got it, built into ROM! One expansion slot, ISA and as a bonus it has no 12V rail, so it's a bit of an oddity! :)

[@Lachlant1984]

If the card slot has no 12 volt rail, does that mean that some expansion cards won't work in it? Would this cause problems if you want to use a sound card for instance. So the moral of the story is if you're using Windows and you want to play a MegaDrive game, shut Windows down first before you play.

[@Lachlant1984]

+Shane McRetro I didn't know there was a PS/2 that had the four square user interface on it, I thought that was on the IBM PS/1 computers that vWestlife has talked about.

[@NixMcRetro]

+Lachlant1984 Exactly! Some cards that need the 12V rail just don't do their thing, some work, but not quite 100% as you could imagine! Think CD-ROM controllers on Sound Cards... a lot don't work. I guess this is what happens when you haven't quite got the standards... well standardised! :)

[@NixMcRetro]

+Lachlant1984 *Bashes head against Model M keyboard* So damn clicky, you are right! Where is my mind at! Good catch! :)

[@TheRetroMess]

What's the panel over the cartridge slot? Another slot or an access panel?

[@NixMcRetro]

+Ryan Martinez Ah yes, the internal overview will probably speak about that. It's essentially the extension port that is on the side of the Mega Drive / Genesis. I'm guessing one day they would have wanted to interface the Mega-CD / Sega CD and 32X on this sucker!

[@NixMcRetro]

+Ryan Martinez *Edit:* Mega-CD / Sega CD sorry, not 32X. The 32X just goes into the cartridge slot! (Doesn't fit on this though!)

[@TheRetroMess]

+Shane McRetro That's a weird place to put it. Maybe they had an adapter or their own design for a CD-ROM drive. You do mean the edge connector on Model 1 and Model 2 Genesis for the SegaCD?

[@NixMcRetro]

+Ryan Martinez Those are the words I needed! Edge connector, perfect! :) Probably would have stacked like everything in the 80s / 90s :D

[@skins4thewin]

So uh... where's the footage of the internals that you said you would show? Video ended without any of that...

[@ryandavis7011]

Fantastic table doyley!

[@raydeen2k]

I believe 'cls' clears the screen. Been a while, but that's what comes to mind.

[@NixMcRetro]

I should do an entire video on using cls so no one ever makes this mistake again, how embarrassing! :-)

[@FifoF]

Now I want one! You’ve made me jealous McRetro!

[@NixMcRetro]

+Fifo Folter Hahaha! :) That's what you get for watching my videos of cool things! :P

[@zakruowrath]

If only 15 Khz RGB was more compatible with regular monitors, can't wait to see more :)

[@NixMcRetro]

+zakruowrath I wonder what the logic was behind using 15kHz or 31kHz and why can't the international sign for kilo be a capital K like Mega, life just isn't fair!

[@zakruowrath]

That is a very good question, I'm thinking it had something to do with the CRT monitors at the time, maybe the CGA, EGA standards? And that is a good question too, I've wondered that myself xD

[@NixMcRetro]

+zakruowrath Maybe the folks reading this will pipe up :D Anyone?

[@MRooodddvvv]

+Shane McRetro 15khz is a TV thing. it also should be interlaced wounder if any monitor can handle that !?

[@NixMcRetro]

+MRooodddvvv Search me! I'm looking forward to building the microchip thing to do some sort of something though. I'm not quite sure on the specifics... or even the non-specifics :) It'll come to me!

[@edwinmannaandthelearningch4450]

Does this record every Sega game or something?

[@NixMcRetro]

Sadly no, there were rumours it was to help developers make games for the Mega Drive / Genesis - the PC side can be seen interacting with the Mega Drive when using the PZLCNST program, Puzzle Construction. Very interesting to look at, sadly not much can be done as far as I can see! 😊

[@noir7565]

Fantastic video. Subscribed .

[@NixMcRetro]

Thanks, but you just wait until I fix my Model 3! One day! One day! :-)

[@dawidbussu-rajzer7380]

3:42 this manager is a bios or dos application?

[@NixMcRetro]

That's a part of the ROM embedded in the machine. I believe it would have to be a DOS application though, wouldn't it? It has similarities with the IBM PS/1 from memory!

[@danielm2142]

How does the Teradrive's sound capabilities compare to the High definition graphics - Stereo sound Megadrive's? Oh, and that was the only model with the serial port on the back. ALL THE THINGS!

[@NixMcRetro]

+Daniel M I believe they should be spot on, I'll give it another spin once I've got a nice 15KHz monitor :) Sound is powered by a YM3438 instead of the YM2612 found in the first model Mega Drive / Genesis. Spot on! That silly EXT port that is apparently a female version of the male front controller ports!

[@danielm2142]

***** Glad to hear that, too bad the PC section can only output through the PC speaker, and it doesn't look as if any ISA cards will fit in that case. The only thing that used the EXT port that I know of was a Dial-up modem, but then SEGANET came a long, so I guess that's why they removed it.

[@NixMcRetro]

+Daniel M Wait till you see Puzzle Construction! It's an interesting piece of software. I'll do a proper review one day soon! So many things to do! Need to get a 15KHz screen cranking first! Yep, the good old SEGA MODEM, got one of those attached to something somewhere or is it still in a box? I should keep better tabs on these things!

[@danielm2142]

***** I just went and watched your Puzzle Construction Software video, and that music definitly has that awesome YM3438 sound to it, which made me realise something, both the Megadrive and PC sections are able to communicate with each-other, and here I was, thinking they were just two sperate boards stuck in a computer case, I should know SEGA made highly innovative hardware back in the day. As for the frequency issue, I hear of people using a RGB to VGA converter on their Amiga's and Supergun's to convert the frequency to the normal 60/70Hz, maybe it'll work for the Teradrive. I think they use one called "GBS-8220".

[@NixMcRetro]

+Daniel M Ahhh if only I had the internal overview uploaded and ready! Curses! Good to see I demoed it at least! :)

[@realtrisk]

You clear the screen in DOS with CLS, not CLR... Cool vid.

[@NixMcRetro]

Thank you! It has been far too long :-)

[@Cowclops]

But you clear that rust stain in your sink with CLR!

[@MichaelOKeefe2009]

A very special kind of SEGA.

[@zeldajunkielol2]

So cool! very jealous Mr McRetro!

[@NixMcRetro]

+zeldajunkielol2 Where would you keep it? It's so big and heavy! :O That's something I wish I had planned for! How have you been anyway?

[@zeldajunkielol2]

+Shane McRetro I have been well! There's no such thing as not enough space when video games are concerned!

[@NixMcRetro]

+zeldajunkielol2 Tell that to my legs! I lost feeling in them days ago when the TeraDrives toppled onto them, trapping me forever! :P

[@oldgoodrandomroutine]

IS THIS JOE SANTAGATO? dat intro wtf XD

[@Lachlant1984]

I do find this machine interesting, I mean it's using IBM components in it and IBM were a bit American company, but it was only released in Japan, I don't really know too much about what relations are like between the Americans and the Japanese. I know this machine is only a 286, do you know if they made 386 or 486 versions of this PC? I understand that they didn't. I think there was an Amstrad MegaPC that had a 486 in it, I know there was at least a 386 version.

[@NixMcRetro]

+Lachlant1984 Spot on, the Amstrad Mega PC was considered the spiritual successor I suppose. Quite different internally (modular baby!) no overly integrating onto the motherboard. The 386SX version of the Mega PC was by far the more common with the 486SLC called the Mega PC Plus. I managed to upgrade my Mega PC to the Plus by using a compatible motherboard from a non-Mega PC Amstrad computer. Quite interesting really! Heck I'll probably do a video on it too soon!

[@EdgyNumber1]

man, you really need to sort your camera work out... I'm dizzy!

[@NixMcRetro]

It's like Kylie Minogue always said, "I'm spinning around, move outta my way, I know you're feeling me"... wait, less that last line LOL, damn why is everything so sexually charged!

[@jasonhowe1697]

I'm thinking this was either a programming option or something sega designed for the hotel market in JAPAN DEV Console I would have to guess for the mega drive or genesis depending on the region name

[@s727r]

I remember longing for something similar in the catalogue. Was like a million quid tho

[@janoschkax]

how many ads can you shove into 15 minutes?

[@droiduseruserdroid1731]

10 MHz! Take my money! What are you going to do with all of those MegaHURTSES, man?

[@dave4shmups]

Great video! These go for up to $3,000 US dollars on eBay! I would love to get an Apple iic for gaming, though.

[@NixMcRetro]

+David Halligan Wait what! AUD$3,000? That's like AUD$6,000! I'm scared to think of what crazy things that would let me fund :)

[@dave4shmups]

+Shane McRetro No, U.S. Dollars. I live in the U.S. and looked for them on eBay.

[@NixMcRetro]

+David Halligan Total typo on my part, sorry :)

[@dave4shmups]

+Shane McRetro No problem! I would totally get one if they weren't so expensive. Japanese FM Towns computers don't even go for that much on eBay, and neither do LaserActive systems.

[@NixMcRetro]

+David Halligan FM Towns... don't tempt me to buy more things! >:D More things isn't what I need :P Tempting as it may be... must resist!

[@nesfrk]

That LCD monitor can't handle the 15khz videomode when you run it in megadrive mode.

[@NixMcRetro]

+nesfreak Yep! One day I'll build that whatsit to do the converting for me! One day...! :)

[@giorgosVahliotisVAH]

aawesome video !

[@idimidodjimi6760]

Clear screen command is CLS not clr

[@NixMcRetro]

+Idimi Dodjimi I was close :) Gotta give me credit for being close? Pleeeease :)

[@idimidodjimi6760]

shure :)

[@NixMcRetro]

+Idimi Dodjimi Woohoo! :)

[@retrogameon]

I have to say, I think I enjoyed watching it all on that Apple monitor more than anything else. Not to say that the TeraDrive isn't fricken cool or anything, though.

[@NixMcRetro]

+Retro Game On I'll consider that a suggestion and add it to my list of *everything!* :)

[@andljoy]

I spy a model M ! Possibly new enough to be a lexmark or made in the UK model

[@NixMcRetro]

+Andrew Joy Almost spot on! USA, USA, USA! Lexmark from 1995 with all the trimmings of drainage for liquid spills :)

[@RobertNES816]

VA6 was the last Genesis with the serial port. At least from all the consoles I've seen. So that would mean Sega dropped the HD Graphics and serial port at the same time. VA6.5 consoles have the same internals but no HD GRAPHICS or Serial port.

[@NixMcRetro]

+Robert NES816 Ah not over here in PAL land, VA4 was the only model with the ext port, much easiness!

[@RobertNES816]

But didn't Sega release the modem in PAL regions?

[@NixMcRetro]

Not that I'm aware of, I don't even think we got an Xband now that I think about it!

[@xtraflo]

Gimme Gimme Gimme - I need I need.....!!

[@Slot1Gamer]

oooohhh that keyboard sound mmmmmmmmmmm

[@NixMcRetro]

+Slot1Gamer Klackita, Klackita, click!

[@josephfrye7342]

welp you found another model mate and yes this is a model 2 though.

[@josephfrye7342]

oh uh yes this model is a NTSC-J version and it runs on 60hertz

[@АлексейЯзыков-и5р]

А почему изоброжение на сонике зеленое

[@jerkyy04]

The monitor has 'ViewSonic' name on the border🐗;)

[@eshneto]

286 likes, I am not going to change that.

[@tHeWasTeDYouTh]

7:24 Jason M Knight was a boss

[@alexojideagu]

A 286 CPU in 1991, what were they thinking?

[@panicfarm9874]

Pal land aren’t you an Aussie? We are in pal land

[@shplangerz9886]

You have 4 ads in your video a zero production value. Why?

[@geoffgibbins6639]

You miserable git!

[@arktvrvs]

I want one!

[@ryanyoder7573]

At the time I would have rather had a nice 486sx and already moved on from my Genesis to PC games.

[@cammelspit]

Just makes me wonder, WHY!? Why on gods green earth did they even make this thing? Not like it could display the MD stuff with the RGB cable... all of the hassle of both a PC and an MD with none of the benefit. Seems like a waste of a perfectly good MD and a perfectly good 286 IMO. What if I wanted to use both at the same time? SEGA was kinda silly.

[@NixMcRetro]

Oh but you can use them at the same time! One of the features of the TeraDrive that the Amstrad Mega PC lacked! Adults can use the PC side and kids can play the Mega Drive with it's 50cm cabled controller lol - of course they'd have to be on composite. But they are just kids, they don't mind composite! :-D

[@cammelspit]

That would have to be one close family, LITERALLY! :D

[@gastroomo6169]

interesante

[@kabalu]

to many ads

[@TheFoxRJ]

286 :(

[@oficialretrog]

Que linda que é

[@tcdahn7]

cool topic bad video.

[@Rollintogames]

Him: doesnt look too bad me: well i mean it would look better buuuuut you have it hooked up to a pc that can't produce color not tring to be salty just facts

[@zafar5477]

deaf 🧑 Sultanov Zafar Tashkent

[@LetsPlayKeldeo]

Nein nein nein Dumme Nazis D: