Consoles and capacitors

Game gear is known for its bad capacitors, what are other consoles affected by this?

Let's say I have a working snes, is it a good idea to replace capacitors even if they're not showing any sign of failing?

 

Most consoles I've come across were still working fine but yes, it is a good idea to change the electrolytics on them.
On PAL SNES console in particular, check C59. This should have been a bipolar one but Nintendo had it be a regular, polarized capacitor for a while. I'm not sure if it's a problem on American or Japanese models.

 

Turbo Duo
Turbo Express
Sega CD model 1
3DO FZ-10
JVC Xeye

 

Vectrex definitely, the screen capacitors deteriorate over time.
And I recall the original XBox also has a very bad and dangerous capacitor for it's internal clock, which can destroy the mobo if it leaks.
I am sure there are more...unfortunately...

 

Dreamcast power supply
model one master system
pioneer laser active and pacs

 

Definitely seeing more snes units that need it too.

 

May I ask, for noobs on these things... The best thing to do is turn the consoles on once in a while or that makes no difference?

 

PC Engine Duo/Turbo Duo is notorious for bad caps. It is a necessity to replace them and chances are some have leaked.

 

The orignal xbox clock capacitor

 

Oh yes, the model 1 Sega/Mega CD. When I changed them out on mine, they were that bad, I was surprised the thing worked at all lol!

 

Not a console, but still gaming related, so...: The Voodoo 4 and 5 series cards seem to need the occasional recap.

 

I've heard it helps to use them every once in awhile. I'm not sure if that is true, but you might as well just to check that everything is working.

 

Read up on Capacitor Reforming. There is some level of truth. BTW my experience with game gears and turbo duos is that the leakage is often worse on units that have spent years in storage rather than ones that see frequent usage.

 

Looking up that subject makes it pretty clear that you should not leave devices unused for long periods of time to ward off having to recap them. It makes sense from what I read.

 

If this is an older console (including consumer hardware up to the early and mid 2000s), then there would be a benefit to replacing the electrolytic and tantalum capacitors – assuming the thread focuses on electrical performance (even thermals to some extent). Ceramic capacitors in this era of hardware may also be replaced, though with far more complexity involved.

In consoles and consumer hardware after the late-2000s, there is more of a diminished return on cap replacement, since the industry already made the big shift over to the higher quality and more reliable hybrid (liquid), polymer electrolytic (solid), and polymer tantalum (solid) substrate capacitors.

 

The Sega Nomad is also affected by this.

 

Oh and don't forget the CPU caps on Xbox and Xbox 360.