Mr. Backup Z64 crashing/ freezing

Howdy folks!

Last night I decided to dig out a Z64 I bought about 12 years ago. Since I bought it, I never have had it working consistently. I can back up my cartridges no problem but when it comes to playing the backups, I always seem to crash to a black screen (on the tv) after varying amounts of play time. I have tried 2 different N64s and have tried multiple bios revisions. I am currently on the "2.20 SILVER FOX" bios. Still using Zip100 disks.

Examples:
I can boot up Mario Kart 64 and complete 3 or 4 races before the crash.
In Ocarina of Time, I can almost get to the sword before the crash.

Whats strange is that sometimes after a crash, I will remove the Z64 and put in a regular cartridge and even it's gameplay will be unstable for a short while but eventually smooths out. Dont know if something is getting too hot or what. I am using a 5v 1.6 amp power supply with the Z64 and a few different cartridges in the side. Also, my N64 does not have the expansion pack if that makes a difference.

Any help or insight into how to make this thing more stable would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

What version hardware is it? Version 3's are known to crash, and there is a way to modify the hardware to stop freezing. The way you can tell is the last number of version. Yours is 2.20 but is it A=v1, B=v2, or C=v3

Also I'm doing this off the top of my head I haven't dusted off my z64 in a while either, so if I'm wrong on how to find the hardware versions, someone please correct me

 

So it's really the N64 that's got the crashing/freezing issue, it just somehow gets triggered by the Z64 and persists even after removing it? And you have the same issue with two N64s? Hm. Did you use the same PSU both times, or did you switch it together with the console?

Regarding the Z64, even though I suspect it's something else: How to tell the hardware revision, fix for HW3

 

I recall hearing the design interferes with the ventilation and cooling of the system. Maybe try playing it with a fan blowing air on the system to help keep it cool. It's easy to try out and worth a shot.

 

Thanks for the replies, folks! It is a version 3. I have tried with a fan blowing on the console/ Mr Backup. Didn't seem to help much. I am going to try the soldering fixes. Will report back with the results!

 

Definitely do the cooling mod on the version 3, and if you can take the expansion pack lid off the n64 due to the z64 covers and makes the ram even hotter than normal. I'd say the latter is your problem

 

He mentioned he doesn't have an expansion pak. And with the jumper pak, heat is not an issue.

 

So, I did the cooling mod. At first, the unit acted strange like it wasn't getting enough power. This eventually smoothed out and I was actually able to play Ocarina of time all the way through the first dungeon. Then I booted up Mario Kart 64 and got through 3.5 races before another freeze so, the mod definitely helped but it's still not 100% stable yet. I think I am going to try and maybe cut a hole in the z64 or the console itself and install a small fan to keep air moving through it. Maybe mount some small heatsinks to the chips as well.

Any insight as to exactly what board/ chips are getting too hot and causing the crashes?

While we are here:
I have one zip disk that I cannot get the z64 to recognize. I am formatting it (FAT16) with a USB ZIP250 drive. After format, I am able to use the disk in windows but the z64 will only say 0 MB free and won't read the files. Is there a particular way to format it or better yet, have the z64 itself format it?

Thanks again!

 

To get the obvious out of the way: It's a ZIP100 disk, not 250, right?
And no, unfortunately the Z64 doesn't appear to be able to format disks.

 

Yep, the disk is definitely a ZIP100