I have a Pal NES which boots games 100% of the time, no problem. Games play fine for about 30 minutes. Then the graphics start corrupting. Rebooting doesn't fix it. Unplugging it for 10 minutes doesn't fix it. Unplugging for 24 hours DOES fix it....for 30 minutes. The pin connector is spotless. Looks new even(it's an original, not a replacement). I cleaned it and the carts. I don't think it's the connector or the carts though. Im guessing the graphics memory is dying or something. Any ideas on what I can do to fix it? Thanks.
Hmm, i'm guessing i'll need something to test the temperature of it? Would putting my finger on it while it's receiving power be enough to say that it is over heating? Should it be hot to the touch? or like, burning my finger off hot? lol
If it feels like it's going to burn your finger badly, it's probably overheating. NES doesn't need that much power and 7805 is rated for max 1 amp. Also I'd check the mainboard with magnifying glass for bad solder joint, heat related issue like this could indicate issue with poor joint that works fine cold but becomes worse when warmed up to the point of causing problem.
Well, just tested it and oh my god is it hot! like, seriously, cant even put finger NEAR it without it getting uncomfortable! lol. So I believe this is the problem... What can I do to fix it?
Replace the voltage regulator, you can have the nearest electronics store do it for you or invest in a soldering iron and pump.
I should be able to replace it myself. Any way I can test the voltage coming out of it? I have a multimeter, just not too clued up on how to use it for voltage testing. EDIT: Nevermind. Worked it out. The multimeter says 6.60 . I'm guessing that's too high?
I've ordered a new one from ebay. Hopefully this will fix it. Is the sticky stuff between the regulator and the metal frame thermal paste or just glue?
That's a little expensive for a PAL NES. If it was a NTSC NES with RGB output and stereo or something like that, and the whole thing was in good condition (the case is cracked on my NES), then I could justify the price of a 7805 switching regulator. As it stands, I just want my NES to work for now until I can source a NTSC one. Bought an Everdrive cartridge for it and hardly been able to use it due to the glitches lol. Thanks everyone for your help so far by the way.
I have a multimeter, I am not that handy with knowing how to use it. Is there a video on how to test the 7805?
Google is your friend: http://www.learningaboutelectronics.com/Articles/How-to-test-a-voltage-regulator
If you're going to be attempting to fix consoles, you need to have a good working knowledge of electronic theory. Pick up a decent book on the subject, like Electronics for Dummies. Some of the chapter titles are corny, but it'll give you a good start... and there's a section on using multimeters. If you read the above posts, though, they say to check if it's overheating.
