Sega Gamegear Screen

Hi Assembler,

I went to my local retro store and picked up (very cheaply) a game gear with no sound, knowing that the fix for this is very simple (replace caps).

Something I had not noticed in the shop (which isn't a big deal, but ideally could be fixed), is a kind of ghosting on the vertical axes of the screen. It is obvious when the background is dark and some white is present on the screen.



Is this a capacitor problem also? I know the screen caps can cause the screen to be unusable, but this seems different.

Cheers

 

yeah change all the caps

 

used to be a site selling a complete pack of proper caps for GG repair, google around they're probably still somewhere

 

If sufficiently bribed I can put together a kit for GameGear capacitors. I should have at least a dozen of each needed for the different models.

Cap replacement will fix the sound and is very easy to do even if your experience with soldering is low. The rest can be a PITA as the electrolyte tends to leak out "gluing" them to the board.

 

Not to mention the stink! Peeee-yyyyuuuuu

 

I'd say it is the caps, especially if those lines are moving, with the bright spots. Passive matrix screens do that but that seems to be a different type of signal bleed.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Sega-Game-Gear-Capacitor-Replacement-Kit/dp/B005VR2OUG

 

Proper caps my arse! They replace the expensive SMD caps with cheaper through-hole components. Yes, they work - but don't call them a 'proper' cap kit when it's a bodge job for cheapness and because a lot of people can't do SMT work.

If you're talking about the ghosting lines, a cap change won't fix that - it's the limitation of the panel.

 

changing the video caps helps with the blurryness / washing out of the image. makes a marked improvement. and if you've got it open to do the audio why not replace them anyway not hard to find caps that fit i got mine from maplin / ebay

 

Hi people,

Indeed changing the caps worked. I have a 99% restored gamegear now (missing one cap, part in the post). The screen is much much better now, and the sound works too.

I have some tips for others doing this same task:

- DO NOT just break off the caps. Some youtibe video was claiming this is fine. No! This will lift the pads or snap them off. I did this. Noob mistake. Desolder the caps properly.

- Don't solder the new caps directly onto the board, or the case wont close. Solder the caps to cables, insulate the legs, then solder this to the board. Once you have done this, tuck the caps under the board at the edge of the case.

- When soldering to the board, i found it easier to first deposit solder, then dip the wire/component into the molten solder. I don't have enough hands to hold the soldering iron, solder and component.

- Do not obstruct the gold pads. This is where the case construction meets the board.

- I lifted some pads. A friend showed me a trick (thanks munchausen). Use a multimeter for continuity testing. You can usually find an alternative place to solder to. I soldered a couple of caps to IC legs.

I'll post a pic. Not bad for a first restoration, but many lesson learned, as you can see.

 

Thanks to all that helped.

 

I'd like to see a photo of the screen now , also did you buy a pre-packed cap bag?

 

good to see another gamegear restored to working condition, GameGear was my 1st console related fix, i might stick a pic up of it later (insides).

the caps in mine came off relatively easy without damaging tracks / pads but i didnt pull them off, just wiggled them back n forth till the legs broke.

 

NP. Cant wait to see the finished article!

derekb - no he bought the caps elsewhere (maplin possibly?)

 

Uhm... if you do a search on farnell or some other electronics suppliers you'll see many SMD caps (of the type used on the GG) are cheaper or very similar in price to decent through hole equivalents. Also, technically you are surface mounting through hole components here.

 

I have done this to a dozen GG but I get the caps from Mouser I have a project list just for that. Also do a LED light mod to one of them it looks nice but I have to find a good diffuser to put the bulbs into it, sanding the bulbs is not enough for me.

 

The LED works. Good enough for me.

 

LEDs are a rather poor solution at this point.

 

Dsi backlight mod.....

 

Im not sure what you guys are suggesting.There is a red LED on the gamegear indicating it is on. This works.There is a backlight on the screen. It works