Problem with my Atari 5200

[Wonder_Hamster]

I recently bought a bare 5200 at a flea market and got a tv switch and AC adaptor with some games from a great seller in the Buying/Selling forum. However, my 5200 just gives me an orange screen on the tv with every game I try to boot. Is this problem common? Is there any way I can fix it? Please help.

[FABombjoy]

Is this a 2 or 4 port model?

The "user serviceable" things to check:

Are the games and cartridge slot clean?
Is the power supply good?

There are some internal components that, when dead, will cause a solid colored screen.

[Wonder_Hamster]

Is this a 2 or 4 port model?

4 port

Are the games and cartridge slot clean?
Is the power supply good?

I got the games, power supply and RF adaptor from y-bot, who I'm trusting sold me everything in good condition. Don't know about the cartridge slot though.

There are some internal components that, when dead, will cause a solid colored screen.

Dear God, that sounds like it might be the case. Do you have any more info on this problem, or how to replace something that died?

[FABombjoy]

Well, I don't know how much help this will be for you, but for a solid color screen the following components are candidates for replacement:

U2, U3, U5, U7, Y1, Q1, Q2, VR1

It still could be a power supply issue, as I've had 5200 power supplies die for no reason at all before (even between cartridge changes).

[wufners]

Rather than start a whole new post on the subject, I thought I'd revive this one and see if anyone wants to refine the info that is already here.

Much like the Wonder Hamster, I find myself with a 4-port 5200 that is on the fritz and I want to determine whether it is worth attempting to revive the system or if I should just toss it in the dumpster out back.

When I turn it on all I get is a green screen. The power supply is good, the RF adaptor is good, and all the games are in tip-top working condition. So . . .

Well, I don't know how much help this will be for you, but for a solid color screen the following components are candidates for replacement:

U2, U3, U5, U7, Y1, Q1, Q2, VR1

Are these components labled on the motherboard? If I open it up, will I be able to find them? And how does one go about figuring out what is busted and was is not? Is there a simple way? And should I identify the culprit, are they easy to replace? Are these just fuses I can buy at an electronics store? Is there an easy hack like cutting the fuse out and soldering the wires together?

And my final question, do you think it's worth it? I don't want to spend a ton of money or time bringing this thing back to life (if it's even possible.) I already have 2 working 5200s, 1 of which I plan on selling. If I can revive this one, I'd just add it to the sell pile too. In the meantime, it's big and bulky and my closet is small and full. While it pains me to introduce a piece of gaming past to the garbage bin, this is an option I am sadly facing.

Thanks for your thoughts and opinions.

[FABombjoy]

>Are these components labled on the motherboard?

They should be. The part #'s are supposed to be screened on the board.

>If I open it up, will I be able to find them?

You should be able to.

>And how does one go about figuring out what is busted and was is not?
>Is there a simple way?

By employing electronic troubleshooting and diagnosis techniques. Sorry, there's no easy fix here. There are some components that are more suspect than others, but you'd need a supply of known good parts to facilitate diagnosis.

>And should I identify the culprit, are they easy to replace?

If you know how to solder/desolder.

>Are these just fuses I can buy at an electronics store?

No

>Is there an easy hack like cutting the fuse out and soldering the wires together?

No

>And my final question, do you think it's worth it?

It sounds like you lack the facilities and parts necessary to perform this level of troubleshooting. If you're going to junk it anyway, you might as well tear it open and poke around it's insides. The metal shielding around the board is kind of tricky to remove, but fort he most part disassembly isn't too tough. Maybe you'll see something that's obviously fried.

[wufners]

Ah well. Thanks for the great reply. This definitely sounds beyond anything I'm capable of dealing with. Looks like I'll be sacraficing this 5200 to "disection for the hell of it."

*Sniff* Another old time console is added to that glorious landfill in the sky.

[Wonder_Hamster]

Sadly, I still lack the technical expertise and equipment to diagnose my 5200 effectively. If anyone wants to look at the system, I will send it to you so you can check it out because there isn't much I can do with it. And if anyone does take me up on this and find that they can fix it, I can try to make it worth your while. Any takers?

my grammar is horrible