View Full Version : Cooling fans in Atari Jaguar carts(?)
TeddyRuxpin
06-13-2005, 10:01 PM
I did a quick search and this seems to have never been brought up before. If it has and I somehow missed it, please forgive me.
I picked up an Atari Jaguar a couple months back with 9 games for $40 total (I talked the seller down from $50 LOL). Anyway, I noticed something odd when I turned it on. I heard... fan noise! From what I can gather, the carts contain cooling fans. If the system is turned on without a cart, I don't hear the noise. With a cart inserted, I hear the noise. very interesting. :eek 2:
Gamereviewgod
06-13-2005, 10:02 PM
:hmm:
My Jag makes no noise other than that cheesy intro. Do all of your games do this? If not, which ones?
TeddyRuxpin
06-13-2005, 10:03 PM
My Jag makes no noise other than that cheesy intro. Do all of your games do this? If not, which ones?
Yes, they all do it. :eek 2:
Leo_A
06-13-2005, 10:07 PM
The system only powers up with a cart inserted.
And I don't think that's a cooling fan you're hearing, but I forgot the explanation for it.
How loud is it? Does it sound like a GC fan? or is it barely audiable?
TeddyRuxpin
06-13-2005, 10:09 PM
The system only powers up with a cart inserted.
And I don't think that's a cooling fan you're hearing, but I forgot the explanation for it.
Oops you're right, it doesn't without a cart. I forgot. ^^;
TeddyRuxpin
06-13-2005, 10:11 PM
How loud is it? Does it sound like a GC fan? or is it barely audiable?
Yes, maybe about that loud, it not a bit less silent. And if it's not a fan, I don't know what else it could be. I took off the cover to the system out of curiousity and the sound seems to come from the cart, not the system anywhere. :hmm:
Kid Ice
06-13-2005, 10:30 PM
OK, let's pretend for a second that it's possible that there is a miniature fan...excuse me LOL ...inside the cartridge. Where would the air come out?
TeddyRuxpin
06-13-2005, 10:34 PM
OK, let's pretend for a second that it's possible that there is a miniature fan...excuse me LOL ...inside the cartridge. Where would the air come out?
The small vent-like slots on the sides toward the bottom? I don't know what else could be making noise inside a cart if not a fan. Plus maybe it could just be to...circulate the air inside? I dunno. x_x
Ed Oscuro
06-13-2005, 11:08 PM
Have I ever seen a Jaguar cart? No. But having a cart include a fan doesn't make any sense. If there *is* a fan, the console is detecting if a cart is in or not, most likely with a simple switch.
TeddyRuxpin
06-13-2005, 11:26 PM
Have I ever seen a Jaguar cart? No. But having a cart include a fan doesn't make any sense. If there *is* a fan, the console is detecting if a cart is in or not, most likely with a simple switch.
Yeah, it doesn't make much sense to me either, since it doesn't have any vent holes other than the side things. All I know is there's noise that sounds like a fan when I turn it on and there's no fans inside the system (unless it has a tiny one hiding in the shielded RF box..) :hmm:
Leo_A
06-13-2005, 11:27 PM
From Robert Jung's Atari Jaguar faq.
". Hey! My Jaguar makes a quiet hissing sound! What's going on? Is it
dangerous?
A. Early Atari Jaguars had a rumored problem with the console hissing softly.
Atari had cited several reasons for the hissing noise. Some have said
that the sound is from the RF generator. The RF shield has holes in it
(ostensibly to help air flow and keep the unit cool), and it is believed
that the holes produce the noise.
Others said the sounds are produced by coil L29 which is responsible for
the proper voltage regulation to +10.0V, together with U38. The coil's
copper wire vibrates when the current through it changes abruptly, making
the hiss.
There are two solutions: 1) Use plastic spray or silicone rubber glue to
fix the coil's wire. 2) Replace the original Jaguar power-supply with a
variable power-source, using 7.5V DC instead of 9V DC (it is not certain
whether the Jaguar CD will require 9V DC, which would make this "fix"
unworkable with the CD drive).
In any case, the "hissing" noise was not dangerous, but merely annoying.
It was usually audible only if you put your ear next to the unit and
listen closely, and is not interference in the audio output. It is
roughly analogous to the buzz made by electric clocks.
Most later Jaguars did not have this problem, though a few rare cases have
been noted."
TeddyRuxpin
06-13-2005, 11:35 PM
Hmm... well it's not so annoying that I need to 'fix" it.
Just when I first heard it I asked myself "What the heck is that sound??". I thought the TV was screwing up. After turning it off and still hearing the sound, I then suspected one of my CD systems got turned on accidently when I was hooking up the Jaguar and was checking the Dreamcast, GameCube, SegaCD, Saturn, Playstation.. LOL
Then I finally figured out it was the Jag. :embarrassed:
goatdan
06-14-2005, 01:22 AM
Yes, it is just doing the hissing thing. It shouldn't be a problem for anything, but for some reason a bunch of the original Jaguar's do that...
Crush Crawfish
06-14-2005, 06:29 PM
Yes, it is just doing the hissing thing. It shouldn't be a problem for anything, but for some reason a bunch of the original Jaguar's do that...
Y'know, they really should have used that noise as a marketing gimmick or something. "Jaguar: The system that ACTUALLY purrs like a jaguar!" hehehe. LOL