Results 1 to 5 of 5

Thread: NES video fills with garbage longer system is on

  1. #1
    Strawberry (Level 2) Compute's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Appleton, WI
    Posts
    463
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts
    PSN
    compute1984

    Default NES video fills with garbage longer system is on

    Hey all, I'm curious if anyone has run into this:

    On my NES, everything seems to play fine at first. After a while, the screen will start to fill up with 'garbage', the sprites will turn into other sprites, letters, etc. The games play fine in this state, we even managed to get pretty far in Contra without being able to tell what was what. I haven't busted out the meter yet, but I'm guessing a cap will be the issue. Any ideas where to start?
    See my latest arcade repair at the Holodeck 2 Arcade Repair Blog: http://holodeck2arcade.blogspot.com

  2. #2
    Pretzel (Level 4) APE992's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Chico, CA
    Posts
    999
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts
    Xbox LIVE
    APE992

    Default

    The video bus runs through the cartridge connector.

    A capacitor isn't at fault and there is absolutely no reason to suspect one at this juncture.
    I fix things. You name it, I'll work on it. Want something modded? Recapped?

  3. #3
    Alex (Level 15) Custom rank graphic
    Gameguy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Richmond Hill, Ontario (Canada)
    Posts
    7,918
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    78
    Thanked in
    70 Posts

    Default

    Sounds like the video encoder could be dying, if it only started up with everything looking screwed up I'd say it would be dead for sure.

  4. #4
    Pretzel (Level 4) APE992's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Chico, CA
    Posts
    999
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts
    Xbox LIVE
    APE992

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Gameguy View Post
    Sounds like the video encoder could be dying, if it only started up with everything looking screwed up I'd say it would be dead for sure.
    That is an interesting thought, maybe it is dying. The NES obviously doesn't get very hot but thermal expansion does take place. As I said a post earlier the video bus runs through the NES connector (really a bad design choice) which has caused me problems in the past that sound similar to this. Usually a cleaning/reseating of the connector fixes it for me.

    But if that doesn't work the solder joints on the PPU might need a reflowing or maybe the RAM as well. The PPU is largely responsible for outputting video and not so much with the retrial of data from the cart to push it into RAM for manipulation. Corruption in my experience is a RAM or cart connector problem.

    Heavily leaning on connector problems myself. Cheap and easy to fix and diagnose by comparison.
    I fix things. You name it, I'll work on it. Want something modded? Recapped?

  5. #5
    Strawberry (Level 2) Compute's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Appleton, WI
    Posts
    463
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts
    PSN
    compute1984

    Default

    I was about to re-post this, then I saw I already posted it last week. Thanks for the input. I didn't know that video is routed through the cartridge. That would explain why it happens more on some games than others. The only thing is that it doesn't happen right away. It occurs gradually and gets worse. I'll have to play around with it more when I get a chance.
    See my latest arcade repair at the Holodeck 2 Arcade Repair Blog: http://holodeck2arcade.blogspot.com

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 32
    Last Post: 07-16-2013, 02:32 PM
  2. Stores no longer seem to carry video game magazines.
    By VG_Maniac in forum Modern Gaming
    Replies: 49
    Last Post: 04-13-2010, 10:02 PM
  3. Garbage Pail Kids and The Sega Master System!
    By drwily008 in forum Classic Gaming
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 07-25-2007, 12:01 PM
  4. Favorite gaming system that you no longer own?
    By sabre2922 in forum Classic Gaming
    Replies: 26
    Last Post: 01-05-2005, 04:22 AM
  5. OMG THE NES 88 SYSTEM LOL wtf is this garbage
    By nathanray in forum Buying and Selling
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: 08-25-2004, 05:42 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •