Hello all,
I have a non-TMSS High Def Model 1 SEGA Genesis that just keeps wanting to freeze. I've analyzed the problem in great detail and it is quite odd.
First off, I have several Genesises and I know for a fact it's not my game cartridges. They work flawlessly in the other Genesises I have, and they're clean as a bell.
Now, the problem:
If the system has been off for a while (a "cold" boot), the game (ANY game, mind you, have tried multiple) will work perfectly for about 5-10 seconds. The interesting thing about this working period of time is that it's absolutely glitch-free, perfect high definition graphics, great audio, and I can even wiggle the cartridge back and forth while it's playing and no interruptions, glitches, or freezes. (This tells me the pins aren't really the issue.) But then, at some point, the inevitable freeze will happen.
What happens during the freeze depends on the game. In Sonic 2, it's always just a frozen video frame & audio frame. In Madden 94, it can be an ADDRESS ERROR. In Last Battle, it's always a reset (goes back to SEGA logo every time). It seems pretty consistent on the same game.
Now for the odd part: the pattern is, on cold boot, around 5-10 seconds (haven't actually counted but I'd guess about that). On subsequent resets or power offs (either one really) it starts freezing faster and faster, roughly half the time as the previous! So the second boot will only last around 3-5 seconds, then the third 1-3, then eventually it starts barely even being able to load the first few frames. Last Battle was easy to test for this because the freeze itself causes a reset, so I can just sit back and watch it keep resetting itself faster and faster and faster, roughly halving each time, but this is the same pattern across all games. (I can upload a video of this if anyone's curious)
I should also clarify this only seems to be a time issue; it is not any certain part of the game's code that causes it. For example, in Sonic 2, on cold boot, I can just sit at the intro screen and it will happen, OR I can hurry up and press start and get into the first level and race to the first enemy and die. Either way, roughly same timing of freeze. Same with Last Battle and Madden, etc.
The only thing that helps and makes it last longer is to power it off and wait. Not sure exactly how long, perhaps 10 minutes will get it back to "cold" boot, 5-10 seconds. Then the same patterns repeat. I should note this happens whether I leave a cartridge in the system during the cooldown or not.
Of course, everything I read on forums, etc. was to clean the pins. I've toothbrushed, I've used the "Eliminator" with alcohol (there was actually a lot of black gunk, lot less now). I haven't yet tried the sandpaper though because I'm not entirely convinced the pins are the problem.
I tried hooking it into a SEGA CD Model 1 just to see if it can run well without a cartridge plugged into it, but even after cleaning the expansion board, I got nothing to show at all. I googled around and it appears that maybe non-TMSS Genesises have issues with SEGA CD Model 1's? So maybe it's just that. I would try a SEGA CD Model 2 but I'm too lazy to unhook it from my other Genesis that's hooked into it. (Do you think this would be worth trying?)
I tried different power adapters, and the other Genesises I have work well with the same power adapters, wall sockets, same video cable too.
So yeah, I'm at a loss. I mean, at this point I highly doubt it's just "the pins are dirty", given everything I've said and the fact that I've cleaned em a bunch, but who knows. Is it overheating? What are some things I can test out? Your help would be greatly appreciated, thank you.