I *did* enjoy the video :D That was super informative, and I really appreciate it man. Also, thanks for the great work on getting that geezer back up and running again haha. For a system that was found in a garage after who knows how long sitting, it seems to be doing pretty good now!
Awesome the way you can replace the capacitors and it's all working again. It's a shame you didn't show how you fitted the replacement capacitors in the video. Maybe when one of my retro consoles dies I'll give this a go.
Know exactly what you are doing because in the past, I've hung my head in shame with the amount of non working items, to permanently non working items!
I've attempted to repair mine a few years ago, and killed it haha! Was thinking about picking one up and trying again, as a fun project since a Game Gear always seemed like a really cool system.
Nice video, thanks! I've just sold my working game gear, but all I have now is my 2110 model. It shows white screen with traces of image and sound it OK (just with some loud transistor noise). How do you think, can I revive this console, or should I forget it? Thank you
Awesome video Rob, as always. Just a question though. Why did you use cylindrical capacitors, rather than surface mounted ones as a replacement? Do they work more reliably? Also, did you have any issues with space closing up the unit, or did they just fit perfectly?
I recently bought a game gear from a car boot sale, but it seems to have all of the problems the system in the video had. now i reckon i would be capable enough to fix the system myself, however i don't have any of the equipment needed to fix the system. would you recommend any places i could send my system off to (i live in the uk so that might be a problem) or do you reckon i should just look for the equipment?
I changed all of them on the board, it didn't work for me. The red light indicator doesn't turn. The screen flashes a black light in the middle of the screen really quick the it turn the screen white. Any idea, what's going on?
I picked a game gear out of a best buy lobby recycle bin with a few games and the rare power change brick. Problem is when you press power the screen turns on all glitch for. Second than nothing. And when you shake it you hear one little thing inside it rattle. Ny ide how to fix it.
Yeah I also found a game gear they said that it has a black screen but it is messed up I was wondering if you could help me with finding the right caps or if it's the screen that is shot
Just got a game gear at a garage sale. They said it was broken, the only thing wrong was that the brightness was turned too high or low. lol I figured it out from your video thanks.
I'm new to this. It would've been cool if you actually showed the cleaning and soldering. Also you didn't post the link you were referring to. And where can I get that security bit?
Hey obsolete geek, since you're much more experienced with this stuff I'm hoping you can help out. I'm having a REALLY weird issue after attempting a recap. I'm a complete beginner so I'm sure I screwed something up but I'm not sure what, and I'm hoping you may be able to point me in the right direction. This game gear I received had the typical lines on screen (or sometimes no image at all), and no sound problem, etc. I'm sure you know the deal. For the record, it is a VA1 board revision, with 1 ASIC. Yesterday, I started out first with the 2 smaller boards (audio and power) and completely recapped them using the caps I got in a kit off eBay. After doing so I reattached them and reassembled the console just to do a quick test to see if there was any improvement so far. It looked great! And it made sound! Although the image wasn't perfect it was pretty good all things considered. I'm thinking I probably should have left it like that. But anyway, I dissasembled it again so I could do the caps on the main board in the morning. Better to do things right than to leave a job half-done. So jump cut to today, I proceeed to remove all the caps on the main board. Clean off all the corrosion from underneath the caps, add some solder, put in the new ones… 2 and a half hours later I'm finally done and ready to close this thing up. Pop the cable connectors back in, put in a cart and get ready to see it in action. This is where things start getting weird. The image has actually gotten worse. If I leave the brightness dial in the middle, then the image looks absolutely normal. But if I start to turn it up brighter, the image actually begins to distort and stretches vertically as I turn the knob! Some lines appear as well. I really have no idea what might cause this but I'm really eager to get in there and make this thing right. I look at all the connections and they seem all right to me but again I honestly just don't really know what I'm doing. Like I said, complete novice. Are there any connections I should be looking at in particular that deal with that brightness knob? If it could be narrowed down to a particular capacitor I should be looking at that would be so helpful. Any assistance would be really appreciated!
I bought a broken game gear off eBay, and I was excited because it was my first project. When I got it, I realized I didn't have the bolt for the cart slot!! I got it 3 weeks later, the FINALLY tried to fix it. I first tested it, then I realized it worked fine. Also, I couldn't open it either
Do the Capacitors on the Power Board in a SEGA Game Gear need to be replaced eventually too? All of a sudden my SEGA Game Gear won't power on with the AC Adaptor but I haven't tried it with batteries yet.
You probably got an answer years ago, but for those that come later, I see a ton of replacement power boards on eBay. I'd personally pick one of those up and then worry about fixing the one in the unit after swapping it out. You can always put the repaired board up for sale afterwards when it works out. Worst case, you should still have a working unit.
I have 2 with power issues, you turn it on, it powers up for a second, then immediately cuts out. About 10 years back, I lent someone it, it was fully working, then I get it back like this. I've checked it recently, exactly the same problem. Looks like I have to improve my knowledge on soldering, I tend not to attempt repairs unless I specifically know what I'm doing. But after watching this, I suspect it's something to do with capacitors.
For those wandering in, it's a gamebit. It's kind of a star shape. I was able to use a 4.5mm gamebit to open it, but it fits a bit loose. As long as you push firmly with it and are gentle, it should work. I suspect that it's actually 4mm, but I just know that it's a bit smaller than a 4.5mm and bigger than my 3.8mm bit can handle.
I just bought one and the screen doesnt work. I can bearly see it, the sound doesnt work, and it doesnt always power on. I don't know what version of game gear I have. can you please post a list of the capacitors to replace in the single and double ASIC version? I am a nurse. I know nothing of this crap. But I want to buy the parts and make my dad fix it. I dont want to buy crap parts.
Do you still do repairs? Man, I brought mine out and everything works on it except the screen. You can barely see it unless you tilt a certain way and lines.
Is this a service that you are willing to perform for others? I just picked up a super clean game gear with everything functioning except for the fact that the screen only displays white and black horizontal lines.
I bought one with 7 games for $15.00 at the flea market and of course it doesn't stay powered on so I figure it's the capacitors as well. Now I just need to find someone to fix it.
excellent video I was very useful, I changed the capacitors, the video ok, but the audio is activated after about 1 2 minutes do not understand what it depends .....
Mine doesn't seem to display anything on the screen or power on properly even with fresh batteries. Local game store that does repairs seems hesitant to repair it. Are you in the business of fixing these?
it shuts off as soon as i turn it on. if im lucky i can tell the local game store that does repairs that ill pay them if they just do it. ive had this thing since it came out and out of all my systems its the only one i seem to always refuse to part with.
Sonic Labyrinth? A Sonic game starring David Bowie?! I have done away with all my Game Gears, just because I realized I just didn't like the system. I did recap a few of mine though and I was just tempted to change out the lighting and decided to get rid of them. Great video to show the process!
+TheStuff You certainly can! This is actually a great system to practice on. I began soldering when I was your age. The job itself is fairly easy, you'll learn some valuable soldering skills, and you'll get addicted to the pride and satisfaction of resurrecting old electronics! :) If you blow it up, no big deal, Game Gears are very inexpensive. Good luck!
oh i have a game gear and sonic 2 but with the screen tilt prob and low sound. i had given up on these when i got one for my b-day and it broke 5 min later. but found a 5 dollar one at a thrift store and took a chance and also cleaned the inside and got better functionality with the screen but still some volume probs
+thehaxfactory All of these components are mounted with solder. They're surface mount, which is why they're slightly tricky. On a lot of boards, you put wires through the board and solder the other side, which is easier, as you can just put a bend in the wire to keep it in place. But, if you have a set of "helping hands", it's still not terribly difficult. The capacitors in a game gear are fairly large, which makes it a lot easier.
+thehaxfactory I recently got a game gear that needs it. I haven't replace the caps on it, yet, but I've done many such repairs in the past, and installed mod chips and the like, and this one doesn't look too difficult. I just need to find a list of the parts, so I can source good capacitors that'll last.
+thehaxfactory Which would work fine, but as Obsolete Geek points out in the video, the kits can have cheap capacitors, which can wear out more quickly. I want to put the best ones I can find in, so the repair will last. The original capacitors were a bit on the cheap side to begin with, which is why these systems are all dying, now, while systems like the original Game Boy and Atari Lynx are still going strong.
Have you ever had a Game Gear that turns on for half a second then shuts off with a white screen? I assume it's bad cap related. I recently picked one up that has this issue and I'm wanting to fix it.
Today I went thrue my closet and found mine perfect condition 7 games in the protection case with battery pack and the magnefine glass but then I turn it on and the screen is all white
Very common. Sellers on ebay will get it fixed up for ya. I had mine done by "gamegears4you" and it works great. I even got the mcwill mod and that is sweeeeeeeet.
Can you repair mine? Can't hear sound. Only mono sound with headphones and now it just started making static noises. The video isn't too bad but I think it could go for a repair also. Just bought it on eBay a week ago and used it once.
