Neo Geo AES repair (corroded traces) ft. jailbar fix, UniBIOS install, & LM2576 update

[@otakuuniteda.s.2882]

Such a great video. Was able to perform the jailbreak fix on two of my aes console's successfully. Huge thanks

[@Charlie-Cat.]

Hey Emmett.. Great 6 part article on the Neo-Geo thread that I think you'll like. It's on page 560, post #13,983 to start off. Enjoy. :) Anthony..

[@demonology2629]

WOW so you just removed 3 tracers for a jail bar fix? Amazing Tracer patch work as well too !!! I have these minor Glitches on Burning Fight this is how found this channel. Awsome work, What should I do about fixing the minor Burning Fight🔥👊🏻💥vertical dots? Nice video 🙏🏻☯️🐲 Subscribed‼

[@emmettturner9452]

Are the vertical dots on sprites that sometimes scale? I have seen vertical dots on scaled sprites in one copy of Fatal Fury but not another. Like, when the character shrinks down to move into the background. IIRC, the problem followed the CHAR board between cartridges and was still there on other consoles. Also, it seemed to go away or get less noticeable if I under-volted the console, though it definitely wasn't the console's fault (same cartridge did it to varying degrees on different consoles). A scaled down logo even earlier in the game was speckled but hard to notice until trying it in another console where it was much worse. The vertical specs on scaled character sprites were still the first indication. I never really show the vertical specs on scaled character sprites but I do show the speckled logo around 2:00 in this unlisted video I made for the owner: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qF7UlWWdgtOEh6M I swapped game boards with him and never found out what component on the CHAR board was causing it. Perhaps I should revisit it, since I still have that faulty CHAR board.

[@spilmer1]

Great video. Do you suppose relocating the oscillator, or perhaps even just standing it upright would mitigate the rgb interference on the 3-6 ? Really trying to avoid cutting / pulling traces if i can.

[@emmettturner9452]

stewart Thanks! IIRC, the oscillator is grounded by a strap holding it to the board. I know that GadgetUK had a problem on his Neo Geo MVS MV1-FZ board when this was disconnected (failed CRC checks in UniBIOS with NeoSD). I always imagine the worst and considered that extending the ground to stand it upright may turn it into a broadcast antenna and make the problem worse. Even so, it’s reversible so it can’t hurt to try and see (I may even remember wrong about it having a ground strap). The traces are completely vestigial though, since they go to a section of the board where there are no components and just... end. You really don’t have to remove it like I do. Most people just cut the traces at the same place I did and then leave them in place and it works for them. I didn’t because I figured that the trace is still only millimeters from the disconnecting pads, no further than the thickness of the PCB that the interference has already shown it can jump. If there were any question that it wasn’t vestigial I would’ve left but, since they are vestigial, I removed them just in case it may be close enough to transmit a small bit of interference across. Heck, it might be carrying the interference to other parts of the board that might cause a problem in the future, so no harm removing them.

[@TheHighlander71]

That's cool. I've never seen traces being removed like that. I didn't know they came off so easily.

[@emmettturner9452]

The Highlander Well, I cut out all the fumbling and cursing so it was a little harder than it looked. ;)

[@TheHighlander71]

Ha! Keeping doing that :)

[@nikolas_schreck]

I have a NEO GEO AES on the way in the mail I don't get til April 16. I spent 500 on it I hope nothing is wrong with it. Do you fix them or mod them for people

[@emmettturner9452]

Somehow missed this comment. Unfortunately, I was hit by an EF-4 tornado. I was forced to sell almost everything for pennies on the dollar to avoid having it lost, stolen, or destroyed in the aftermath so I am still struggling to get setup to do work like this again. :( I have a lot of prior obligations I need to catch up on but I do hope to resume repairs and upgrades in the future.

[@Charlie-Cat.]

Looking good Emmett. Your skills on repairing these AES units are getting better as you continue to make these videos. Really amazing to see you in action with those corroded traces. Well done. Glad to see you doing what you do best. 8^) I posted this on the Neo-Geo thread on ATariage.com for you. It's on page 558, post #13,939 for you ti view. atariage.com/forums/topic/223548-the-official-neo-geo-thread/page-558 Thank you as always bro. Keep up the great work. Come by if you like to make a comment if you wish. Anthony..

[@BringerOdeath77]

Which usb camera are you using? I have been meaning to pick one up for repairs!

[@emmettturner9452]

I think it was the cheapest USB microscope my brother saw on Amazon... under $50. Maybe closer to $30. It isn't ideal but it works. In particular, the arm usually isn't long enough to position where I need it. Bending over the board to reach reduces the height to a low position before you even get it over the work area.

[@solfasoft]

hello i'm from italy and i wrote you for a problem... I bought a neo geo at the flea market complete with viedo cable, power supply, a game and two joypads all in good conditions but if I connect it to the TV, nothing can be seen. Given your skill and experience could you tell me how to proceed step by step to understand what the problem is? keep in mind that I am not as good as you but I am quite good at electronics and I have almost all the equipment you need and the necessary manual skills but unfortunately I lack your experience! if I turn on the console WITHOUT the game card the screen becomes BLUE if instead I turn it on with the game for a moment you see a green screen with ASCII characters written vertically after which the screen turns black. I haven't opened the console yet but I'll do it if you tell me how to proceed. thank you for your very interesting videos and if you want to spend some of your time helping me. thank you

[@emmettturner9452]

It's hard to say without trying a few things but the blue screen is a good sign. A blue screen means it passed the self-test, but there are still many ways it can go wrong. Do you have another game to try? What game is it? Do you have an EPROM programer? If had multiple games sold to me as "not working" and they only needed to be cleaned. I typically use isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs but if that doesn't work I try a contact cleaner like DeoxIT. If a known-good game will not work then I would burn a "NeoDiag" ROM for diagnostics. It needs a working game inserted to diagnose anything since the character ROM for text is not built in to the BIOS. Installing it involves socketing the BIOS so you can temporarily switch to the NeoDiagROM. If that seems to work try installing a UniBIOS ROM to see if maybe the original BIOS ROM is bad. I've only seen a bad BIOS ROM once (Neo Geo MVS MV-1 arcade board) but it was totally bad and wouldn't even do the self test but they can definitely fail and yours could be partially working. I would definitely try another power supply and TV before getting this involved. If it is a 9v-11v console I suggest a Sega Megadrive model 1 power supply. If it is a 5v console then it may be difficult to find one with enough amps and the right polarity without making your own from an arcade PSU or something. I recall it was 5v 3A, center-negative 2.1x5.5mm. Good luck! Let me know how it goes or if I can help further. :)

[@solfasoft]

@@emmettturner9452 thank you for your quick reply, I understand that explained this way it is very difficult for you to give a valid response and thank you for your effort! unfortunately I only have a "soccer Brawl" game and I don't have an eprom programmer (but I want to buy it soon) do you want me to try the diagnostic rom? can't buy it already programmed? it works even without inserting the game? thanks if you want to continue answering my annoying questions :-)

[@RETROGAMINGARTS]

Man.. ive had this crazy crazy neo geo that i cant even begin to tell you about... im at a loss with it(almost. Not yet though)

[@emmettturner9452]

Just caught this comment. What’s it doing for you?

[@RETROGAMINGARTS]

@@emmettturner9452 on start up the neo geo cycles between every color screen available + a checkered color garbled screen. Inspected the board for cut traces or any discrepencys, found NONE. Board looked mint. Inspected the usual suspects. Capacitors, volt reg, dirty cart slot. Everything was dandy. I looked up data sheet for each chip on the mobo. Checked voultages for each chip, every chip had proper voultage, I found that 2 of its ram chips where not getting the proper voultages(and they where pretty hot to the touch) I found a similar chip. Couldent finds exact ram. The new chip was the EXACT same data sheet. But different brand. I replaced the 2 ram chips with these. Same problem.

[@emmettturner9452]

RETRO GAMING ARTS Hmm... well, Mobius Strip Tech found a bad trace UNDER his Neo-B1 on an AES 3-6 board (notorious for random corrosion due to something corrosive seemingly splashed or dripped on at the factory), so I don’t envy you if it ends up being a similar situation. :( You will get somewhat random colors screen or a melting blocky screen if you use a 5v PSU on a 9v console. All 3-6 consoles should be 9v and most 3-5 (5v 3-5 consoles are presumably warranty replacements). Of course, you want to be sure it’s a 9v console before connecting 9v! There are definitely a lot of those with bad memory chips so it may just be that the replacements weren’t fast enough or something. Have you tried a Neo Diag ROM yet? Very often these will boot even where the stock BIOS will continually reset/watchdog.

[@alexandrepilatte4017]

i have the same problème whit my neo geo i cant fixe it pls help me

[@emmettturner9452]

You mean you've diagnosed bad traces that need to be jumped? Are you in the USA?

[@alexandrepilatte4017]

@@emmettturner9452 no in France do you fixe it?

[@alexandrepilatte4017]

@@emmettturner9452 I have some picture can I send you for check pls if a solution is possible

[@emmettturner9452]

@@alexandrepilatte4017 It is difficult to confirm an issue like this with pictures since you usually need to check the connections with measurement tool. Sometimes they look bad but still work fine, which means we need to look for the problem elsewhere. Still, I am happy to look and them and tell you what I see. I have fixed them for people but international shipping is not cheap. I may not even be able to fix it. :( Probably better to send it to VideoGamePerfection or someone else in the EU.

[@solfasoft]

hello I finally disassembled the console and I must say that the motherboard seems in good condition only that it is full of "add-ons" as you can see from the photos. there are in fact two additional circuits (it seems for the power supply) is this normal or is it a repair? what does your expert eye deduce? can it be the game cartridge? can you indicate which ROM is in case you want to replace it with the test one? thank you for your time drive.google.com/open?id=1cKc9KvYwI03j5jWT6LrsoIe90yf8oRiz

[@Charlie-Cat.]

Hey Emmett Today marks the 4th Anniversary of the Neo-Geo thread on Atariage.com. Come by and celebrate with us if you like bro. 8^) Anthony..