Part 2 of trying to fix a N64

In this video I repair a N64 that has audio, but no video. It has a faulty DAC chip U4 VDC-NUS. it's job is to take the digital video data directly from the RCP and outputs RGB. That is than sent to the ENC-NUS video encoder chip to be made into a composite signal.
But this console also like to lock up after about 10 minuets.

[@nb6584]

Mario Kart 64 or 007 Golden Eye was my jam😁

[@parkerbirch5286]

Dont let it die now!

[@robertleifeld225]

Ask a really old timer but I would keep components cool with some cold spray which if I remember was freon. Worked wonders with old TVs aND radios. Spray a little on various components and find the bad device. Good luck.

[@danman9017]

nice video tks

[@scott79transam]

Is that a liquid flux you are using for the reflow? If it is what is the name brand?

[@beavertownmodelrailway8753]

Try blowing hot air on main chips ( not enough to melt the solder) but just heat them up a bit and see if problem comes sooner. Then maybe freeze spray and see what happens.

[@jeffescortlx]

This is good advice and will be tried next. I'm hoping somebody will see this that has figured this out and will know exactly what component to go after.

[@enzofitzhume7320]

IR temp gauge? Do you have good capacitor tester with ESR?

[@enzofitzhume7320]

Keep in mind caps can be replaced with close to values! Watch the voltage rating.

[@rdmneto]

Its the capacitors of 68uf next to the power button. I already fix 2 n64 with this same problem just replacing them.

[@jeffescortlx]

Next time I dig this out of the closet I'll try it.

[@drewbush6535]

👋👍

[@vernonland5987]

I have no doubt that you will find the problem!

[@602Pinstriping]

What would you charge to repair a Hakko fx951 solder station?

[@jeffescortlx]

I don't think I've ever heard of one of these stations breaking down. What did you do to it?

[@602Pinstriping]

@jeffescortlx there's a couple for sale online...listed as solder station powers on but displays a error code in screen.

[@jeffescortlx]

@@602Pinstriping probably just has hand piece wiring issues.

[@luke9511]

i posted both n64 videos in a game console repair discord i am in to see if anyone there has any ideas

[@jeffescortlx]

Thank you!

[@houseofno]

It failed because the "Shipping Guy" (the cat) wasn't in the video during the repair. For some fixes you need him for luck. Just kidding. Thanks for the video upload

[@bigtickleyt7460]

What’s the best way I can get in contact with you

[@jeffescortlx]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipCViKGAgtiNl7c

[@bernardperaldi7488]

Have you tried other games?

[@jeffescortlx]

Yep sure have, it does it with multiple carts.

[@AvalancheMan]

Get some canned air and when the game freezes up, use the canned air to spray upside down on the suspected components to cool them down to see if the game starts working again.

[@rickchowsr2532]

May I suggest a BFH? 😂

[@jameskearney4100]

Measure for AC ripple on the DC voltage. Just set your Multimeter for AC. Anything over .001 is bad! If so it is the power supply!

[@jeffescortlx]

But that same power supply works perfectly fine in a different console? I've used other power supplies in this console and it fails in the same way.

[@jameskearney4100]

@@jeffescortlx So I would look at filter caps on the board and use freeze spray to cool the components one by one.

[@jeffescortlx]

@@jameskearney4100 yes next trouble shooting session I will use temperature to hopefully find the bad component.

[@VideoGameRestoration]

I've seen a faulty power supply cause similar issues. It could be your jumper pack as well. 3rd party ones can crop out

[@jeffescortlx]

At 11:25 I use the exact same power supply and exact same jumper pack on a different console and it works perfectly fine.

[@VideoGameRestoration]

@@jeffescortlx ah missed that!

[@DongleSama]

@@jeffescortlx some revisions of the main board act differently with the 3rd party stuff. it may be fine on one revision but not on another. its strange but have had it happen before

[@jeffescortlx]

@@DongleSama Thanks for looking into this. This console also freezes up the same way with a jumper pack and a first party original game.

[@silenthill4]

Protip: ultrasonic Otherwise, break out the multimeter and start replacing caps

[@jeffescortlx]

Ultrasonic cleaners are great for liquid damage and corrosion. But this board has neither. Usually with electrolytic capacitors at the beginning stages of failing (No physical signs of bulging or leakage) you can temporarily bring them back to life with heat. But this board doesn't seem to be affected by temperature. I'm not a fan of the shotgunning method of repairing, I like to confirm a problem is a problem, replace that particular part and then confirm that the problem is gone.

[@mardizano]

It's been three weeks, where's the next video with the answer?

[@jeffescortlx]

One of these days I'll get around to it.

[@mardizano]

@@jeffescortlx don't leave us hanging, you're voice and delivery is addictive. Come-on Sherlock you can solve this.

[@jeffescortlx]

@@mardizano the N64 is on the back burner for a bit. But it will be back.

[@Terrestrial..1]

I have one of the older boxy Nintendo consoles with a controller and game cartridge. Somewhere.

[@gir489returns2]

I don't see the point in trying to keep diagnosing something after a main chip fault, I consider it a lost cause after that.

[@oldguy9051]

Right. At some point it's nothing more than a spare parts supply.

[@emmettturner9452]

Well, you have to get that far first.

[@gir489returns2]

@@emmettturner9452 he got that far when he figured out something zapped the video chip. Obviously something knocked that chip out and whatever that was is still on the board.

[@emmettturner9452]

@@gir489returns2 The “main chips” are the CPU and the RCP (GPU), which are the two giant chips on this board. This was just the video DAC which can potentially be fried from the outside (bad cables, faulty TV, or ESD). There are also numerous replicas and bypasses available… everything from Tim Worthington’s N64RGB to UltraHDMI HW2+DAC. It’s definitely worth troubleshooting further if the only known fault appeared to be the video DAC.

[@jeffescortlx]

It comes down to a personal preference. From an economical standpoint it makes no sense for me to spend hours on something that can be replaced for $40. But if I can get to the bottom of this issue I'll be able to help hopefully several people that have the same problem. And could potentially save multiple consoles overtime.

[@punker4Real]

the Ram is bad Page fault in non paged area

[@jeffescortlx]

The ram was replaced at 11:00

[@emmettturner9452]

@@jeffescortlx I know that the expansion RAM worked fine in another console but it may be marginal. They are specifically made with factory seconds/rejects after being bin-sorted during production. That’s why the chips all say “Nintendo” even on aftermarket paks.

[@jeffescortlx]

@@emmettturner9452 this console has the same issue even with just a jumper pack installed.

[@jeffescortlx]

@owomushi at 7:44 it looks really good. But I can definitely take a second look under the microscope to see.