Trying To Fix... A Sega Game Gear

I bought a Sega Game Gear some years ago from a car boot sale.
It pretty much sat in a box in the attic since then.
Let's see what's wrong with it, take it apart, and see if we can repair it...

[@Mymatevince]

I remember that fishy smell very well. A McWill screen does look very good in them (amazingly good) if you don't mind spending big bucks. I think it is the chips themselves that fail, just where they bond to the glass screen, a real shame as it renders the whole screen useless as you can't get to them without destroying them in the process. A fun video nevertheless and a possible revisit in the future. Well done Mick 👍

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks mate 👍 after I posted it a couple of your video's popped up from about 4 years ago and it seems you had the exact same problem. I watched you fitting the McWill screen after that and it seems you had a bit of a nightmare with that and the cartridge screw.. and the two similar coloured wires, glad you didn't give up and got it sorted in the end. Well done 👍👍👍

[@Mymatevince]

@@BuyitFixit I did 😂 I got there eventually and luckily it was worth it. Never done another Game Gear since though!!!!

[@BuyitFixit]

😂😂I can understand why!

[@graphicsgod]

Love your videos @Mymatevince!!

[@MichaelBritt23]

Vince, you should learn from Mick and use a blue mat so it's easier on the eyes. 😆

[@sataniclivesmatter]

Oh me oh my! My childhood💯💯💯💯

[@BuyitFixit]

Nice 👍

[@sp523]

Great fix. Looking forward to watching Part 2 next.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks SP 👍

[@Ghost82uk]

unfortunately that's one of the biggest problems with the game gear screens, they weren't soldered in, they're glued in and over time the glue weakens and lets go, leaving you with a screen that will not work, on a plus side your right that the replacement screens are now available, good work though mate, keep up the good work

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks James👍.The failure was on the 3 chips on the actual screen module itself not where it attaches to the board. I did a followup video where I replace the screen and show where the original has failed. Thanks again for commenting 🙂👍

[@Ghost82uk]

@@BuyitFixit just watched it, yeah cracking work but yeah, those are the 3 chips (4 if you include the one on the right hand side of the screen) I'm referencing mate, there is no solder on the flex ribbon so when the glue holding the chip to make the connection goes, there's little chance of saving it mate

[@thetraindriver01]

Nice effort, pitty about the screen, onto pt2 for the reveal 😊👍

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍

[@Adrian_Finn]

Yeah, good candidate for a modern screen mod/replacement this, so much better than that early screen technology.

[@BuyitFixit]

Yep, Thanks Adrian 👍

[@reluttr2]

Might be a good idea to go ahead and do the soundboard and powerboard replacements as well.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Darkmastergrey, I'll have a look at those, although I did re-cap the original ones and they seems to be working correctly.

[@599miata]

That was a good try . Mainly, the ordinary fix would be change the capacitors and that should do the job.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍Yes, unfortunately the screen was bad too. I did a follow up video on it fitting a newer LCD screen.

[@MrEwool]

Smell like a revisit or fish depending on how far into the video you got 😁 but with a new screen I think the game gear is up there with the best handheld games, and once again congratulations on getting to 5000 subscribers 😊👍

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Morten, I'd been a bit busy this week and it was a bit of a struggle trying to get this one out hence it being a bit later than normal. I'm just busy rebuilding the tumble Dryer.. nearly back together. Didn't do a video on it, but a quick short of it in about 30 pieces... It started with just replacing the heater....😂😂

[@MrEwool]

@@BuyitFixit must sometimes be hard getting things done, always having to think if it would make a good video, and then filming and editing, I don't mind the late upload just glad that we get something 😊 tumble dryers can be a pain if you don't want to disassemble it to get to the parts, I still have one in the garage I need to fix (keeps tripping the circuit breaker) but haven't gotten around to it.

[@BuyitFixit]

@@MrEwoolThanks Morten, yes I wasn't sure what people would make of it and if it was a good video or not as I don't like to disappoint, but it seems well received and realistically every item can't be repaired. At least it's working more than it did and I'll probably do a follow up installing a screen replacement with driver board.

[@frozerinosrepairs]

thank you for sharing !!!

[@BuyitFixit]

No problem 👍Thank you for commenting 👍

[@cajuncoinhunter]

I seen a few screens for those on Ali Exp a couple weeks ago , I forgot which store it was ..... Hope you find one , I'll look around on Ali and see what I can find ...... Take care Mon Ami ......

[@chrisbartlett6022]

Well that's life, you cant fix everything, well in this case you probably could if you spent more dosh on it 🙂I just find your videos intriguing, SO glad Nathan pointed me at you. Hope you are feeling better, I have a little pot of stones here somewhere.

[@BuyitFixit]

Ah! Chris! I didn't realise you were Nathan's mate 👍Have you heard from him? I've not heard from him for a good 6 weeks or so. I even phoned the marina to see if he had been seen lately. They said he had been in. I've ordered a screen which should be here next week so I'll do a follow up video on this 👍

[@chrisbartlett6022]

@@BuyitFixit "spoke" well typed to him Yesterday I think it was. Dont seem to have any words of woe from him at the moment. He was pretty rough with a cold, not sure he is over it yet. I will message him to let him know you have been trying to get in contact. Presume it is just for a catch up to make sure he is OK?

[@BuyitFixit]

Yes, I've tried email, telegram, KZbin, text, calling, unless he's just ignoring me🤔

[@chrisbartlett6022]

Said he had sort of been AWOL for a few weeks, not even checked his phone. Hopefully he will be in touch

[@BuyitFixit]

Just wondering how or what you used to message him?

[@mrjsv4935]

Nice fix, now it's basically working again, just needs new, or working old screen :)

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Mr JSV. After I uploaded and watched it back a video popped up from MMV fixing one about 4 year ago and he ended up in the exact same situation!

[@marlonmorris5975]

I had one of those for years and finally threw it in the trash because at the time repairs like this wasn't a big deal 😂

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks for commenting Marlon 👍Aww that's a shame. I've ordered a new screen for it so I'll do a follow up video on it when it arrives.

[@InMeShed247]

A new modern screen will be your best bet, don’t get fixated by McWill or an Ali Express clone though. The Benn Venn screen is supposed to be the best at the moment but I have not fitted one of those. I have fitted the Retro Six one though and it is by far easier than the McWill, with much less component removal and fewer wires to run with the easy solder flex boards.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks InMeShed👍I ordered an Aliexpress one a few days ago, this one the pcb has extra length so it solders directly to the part where the old screen ribbon went, and the cartridge slot. Looks an easy install so I'll be doing a follow up video when it arrives 👍

[@No1BRC]

I recommend the retrokai magic screen V2 . The install is really easy and the screen is just fantastic.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks No1BRC👍I've ordered a screen from Aliexpress. Not sure what one but the installation looks fairly easy. I'll be doing a follow up video when it arrives 👍

[@No1BRC]

@@BuyitFixit looking forward to it 😊🙏🏾

[@jonathaningram4672]

Nice attempt, maybe don't be harsh on the pad cleaning, a simple press and drag on paper per touch pad. Definite candidate for screen mod.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Jonathan👍

[@Z-Ack]

My buddy had the thing that would adapt into the actual console and had a itty bitty screed attached.. worked but impractical having to lug around the entire sega console and use mains power to play.. but didnt need a tv to play.. lol

[@BuyitFixit]

I've seen those screen type things for a few different consoles, including the original Playstation and the Wii

[@Smanux]

You can try applying hot air on the screen ICs to reflow the connection underneath, it works sometime

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍I've ordered a kit from Aliexpress so I'll probably just end up fitting that when it arrives.

[@soulmourne2698]

The sega gamegear was not very well built, unlike the gameboy that has all quality components, the gamegear has very bad quality caps, the screen is bad and was almost unusable couse the power draw was too high due to the screen mainly, 6 good quality batteries last you arround 4 hours on these, imagine a cheap non alcaline battery from the 90s, they could last 1 hour max, the gameboy lasted arround 40 hours with 4 batteries. You dont need to have more power to make better games, the gameboy has a lineup of masterpieces and its and 8 bit super underpowered system, pokemon rby, gsc, zelda links awakening, donkey kong land 1,2,3, mario land 2, wario land, zelda oracles and a lot more, there was a lot of crap also but the good games were masterpieces. Anyway very nice video.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks soulmourne👍

[@exodous02]

Screen needs replacement anyway, even when new the screen was pretty bad. I had this and then I got the Nomad and the screen on it is a lot better. So even if it did work you would probably want to replace the screen.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks exodous02👍Yes I thought the screen wasn't too great when it did come on. I've ordered a replacement from Aliexpress, will do a follow up video fitting and testing when it arrives 🙂

[@soopahfly82]

Columns a Tetris Clone? How dare you!

[@BuyitFixit]

LOL. I've no idea as I've not played it. Hopefully soon though as I've now got a replacement screen so I'll be doing a follow up video 👍

[@soopahfly82]

@@BuyitFixit the tune for both tetris and columns live in my head and there's no way of getting them out.

[@BuyitFixit]

😂😂😂😂

[@user-te1le7ck6b]

Mcwill do a newer and better screen no loss mate just fit the new one

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks G 👍Yes I've seen a few different brands available, haven't decided on one yet...

[@RVNR2022]

ips screen time! the original screen have contact issue on these chips. this is a known fault. i recently repair one of these screen like it was a gemboy with vertical lines missing... but i think i was only lucky. its not so impossible but is certainly reeeeeally hard job to do. but for now the screen is working fine

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks riparazioni 👍

[@bonim5217]

That screen is dead, you can heat the lcd chips and fix it only for short time, only solution is a new screen

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Boni M 👍Yes I worked out that that the 3 driver chips on the glass connections had failed. I've ordered a screen conversion from Aliexpress so I'll do a follow up video when it arrives 🙂

[@GirlOnAQuest]

Mmm Tasty Green M&M on the board @5:21

[@BuyitFixit]

😂😂😂

[@leacompton]

Get the lcd screen kit for it, it'll make a good videos

[@BuyitFixit]

I had been thinking of that Lea. Thanks 👍

[@doughnut_panda]

The LCD for the Game Gear is a bit expensive.

[@BuyitFixit]

Yeah I was thinking if it was worth it as you can buy a whole hand held emulator for about the same. I've ordered one for about £40 from Aliexpress so I'll do a video on fitting it when it arrives 👍

[@doughnut_panda]

@@BuyitFixit Cool. Looking forward for that.

[@jstro-hobbytech]

Those smd electrolytic caps always reek like fish when they're bad. I have a vintage guitar pedal board that has over a hundred of those caps and they're horrible to replace.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Joey👍. 100 Eeek! Rather you than me 😂😂😂

[@JAYG6390]

Can't these be repaired by running the soldering iron over the screen connector where you were squeezing? Pretty sure I've seen MMV do a similar fix

[@BuyitFixit]

Unfortunately I tried that, I think it's the actual 3 chips on the glass of the screen as each controls 1/3 of the screen. Funny enough I was just watching MMV trying to repair the exact same issue, but also unsuccessfully.

[@JAYG6390]

@@BuyitFixit Ah, did think it was odd you hadn't put it in the video tbh. Hopefully a new screen will do it

[@stevefox3763]

The retro fit modern led backlit LCD screens are a far better choice than an original.

[@BuyitFixit]

@@JAYG6390 Thanks 👍.I did mention that I had run the iron over them, I just didn't video that part as I had spent pretty much 3 hours or so tracing tracks, checking voltages and signals etc too. I thought I'd just skip all that and show the actual problem.

[@JAYG6390]

@@BuyitFixit must have totally missed that or my old brain forgot it 😅

[@kennybacchus1488]

Trying. To. Fix. A. Sega. Gear

[@davidstephens189]

Heh-heh. I have a SEGA Game Gear in mint condition with a nice size collection of games!

[@BuyitFixit]

Nice one David 👍

[@davidstephens189]

@@BuyitFixit I've played a lot of the old games.... I'm older than video games.

[@BuyitFixit]

Same here :)

[@miftosaurus]

@@BuyitFixit Chuckie Egg, Dizzy, Elite, Laser Squad... :)

[@BuyitFixit]

Manic Miner, Jet-set willy.. fun fact. Poke 34499,201. My first ever software hack 😂😂😂😂

[@wisher21uk]

Nice try mate worth getting a cheap screen for it

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Cucumber Man, yes I'd been thinking that for a follow up video...

[@wisher21uk]

@@BuyitFixit what a great idea 🤓

[@dronepilotflyby9481]

Zegamamegear

[@BuyitFixit]

😂😂😂👍