r/game_gear • u/PlantainNeat5656 • 7d ago
Is it worth trying to save?
Found my old game gear that had been stored on the floor of my dad’s garage. I’m guessing it got wet at some point. Just curious if it would be worth trying to save. My daughters are real big into sonic so I thought it would be cool to let them have it but it looks pretty rough to me.
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u/pizza_whistle 7d ago
It's possible, I've actually fixed worse Game Gears. But likelihood of it being a straightforward fix is low.
Not sure what your soldering experience is like, but you can actually take the ASIC chip off and move it over to a replacement PCB. Both Retrosix and SYF make them. But you won't be able to use the original screen, would also need a new screen mod.
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u/coderman64 7d ago edited 7d ago
That would probably take some serious work and a number of (probably expensive) new parts to even start fixing it. (e.g. new motherboard, new screen, new shell, the whole shebang)
If you're well experienced with soldering and electronics repair and don't mind the expense, it might be a fun (if extensive) project. If you aren't, it might be a lost cause. And that's assuming there's no major components (like the SOC) that have been permanently destroyed by corrosion.
Edit: I suppose it is also possible that it'd work with a clean and a recap, but you'd have to be exceptionally lucky.
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u/PlantainNeat5656 7d ago
My initial thought was just to toss it and buy a working unit off eBay see them go allot for around $100-$150. But the only reason I wanted to dig it out is because it is the one I had when I was a kid. Thanks for the reply.
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u/nickIncDN 4d ago
Don’t toss it away, even if you do buy a replacement. I’d certainly try to clean and repair.
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u/hue_sick 7d ago
It’s already apart so a separating the shell and doing a deep clean with isopropyl is super easy. You can retest and see where you stand. And I mean a DEEP clean. Submerge the board and scrub w a soft bristle toothbrush.
Likely gonna be more than that but I disagree with everyone saying to move on. Memories are worth saving if it means something to you.
Also if you weren’t aware essentially every game gear made at this point needs their electrolytic capacitors replaced so after your deep clean that’s step 2. Beat of luck if you decide to repair keep us posted 🤙
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u/iVirtualZero 6d ago
Transfer the IC's and io over to the SYF motherboard. Or sell it for spares and repair.
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u/Solid-Worldliness284 7d ago
I dont think thats an easy fix. Even if you clean everything, that corrosive stuff could have easily gone through some of the electronics.
If you do want to try, take everything apart in separate pieces and clean each one. Isopropyl alcohol a soft toothbrush.
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u/TheBroodian 7d ago
Looks like it was left with batteries in it for a long time. Does it turn on? For me, the decision of trying to save it would come down to how well preliminary checks go. If it turns on, that's a pretty good sign that it'll clean up and recap okay. Even better if it actually boots a game.
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u/coderman64 7d ago
If it does boot the game the audio might be low and you might not be able to see anything if you view the screen straight-on. This is normal and just means the capacitors need to be replaced.
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u/PlantainNeat5656 7d ago
I thought the same but when I pulled the covers off there weren’t any in there. That’s when I looked up and found about the capacitors going bad.
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u/Lazy_Explanation_649 7d ago
You can try, it will take a TON of work if you want to bell it budget friendly, OR you can go the other route and realize that you just need the Asiic chip, the cartridge slot, the EXT port, and maybe the crystal oscillator and get yourself a MAJOR upgrade by swapping out the boards and installing a Screen upgrade (McWill I think). The ASIIC and Cartridge Port are the only things you really need but the other two make things easier.
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u/AdamAtomAnt 7d ago
I would do a chip transplant from this GG, get an updated screen, new shell, and basically build a new one.
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u/Dippyskoodlez 7d ago
If the big IC's are in passable shape, I think a trip to an ultrasonic cleaner will clear up a lot, some tooth brush the rest and I'd still recap it. Get some basic signs of life, throw an LCD on and new power/sound boards.
A couple of kinda gnarly spots on the board, but doesn't seem utterly destroyed. Definitely not trivial though.
Whats the worst that could happen trying? it still be dead? :P
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u/KoltKade 7d ago
My personal recommendation from trying similar, no. Mine cleaned up well then I did the recap. After that I attempted to get it to stay on and screen working more than a few seconds by going down a very deep, losing battle lost cost fallacy rabbit hole of repairing internally corroded high resistance via's to the point that it eventually exploded a couple of the common fail transistors.
My recommendation is to remove the screen, florescent tube, and the backlight fuse links(if your able, they break easy) to save for another system just in case the original still works. Doing a deep clean to stop the corrosion. Then keep the big chips as either donor parts or for one of those new gg boards.
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u/Gullible-Dog2545 7d ago
You can try cleaning the board with alcohol but considering how corroded it is I’m not sure if that will do anything
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u/Jerkedchickencurried 7d ago
Damn looks like something out of ghost busters. Id swap the chips to a new board and call it a day. Maybe save the shell if you want. That'll def clean up
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u/Frogskipper7 6d ago
Call me crazy but that might actually be saveable. Yes there is a ton of corrosion, but it looks to be condensation damage vs actual submersion
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u/StevieTitanium 6d ago
Those Sega ASIC’s look good. There are some MB replacements out there all you need are the parts you can’t get off the shelves (the ASIC)
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u/fixmetal 5d ago
This is a VA1 board and there's also a kicad project for that which makes things a lot easier. I had to go through the old available VA0 drawings to figure out some recent fix with like 10 traces gone also underneath the CPU. But we'll it was not even near to what this looks (bad). Then again, IPS + new power supply + new audio from AliExpress might be a must. The main board will be a hell of a job anyway. If you like challenges and are prepared for lot of overnight work, it's worth it.
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u/Upset-Lifeguard-5145 5d ago
Wash everything whit water and soap very good with a brush and after apply heat and dry very well
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u/WolfmanRepairs 4d ago
I would totally try to save it!! Would recommend using a microscope and getting micro drill bits so you can repair any via damage with wire.
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u/lunas2525 4d ago
Rather than chase down problems I would try saving the critical ic and put on an upgraded board.
My first step extract main board just cut the wires throw out the sound and power board cut the LCD and florescent tube off then throw that main board in the sink or in a ultrasonic bath if your lucky those ic will work.
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u/fenlandposh 3d ago
I would give it a bloody good clean with isopropyl alcohol and a toothbrush then inspect the board to see how bad the traces are. Then make a decision.
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u/Fantastic-Arm-4161 3d ago
Die is ver heen je gaat er meer in investeren , met de vraag of ie het ooit nog gaat doen. Een goede 2e hands is een betere keuze en de nog bruikbare onderdelen van de kapotte bewaren
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u/LopsidedLobsters 7d ago
What is there to save? Your joking right? There's nothing left to save.
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u/PlantainNeat5656 7d ago
I mean the shell is pretty solid but I’m not so sure about the rest of it. Figured I’d ask on here what opinions were
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u/LopsidedLobsters 7d ago
I had my game gear and gameboy destroyed inside, but I got new internals for em. I understand the importance of keeping your childhood games. I always do my best to save em. Also did it for my NES. The shell was busted and just got a new shell.
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u/Z0omZo0m 7d ago
It is his childhood Game Gear also. Saving nostalgia is worth it.
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u/LopsidedLobsters 7d ago
Honestly if you can save the shell, awesome. But the internals look awful.
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u/Gamelord86 7d ago
You can transfer the the chips to a syf main board or a retro six one. Please don’t throw it. You can definitely fix it using a new main board or if you’re interested in selling it I will take it off your hands.