Neo Geo MVS 4 slot problems - sound, capacitors, Chinese bootlegs etc

pubjoe

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Do the 4-slot's issues still depend on the carts inserted?

I've been the owner of five 4-slots over the years and I've never had one that worked smoothly. Certain combinations of carts will work and others won't. I don't mean to put you off a possible fix but I've always understood that these are infamously flakey in this way. The required current is a stress test on the reliability of PSU and other components and I've heard suggestions of multiple high meg carts being especially an issue ...and also they seems to just flake out for god knows why with some combinations.

Does anyone own a 4-slot that 'just works' with everything?

I'm sorry it's hard to keep up with the changes of diagnosis and fixes so I might be missing some points.
 

Max...

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Do the 4-slot's issues still depend on the carts inserted?

I've been the owner of five 4-slots over the years and I've never had one that worked smoothly. Certain combinations of carts will work and others won't. I don't mean to put you off a possible fix but I've always understood that these are infamously flakey in this way. The required current is a stress test on the reliability of PSU and other components and I've heard suggestions of multiple high meg carts being especially an issue ...and also they seems to just flake out for god knows why with some combinations.

Does anyone own a 4-slot that 'just works' with everything?

I'm sorry it's hard to keep up with the changes of diagnosis and fixes so I might be missing some points.
No worries, no mine has been brilliant as I say for 15 years really. Not used all the time, but on and off over the years as I get in/out of playing games.

I think the 2 slot is the best MOBO to own in many ways but having a filled up 4 slot is so much nicer.

Keeping carts clean meticulously has been the most important thing as well as keeping the 5v high enough as it gets sucked down with each slot filled.

Only other finicky problems have been mostly down to bootlegs, the old Korean ones from BITD cause the odd issue but also the two modern AliX ones I’ve bought - Prehistoric Isle 2 and Money Puzzle Exchanger. They really are fussy and problematic.

But given many MVS carts I picked up years ago are now 10 x the price or more I won’t ever be buying originals I’m afraid.
 

Retroman839

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Do the 4-slot's issues still depend on the carts inserted?

I've been the owner of five 4-slots over the years and I've never had one that worked smoothly. Certain combinations of carts will work and others won't. I don't mean to put you off a possible fix but I've always understood that these are infamously flakey in this way. The required current is a stress test on the reliability of PSU and other components and I've heard suggestions of multiple high meg carts being especially an issue ...and also they seems to just flake out for god knows why with some combinations.

Does anyone own a 4-slot that 'just works' with everything?

I'm sorry it's hard to keep up with the changes of diagnosis and fixes so I might be missing some points.
Yes 3 of my 6 are perfect working,

An mvs 4slot core
attract mode for mister neo geo with neo geo flyers art for games select but coming out of the unused video out up to a small led screen moumted on top of cab to mimic the 4 slot mvs

Like this IMG_4809.jpeg

Would be a nice substitute for the real hardware
 
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pubjoe

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That would be nice but I'd guess the limited SDRAM prevents it. Groovymame does a great job. I once had that booting straight to a 6-slot cmd.

It's a shame you can't choose a limit of 6 only to be available with Razoola's awesome PICKnMIX menu for the 161-in-1s.
 

Max...

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Can’t remember if I posted it here but how I wish someone would recreate the MOBO but with modern chips and architecture to be super simple and reliable but with a big sister board using original MVS slots.

A 12 slotter would be nice…. o_O:D

[EDIT] At first glance that’s what I thought you’d built above!
 

Retroman839

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That would be nice but I'd guess the limited SDRAM prevents it. Groovymame does a great job. I once had that booting straight to a 6-slot cmd.

It's a shame you can't choose a limit of 6 only to be available with Razoola's awesome PICKnMIX menu for the 161-in-1s.
Yeh can’t load more than one neo rom at a time but maybe just a snazzy game select attract mode that looks like the flyer art
 

Retroman839

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If you get stuck i I can take a look at it for you
I have áudio probe
Diag bios etc

I know the traces that cause this symtom if effected by corrosion in the cn socket
 

Retroman839

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Did z80 come out ok?
No vias pulled ?
Are all leg sockets got good contacts ( none pushed in so far as they won’t make contact with a leg of the z80?

Looks like it’s Watchdogging

Maybe take z80 out and if it’s doing same then you’ve lost contact somewhere with your new socket
 
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Max...

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Came out but not easily.

All vias looked good after.

Took it out - just getting a green screen with random characters fluctuating. Back in got the same pattern as video mostly then black screen. Z80 getting hot.
 

TheDaddy

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Came out but not easily.

All vias looked good after.

Took it out - just getting a green screen with random characters fluctuating. Back in got the same pattern as video mostly then black screen. Z80 getting hot.

Looks like you fluffed your lines mate , You have broken something else whilst replacing the Z80 I would have said.

Dave.
 

Max...

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Put multi meter into Continuity mode.

Now Check between every socket leg and it’s next destination along its trace.
Any and every short will be reviled.🙃
Blooming heck, I think all I’ve proved is I know just enough to be dangerous - and a board that worked perfectly for 15 years and then had a bit of a sound issue is now fu*ked!

I looked at doing what you said but as far as I can see the f’ing traces go from one side to the other through vias, some under the actual socket now and it’s all getting too stressy for my sanity….
 
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