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Started By
Message
It's (NES) alive! And now with a more permanent fix (and region free)!
Posted on 4/10/19 at 5:37 pm
Posted on 4/10/19 at 5:37 pm
I have finally fixed my NES after 16-17 years of it not being able to read a game. I bought a new pin connector back then and it still wouldn't work.
I recently came across this new pin connector called Blinking Light Win:
I decided to give it one last shot and bought one to see if this really fixes the problem cause I had already tried replacing the pin connector before and nothing worked. I figured it may have just been another part that had crapped out on me.
Well, after installing it, I can say this thing is amazing. It not only fixed the problem but it reads the games first try every time and it also has a region free chip on the board so you can play PAL games, etc.. I did have to re-clean a few of my carts with some alcohol since a few wouldn't work, but after doing so they work first try now. It's running like it's brand new!
I'm stupid excited about this
. I had been using an FPGA system (RetroUSB AVS) for my NES needs since it's a fantastic piece of hardware and in HD. But, there's really nothing like playing on the original.
I have it connected to my XRGB Mini Framemeister via composite. I know composite is not the best video connection (especially on an hdtv), but it's definitely not horrendous or anything. Framemesiter does a good job upscaling the composite signal. I may get it RGB modded now to fully take advantage of it.
Couple of pics:
This thing really does live up to its name and it seem to be more of a a permanent fix to the NES' pin connector problem since the games are inserted straight in and you don't press down. It comes with a new tray to install along with the pin connector. Oh, and there is no death grip either like many of these replacement pin connectors. That was supposedly also a problem in the early versions, but it's definitely fixed now cause getting game out feels just like the original.
I recently came across this new pin connector called Blinking Light Win:
I decided to give it one last shot and bought one to see if this really fixes the problem cause I had already tried replacing the pin connector before and nothing worked. I figured it may have just been another part that had crapped out on me.
Well, after installing it, I can say this thing is amazing. It not only fixed the problem but it reads the games first try every time and it also has a region free chip on the board so you can play PAL games, etc.. I did have to re-clean a few of my carts with some alcohol since a few wouldn't work, but after doing so they work first try now. It's running like it's brand new!
I'm stupid excited about this
. I had been using an FPGA system (RetroUSB AVS) for my NES needs since it's a fantastic piece of hardware and in HD. But, there's really nothing like playing on the original. I have it connected to my XRGB Mini Framemeister via composite. I know composite is not the best video connection (especially on an hdtv), but it's definitely not horrendous or anything. Framemesiter does a good job upscaling the composite signal. I may get it RGB modded now to fully take advantage of it.
Couple of pics:
This thing really does live up to its name and it seem to be more of a a permanent fix to the NES' pin connector problem since the games are inserted straight in and you don't press down. It comes with a new tray to install along with the pin connector. Oh, and there is no death grip either like many of these replacement pin connectors. That was supposedly also a problem in the early versions, but it's definitely fixed now cause getting game out feels just like the original.
4
Posted on 4/10/19 at 6:01 pm to Contra
Never seen that product. Seems to be a good one. I'm glad people are still making products supporting old game consoles, replacement parts and mods and such.
Replacing the pin connectors is usually the first go to if your old NES isn't working and cleaning it very well doesn't do the trick. The design of the classic front loading NES models had a way of gradually wearing down/bending the pins over time. Cartridge systems should naturally load top down, and pretty much every single cartridge system on the planet universally did it this way, but Nintendo wanted the NES in NA to emulate how the VCR loaded. All part of their strategy to market it as an "Entertainment" system, not just a video game console.
You should insert/remove your games from your NES gently given its design, most kids didn't though. In fact slamming them in was common, as that seemed to "fix" bad connections due to it being dirty.
The problem with aftermarket pins made nowadays is they usually are much poorer quality than the original. You're probably better off cleaning the original pins and bending them back into place rather than replacing them with a shite new one.
For the most adventurous though, you can permanently kill the "blinking red light" problem by disabling the lockout chip.
The famous blinking red light problem with the NES is caused by the lockout chip, it was a security feature Nintendo added to cockblock unlicensed game developers. It's a chip in the system that render the system unplayable (by constantly sending a reset signal) unless a partner chip in the cartridge sends a single to it not to do this. When the system gets dirty or the pins get unreliable, this communication fails to take place and boom, blinking red light.
If you open up your NES and break a single specific pin on the lockout chip, you effectively kill it without effecting anything else in the system, making your NES much more reliable in general, and also allowing you to play unlicensed games without any headaches. Obviously don't do this without a guide, as you're liable to break your system otherwise.
Replacing the pin connectors is usually the first go to if your old NES isn't working and cleaning it very well doesn't do the trick. The design of the classic front loading NES models had a way of gradually wearing down/bending the pins over time. Cartridge systems should naturally load top down, and pretty much every single cartridge system on the planet universally did it this way, but Nintendo wanted the NES in NA to emulate how the VCR loaded. All part of their strategy to market it as an "Entertainment" system, not just a video game console.
You should insert/remove your games from your NES gently given its design, most kids didn't though. In fact slamming them in was common, as that seemed to "fix" bad connections due to it being dirty.
The problem with aftermarket pins made nowadays is they usually are much poorer quality than the original. You're probably better off cleaning the original pins and bending them back into place rather than replacing them with a shite new one.
For the most adventurous though, you can permanently kill the "blinking red light" problem by disabling the lockout chip.
The famous blinking red light problem with the NES is caused by the lockout chip, it was a security feature Nintendo added to cockblock unlicensed game developers. It's a chip in the system that render the system unplayable (by constantly sending a reset signal) unless a partner chip in the cartridge sends a single to it not to do this. When the system gets dirty or the pins get unreliable, this communication fails to take place and boom, blinking red light.
If you open up your NES and break a single specific pin on the lockout chip, you effectively kill it without effecting anything else in the system, making your NES much more reliable in general, and also allowing you to play unlicensed games without any headaches. Obviously don't do this without a guide, as you're liable to break your system otherwise.
Posted on 4/10/19 at 7:09 pm to Contra
Username checks out
Posted on 4/10/19 at 7:45 pm to Contra
Checks out
Posted on 4/10/19 at 9:49 pm to Contra
quote:
I have it connected to my XRGB Mini Framemeister via composite. I know composite is not the best video connection (especially on an hdtv), but it's definitely not horrendous or anything. Framemesiter does a good job upscaling the composite signal. I may get it RGB modded now to fully take advantage of it.
Coury and Try will be proud of you.
Posted on 4/10/19 at 10:18 pm to PEPE
quote:
PEPE
Indeed. I am always amazed at what the retro community comes up with. This is the best $30 I've ever spent. This thing is working like brand new. I remember I used to beat the shite out of the back of this NES to try and make it read the games
. I've long since thrown away the original pin connector. Back then I didn't know about the bending pins back technique (or the boiling your pin connector which some people say works) otherwise I probably would have tried it. Even if you do do one of those, it's still only a temporary fix until they wear down again. And those aftermarket pin connectors have the death grip .
I've thought of buying a NES top loader over the years since they're way more reliable at reading games, but with this fix with the BLW I won't have to do that now. I'm also just so used to the front loader. So happy I can finally play now with the reliability of the top loader.
This BLW pin connector has the blinking light disable feature built into it (as well as region free) on the PCB board so you don't have break that pin. The pin connectors are on a PCB board with a chip on it. This is what the kit looks like:
I highly recommend this pin connector to anyone looking to fix their blinking, non reading, front loader NES. I seriously thought I was never going to get this NES fixed and after 16-17 years later I decided to want to try and fix it one more time and bam!........ It worked!
Posted on 4/10/19 at 10:27 pm to SonicAndBareKnuckles
quote:
jefforize
quote:
DarthRebel
quote:
Coury and Try will be proud of you.
I don't know who that is
, but the Framemeister (and the OSSC, though I've never used one) is a god send 
. I never knew these older consoles that support native RGB could look so good and crisp. I don't have any modded RGB consoles yet, but I'm looking to get there.This post was edited on 4/10/19 at 10:28 pm
Posted on 4/10/19 at 11:22 pm to Contra
Coury and Try are from the My Life in Gaming YouTube channel. I saw you talking about Framemeisters and RGB, and I guessed that you were already a subscriber.
This playlist should have plenty of interesting videos for you. YouTube Playlist
This playlist should have plenty of interesting videos for you. YouTube Playlist
This post was edited on 4/10/19 at 11:23 pm
Posted on 4/10/19 at 11:38 pm to SonicAndBareKnuckles
Oh, yes! I do know who they are. I just didn't know them by name. I've watched several of their series on how to get the best picture quality out of these old consoles. They produce some really good content.
They would be proud of me trying to get those perfect pixels out of these consoles. I usually just use profiles though. Created by this guy that goes by the name FirebrandX. That dude is straight dedicated. His profiles are amazing.
They would be proud of me trying to get those perfect pixels out of these consoles
. I usually just use profiles though. Created by this guy that goes by the name FirebrandX. That dude is straight dedicated. His profiles are amazing.
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