Fried Lynx GameDrive Rev1

[axbahr]

I have 2 original GameDrive Rev1 carts which I bought in 2017. It seems as if I broke both by putting them into a broken Lynx. When I put them into a working Lynx now it just shows "INSERT GAME". Is there any way to fix these carts (I can replace components myself). The voltage regulator seems to be working on both (3.3V on output). Is there any way to salvage these? Repair them? Could I trade them in? Any advice is appreciated.

Edited August 8, 2021 by axbahr

[SainT]

The microcontroller is well protected behind the 245’s, so if you’ve fried something it may well be those, or the latch. May well be salvageable.

[rayrayrayraydog]

23 hours ago, SainT said:

The microcontroller is well protected behind the 245’s, so if you’ve fried something it may well be those, or the latch. May well be salvageable.

I'm in the same boat here with my fried cart.  Can you share more details on the components that could be replaced?

[+-^CrossBow^-]

The real question is what was faulty in these Lynx systems that potentially took out the Lynx GD with them?

 

[axbahr]

Both broken Lynx II I had did not turn on at first (I bought them broken) and I did turn them on with the GameDrive inserted. After I did the standard power supply fix (replace transistors, MOSFET and Zener diode) they both turn on now, but the display is broken. So my guess is that the "upwards failing" power supply of the Lynx put the full 9V on the display circuit and broke it. When I then put the GameDrive into these broken Lynxs maybe the 9V were also applied to the Vcc of the GameDrive, but this should have fried the voltage regulator first which still seems to work. So I am a bit at a loss, but I can't be the only one who broke their GameDrive this way. Many Lynx have a broken power supply so I imagine that this must have happened quite often.

 

@SainT: did you ever get any broken GameDrive and which parts were typically broken? Any more specific recommendation then swapping all 245 and the latch? Could the RAM be affected as well. Would you be willing to share the schematic?
 

Before posting I tried to find a thread about broken GameDrives but couldn't find one. I also did not get any answer to my request to RetroHQ and Dragonbox. In case there is any thread or other document on the web with suggestions on how to fix a fried GameDrive please point me (us) to it as 2 GameDrives are quite expensive to replace.

[SainT]

I’ve not had any broken GameDrive carts back, and I’ve never had any contact about one? Not sure how you tried to get in touch.

 

The RAM and pretty much everything else is behind the 245 and 573 (i think that’s the right latch part number, I’ll double check in a bit, not at my desk!) in terms of bus connectivity. But the entire cart runs at 5V apart from the memory card, so if you overvolt the 5V line, then every chip will get overvolted.

 

I’m not sure which parts are likely to be more or less tolerant to damage like this.

 

If it’s the original cart (ie. not the new cased one which fits in both lynx 1&2) I think I have some of those boards still kicking about, and I don’t sell them anymore, so I will swap them for you if you like.

[axbahr]

Yes, I also noticed that many devices were actually connected to the 5V rail, but I didn't know that it's all of them except the SD card. That is of course quite dangerous with the failing voltage converters in the Lynx and of course anybody who tries to bypass the switch MOSFET with a line to the headphone jack will instantly fry it. So if there is a chance that every single chip on the cart is toast, there is indeed not much of a point to salvage it.

Thanks for the swap offer, I sent you a DM regarding that.

[SainT]

It will be useful to see what has died for anyone else in the same situation. It may of course not be the same in every case, but usually there is a pattern with failures, so the chance is reasonable it will be the same.

[axbahr]

Yes indeed. As discussed in the DMs I will send you my broken ones and you can then take a look at them and maybe share the results. What was also strange is that while I put the first GameDrive into the broken Lynx I am pretty sure I put the second one only in after I had replaced the MOSFET and transistors, but maybe doing just that did not fix everything yet, though after measuring directly across the voltage regulator on the GameDrive after fixing both Lynx I did measure 4.9V so I guess the power supply (at least for the 5V rail) was working properly.

[rayrayrayraydog]

12 hours ago, axbahr said:

Yes indeed. As discussed in the DMs I will send you my broken ones and you can then take a look at them and maybe share the results. What was also strange is that while I put the first GameDrive into the broken Lynx I am pretty sure I put the second one only in after I had replaced the MOSFET and transistors, but maybe doing just that did not fix everything yet, though after measuring directly across the voltage regulator on the GameDrive after fixing both Lynx I did measure 4.9V so I guess the power supply (at least for the 5V rail) was working properly.

I'm happy to send my busted one as well.  I'm in the US. 

[SainT]

9 hours ago, rayrayrayraydog said:

I'm happy to send my busted one as well.  I'm in the US. 

As long as it’s one of the original rev 1 carts, happy to do so, just drop me a pm.

[rayrayrayraydog]

12 hours ago, SainT said:

As long as it’s one of the original rev 1 carts, happy to do so, just drop me a pm.

I don't think mine is.  It has a nicely made plastic sleeve, which I think is from the later batches. (?)  Any hope of repairs?