720 Graphical Error?

mschwartz01

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 10, 2012
Messages
2,296
Reaction score
30
Location
Summerville, South Carolina
Hello! Are there any Atari experts available that can assist me with a 720 Graphics issue? I am finishing up a restore for a friend and just fired up the 720 to play the first actual game and have noticed this strange zig zag line. On one side of the line, the graphics seem fine, but on the other side of the line the colors are off... Definitely haven't seen anything like this before. Has anyone else seen this before or by chance know what a possible solution would be to fix it?
 

Attachments

  • PXL_20240520_172259978.jpg
    PXL_20240520_172259978.jpg
    5.4 MB · Views: 29
You've got a bunch of issues in that pic.

The image is too wide, the colors are completely off and yes, that weird sort of step of color change. Are you sure you've hooked the monitor up correctly?

1716229774808.png
 
You've got a bunch of issues in that pic.

The image is too wide, the colors are completely off and yes, that weird sort of step of color change. Are you sure you've hooked the monitor up correctly?

View attachment 743395
Yes I haven't done any adjustments to the monitor yet, this was just the inital test, so definitely still work to be done. What concerned me was the zig zag line and the colors to the one side of it
 
That 2nd pic shows the "steps" in a different orientation. You should look over all the ROM sockets on that board as they often fail.
 
Literally all of them. I'd suggest just walking through each chip. Pull it and look for soft/saggy sockets.
 
Likely to occur again. Those single wipe sockets on the system 2s always have issues.
single wipe sockets just require discipline. make sure the legs are parallel and straight and clean. if the socket is damaged, you replace it. no disrespect to OP but if they're making the kind of inquiries they are, they're not going to be replacing about 50 sockets on 4 layer boards because it's fashionable to just say all single wipe sockets are junk. there's brand new dual wipe sockets obviously engineered in China that in many cases aren't going to be that much of an improvement. and those are hours of your life you're not going to get back, and if you're inexperienced in the arts of soldering, you can obviously make everything that much worse. for what, cause you listened to people on a message board or on a youtube channel?

I'm all for preventative maintenance because I don't get my repeat business from scotch tape and bubble gumming games together just for them to break again, I get it because I do the job right the first time. but given all the logic deep dive board level work I've done the last month and a half there's much of it where I wish I just left the old sockets in. if anyone was seeking a professional grade opinion on the matter.

to elaborate more on Atari System 2 though, the only issue I had with a 6116 ram socket was it just literally wasn't all soldered in from the factory. the robot was working at 4:30 pm on a Friday that day I guess.
 
Thank you for the replies! I am decent at soldering and want to ensure that this machine works for a long time to come... If I were to replace the sockets, does someone have a suggestion on the best ones to use and a possible source?

Or is someone out there a pro and can go through the board and bullet proof it?
 
Last edited:
You don't need to replace them all. Just any that are bad. When you pulled each ROM did you inspect the socket or just reseat it? Previously I'd suggested just looking at each as I've always found bad sockets on them when going through system 2 games.

Anyway. If it's working now just leave it, unless it's going to be shipped across the country. When problems return deal with them.
 
single wipe sockets just require discipline. make sure the legs are parallel and straight and clean. if the socket is damaged, you replace it. no disrespect to OP but if they're making the kind of inquiries they are, they're not going to be replacing about 50 sockets on 4 layer boards because it's fashionable to just say all single wipe sockets are junk. there's brand new dual wipe sockets obviously engineered in China that in many cases aren't going to be that much of an improvement. and those are hours of your life you're not going to get back, and if you're inexperienced in the arts of soldering, you can obviously make everything that much worse. for what, cause you listened to people on a message board or on a youtube channel?

I'm all for preventative maintenance because I don't get my repeat business from scotch tape and bubble gumming games together just for them to break again, I get it because I do the job right the first time. but given all the logic deep dive board level work I've done the last month and a half there's much of it where I wish I just left the old sockets in. if anyone was seeking a professional grade opinion on the matter.

to elaborate more on Atari System 2 though, the only issue I had with a 6116 ram socket was it just literally wasn't all soldered in from the factory. the robot was working at 4:30 pm on a Friday that day I guess.
Have no idea where you read that he should replace all the sockets. I never suggested anything other than inspecting all of them because I've found so many bad ones. Which it appears is counter to your experience.
 
Back
Top Bottom