Playchoice 10 game select screen issue (Single Monitor)

iyouwas

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Playchoice 10 game select screen issue (Single Monitor)

I originally posted in the monitor section, until I narrowed the issue down to the Z80 chip.

The green game select screen, gives a distorted image about 15 to 20 minutes after being turned on.

The games themselves function just fine.

I learned that the green menu screen and the roms are driven by two separate sources.

The Z80 chip drives the menu screen.

I removed it, and reseated it, with no change in behavior.

My question is,

Is this definitly a sign that my Z80 chip needs replaced? Or could something else be causing this to occur.




Thank You!!

Tom
 
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I guess nobody really had this problem before.
I just get frustrated when people come over, and it does the glitch.
Is there a place I can order the Z80 chip?

There is only one on the board right?
 
After doing a little research on the "infamous" Z80, I came across a site that told me that these chips were commonly used in other home consoles of the time. It had mentioned that the pod, or chip was used in the Sega Master System. So I dug out my broken Sega, and opened it up to find ..... THERE IT WAS!!!! So the chips were identical. I desoldier the chip, cleaned the points meticulously, and installed it.

Snap. Perfect fit.
Although it didn't solve the problem entirely, it doesn't happen as frequent.
Just thought id share this with you.

Thanks for the direction guys, and Happy Gaming!

Tom
 
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Well, I ordered a brand new Z80 chip off ebay, and installed it.
But sadly had no change in the issue.
There must be something else I could test and replace?

Anybody have any ideas what else could be causing the menu screen to distort like this?
Remember.
This only occurs at the game select menu green screen, and not actual game play.

I have the single monitor board that requires you to hold both game select and start buttons to bring up the green menu screen, when set to free play.
I heard that these early boards have a slight glitch in this area.
Maybe that will help diagnose this problem.

Thanks!
 
I can offer no help, but my playchoice single monitor has a issue, during the game select screen there is I serious lean to one side on the top half of the screen. As it gets warmer the area gets smaller and smaller. Eventually its only the top 2 inches. It never does it during a game, just the select screen. I figured the main PCB could use new caps, but I have never gotten around to it.
Jayme
 
I am not sure it is the board. If it was me I would get an old computer monitor and test your system this way. My Playchoice has molex connectors so wiring up a test monitor wouldn't be tough. Testing with a good monitor would give you a "once and for all" answer. The fact that you have changed out the chip and it is no better makes me think that it isn't the board. It also corrects itself after time has passed. That is very characteristic of an old monitor. Anyone who has had an old TV/monitor knows that when you turn it on it has to "warm up". I remember when I was a kid waiting for 15-20 mins in front of my grandma's TV waiting for it to display a viewable picture. The board might be giving the monitor a diffrent signal it can't process right away. Maybe that is why it plays games and not the menu. That is a theory I have so take it at face value. I would wire up the new monitor though and see what happens.
 
I will give that a shot. Thanks!

However, in the monitor section, a fellow KLOV member had replied that he is experiencing the same issue, but on the game play screen.
He mentioned that he had swapped top and bottom monitors, and got the same results.
But ill try this idea if its not too difficult, and report my findings.
Thanks again for your input!
 
Just an update.

I reaseated all 4 roms on the board with no results after replacing the z80.
I decided to replace the rom at position 8T on my board.
It had been suggested that it possibly could be going bad.
When it arrives, ill post the results.
 
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