Should I update 1976 chip sockets? Sea Wolf question...

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Should I update 1976 chip sockets? Sea Wolf question...

I'm checking out a Sea Wolf, and the game would not come up except for some vertical lines. I found that the 8 socketed ROMs had crept out a bit, so I reseated them and the game is now running fine.

Do you think I should put some modern chip sockets on the board to help keep this from happening again? I know chip creep is usually caused by leg tension, but if the socket isn't as tight as it should be....


Also, does anyone know how the "High Score Clear" button is supposed to function? Pressing it does nothing that I can see....
 
Chip creep is caused by expansion and contraction of the legs from the chips getting hot. It will still happen with new dual wipes but not nearly as bad as those old worn out sockets. I usually upgrade the old single wipes on certain chips like rams and processors that tend to be wore out from them getting pulled so many times over the years.
I just fixed a dirt cheap ebay pac board by replacing the Z80 socket. I didnt even start troubleshooting, installed a z80 and noticed it wasnt very snug. Installed a new socket and 5 minutes later I have a working pac board.
 
Well, I mentioned it to the customer, and he wants me to go ahead and replace them.

Also, can someone explain the "Clear High Score" button to me? Is it user-selectable on the board or should it work all the time any time?
 
Well, I mentioned it to the customer, and he wants me to go ahead and replace them.

Also, can someone explain the "Clear High Score" button to me? Is it user-selectable on the board or should it work all the time any time?


The clear high score button is enabled or diabled by dip switch #5 on PCB. If its on it will allow you to clear the high score at the attract screen and off disables the button
 
The clear high score button is enabled or diabled by dip switch #5 on PCB. If its on it will allow you to clear the high score at the attract screen and off disables the button

Okay, that's working now. Thanks.

Replaced the chip sockets tonight. The originals were so hogged out that there was absolutely no tension on some of the chips. I guess gravity was holding them in. Didn't even need a chip puller to pull them out. Everything seems to be working fine for now, except for a different issue which I will bring up in a new thread - for those who now skip this title....
 
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