Tempest - Sockets Bloody Sockets

westal_sage

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I think I've determined that just about every socket on my Tempest boards is a flake. I keep getting seemingly random errors on the test screen and then I can push on the chip and get it to go away.

1 by 1 I'm replacing them with rock solid mill max strip sockets. And 1 by 1 the chip/socket marriages are solidifying. I'm gonna end up just redoing all of them - maybe 1 or 2 a night til I'm done.
 
After 30 years it's surprising that the sockets have any retention left. The Atari sockets are especially troubling but not so bad to desolder. I carefully pry the plastic housing off to expose all of the pins. Then I turn the board over and start desoldering the pins. Removing the plastic helps the pins to heat up faster so the plastic is not acting like a heat sink.

Also do not forget to check the interboard connectors. If the pins are oxidized or have flat spots you should replace them as well. If they are in good shape, reflowing the pins is never a bad idea.

It's a lot of work but worth it for a rock-solid game.

Bill
 
Yep spot on Bill - I'm doing exactly what you said and slowly but surely I'm gonna feel good about these boards.
 
I know your pain. I have done about 3 sets of the Galaga boards and the worst part is/was the resistor packs. I have two more of the original board sets to do and a Ms. Pacman.
 
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