Tempest vector glitches during non-text screens

squareric

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Encountering vector distortion shown in video link during game play and demo, but not when text displayed. Apart from blooming when white vectors display, game was functional until this started happening a few weeks ago. Assuming monitor issue since game plays until I can access another Tempest to narrow down board vs. monitor. Advice appreciated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oroOgzVcQA&list=UUZxjJ7vgoNz2Dsiq71OdbNw
 
You have a mathbox issue, pull and reseat the board interconnect and mathbox ICs.
 
You have a mathbox issue, pull and reseat the board interconnect and mathbox ICs.

hoping to learn on ops experience with this one. If he has a mathbox issue, shouldn't he boot into test mode first and launch self diagnostics?
 
hoping to learn on ops experience with this one. If he has a mathbox issue, shouldn't he boot into test mode first and launch self diagnostics?


Tempest's self-test is just going to report an M error for a mathbox failure. It doesn't go into detail about what has failed.
 
I have had this issue go away after reseating the PCB interconnect cable, and also the incoming power edge connector.
 
I have had this issue go away after reseating the PCB interconnect cable, and also the incoming power edge connector.

My recommendation also. Also reflow the solder points on the board itself to all of the pins of the interconnect, and reseat the ROM chips if that doesn't work. Lastly, test the ROM sockets if none of these other efforts work.

I'd also recommend replacing the interconnect cable with an available, pre-made replacement (such as the one sold by elektronforge.com here):

http://elektronforge.com/products.htm.

From my experience, this is a board issue and not a monitor issue.

Does wiggling the main edge connectors make any difference? If so, you may need to check/clean or perhaps replace your main edge connectors (or at least the +5V and ground pins/inputs). Certainly check if you are getting a good and steady +5 volts to the board :) .

Jon
 
Solved!

Only getting +4.6v at +5v on main board. Adjusted ARII pot until it measured +5.00v and issue resolved! Thanks all for your help!
 
Only getting +4.6v at +5v on main board. Adjusted ARII pot until it measured +5.00v and issue resolved! Thanks all for your help!

thanks for the update. mine was doing something similar on saturday. ill be checking it out this weekend.
 
I, too, have seen the same problem on my tempest. Mine was solved by reseating chips near the board interconnect (after the pins were reflowed).
 
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