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Dark VGA Output - Is this fixable?

Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2021 3:46 pm
by mn_230
Hello all,

Long-time lurker with a problem on my recently-acquired dreamcast. I bought it off of ebay and it's in fine cosmetic shape. However, the VGA output is unusually dark. I've included a few screenshots to illustrate. I'm not having this issue with an RCA cable. I've tested the VGA cable with a different dreamcast and it looks great - I've also included screenshots from that.

The disc drive in the dreamcast that's not working doesn't sound great. It sounds a bit like there's some kind of grinding going on and there's a high-pitched background noise that I don't hear with the working dreamcast.

Before I return this "tested and working" dreamcast, I wanted to see if there's a fix (short of putting a GDemu in). Any thoughts/help most appreciated. Thanks.
not_working_dc_load_screen.png
not_working_dc_game_screen.png
working_load_screen.png
working_dc_game_screen.png

Re: Dark VGA Output - Is this fixable?

Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2021 6:24 am
by aldair
It seems that the blue color is missing.

Re: Dark VGA Output - Is this fixable?

Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2021 2:10 pm
by mn_230
aldair wrote:It seems that the blue color is missing.
So, perhaps something like:
https://videogameperfection.com/forums/ ... creen-vga/
?

Re: Dark VGA Output - Is this fixable?

Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2021 4:38 pm
by aldair
mn_230 wrote:
aldair wrote:It seems that the blue color is missing.
So, perhaps something like:
https://videogameperfection.com/forums/ ... creen-vga/
?
Does the Dreamcast menu screen show blue?
You need to check the rgb fuisitores.

Re: Dark VGA Output - Is this fixable?

Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2021 12:00 pm
by mn_230
aldair wrote:
mn_230 wrote:
aldair wrote:It seems that the blue color is missing.
So, perhaps something like:
https://videogameperfection.com/forums/ ... creen-vga/
?
Does the Dreamcast menu screen show blue?
You need to check the rgb fuisitores.
There is blue on the menu screen, but it's darker than with a working dreamcast. Some images below, with the non-working on top and the working on bottom.

Re: Dark VGA Output - Is this fixable?

Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2021 1:16 pm
by xzer0PL
You need to change capacitors on motherboard.

Re: Dark VGA Output - Is this fixable?

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2021 11:46 am
by mn_230
xzer0PL wrote:You need to change capacitors on motherboard.
Thanks for the suggestion.