Home	Forums	What's new	Resources

US Saturn VA1 video issue

quantamm - Mar 30, 2025

		quantamm		Mar 30, 2025
			I've got a US Saturn VA1 that I received dead, but after recapping it, it is mostly fine, except that some graphics flicker and starting today, where the cubes should be on the main menu, there are now orange/reddish balls. You can see what I mean here: - YouTube... I've tried reflowing the VDP1 and VDP2 and associated memory chips, but that didn't help. It could still be a VDP1/2 issue, or something with the capacitors, or something else entirely. I'm hoping that someone else has seen something like this and can help me narrow the possibilities of what I should be looking at.

		ROS		Apr 12, 2025
			quantamm said: Usually caused by a faulty connection to disc drive board. quantamm said: Possible power supply issue.

		Shadowmask		Apr 12, 2025
			The first thing I'd do with flickering video is check the cable connector. It might be worn out or have loose connections to the board. Unless it looks like visual artifacts from bad video processing.

		ROS		Apr 12, 2025
			The fluctuation in color contrast is what's leading me to believe that there may be an issue with voltage, or filtering ( EMI filter... ). Upon rewatching the video, there is definitely visible static interference in the A/V output signal.

		Shadowmask		Apr 13, 2025
			Just wiggle the cable and see if it changes

		ROS		Apr 13, 2025
			Wiggle it just a little bit As it grooves