super system card v3 problem

moonwhistle · 04/21/2011, 05:20 AM

I just got a cd rom 2 briefcase setup (ifu-30) and it seems that the super system card v3.0 is dead.

The setup works fine with a system card 2 and loads cds. With the super system card 3 I either get a blank white screen or somtimes the boot screen which just hangs and is totally unresponsive to all button inputs. When I try to restart I just get the white screen again.

I've tried cleaning the hell out the system card pins with alcohol but it makess no difference. There isnt any dirt coming off although the pins do look rather worn / scratched.

Any ideas? Are these old system cards known for being faulty?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Tatsujin · 04/21/2011, 05:30 AM

If it's reallybroken, then sure it can't be helped. But before giving up on that too easy, try to clean the pins of the sys card with a pencil rubber. Sometimes this works big wonders. good luck

RR1980 · 04/21/2011, 05:38 AM

maybe god is telling you to upgrade to a arcade pro card! just kidding

moonwhistle · 04/21/2011, 05:44 AM

I'll try using a pencil rubber when I find one.

Will an arcade card pro play everything and replace all earlier system cards?

Thanks.

RR1980 · 04/21/2011, 05:51 AM

Quote from: moonwhistle on 04/21/2011, 05:44 AMI'll try using a pencil rubber when I find one.

Will an arcade card pro play everything and replace all earlier system cards?

Thanks.

yup the arcade pro card will allow you to play basically every single CD game in the pce library!

Tatsujin · 04/21/2011, 05:51 AM

yeah, an arcade pro card would play teh everything but SGFX games and Altered beast.

soop · 04/21/2011, 06:27 AM

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PC-Engine-Arcade-Card-PRO-PC-HuCARD-CD-ROM2-/260772127463?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cb73ae2e7

This is the cheapest one on eBay at the moment, still not as cheap as Game of Japan, but you might get it lower with an offer. Plus it's in Canadia, so the shipping should be less than Japan.

termis · 04/21/2011, 07:25 AM

Quote from: Tatsujin on 04/21/2011, 05:51 AMyeah, an arcade pro card would play teh everything but SGFX games and Altered beast.

...and GameExpress CD games. Ah, the details, the details.

Tatsujin · 04/21/2011, 07:38 AM

Quote from: termis on 04/21/2011, 07:25 AM
Quote from: Tatsujin on 04/21/2011, 05:51 AMyeah, an arcade pro card would play teh everything but SGFX games and Altered beast.
...and GameExpress CD games. Ah, the details, the details.

Right you are

I always forget about that dirty stuff, lol.

moonwhistle · 04/21/2011, 09:21 AM

I cleaned the hell out of it with a pencil eraser.

I get one of the following results:

white screen

boot screen that is frozen and wont respond at all

normal boot screen that lets me press run and start spinning the disc but then just hangs indefinately.

I noticed that on the super system card 3 there is a small gap between the end of the metal pins and the edge of the white case. Debris seems to be getting in there. I wonder if this card might have been bent or bashed that could have made this gap appear?

I think it's a write off and I'm gonna look into getting another one or an arcade pro card but $45 is more than I'm willing to spend at the moment.

Thanks for help everyone.

CrackTiger · 04/21/2011, 04:00 PM

Not all of the pins are supposed to be the same. I haven't had great results with erasers, but I do by wiping pins with isopropanol using a q-tip. I clean every new cart I acquire.

nat · 04/21/2011, 10:54 PM

Try not inserting it all the way into the slot. Insert it just enough so that you can still switch the power switch on but no farther, see if you get different results.

Mathius · 04/21/2011, 11:47 PM

If it is truly dead than at least Japanese Super System Cards are way more inexpensive than the US version.

SignOfZeta · 04/21/2011, 11:59 PM

Quote from: nat on 04/21/2011, 10:54 PMTry not inserting it all the way into the slot. Insert it just enough so that you can still switch the power switch on but no farther, see if you get different results.

Yeah, that and cleaning it a million more times. The card is really picky sometimes in my set-up too, but once its set it works perfectly until I have to change cards again.

moonwhistle · 04/22/2011, 06:00 AM

Quote from: nat on 04/21/2011, 10:54 PMTry not inserting it all the way into the slot. Insert it just enough so that you can still switch the power switch on but no farther, see if you get different results.

I have tried that too. Even when I manage to get it to boot, I press run and the disc starts spinning then it just hangs indefinately on the loading screen. I'm worried that my system might be causing the problem and getting a new card won't fix it. It is region modded if that makes any difference. I am booting it in japanese mode though, US mode does nothing. The guy I traded with even sent me video of the whole setup working before he sent it to me.

SignOfZeta · 04/22/2011, 08:23 AM

That sounds like a drive issue. Once the PCE boots from the (sometimes very picky) card it generally works fine. What does the drive seem to be doing?

moonwhistle · 04/22/2011, 02:49 PM

The drive sounds like it's spinning at a constant speed.

I got a bunch of other games with the system and they all load fine using a version 2 card.

SignOfZeta · 04/22/2011, 02:51 PM

I think your laser is stuck. Chances are, the gear broke. But just in case it didn't I would take it apart and carefully try to un-stick it. If the teeth survive then clean out the old grease and re-lube it with lithium grease.

NecroPhile · 04/22/2011, 03:07 PM

How can the gear be stuck if it works fine with other 'regular' cd games?

turbokon · 04/22/2011, 10:26 PM

I got an extra pce super system card if you want it.

termis · 04/23/2011, 06:17 AM

And card games work okay (both US/JP cards)? Just trying to narrow it really down culprit to the system card 3, rather than the console itself.

moonwhistle · 04/23/2011, 07:20 AM

US and Japanese card games all work fine. As does the system card 1 & 2 and all the cd games barring Choaniki and Bonk 3 in 1 which need the system card 3.

Incidently, does anyone know the if this PSU would be suitable:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120704410932&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I'm in the UK. Voltage, amps and polarity are all correct but I'm wondering about the jack size....

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super system card v3 problem