MVS problem

I just got my NOVA system from Massystems.com and while the PCB's work just fine, my MVS work for about 10 minutes and then these squiggly lines begin appearing on the screen. After a few minutes the game becomes unplayable.

Could this be a problem in the system itself or the MV-1? The tech-support guy told me to turn the little brown knob in the NOVA system. I've done that and there was no change--for worse or better.

Any help, please?

BoyfromBrooklyn:
I just got my NOVA system from Massystems.com and while the PCB's work just fine, my MVS work for about 10 minutes and then these squiggly lines begin appearing on the screen. After a few minutes the game becomes unplayable.

Could this be a problem in the system itself or the MV-1? The tech-support guy told me to turn the little brown knob in the NOVA system. I've done that and there was no change--for worse or better.

Any help, please?

Click to expand...

I imagine the "Brown nob" tweaks the +5. You are going to need a multimeter to set that thing correctly, probably not really a safe thing to go just turning (lovely tech support by the way) since it can fry a board if it is set to high.

ANYWAY, it could be the +5 line, but, I don't know if that would cause a degredation over time, that is more like... I turn it on, it is flashing and garbled... not it slowly goes to mush.

It sounds like something is happening in video ram... maybe it is geting corrupt? I would contact Nightmare Tony on these boards, or... HP Man has sick amounts of chip knowledge, he should stumble into this post sooner or later.

As for the Brown Nob, becareful, if you start seeing the picture get wavey, you've set it to high or low... and you will need to check the +5 contact on the JAMMA edge and make sure it is set between +5.00 and +5.20

-Nick

So far no improvment. One of the games worked for about an hour before it started acting up.

I dont understand, Esprade and Batrider work flawlessly. The MVS games are the ones that are screwy.

it's your mvs board then.. I'd say it's a dying capacitor. check all the caps for leaking or "inflated" looking ones.

Hi. I've had the same problem with my MV-1FZ...first the screen started getting wavy, then the screen would flciker on and off. I'm also using a SuperNova, and a few minor adjustments to the voltage fixed it. In my case, the voltage was set at about 5.1 and it was too high. I lowered it to around 5.04 and the problem seemed to go away. I left it running for quite a while too and so far its seems ok. Anyway I hope this helps.

How did you go lower it? I've turned the screw and it hasn't gotten me anywhere. How did you know you were lowering it? I'm just blindly turing it with a screwdriver and hoping for the best.

The voltage is the little brown knob on the little board to the left of the system, correct? The one that has a flat head screw that seems impossible to get to.

Sorry for my incompetence but I just don't know my way around this machine.

Thanks to all who are trying to help.

<small>[ August 03, 2003, 09:38 AM: Message edited by: BoyfromBrooklyn ]</small>

If they are vertical lines that seen to be missing pixels, I would bet that the internal sprite graphics RAM is heat intermittant. I think it's in either B0 or C0, I forget which. If you have freeze spray, try hitting both chips with it, leaving a coating of frost on top. If the picture suddenly clears up, then you have a heat sensitive chip.

Neo Geo seems to be fairly tolerant of voltages. I dont see them go zonkers on them. Galaga is so voltage sensitive, its not funny.

and on my own personal side, I am stoked because I just purchased a haunted house today for a real steal, it will get mine going that much faster (if you want to see it, its at <a href="http://castledredd.cjb.net)" target="_blank">http://castledredd.cjb.net)</a>

BoyfromBrooklyn...All you need to do to check the voltage is use a multimeter. Just connect the Jamma harness and turn the Nova on, touch one of the leads from the m.m. to ground, then touch the other to one of the +5 pins on your MVS Jamma connector. You could just touch the leads to the power supply, but that isn't quite as accurate. Anyways just make sure that the little LED light on the power supply isn't red...that means the voltage is too high. Just keep experimenting with the voltage...your problem really does sound EXACTLY like the one I was having for a while, and lowering the voltage even the slightest bit could fix it. Hope this helps. BTW yes you are turning the correct nob.

I was just playing my neo-geo and I started getting the same problem again...this time I lowered the voltage to 4.97 V. Even though I've been told otherwise, perhaps MVS hardware really is sensitive to voltage - my neo was freakin out at anything 5 volts and above! Maybe it depends on the type of board you've got...I'm using an MV-1FZ. If anyone can confirm whether or not these boards are actually that voltage sensitive it would be very helpful. Of course there could be something else wrong with the board, but I don't think thats the case since adjusting the voltage seems to solve it.