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CPS2 Issues (need some help troubleshooting)

Nehalem501

Nehalem501

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Hello all,

I've spent some time trying to have my CPS2 working properly, but I can't find what is the issue preventing some games to work properly. It can range from missing sound, garbled graphics, crashes and so on...

I bought separately an A board, a B board (blue case, X-Men: Children of the Atom) and a Darksoft CPS2 multi.

It seemed to work without the CPS2 multi (but I've played the game only for a few minutes, so I'm not totally sure).

Then I installed the multi kit, soldered the key writing wires and tried to run some games. Some of them work (those with the smallest ROMs). Some of them seem to launch properly but then crash when you try to play (it always crashes at the same moment though). Some others don't even launch properly.

For example, if I try running SSFII X, I get this:

I've also tried to run the original game of the B board from the multi kit, but I get this after pressing start:
IMG_2237.JPG

I've run the flash tests for the multi kit and it was successful.
I've checked for bent pins on all connectors.
I've tried electronics contact cleaning spray on all connectors.
I've checked if all the connectors solder joints are ok, then I resoldered everything anyway.

Nothing has changed.

I've concentrated mainly on the connectors because this feels like some of the connections between the multi kit and the B board or between the A and B board are not working.

I'm posting this because I don't really know what I should be checking for next to find the source of these issues. I don't have access to another A or B board.
Could someone help me please? Thanks.

IMG_2238.JPGIMG_2239.JPGIMG_2240.JPGIMG_2241.JPG
 
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My guess would be either a problem with the rigid connector at the top of the multi (the one with the arrow telling you which way it goes) or a problem with your B board, But check out the thread @djsheep suggests.
 
Try running the game board outside of its case directly on the motherboard. Push down on chips and connectors gently to see if there’s any changes on screen (make sure you’re grounded).

Make sure the interconnect PCB and all other PCBs are making contact all the way and firm. Push up gently from under the two big PCBs to make sure the bridging PCB is all the way in then re-check the larger PCBs.

Short EXC5 in case any keys are being held.

Use a decrypted ROMs in the meantime and try another SD card. 16GB or under. Preferably Class 4. Try as many as you have. FAT-32 format on a PC if possible.

Ensure your voltages are good. Try at 5v and bump up to 5.15-5.20v to see if there’s any changes.

Did you confirm 100% your motherboard and donor were fully functional before installing the kit?

If I had to put my money on the issue here, it’s the SD card. This is the reason why I stock them on my site and offer them with kits. So many dodgy cards and even batches of the same card type.

@Darksoft can you merge this thread into the main troubleshooting thread so all info is in one place?
 
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Thanks for your replies.

I've already tried running everything without the cases.
I've tried both encrypted and decrypted ROMs, everything is the same, so I guess decryption works.
The SD card is the one that was sold with the kit on saveyourgames.it, but I can try a different card just in case. When you mean "PC", I guess you mean "Windows"? (I use Linux, but I can boot up Windows if needed).
I've checked the voltages (I use ATX power supplies, I've tried multiple ones just to be sure).
For the motherboard and the donor being 100% functional I'm not sure as I've just tried it for a few minutes (but the game seemed to work properly).

I guess I will need to find new A and B boards to be sure what part of the setup is broken.
 
Nehalem501 said:
The SD card is the one that was sold with the kit on saveyourgames.it, but I can try a different card just in case. When you mean "PC", I guess you mean "Windows"? (I use Linux, but I can boot up Windows if needed).
Click to expand...
I meant an operating system that doesn't write resource forks like OSX does. So yeah, Linux, Windows or MS-DOS will do.

Nehalem501 said:
I guess I will need to find new A and B boards to be sure what part of the setup is broken.
Click to expand...
If another SD card doesn't solve your problems, that would be the best course of action.

Note to others reading; always use confirmed working donors for multis... ones that have been played for days, weeks and months, not ones that have had a quick smoke test.
 
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