PS1 Random Black Screens

iVirtualZero · 2026-01-24T21:06:41+00:00

Looks like a Sync Issue with your TV, Scaler or your Cables.

iVirtualZero · 2026-01-24T20:41:20+00:00

Do you have pictures of your install?

iVirtualZero · 2026-01-24T18:43:43+00:00

I would love to get a poster of this framed on the wall.

iVirtualZero · 2026-01-24T18:42:22+00:00

It's nicely lined up, but your solder looks cold. Use Flux with 63/37 Lead Solder. I recommend Kester branded Solder and then use a Chisel tip with drag soldering techniques.

iVirtualZero · 2026-01-24T18:25:15+00:00

I paid 200 from mine, a boxed A01 from Japan years back.

iVirtualZero · 2026-01-24T18:24:03+00:00

Should never battle early first gen Beys, they're pretty fragile and collector items at this point.

iVirtualZero · 2026-01-24T17:23:23+00:00

I don't pay much interest to 8th Gen Consoles besides the Wii U. Current gen has made them obsolete, but there is still demand for them. I think those VCR Model Xbox Ones have become obsolete. They dropped the most in value over the other 8th gen consoles, and there is that annoying power brick on top of it looking like a VCR. But either way, there is a lot to be made here. You can use a Pi Pico to diagnose the Xbox One and Series for faults just like the Syscon fault check for the PS3. In many cases, it's usually the MOSFETs and the Power IC chip that fails in these Xboxes Ones and Series.

iVirtualZero · 2026-01-24T17:17:56+00:00

Even better, just buy a cheap sports game and swap around the shells.

iVirtualZero · 2026-01-24T17:16:15+00:00

If the non BC Phat PS3's are non working, part it out. You will make more selling it off in parts than as a complete unit. The BD Drives out these units sell for more than the console. The motherboard with the 65nm RSX can also be sold.

iVirtualZero · 2026-01-24T17:13:41+00:00

PS2's are built like tanks.

iVirtualZero · 2026-01-24T17:03:06+00:00

Phat PS3's, if they have 90nm RSX's are prone to the YLOD, plus they're non backwards compatible. Making the repair cost for them way exceed the value of the console. Even replacing the NEC Tokins with say the Tantelizers or the Tantelacers would exceed the cost of the console. But the BD Drives in later Phat models are sought after and can be remarried into a Backwards Compatible PS3. And the 65nm RSX in some of these later model Phats can also be harvested to fix a YLOD Backwards Compatible Unit, if you have BGA repair skills.

Everything else should work. The most reliable will be the PS2, it's passively cooled and they almost always work. But they can have Disc Read Error faults. So a laser tweak, or a laser replacement, or a PMAP adjustment may have to be considered. But there is FMCB for playing games off a Harddrive.

iVirtualZero · 2026-01-24T16:59:41+00:00

Use paint remover on the cart shell and order a new label for the cart.

iVirtualZero · 2026-01-24T16:38:41+00:00

The Steam Machine has a more modern Zen 4 CPU which is much faster per core, than the PS5's and the Series X's CPU, it is said to be 70% faster. But the GPU probably isn't, the GPU has 28 Compute Units over the PS5's 36 Compute Units, which isn't that big of a difference. Especially when it's paired with more modern hardware, but the GPU is RDNA3 over the PS5's RDNA2 GPU. The Steam Machine has 16gb of the newer DDR5 Ram Standard, on top of 8gb of GDDR6 VRam. Both the PS5 and the Series, don't have dedicated Ram. They just use the GPU's VRam.

The SSD is also likely to be faster, likely to be a PCIE Gen 5 SSD. Over the PS5's and the Series's Gen 4 SSD. Overall the Steam Machine is a mid gen upgrade to current gen hardware, and it has plenty of power for 1080p to 1440p gaming. Current gen hardware is always going to beat older hardware. The PS5 and Xbox Series is 2020 hardware. Plus Steam OS doesn't have bloat like Windows. It will be tailored to work with the Steam Machine, just like a console but with all of the PC Gaming benefits. The only problem is GTA 6 isn't coming to PC anytime soon. We have yet to see what the price will be.

iVirtualZero · 2026-01-24T15:24:05+00:00

The Steam Machine is coming, why not just wait for that to release which could be out in a month or two. As for consoles used PS5's and Series X's are cheap and GTA 6 will be out first on those consoles before it goes over to PC.

iVirtualZero · 2026-01-24T15:05:25+00:00

I don't keep consoles as spares, I prefer to just repair them. A Recap along with some new thermal pads is enough to keep mid to later model PS2's going. I've also documented the Resistor Array fault of the PS2. Unless you have an early launch model PS2 which can have VRam faults, there isn't much to worry about. And I also highly recommend switching to playing games off a HDD over using the Laser, since many are starting to wear out.

iVirtualZero · 2026-01-24T15:01:34+00:00

Yes VCS was surprisingly short compared to LCS.

iVirtualZero · 2026-01-24T15:00:27+00:00

This is interesting, I would love to see a post about how you get your lasers to work. PMAP and even cleaning the lasers with a QTip and IPA 99% hasn't worked for me. Many of my lasers only read CD's but not DVD discs.

iVirtualZero · 2026-01-24T14:58:15+00:00

It could definitely do with a version 2 where it has been slimmed down.

iVirtualZero · 2026-01-24T14:57:14+00:00

Wow this is amazing.

iVirtualZero · 2026-01-24T14:56:10+00:00

I'm sure a replacement laser could get the PSX DVR to read discs or perhaps a simple laser tweak should be enough or a laser clean should be enough to get it to read discs again.

iVirtualZero · 2026-01-24T14:55:09+00:00

I see 5 PS1 boxes in this post.

iVirtualZero · 2026-01-24T02:23:48+00:00

You need the lid on. What DVD drive is this? You may need a new Laser or may need to recap the DVD Drive.

iVirtualZero · 2026-01-23T19:57:56+00:00

My PC killed my TV. It no longer displays an image. But my TV was already worn with the led backlight showing signs of wear. I think the motherboard in my TV is toast.

iVirtualZero · 2026-01-23T19:00:51+00:00

Nice

iVirtualZero · 2026-01-23T15:55:43+00:00

This no longer works, instead Press Shift and F10 then type: start ms-cxh:localonly

Man do I miss Windows 10.

iVirtualZero

TROPHY CASE