Capcom CPS3 Suicide

[8bitplus]

I got a CPS3 from ebay last week with Street fighter 3 New Generation. I tested it when it arrived and it was all working ok. I then placed and order for a couple of 1/2AA batteries as the one on the security cart was dated 2004.
I just tryed the game out now today and it not working. The picture on the screen looks loke this:


Its just a solid white screen with a single black dot.

Does this mean the battery hase gone? from what I have read I should have a scrambled screen if it had lost power. I tested the 3V battery in the cart and it reads at 3.10v.
I have not tampered with the cart yet as the new batteries have not arrived.

If it has gone how do I go about sending it back to capcom for programing? If anyone here has and ideas or recommendations of who to contact then please let me know.

[MottZilla]

I'm not sure but you could try sending Razoola of CPS2Shock an email about it. He may know something. He was able to tell me that a CPS2 board I had bought was mostly dead based off it's behavior when I powered it up which was a solid color screen of some kind. Other than that you could just try giving it some more trys. Check all your connections and such, try a different JAMMA board to be sure it's not your setup.

[Jamtex]

Indeed, try reseating the flash ROM simms on the board and check the board is getting 5V under load. Unplug the CD-ROM unit too just incase that is bad (you'll get an error message but you'll know if the board is working).

[8bitplus]

Hi. I Resat the ram and all the other normal things I should do. I even cleaned the connectors on the security cart. The board is getting a good healthy 5v, 12, -5v. Even without the CD-rom I get the same thing. I am sure its a problem with the Cart, When its unpluged I get a scrambled picture which would be logical because there is no security decoding. So its doing somthing when the cart is in.

I have sent an email to Razoola (razoola@cps2shock.com) but I get a delivery failed message back within seconds. Is there an other (newer) adderss you know of. Is this the guy at the UNIVERSE BIOS for neo geo?

[Jamtex]

Sounds like you have tried everything you can normally do, how did you clean the cart? Cotton bud and alcohol?

[d4s]

I'm 99% sure your board has suicided.
The fact that you don't get a completely scrambled screen doesn't mean anything. If it doesn't boot, it's most likely dead.
Did you touch the security cartridge edge connector or bottom of the mobo while the security cart was plugged in?
This system is VERY sensitive. Lots of people don't handle them with due care and loose em that way.

[cez]

Razoola... Is this the guy at the UNIVERSE BIOS for neo geo?

Yes, he is. You can also find him on the Neo Geo forum. Good luck with your board.

[8bitplus]

@Jamtex
PCB cleaner, not that it looked dirty I just wanted to have tryed everything.

@d4s
As far as I know I always try to handle PCBs with care, but now you mention it I did hold the edge of the motherboard as I increted the cart because of the flexing when it is pushed down. I guess that could have shorted the ground or somthing.

I will try to contact Razoola at neo-geo.com then.

Thanks for the help.

[MottZilla]

I'm 99% sure your board has suicided.
The fact that you don't get a completely scrambled screen doesn't mean anything. If it doesn't boot, it's most likely dead.
Did you touch the security cartridge edge connector or bottom of the mobo while the security cart was plugged in?
This system is VERY sensitive. Lots of people don't handle them with due care and loose em that way.

If only more arcade boards were like the CPS2 so they would have a plastic protective casing. I've always been very careful with my boards, holding them properly after grounding/discharging myself and such. From what I know of sensitive electronics, just a small amount of static discharge you may not even notice could damage a component and ruin whatever it is you are messing with. Correct handling isn't exactly hard to do anyway so I think some people just don't know better.

[8bitplus]

If only more arcade boards were like the CPS2 so they would have a plastic protective casing. I've always been very careful with my boards, holding them properly after grounding/discharging myself and such. From what I know of sensitive electronics, just a small amount of static discharge you may not even notice could damage a component and ruin whatever it is you are messing with. Correct handling isn't exactly hard to do anyway so I think some people just don't know better.

Like me you mean. lol.

After spending time with the CPS3 system you get the impression that the whole thing is rigged to die at the slightest touch.

All I can say is that I won't do it again.... I've run out of CPS3's for one thing.

[MottZilla]

Everything I've ever heard about CPS3 and quality is that it sucks. I've heard tons of complaints that the CPS3 is not at all built to with stand anything. You have to baby it every step of the way. You're better off emulating it.

[Jamtex]

Get piece of wood, screw all bits down using correct PCB feet, move CPS3 using that. Personally I have had a few CPS3 units and not had a single problem.

[8bitplus]

Get piece of wood, screw all bits down using correct PCB feet, move CPS3 using that. Personally I have had a few CPS3 units and not had a single problem.

Thats what I did with my 4/6 slot Neo's. It makes it much easer to move. Glad to hear someone has luck with the CPS3.
I have packaged up the system and will keep it untill the day somthing can be done with it.
I have spent lots of time at Neo-Geo.com and I am far from alone with this problematic system. I dont like the idea of sending the cart to someone in the US who then sends it to an arcade supplier, who then sends it to capcom Japan or Hong Kong.

On a lighter note I have been getting into the CPS2 system and have got 4 games now. I am having lots of fun with Street Fighter Zero 2 and X-men vs Street Fighter.

[LOP]

I have 2 CPS 3 kits here, one for Warzard and other for Jojo's Bizarre Adventure 2 and I can´t say that the boards are THIS fragile.

I´ve always changed the games, the boards and handled them with care, but not like as I were holding a baby or a girl hehehe :P
They keep stored in a box with other PCBs of my collection and just yesterday I took everything out for testing and both worked flawlessly.

About your board, it´s probably the battery that died... I dunno if Razoola will be able to bring it back tough... but surely Capcom may have a fix for that. Good luck on that.:thumbsup:

[d4s]

I have spent lots of time at Neo-Geo.com and I am far from alone with this problematic system.

The killercabs.net forum had a couple of cps3 owners. It's not online anymore, though. There's a redirect in place that leads to another forum right now, but I'm unsure how many of the old members are frequent visitors there.

On a lighter note I have been getting into the CPS2 system and have got 4 games now. I am having lots of fun with Street Fighter Zero 2 and X-men vs Street Fighter.

Good call! Cps2 has to be my favorite arcade system.
Powerful 2d hardware, huge ass boards that look and feel nice and Capcoms graphics style, I just love it!

[8bitplus]

Good call! Cps2 has to be my favorite arcade system.
Powerful 2d hardware, huge ass boards that look and feel nice and Capcoms graphics style, I just love it!

I have 5 games now, I just wish they were as small and easy to store as MVS carts.
It would be great if someome made a shockbox for them, but the box size would be larger than a desktop pc or dvd player :icon_bigg

[LOP]

I have 5 games now, I just wish they were as small and easy to store as MVS carts.
It would be great if someome made a shockbox for them, but the box size would be larger than a desktop pc or dvd player :icon_bigg

Huahauhauha Monsterbox :P

What games do you have? I got both Dungeons & Dragons here. I do like CPS2, I think its the best arcade board ever.

[8bitplus]

[quote=LOP]
What games do you have?quote]

So far I have got hold of:

Darkstalkers: The Night Worriors (US)
Street Fighter Zero 2 Alpha (JAP)
Super Street fighter 2: The Tournament Battle (US)
Vampire Savior: The Lord of Vampire (JAP)
X-Men vs. Street Fighter (US)

The Darkstalkers/Vampire Savior games are my favourite capcom franchise ever. So vibrent, and the character disign is fantastic.
Hopeing to get lots more CPS2 games in the future.

[LOP]

The biggest problem I see on acquiring Capcom boards is the suicide matter.

My D&D Tower of Doom is phoenixed and I don´t worry about it anymore, but my Shadow Over Mystara is still with its battery... and altough it should last a couple of years more I put it on play once a week in order to avoid any surprises.

Also, my CPS 3 boards have this problem which is even worse as there is no phoenix option for that yet. Yesterday I pulled my Jojo's Bizarre Adventure 2 and let it running for about 4 hours. Since this is a no-cd board its really no big deal, but the Warzard kit is really a pain in the ass on the process of assembling it every time just for a quick charge on the battery.

[8bitplus]

So whats the deal with the No-CD versions of the games. do they not have the security cart, or is that just the ones without the extra wires in the cart.

I dont mind having to replace the batteries every 4/5years in the CPS-2, at least it keeps the game more orignal than the phoenix, but its good to know there is still that option.
My Vampire Saviur still had its orignal battery from 1997 when I got it. It must of had a very active life.