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Finally, A Working NES!
vandel405 writes "We've seen the NES PC Conversion, and we've all lusted over the top-loading NES. But, top-loading NES's aren't something you're going to pick up at a garage sale. How can you resurrect your 8 bit console hero? Easy, with this news guide from ArsTechnica! Now you can make your 8Bit NES as reliable as your linux kernel. No more Blow and Pray!"
I've actually got a Top-loading NES. I'll sell it for $100 :P
I'd be there are some on ebay, but the problem would be finding 'em. I don't feel like searching through a few hundred listings though.
I did find this 72-pin connector for replacing the cartage edge.
The NES cleaning kit also helps a lot.
autopr0n is like, down and stuff.
And you can still load from the front!
How To Repair Your NES
It lives up to it's name: http://www.sanspoint.com
The key to getting those old things to work a bit better isn't blowing.
To get cartridge playing the first time you insert them withut blowing is to open the NES and bend all the connectors out a bit.
Those things are a bit weak and tend to bend into the piece of plastic they're attached to, that's why after years of intensive use your NES doen't play games as well as it used to. Not all pins are conneced propperly.
Like someone said, all that effort isnt neccesary.
I took my motherboard out (of the nes), wrapped very fine grit sandpaper around a half popsicle stick and rubbed those connectors down. Blow it out good (canned air works well.)
Then i dipped the edge connector slot in some tinning solution so it wouldnt corrode again. Wash with some distilled water, let dry, put it back together and it has lasted untill so far. No problems with games booting or losing saved games.
It's easier to fight for one's principles than to live up to them.
I cannot believe this story got linked. Look, the ars technica story is bullshit. It's half-assed and it's absolutely idiotic. Go to mcmelectronics.com, get part number 83-3785, the "NINTENDO TYPE 72 PIN CONNECTOR" and then just take apart your nintendo, pull out the old edge connector (it's a slide-on/slide-off procedure, no soldering or glue involved) and REPLACE IT WITH A NEW ONE. Then you're out like $6 + shipping and you didn't have to cut a hole in anything. Then again, if you like sticking it in from behind, this might be the mod for you.
Reinvent the wheel only at either a lower cost, greater effectiveness, or your own personal enrichment and satisfaction.
Despite popular belief, it _is_ possible to clean the connector you already have. Just remove it and give it a good cleaning--use whatever electronics cleaning solvent you like (alcohol works)--I've even used plain soap and water and one of those little fingernail brush things. Then (and here is the tricky part) you have to bend the pins back into place. The problem with the nes is that after continuous use the pins on the connector get pushed down and the connection it makes with the cartridges becomes hella loose. You can use a very tiny flathead screw driver to stick in between the pins and then verrrry gently pry them back up. Then put everything back together and it should work like a charm.
I've done this to three NESs now so far, and all of them work fabulously. One was in pieces in a plastic bag in my dank nova scotia basement for 3 years. Previous to that I did buy a new connector for yet a 4th nes, and while it works fine as well, it just isn't worth the extra money when with about 15 minutes of extra work you can breathe life into an old one. Hell, I'm playing Blades of Steel as we speak.
--RMT