Why are SNES consoles dying?

[Deleted member 700783]

Apparently lots of SNES consoles have been dying of age even if they're not actually being used. Why is this? If I remember correctly it's something to do with the CPUs and not the usual leaking capacitors. I have several sitting somewhere at home but haven't used them for longer than I care to remember and it's not worth the time finding and testing them.

 

[Kwyjor]

Apparently lots of SNES consoles have been dying of age even if they're not actually being used.

That's news to me?

 

[darkworldq8]

I am not sure, but I think all systems are prone to this. I had an Xbox 360 that was working great, I stored it well enough in its original box for more than 10 years, I turned it on, and somehow it had the RRoD. My original Xbox had issues as well, I had it for more than 12 years stored in my room, I turned it on, it was working and reading discs, I bought an SSD to mod it, and then DVD drive failed on me. I have heard that Wii U systems randomly die if they weren't turned on for a at least a few years, at least I have heard this a few years ago.

Someone who is an expert in physics or electronics might know the reason why this happens. It could be worn out solder joint, it could be some electronic components or motherboards dying of age, or something else entirely. Capacitors usually don't leak if the system wasn't used.

 

[Kwyjor]

I have heard that Wii U systems randomly die if they weren't turned on for a at least a few years, at least I have heard this a few years ago.

There has been much discussion about that in recent times. It is apparently due to degradation of the NAND chip, which is definitely something that wouldn't be a problem in older consoles (or even most other consoles in general).

Capacitors usually don't leak if the system wasn't used.

That seems unlikely. Do you have a source on that?

 

[The Real Jdbye]

I had an Xbox 360 that was working great, I stored it well enough in its original box for more than 10 years, I turned it on, and somehow it had the RRoD.

Could be as simple as a heat issue due to crusty dried up thermal paste. Thermal paste does need to be replaced occasionally.

Capacitors usually don't leak if the system wasn't used.

That just isn't true. The countless old computers, retro consoles and such that have been left unused in storage for the last decade or 2 that have bulged and/or leaking caps should be proof enough of that.
The OG Xbox is an especially severe example of this, the clock cap will explode all over the board if left in storage.

 

[Ligeia]

Not to be Captain Obvious, but everything has to die at some point

 

[darkworldq8]

Could be as simple as a heat issue due to crusty dried up thermal paste. Thermal paste does need to be replaced occasionally.

I did that, but the Xbox 360 still had RRoD. I also tried resoldering the RAM since I have read that it might fix it from getting that error code, and by resoldering I meant applying flux and use hot air on the RAM chip's joints.

 

[Ryab]

I am not sure, but I think all systems are prone to this. I had an Xbox 360 that was working great, I stored it well enough in its original box for more than 10 years, I turned it on, and somehow it had the RRoD. My original Xbox had issues as well, I had it for more than 12 years stored in my room, I turned it on, it was working and reading discs, I bought an SSD to mod it, and then DVD drive failed on me. I have heard that Wii U systems randomly die if they weren't turned on for a at least a few years, at least I have heard this a few years ago.

Someone who is an expert in physics or electronics might know the reason why this happens. It could be worn out solder joint, it could be some electronic components or motherboards dying of age, or something else entirely. Capacitors usually don't leak if the system wasn't used.

That RROD was not caused by the same issue that killed most others then. The issue that caused most of them was related to the Silicon continuously heating and cooling breaking the connection over time.

 

[darkworldq8]

That RROD was not caused by the same issue that killed most others then. The issue that caused most of them was related to the Silicon continuously heating and cooling breaking the connection over time.

True, this system did not have the same issue as most Xbox 360s, and that made it harder for me to find out the reason why. LOL it was the reason why I got surprised since I have kept it in excellent condition as a backup system in case my newer slim would fail.