Hardware GBA Sp Question

godreborn · Jan 24, 2020

I just got a gba sp in the mail, but I'm not sure if something is wrong with it. here's an image:

see those somewhat dark lines going across the screen? is that normal? this is a gameboy color game btw. it doesn't have those lines when it shows the gba logo after turning the system on.

CMDreamer · Jan 24, 2020

Have you checked it with another game cartridge (GBA, GB, GBC)?

Does it behave the same?

godreborn · Jan 24, 2020

yes, gbc has those dark lines even on the gameboy logo. it's not as pronounced with gba, since it fills the screen, but they are present. the gba logo doesn't have them though.

FAST6191 · Jan 24, 2020

I assume it goes away when the light is turned off.

Banding/uneven backlight like that is a failure mode of, or perhaps more accurately flaw of, screens/their backlights. Could be age, could be usage, could just be flawed from the factory.

The GBA logo is white (compared to that which is all very dark) so I imagine it will be less prevalent there. That said GBC uses higher voltage so it could be related to that.

godreborn · Jan 24, 2020

it's a refurbished system, so maybe something is failing? I sent a message to the seller, but he doesn't accept returns.

FAST6191 · Jan 24, 2020

I have a laptop that has been "failing" like that for years at this point, and tend not to assume any other screen displaying that has the backlight on the way out either. It can be a failure of screen bonding or a sign of impending backlight/backlight inverter/backlight ribbon being on the way out but pressure will alleviate the bonding issue and you might get lucky with a screen angle to see if it is the other.

It could go tomorrow, more likely it will just be something that impacts your enjoyment. I don't think we have proper backlight replacements so whole screen replacement it is, and at that point you might as well look at what it takes to do a AGS-101 conversion (or better).

godreborn · Jan 25, 2020

I think I've found the answer. those lines are being caused by polarization. however, if I dim the screen by turning off the back light, games are so dark that it's virtually unplayable. I did beat games with my original gba, so I don't understand how if the screen is that dark.

slaphappygamer · Mar 9, 2021

Since it’s refurbished, I wonder if the loca hadn’t cured properly. They may have used loca to cure a new front light on it. I had a similar experience with a gbc front light mod I did. I left the screen on the window sill. The screen of the window was the only thing in the way. I ended up with light crosshatching over parts of the screen. I’d open that gba to fully expose the screen. Leave the screen in direct sunlight for a day. Hopefully that’s your issue.

Ludan · Apr 20, 2021

Thats a problem with the front polarizer, maybe the people that did the restoration used a bad one or didn't clean it properly before using it, or it could be the screen lens, try taking the screen off and turn it like that so you can see whats going on.

godreborn · Apr 20, 2021

I had forgotten about this question. I returned the system. I think it was making a hissing noise when charging as well. I bought a majora's mask gba sp in its place with a blue everdrive (this is a reproduction cartridge though as I actually bought it on ebay, since the legit ones were very expensive). here's what that same screen looks like on it: