Weird graphics issue when dics drive is spinning

[AUSyTyIN]

*Update: replacing the power supply fixed the graphics issue while a disc was spinning, but the console still showed a double/ghost image. Probably needs a recap.

I originally posted this on Reddit, but I just stumbled on this forum (I love forums!) and I'm hopeful that someone on here has fixed this issue in the past.

I just picked up this "tested working" Dreamcast a few days ago but magically it didn't come with an AV cable (begs the question how it was tested...). I went to my local game shop (shout out to Level 7 in Denver!) and bought a cord and they even let me test the console in store. I noticed these horizontal lines at that point, but I was hoping it was because of their composite to hdmi adapter or something else to do with them hooking up to an LCD. At the time I didn't notice the issue was related to the drive spinning.

In messing around with it at home, I noticed that the picture is much improved if the drive isn't spinning, but once I close the lid with a game disc in there, the visual noise comes back. I tried booting up with the lid open and closed, and you can even see what I'm talking about on the boot screen. The issue still happens with an audio CD, but it's 90% better but still noticeable.

Pics are the best I could take shooting a CRT with a cell phone. The darkening in the top right & bottom left is an artifact of that, as is the oval-like aspects at the end of the Dreamcast logo. It also has a weird double image as well.

The same TV works perfectly (through the same input ports) with my Saturn. I have tried a second composite cord, but that didn't fix it. I also took it apart and clean the pins on the power supply, but that too didn't solve the issue. I have a s-video cable that should be here tomorrow, but I have little faith that will fix the issue.

Best guess is missing shielding, the disc drive is sending off electrical interference, or something else that I'm not thinking of. I hope the GPU isn't dying. I've been wanting one of these since it came out, and I would hate to have bought a dud. I tried googling, but I didn't see anyone having a graphic issue that was tied to the drive spinning.


Horizontal lines only appear when the disc is spinning. It's apparent in all menus, playing games, and any other time the drive is spinning. It's just easier to capture the issue on the boot screen.


No lines, no disc spinning:


Please ignore the crudeness of my setup. This is the very early stages of my retro gaming corner.

[AUSyTyIN]

I tried it with the S-video just now and I can tell the image quality is better, but this graphic issue is still very present. I also noticed when the drive isn't spinning that the image still isn't as clear as it should be. It looks worse than my Saturn does over composite cables. I'm really starting to wonder if the GPU is dead

[NobleX13]

I am not the most experienced in Dreamcast repair, but if the issue only occurs when the disk drive is spinning, perhaps this is power supply related?

[DeanBMT]

Had the same issue. It was the power supply. Get a Dream PSU

[AUSyTyIN]

Had the same issue. It was the power supply. Get a Dream PSU

Thanks, I'll get one on order

[AUSyTyIN]

The disc drive issue is fixed by replacing the PSU (thanks DeanBMT!), but now I'm noticing there is a double (ghost?) image. It's hard to photograph, but look on the left side of the red helmet where you see the outline of the helmet, but 1" to the left of the main image. It looks way worse in person:

[AUSyTyIN]

Any thoughts? Should I make a separate thread?

[truemaster1]

clean av conector both cord end and dc end

[AUSyTyIN]

clean av conector both cord end and dc end

The issue is present on the original composite cable as well as a new s-video cable. I'm still trying to get it to connect via component, but I don't think that will fix the issue.

[truemaster1]

if the conector on the dc its ok the propably needs a recap