Weird Question for you Dreamcast Owners...

[daniel116]

Hi guys what's up?
So I bought a dreamcast a few months ago and after a while it suddenly stopped working, I tried doing everything I read on the internet, my dad (whos been working with electronics for about 30 years) said that something that I don't even know what it's called in English (I'm from Israel) was burnt and basically getting a new one will cost more than a new dreamcast.
So I got some of the money back from the guy who sold me the machine and bought a new one that is now on it's way here.
Now, my question is, how many dreamcasts did you guys went through? I mean, do they often stop working?
I've had a PS2 for about 9-10 years and it still works, what about your dreamcasts?
I'm just worried because ordering a new dreamcast is expensive when you live where I live (45 bucks just for shipping)

[VasiliyRS]

I broke my first dc by myself , the other is working fairly well for long time maybe 5 years maybe more i dont remember . I just clean the lens and lubricate the gears one time per year .

[Macabre]

There are a few common problems with the dreamcast - most are all very easy fixes.

Here is a very good video, the 3rd of this guys talk about dreamcasts, that specifically shows and explains these common problems, and how to fix them.

You should have found us earlier, fixing problems from this system is not hard, we can help

[daniel116]

Thanks but I did find this site earlier and no one was able to help me.

[game_player_s]

The video processor on my original DC failed after about four years of near continuous useage (thanks to PSO). That's a very rare problem for the system though.

My second DC, which I'm still using to this day, suffered a GD-ROM failure. I swapped out the entire GD-ROM module from the first DC into it and it is still working.

The most common problems with the DC are related to one or more parts of the GD-ROM module. Sometimes the laser fails, more often the laser control circuitry fails. Truely annoying regardless of what aspect it is that fails.

[daniel116]

So you sayin' I should keep the broken DC for the parts?
Basically the problem with my dreamcast is related to the power supplier so the rest of the parts are ok

[Anthony817]

I have never had problems with any Dreamcast I have had. I had like 3 between me and my brother when they were still new, and all worked like an old Honda, reliable after years.

This new one I got in june 09 was made in febuary 00, and works like a charm every time. Plays all burnt games fine, and I leave it on for hours at a time sometimes, they just don't make 'em like they used to you know? I had a 360 my brother left on for like 12 hours straight playing a game, and it had the RROD. Have had my Dreamcast on for more than that, and it has all worked fine.

[daniel116]

Yeah I was shocked when I found out how common the RROD and the YLOD are, I've been using my PS2 since 2002, I left it on for DAYS by mistake and nothing happened, and I've done that more than once!
Not to mention the PS1 I got, I have the big version, I bought it from a friend of mine in 1998 if I'm not mistaken, played the hell out of it, took it with me to the army and kept playing the hell out of it and it still functions to this day.
They really don't make'em like they used to.

[Dihnekis]

I have two. One I bought new in 2002, and it has been played for probably a couple thousand hours. I recently bought a second one, Japanese.

My original DC started acting weird about a year ago, and I thought it was on its way out. Game would just bring up the CD player, and it would randomly turn off. Somehow it fixed itself, and has been running better than ever (me typing this will probably kill it, lol). Japanese one works perfect.

[DarkSword]

I've had my Dreamcast for almost 10 years and is still up and running. It was maybe a year or so, not too long ago when my Dreamcast stopped reading my games. Simply the GD-ROM drive was slowing down or failing if that makes sense. It was an easy fix but it might be temporary as far as I know. The noises however are making me a bit worried that it might poop out again sometime soon. If something breaks down I'd try my best to fix it in every way possible, unless if it would cost more than to buy a new one.