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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: Franko on February 01, 2011, 12:07:17 AM

Title: Flickering Screen On A1200...
Post by: Franko on February 01, 2011, 12:07:17 AM
Never came across this problem before...

On an old A1200 I bought from eBay (MB Rev 1D.4) any access made by the floppy or HD causes an annoying flicker all over the screen... :(

I've tested it in turn with  the HD, Floppy and extra ram board disconnected and 5 different power supplies but the result is the same each time, this annoying background flicker on the screen (whether in composite or RGB)... :(

Anyone came across this problem before or have any ideas about the cause of it... :)

Cheers

Franko
Title: Re: Flickering Screen On A1200...
Post by: tone007 on February 01, 2011, 12:11:52 AM
I have had that problem on a couple of units.  Supposedly there was some fix adding a capacitor somewhere on the board, but I never bothered.

edit: http://mysite.verizon.net/jartz/amiga/amiga.html, search for flickfix.

edit again: same one here, I think: http://aminet.net/package/docs/hard/flickfix
Title: Re: Flickering Screen On A1200...
Post by: Kesa on February 01, 2011, 12:14:22 AM
Hmmm... a flicker from an amiga...

... and then its owner feels warm inside.

Maybe it's just flirting with you? *Franko blushes*

:roflmao:
Title: Re: Flickering Screen On A1200...
Post by: Franko on February 01, 2011, 12:16:23 AM
I've got 4 other REV 1d.4 boards never seen this problem on them though, oh well another Amiga goes to heaven... :(

Hmmm... Kesa's typing something now... wonder what pearl of wisdom he'll offer... :)

(@ Kesa, kinda suspected something like that... ;))
Title: Re: Flickering Screen On A1200...
Post by: tone007 on February 01, 2011, 12:28:49 AM
Maybe it just needs new capacitors in general.
Title: Re: Flickering Screen On A1200...
Post by: Franko on February 01, 2011, 12:36:41 AM
Maybe... I'll runs some tests on it tomorrow and check it against some of my other ones, no big loss really... :)
Title: Re: Flickering Screen On A1200...
Post by: RMK305 on February 01, 2011, 12:39:25 AM
Mine does this also. Maybe it's Scottish electricity?
Title: Re: Flickering Screen On A1200...
Post by: Franko on February 01, 2011, 01:06:47 AM
Hopefully I've found the answer in a post on EAB, gonna give it a try tomorrow... :)

Flickering Screen On A1200 (http://eab.abime.net/showpost.php?p=511403&postcount=17)
Title: Re: Flickering Screen On A1200...
Post by: ElPolloDiabl on February 01, 2011, 01:07:37 AM
It might be the power connector socket on the A1200 is loose. It's not grounding properly.
Title: Re: Flickering Screen On A1200...
Post by: Franko on February 01, 2011, 01:14:50 AM
Quote from: ElPolloDiabl;611356
It might be the power connector socket on the A1200 is loose. It's not grounding properly.


Gave all the connections and solder joints a thorough check with a large magnifying glass, everything looks ok. The boards actually in near mint condition the previous owner said it had been lying in his loft for the past 12 years, so hopefully it's just some caps that have dried out...thanks anyway... :)
Title: Re: Flickering Screen On A1200...
Post by: tone007 on February 01, 2011, 01:28:49 AM
Quote from: Franko;611355
Hopefully I've found the answer in a post on EAB, gonna give it a try tomorrow... :)

Flickering Screen On A1200 (http://eab.abime.net/showpost.php?p=511403&postcount=17)


That's the same fix I posted above, though their picture is better!

(http://cbmvax.com/flickfix.jpg)
Title: Re: Flickering Screen On A1200...
Post by: Franko on February 01, 2011, 01:30:35 AM
Did you ever give it a try tone... did it work... :)
Title: Re: Flickering Screen On A1200...
Post by: tone007 on February 01, 2011, 01:32:51 AM
I don't think I actually tried it, I seem to recall using a different power supply with a large ferrite bead lessening the issue enough for me.  However, so far that's two people who've used it and had luck!
Title: Re: Flickering Screen On A1200...
Post by: TjLaZer on February 01, 2011, 03:19:38 AM
I have one doing the same thing!  Hi-Res or interlace screens it flickers like crazy when there is disk or HD access!  Lo Res its fine!  Gotta try this hack.
Title: Re: Flickering Screen On A1200...
Post by: Merc on February 01, 2011, 03:52:58 AM
Quote from: TjLaZer;611386
I have one doing the same thing!  Hi-Res or interlace screens it flickers like crazy when there is disk or HD access!  Lo Res its fine!  Gotta try this hack.


My brother's old A1200 had this problem -- it was a bug in that particular board revision I think, mine didn't have the issue.  The fix?  Eliminate any colours in the screen's palette set to 255,255,255 (full white)!!  Bizarre, I know, but it did the trick for his machine -- he even wrote a little daemon to monitor the palette of the top screen and adjust to 254,254,254 any such offending colours!
Title: Re: Flickering Screen On A1200...
Post by: Franko on February 01, 2011, 12:23:36 PM
Quote from: Merc;611391
My brother's old A1200 had this problem -- it was a bug in that particular board revision I think, mine didn't have the issue.  The fix?  Eliminate any colours in the screen's palette set to 255,255,255 (full white)!!  Bizarre, I know, but it did the trick for his machine -- he even wrote a little daemon to monitor the palette of the top screen and adjust to 254,254,254 any such offending colours!


Unfortunately that's not the problem with this one, even on boot up when the screen is still all black the problem can be seen... :(

Going to try the capacitor hack just shortly hopefully it will work as it seems to have worked for those who tried it on EAB... :)
Title: Re: Flickering Screen On A1200...
Post by: Franko on February 01, 2011, 03:39:16 PM
:banana:Woo Hoo,:banana:  it worked like a charm simple 10 minute solder job and bob's your uncle no more flicker, took some pics myself, need to thank the guy on EAB for this brilliant little tip... :)

Before...
(http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af79/frankosamiga/Amiga%20Pics/FlickerRepair01.png)

After...
(http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af79/frankosamiga/Amiga%20Pics/FlickerRepair02.png)

(Sorry... forgot to say thanks to Tone007 as well... :))
Title: Re: Flickering Screen On A1200...
Post by: Merc on February 03, 2011, 03:36:18 AM
Nice!  Glad you solved it!
Title: Re: Flickering Screen On A1200...
Post by: TjLaZer on February 03, 2011, 05:33:32 AM
Now I gotta try this one as I want Bob to be my uncle!  ;)
Title: Re: Flickering Screen On A1200...
Post by: Trezzer on May 05, 2012, 01:19:58 PM
Could you possibly upload these pictures again? I'd be grateful.