ByteRot :: Atari 5200 Game Cartridge Disassembly

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Atari 5200 Game Cartridge Disassembly

Device	Atari 5200
Difficulty	Moderate
Time	15 - 30 minutes
Steps	5

This guide is by Zach Petryszyn on iFixit and is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0. ByteRot mirrors it for non-commercial preservation: formatting changed and photos resized for old browsers; full-size photos and the text are on the FTP in /DOCS/REPAIR. Original guide >>

These cartridges often will freeze due to a poor connection to the mainboard. Opening it and removing excess dust will improve the connection, reducing the amount of freezing.

Tools: Compressed Air; Soft Cloth; High Content Rubbing Alcohol; Phillips #000 Screwdriver

Step 1 :: Opening up the cartridge

• Flip the cartridge over.
• Unscrew the single screw on the back.
• Carefully pry apart the casing. There are six (6) tabs that need to be released, three (3) each side. If you're not careful they will break. (experience has taught me)
• Set aside any case parts after dissassembly.

Step 2 :: Cleaning the Parts

• Unscrew the board casing, and remove it.
• Use a compressed air can to blow off any excess dust off the board.
• Use an alcohol-dabbed cloth to wipe down the gold-plated contacts of the board.

Step 3 :: Reassembly

• Place the two contact protectors together.
• Place the spring on the knob in the cartridge.

Step 4 :: Reassembly, Part 2

• Thread the spring into the connected plates.
• Push the plates into the cartridge against the pressure of the spring.

Step 5 :: Finishing up

• Place the chip in the case.
• NOTE: It should "pop" into place.
• Screw the other side of the case on.

Conclusion

Be sure to test the game, and if freezing still occurs, check the contacts once again.

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