iFixit - Answers With Device "Sega Dreamcast"

Sega Dreamcast: Smudges on text on every game and even on the menu screen

Tue, 23 Sep 2014 21:26:28 -0700

When I first bought my dreamcast a year ago it worked fine, put it on a few months ago and again it worked great. Stopped playing it for a few months, then loaded it again when I bought a new LCD tv and then when it loaded I got smudges on all the text everytime I loaded the game, so I tried another game and it did the same, tried it without the game and it does the same in the menu screen (including the dreamcast start-up logo).

The smudge looks like someones put their hands across a painting what hasn't dried horizontally to the right.

Oh, and I have tried an older tv (just your basic 60hz, not a wide screen or lcd before anyone thinks it's that).

I have also tried adjusting the switch at the AV point, and I have also tried it with and without and antenna. But every time I get the smudges.

I'm thinking it either needs a clean or it's buggered. Has anyone else had this problem? More importantly does anyone know how to fix it?

⟐ Answer accepted September 23, 2014 at 21:26 MST

Sega Dreamcast: How do you replace the clock battery?

Mon, 13 Jun 2022 09:41:25 -0700

Most times I power on my Dreamcast, it wants me to set the clock. I am told there is a rechargeable battery somewhere in it.

How do I go about replacing this?

⟐ Commented June 13, 2022 at 9:41 MST

Sega Dreamcast: help my sega dreamcast wont read games anymore

Sun, 31 Mar 2019 22:30:17 -0700

i put it games and it wont load how do i fix this problem sonic adventure and jet grind radio are calling my name please help

⟐ Answer edited March 31, 2019 at 22:30 MST

Sega Dreamcast: What type of cable is this?

Sat, 17 Feb 2024 12:16:18 -0700

About 15 years ago my Sega Dreamcast AV cable broke, I took it to a technician and after 2 weeks he found a new cable, however this cable is already damaged again, when I bought one on official and unofficial websites, none of the cables worked. When I looked closely at the types of cable they were different, and I can't find the same cable, can anyone help me identify this cable if it is at least from Sega Dramcast and where can I find it?

@oldturkey03 First of all, thanks for the answer.

Second, let me give you more details, I live in Portugal, but the Dream Cast is from the USA, I already bought two cables, one through Aliexprese and the other through a reseller and both didn't work and were like this

, the rest of my cable is herer, sorry for beem so dirty.

⟐ Answer edited February 17, 2024 at 12:16 MST

Sega Dreamcast: I plugged in wrong voltage supply and the dreamcast got burnt.

Thu, 09 Jan 2020 18:08:16 -0700

I plugged in wrong voltage supply and the dreamcast got burnt. How can I repair it ?

⟐ Answer accepted January 09, 2020 at 18:08 MST

Sega Dreamcast: Why am I not getting any signal?

Fri, 29 Dec 2017 21:01:36 -0700

Hello. I have had my Dreamcast for about 5 months and I've only played it twice due to my limit of games. The first and second times I have turned them on it worked completely fine. I have not played it or turned it on since then. I recently got a new tv and I tried plugging it in and I was getting no signal. To make sure it wasn't the tv I plugged in my GameCube and it worked like normal. Any fixes or help?

⟐ Commented December 29, 2017 at 21:01 MST

Dreamcast VMU: Horizontal Lines on screen, any ideas?

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 07:43:36 -0700

Hello

I am new to repairing so bare with me.

As shown in the image, the screen has horizontal lines and i have no idea on how to fix it. I have taken it apart several times and given it a very thourough clean. The circuit board looks brand new, soldering is fine, pathways are fine. The only thing i can think of is that there is something wrong with the screen itself and the rubbery things that the screen is attatched too. I have no clue on how to fix something like that and have found no repairs online for it.

Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers

Tim

⟐ Answered March 01, 2024 at 7:43 MST

Sega Dreamcast: How do the Dreamcast cooldown?

Sat, 13 Jan 2018 08:26:31 -0700

Inside the Dreamcast I can't find any heatsink or any cooling unit exact a fan.

I'm interested how do the Dreamcast cooldown.Can any one asnswer me?

I mean what cooling equipment inside the Dreamcast to keep it cool and happy.

⟐ Answer accepted January 13, 2018 at 8:26 MST

Sega Dreamcast: After disassembling my dreamcast the AV OUT port doesn’t output...

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 14:46:59 -0700

After disassembling ( and re-assembling) my sega dreamcast the AV OUT port doesn’t output any video or sound, the system turns on and the disk drive spins but the vmu also doesn’t seem to indicate the console working, I don’t know if this is a problem with the consoles output or actual bios. Any ideas or ways to check what’s broken / How to fix it?

⟐ Answered March 08, 2026 at 14:46 MST

Sega Dreamcast: Why is my picture cutting out.

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 12:27:25 -0700

It'll randomly cut to a black screen and then continue as if nothing happened. I thought it was a power supply issue, so I cleaned the pins that connect the power supply to the board, but I still have the same problem

⟐ Answer accepted November 10, 2022 at 12:27 MST

Sega Dreamcast: Image slowdown and artifacted

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 08:24:09 -0700

My Dreamcast was turned on after almost 10 years, it was fine at first, then I got a hdmi converter cable and after about 1 hour of testing it started to get a slow-mo image with a few artifacts, but the sound is fine at normal speed. It reads games fine, it’s just slowed down and artifacted even in the logo screen. Was wondering if this is a reaballing situation or if I just need to replace the caps.

⟐ Answered January 27, 2022 at 8:24 MST

Sega Dreamcast: Dreamcast glitchy/badly lagging when powered on

Fri, 01 Feb 2019 12:26:57 -0700

When I turn the dreamcast on, the video acts like it has a very slow FPS and is very slow starting up. It still works and plays disks, but lags badly.

⟐ Commented February 01, 2019 at 12:26 MST

Sega Dreamcast: Disc stops spinning when lid closes

Thu, 14 Dec 2017 14:54:58 -0700

Once I close the Dreamcast, the game stops spinning and therefore won’t read/play discs. But if I leave it open just a tad it spins fine. Just stops spinning when I close it. System turns on and stuff fine too. Any suggestions? No one near me whom I have asked so far will repair old video game consoles anymore.

⟐ Answered December 14, 2017 at 14:54 MST

Sega Dreamcast: Controller Port 1 doesent work

Sun, 04 Jun 2017 09:18:58 -0700

Hey Everyone,

I got a Dreamcast from Ebay, but the Controllerport A/1 doesent work. All the other, B/C/D works perfectly.

I hope you can help me

⟐ Answer accepted June 04, 2017 at 9:18 MST

Sega Dreamcast: Dreamcast powers on, freezes at the date and time scren

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 19:36:13 -0700

I only am able to catch the end of the Dreamcast logo startup and sound and then the date and time logo appears to be completely frozen, nothing blinking as I usually remember it.

Dreamcast VMU: When back of VMU is squeezed or pressed slightly the VMU will reset

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 09:43:55 -0700

I have 2 VMUs that will reset (aka long beep and ask for date and time) when you even slightly squeeze it. By squeeze I mean just grabbing it to pick it up, holding it in player grip, or putting it away somewhere like a pocket. Additionally, it will sometimes reset just by lying it on its back on a table or desk. I'm not sure if there is a misalignment with the prongs or what. I have brand new batteries in all of them and backing is screwed snuggly and secured.

Sega Dreamcast: My controller is having issues

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 12:14:44 -0700

My Controllers are having issues, the stick on one controller is constantly steering my character left and another controller is steering my character right, please help.

Dreamcast VMU: Contrast issue, image over saturated

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 15:16:19 -0700

Has anyone found a fix for a contrast issue on the VMU screen. There is no manual adjustment. Is there a possible secret button combo or resistor/capacitor that has failed?

Sega Dreamcast: Replacing Clock battery with non-rechargable Coin battery

Sun, 06 Jun 2021 10:20:27 -0700

I have a Dreamcast VA1 with the standard Chargeable Coin Cell with tabs and I was thinking replace it with a socket but disable the charging circuit with a diode so I can use Engerizer’s Lithium Coin-Cells.

I’m not sure which diode is best for the Clock battery mod - most used a Zener Diode for their mod.

Sega Dreamcast: When I turn on the Dreamcast it comes on for 10-15 secs then dies.

Sat, 29 Aug 2020 08:02:36 -0700

When turn on my Dreamcast the boot up screen comes on and loads up but after 10 - 15 secs the screen goes black and I can’t do anything. No more noises if I move the controller or anything. I thought it was the controller board since I replaced the battery on it but if I unplug the controller port from the system and boot it up I get the same issue.