Amstrad GX4000 repairs?

BettySwollocks86 · 31-03-2025 02:00PM #1

I have an old one of these consoles. I think I may have fried it by connecting a power supply to the wrong input (the console has two different power inputs. One that is 5v and another that is 11v). I tried changing the RAM but I may have got that wrong!!!

Are there any Irish based repair centres for something like this please? Just somewhere that can take a look at it and tell me if it's beyond repair. I purchased another GX4000 in the mean time so maybe I should just take the easy option and dump the older one?

Thank you

eddhorse · 04-04-2025 02:23PM

You could try https://8bitx.ie/

KeRbDoG · 04-04-2025 02:47PM

The fear with a GX4000 is the ASIC chip being fried - unsure if it was used in another Amstrad machine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lSZnW9fy3o

Noel's Retro Lab trying to repair one of these consoles

Inviere · 12-04-2025 01:25PM

She's dead Jim…

^^ Patient on the table…

^^ RAM chips have been socketed, well worth doing if removing or replacing the ram.

^^ Unfortunately though, in the process of removing the ram & fitting sockets, whoever did it caused a fair amount of damage to traces. These will need to be repaired as best as possible, before even trying to fix the initial problem.

^^ RAM chips removed from sockets…

^^ Removing the sockets shows the damage is top and bottom side of the PCB. Many eyelets/vias are missing.

^^ The process of repairing the severed traces begins…

^^ That's top and bottom side repaired, and all checked with multimeter.

Testing reveals the patient is flatlined, game over sadly. Providing 9v to the 5v socket has most likely fried the custom ASIC, and as these are custom chips, it's the end of the road…there are no replacements available.

KeRbDoG · 12-04-2025 08:53PM

was it showing a black screen?

https://www.delta-island.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1927

Inviere · 13-04-2025 07:18AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123351026#Comment_123351026

No signal with the cart in the slot, and distorted signal with no cart in. Voltage regulator, diodes, and ram all checking out (tried a few of my own ram chips in too to be sure.) The reproduction cart provided though does get very hot when powered up, & as it's the only cart I have to hand, I can't be sure if it's the cart or the console that's dead. Assuming console though, given I know that 9v was fed into the unprotected 5v circuit.

Amstrad GX4000 repairs?

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