How Often Do You Test Your Retro Systems?

[BoneSnapDeez]

Ya know, I used to test all my games about once a year back when I owned "only" 150 games or so. It's not feasible these days. I shudder to think about testing all my C64 games for instance (dem load times).

And now that I have a Retron 5 I have little concern for save batteries, with the exception of the Game Gear and N64.

[Jagosaurus]

@Joe, that was the other I was drawing a blank on, the TurboDuo & TG16 booster plus. I've heard/read it's "healthier" for the save system to get booted occasionally. Assuming it is capacitor based set up?

@Bonez I honestly thought all N64 carts used EPROM like Jaguar carts. Interesting. Yeah, I imagine testing vintage computer games can be a chore.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Some N64 games have batteries. Just like some (but not all) GBA games have batteries.

[Anapan]

I saw this topic again, and decided to do a test on my Genesis tower of power's adapters with a multimeter. I can easily say that they have been plugged in constantly for at least 6 years, some for well over 12 with only power outages giving them a break. They are always warm to the touch. I played through Snatcher a few months back, and (bad to do, I know) I just left the system on for a few days while playing through it, and used my HDMI switch to go back and forth between the computer and Snatcher when I felt like tackling more of it. Sometimes I had the background music still playing through the sound system for a few hours while messing around on the computer.
Result: Every adapter is still pushing the right voltage and amperage. None have strayed from their main function.

[samsonlonghair]

I saw this topic again, and decided to do a test on my Genesis tower of power's adapters with a multimeter. I can easily say that they have been plugged in constantly for at least 6 years, some for well over 12 with only power outages giving them a break. They are always warm to the touch. I played through Snatcher a few months back, and (bad to do, I know) I just left the system on for a few days while playing through it, and used my HDMI switch to go back and forth between the computer and Snatcher when I felt like tackling more of it. Sometimes I had the background music still playing through the sound system for a few hours while messing around on the computer.
Result: Every adapter is still pushing the right voltage and amperage. None have strayed from their main function.

Cool anecdote.

Actually, I think leaving your consoles in a dank, moldy basement would hurt them worse than leaving them plugged in (assuming your house is not struck by lightning - that's a whole other ball game).

[IrishNinja]

I simply test the games themselves whenever I make a purchase. This keeps the systems fairly active too, as I acquire a variety of games each year.

this - most systems get booted at least once every so many months, though i haven't gotten anything for my duo-R since my roommate's turbo everdrive so ive been meaning to check on that

[Anapan]

I did it for over year on my SCD bc that one requires more work. Luckily Sega made the SS batt easy to change. I wonder if plugging these console in more often would help the longevity of these internal batts, having them in use?

I believe in the linked power usage thread, I mentioned my Genesis and Jaguar power bricks get warm to the touch after an hour or so of use. I'd personally never leave them plugged in for days on end.

Wait, is there a battery in my Sega CD? I never had a problem so I always assumed it was solid-state. I bought the Sega CD years ago and it just worked - it was obvious the previous owner took good care of it.
If there's an old battery in there I want to change it out for a new one - Phillips or Sony. That means I also need to adjust the firmware on my Neo Super MD flashcart to make it support savegames.
Can anyone link me a tutorial?

[Xeogred]

Almost never.

Space has been kind of the issue for awhile now living in an apartment with a roommate and such. And I've gotten a bit too picky about picture quality so I never want to play older systems on an HDTV with AV cables or anything. For years now I've basically had my PS2, PS3, Wii or Wii U, PS4, and something else hooked up (currently the Xbox). Some guys here have pretty much sold me on the Retron though so I may get one eventually for the HDMI support and everything.

Only cart I've had issues with is with Super Mario RPG, but the cart is in pretty bad shape. I'll never forget it though, I was literally at the end of the game and ready to go do the Culex stuff and extras, booted it up and my save was gone... ouch.

The N64 has been dormant the longest. I seriously may have not had that one hooked up once since the PS2 was released. That was back when I still traded in games, and I sold like 20-30 N64 games, so I also feel kind of guilty and don't want to bring it out because of that too.

I have a nice APEX boob tube that has 5 AV hook ups and S-video, so I've been lugging that around until I have the space someday.