How Often Do You Test Your Retro Systems?

[Jagosaurus]

So back in January I started a discussion on if you leave your systems plugged in.

We had some interesting discussion on power savings, wear & tear, TV power detection chips, power surge, etc. I'll post the link below.

Well, from that thread I learned several others leave them unplugged (as I do) or power strip turned off. This got me thinking of a related subject...

How often do you test your systems?

Sure, this happens organically at least once or twice a year for most but I definitely go through kicks where I dig into a particular console's library, which results in leaving other systems untouched for months on end. As they get older, I imagine, ensuring they're booted occasionally and testing will help their longevity.

Is this needed more for systems with internal memory such as the 3DO? I seem to recall that requires a charge every so often.

Also, would like to hear thoughts from any old school Atari or Commodore computer fans on this. Been think of getting into the ST but the machines seem to require additional attention.

Right now, I boot mine up all up a minimum of 3 times a year. I jot it down on a notepad I keep in my gameroom. Interested to hear your thoughts & methods

Link to related January thread:
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=48174&hilit=Plug

[BoneSnapDeez]

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.

Been think of getting into the ST but the machines seem to require additional attention.

Any particular reason you're interested in an ST? The systems themselves and games are very scarce, and most of the best stuff on ST is also available on PC (DOS) or the Amiga.

[Jagosaurus]

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.

Been think of getting into the ST but the machines seem to require additional attention.

Any particular reason you're interested in an ST? The systems themselves and games are very scarce, and most of the best stuff on ST is also available on PC (DOS) or the Amiga.

Testing games as they come in is a good tactic. Personally, I tend to collect for particular systems in "chunks" vs well rounded. Puts me back at square one.

The ST and Falcon just grab my attention from a historical standpoint and also an oddity. I had a DOS (& later a Windows 95) machine as a kid. If I was shooting for gaming nostalgia I'd hit those (MegaRace, DOOM, Wolf3D !!!). It's more of a novelty type interest with it being part of Atari's last ditch efforts with the Jaguar as well. I definitely need to dig into pricing more. The ST & Amiga share some roots with the Tramiel link. An interesting time in the computing world.

[BogusMeatFactory]

At least once a year I get into a kick and clean and test my collection of cartridges. I don't have much as I only really have the genesis, n64 and Nes in that department. Outside of that my other retro systems get regular use so I don't really need to test them. Speaking of which, I need to get my model 1 Sega cd fixed. Me so lazy!

[Tanooki]

I really don't. The thing is I know they shouldn't in theory fail so I just don't bother.

When I was more actively buying/selling and collecting to play for myself I'd use whatever I had and it would obviously work or not, problem solved.

Now though...the top loader hasn't been on in months and is bundled up again since the 1 game I was using the Retron 5 hated I'm not now, and the SNES has been bundled up for a good year now back in its original packaging/box. Gamecube is still plugged in, but rarely touched, but I know it works as it'll get turned on every few months for some reason or another. 3DS and Gameboy stuff I have (color, advance, micro) I tend to rotate them depending on the game so they're fine. Currently been playing Genesis which I very recently got so obviously, it works, and yes I'm choosing to use it over the R5 which supports it.

[Anapan]

I always keep them plugged in and ready to go, but as far as actually turning them on regularly, that doesn't really happen. Whenever I turn on my PSone, I pop a new CR2032 into the Pocketstation because it's dead. Whenever I turn on my Saturn it's battery is often dead. I use the cart memory for savegames anyway. I am sometimes concerned about the power bricks being warm all the time despite not being used often, but I've never had one fail.
However, all my portables and controllers with rechargable batteries I keep charged properly. Twice a year I go through everything with any batteries in them, as well as all my rechargable aa and aaa batteries and do mass testing and a drain/recharge cycle. I think that's something important to do no matter what to keep the batteries capable of holding a decent charge.

[Jagosaurus]

At least once a year I get into a kick and clean and test my collection of cartridges.

Whoa, that's intense. I do test my carts with internal save batteries occasionally.

I always keep them plugged in and ready to go, but as far as actually turning them on regularly, that doesn't really happen. Whenever I turn on my PSone, I pop a new CR2032 into the Pocketstation because it's dead. Whenever I turn on my Saturn it's battery is often dead. I use the cart memory for savegames anyway. I am sometimes concerned about the power bricks being warm all the time despite not being used often, but I've never had one fail.
However, all my portables and controllers with rechargable batteries I keep charged properly. Twice a year I go through everything with any batteries in them, as well as all my rechargable aa and aaa batteries and do mass testing and a drain/recharge cycle. I think that's something important to do no matter what to keep the batteries capable of holding a decent charge.

My DC VMU has been "Beeping" at me for years .

Not all SS games support saving directly to the cartridge. It tedious saving to a dead internal batt, resetting system (not powering off), and moving to cart for those games. Then doing the reverse when you boot up. Gets old quick. Much easier to change the batt. 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.

[KalessinDB]

One of these days I'm gonna order a few dozen 2032's and just go on a battery changing spree. Figure they last an easy twenty years in cartridges, so that will likely serve out the time I'm interested in them for (maybe... I might still have the same interests in my fifties, who knows)

[alienjesus]

From my experience, those batteries seem to last a lot longer than you might expect unless the game has some sort of internal clock or something. I've actually not had any issues with game batteries dying and my games not working outside of Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal.

[JoeAwesome]

Almost all my systems are unplugged all the time (exceptions are the Wii U and the PSTV). I don't actively test systems unless I'm testing a game, or selling a system. I've recently gotten around to my 3DO, and have heard about the save battery needing to "get jumped" every once in awhile, but I think that applies to my Turbo Duo, more.

With a Retron 5 coming in for Christmas, I doubt some of the cart-based systems will get tested as often, except for the 32X and SMS.