Back to Ghost Squad (project)

[Hydreigon]

I've been on and off working on a Ghost Squad SD machine, in the back of a local arcade, that had the original CRT pulled and the monitor bezel sides ripped (only top and bottom parts where the IR emitters sit remain). The owner and I put this machine on hold because of our lack of knowledge at the time and contemplating if we should put a WG D9200 CRT in the machine and recently decided we should (if anything, idk if the D9200 is any better than the factory Sanwa 29e31s). With that out of the way, the main topic for this thread is finding the following replacement parts:

• Monitor sensor bezel: Posted a WTB on this months ago and nobody seems to have this. Only need the bezel, not the IR emitters and covers. Only found in SD House of the Dead 3, Ghost Squad (Evolution) and maybe House of the Dead 4 cabs. Extremely elusive part.
• Gun shells: Possibly from Aliexpress
• GPU fan: Most discussions confirm Sega Chihiro doesn't have a fan sensor meaning the GPU can cook itself if the fan breaks down. The original still works but for god knows how long.
• Replacement DIMM battery: That is unless it's possible to ditch the battery without any extensive mods. Much like Outrun 2, Ghost Squad's game settings and scores are stored in the DIMM ram.
• Replacement Start Buttons: The illuminated dome styled ones. Original ones were Sanwa OBSA-45UM styled buttons. I'll look into hole measurements for where the start buttons were located.

 

[Hydreigon]

So I figured out two items on this list:

The DIMM batteries use 18650 rechargable batteries. Because the batteries recharge while the game is powered on, I may or may not replace those batteries as that requires cutting the old cover and desoldering wires on a battery overcharge protection pcb. I'll look into this later.

18650 Battery: https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-PANASONI...hlilght-Battery-NO-PCB-B-TOP-KP-/231031236253

The GPU fan is a AD0412MX-G70 40mm fan. There do exist better fans but I hope I can replace the fan without doing too much rewiring. I'll have to look further into this. May as well reapply thermal paste on both the CPU and GPU while I'm at it.

 

[twistedsymphony]

GPU fan: Most discussions confirm Sega Chihiro doesn't have a fan sensor meaning the GPU can cook itself if the fan breaks down. The original still works but for god knows how long.

IIRC that's part of it, but also I think the bios used on the Chihiro mobos ignores the temp reading on the GPU while on the Xbox consoles if it hit critical temperature it's programmed to shut down to save itself. Which is why you see Chihiros dying when the fan stops working but early Xbox consoles with the GPU fan live on.

Honestly later Xbox console got rid of the GPU fan and replaced it with a larger heat sync. IMO that's a much better solution since that's one fewer components that can fail on you.

 

[KaPH33n]

iirc, the battery cells are replaceable. There is a small charge controller pcb inside the pack that needs to be reused.

 

[Hydreigon]

iirc, the battery cells are replaceable. There is a small charge controller pcb inside the pack that needs to be reused.

What I had in mind was buying a 18650 battery holder, one dual or two single, while keeping the charge controller pcb and wiring. This makes replacing those 18650 batteries a lot easier.

 

[whatnot]

GPU fan: Most discussions confirm Sega Chihiro doesn't have a fan sensor meaning the GPU can cook itself if the fan breaks down. The original still works but for god knows how long.

IIRC that's part of it, but also I think the bios used on the Chihiro mobos ignores the temp reading on the GPU while on the Xbox consoles if it hit critical temperature it's programmed to shut down to save itself. Which is why you see Chihiros dying when the fan stops working but early Xbox consoles with the GPU fan live on.
Honestly later Xbox console got rid of the GPU fan and replaced it with a larger heat sync. IMO that's a much better solution since that's one fewer components that can fail on you.

The Chihiro/Xbox does not have a GPU temp sensor, the GF3 cards never came with them. The 2nd temp you see is actually a small IC measuring motherboard temperature next to the MCPX. The Chihiro/Xbox does have a over temp sensor measuring the CPU temp but it does not hit this until ~75C.

 

[twistedsymphony]

good to know.

 

[Hydreigon]

So today's Ghost Squad log:

• The owner had major problems with the D9200 and needs a new flyback.
• Decided to take apart the Chihiro for some cleaning and overall investigation. Wanted to remove both CPU and GPU heatsinks to reapply thermal compound but the GPU heatsink straight up refused to come off. I eventually found out that the GPU heatsink may be stuck to the GPU by design meaning it would be discouraged to remove (could break that GPU BGA off). Good thing I didn't use too much force.
• GPU fan is dirty and doesn't spin well. Needs a good replacement. I'm surprised the Chihiro still works despite a near dead fan.
• I sadly slacked and didn't look into the dimm battery

Edit: So far, lukemorse1 is the only person I know of that has successfully removed a Chihiro GPU heatsink.

 

[obcd]

Make sure you remove the main board clock capacitor if you haven't already done that. Also check the capacitors surrounding the cpu for a bulged top. If some brownish stuff came out of the top of one of those, it's better replaced. The mobo can't measure the fan speed. The 2 outer pin's of the fan connector are both gnd.

The dimm battery can only power the system for a couple of days. The third pin of the battery connector goes to an ntc that is used to measure the battery cells it's temperature so they can switch off charging in case of overheating.

16850 cells are easy to find, but if you don't have a spot welder you want some with nickel strips already point welded to them, or you want a battery holder.

 

[Hydreigon]

So I managed to find a good way to replace the GPU fan (along with the motherboard case fan since both Noctua fans I got were drop in replacements). I also went DIY on the DIMM batteries by using a battery holder and soldering the correct wires to the correct places. The blue/ground wire probably proved to be the most difficult.

Xbox GPU Fan Adapter: https://www.ebay.com/itm/GPU-Fan-Ada...0/174268416799

18650 batteries: https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Samsung-2...c/323990278929

18650 battery holder (I'd probably suggest something better): https://www.ebay.com/itm/18650-Batte...d/223907103253

40mm fan for GPU: https://www.amazon.com/Noctua-Coolin.../dp/B009NQLT0M

60mm fan for case: https://www.amazon.com/Noctua-NF-A6x.../dp/B009NQMESS

I noticed three bulged motherboard caps yesterday and already ordered the respective caps that need replacing.

 

[rocket]

So I managed to find a good way to replace the GPU fan (along with the motherboard case fan since both Noctua fans I got were drop in replacements). I also went DIY on the DIMM batteries by using a battery holder and soldering the correct wires to the correct places. The blue/ground wire probably proved to be the most difficult.

Xbox GPU Fan Adapter: https://www.ebay.com/itm/GPU-Fan-Ada...0/174268416799

18650 batteries: https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Samsung-2...c/323990278929

18650 battery holder (I'd probably suggest something better): https://www.ebay.com/itm/18650-Batte...d/223907103253

40mm fan for GPU: https://www.amazon.com/Noctua-Coolin.../dp/B009NQLT0M

60mm fan for case: https://www.amazon.com/Noctua-NF-A6x.../dp/B009NQMESS

I noticed three bulged motherboard caps yesterday and already ordered the respective caps that need replacing.

on the battery pack, do you have a pic of where the blue wire connects?

 

[obcd]

As you can read 2 topics up, the blue wire goes to a ntc that measures the temperature of the lithium batteries.
The other end of that ntc is connected to gnd.
If you don't have one, I can read it's room temperature resistance and lower temperature resistance.
It's a pretty standard component.