EPROM Lifespan...

[alexqts]

I have some MVS carts that have had factory repairs / updates with EPROMS. Always cover them up and forget about them.

Received a (very heavy) cart with about 6 today. All checks out with MVS Scans but it got me thinking.

I know compared to mask ROMS they have a shorter lifespan due to charge leakage, but my question is some of these carts are knocking on 35+ years old now! From what I read 10-20 years is really the max. According to Neo-Geo.com threads in 2002 my carts should be dead by now! I know they can be erased and re-flashed no problem but I hate to mess with factory solder unless absolutely necessary. .

Really interested to know what the oldest windowed EPROM is that anyone has found to still be working - on any arcade boards, electronics etc?

 

[RepairGuy95]

Ive got 46+ year old originals that work.
I think eprom write once is pry as reliable as mask.

 

[twistedsymphony]

not MVS specific, and this is anecdotal but I've run into WAY more Mask ROM failures than EPROM failures.
and even if the EPROMs get corrupted you can reflash them.

 

[alexqts]

Ive got 46+ year old originals that work.
I think eprom write once is pry as reliable as mask.

not MVS specific, and this is anecdotal but I've run into WAY more Mask ROM failures than EPROM failures.
and even if the EPROMs get corrupted you can reflash them.

Really interesting. 46 years is encouraging!

I wonder if they have this 15-20 year rep due to accidental UV exposure or manufacturers underestimated the specs. Also noticed most of the EPROMS I have come across are not covered up.

I thought Mask ROM’s are meant to be solid but come to think about it I have read of quite a few failures.

 

[Ape Cosplay]

I know they can be erased and re-flashed no problem but I hate to mess with factory solder unless absolutely necessary. .

At some point every piece of hardware will have to be fixed (or almost based on a gaussian distribution).

Ive got 46+ year old originals that work.
I think eprom write once is pry as reliable as mask.

Same here with boards approaching half a century.
Datasheets are pretty conservative, look at those batteries that were supposed to last 5 years, yet some are still OK some 40 years later.
I'm also confident the FeRAM I've installed in several of my machines and carts will retain their saves way longer than the 45 years they're supposed to.
Heck my great grand kids will probably be able to try beating my records.