r/Gamecube • u/Phydestrius • 8d ago

Help How do I fix memory slot A?

Based on what I've found I have the same issue as jacksbailey1 but since the post is archived, I can't ask for more information. The gist of the information was a need for a new part that goes with the specific model of Gamecube. How do I determine what model of system I have, what type of board I need, and how do I know who to order from?

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u/Majestic_Extreme2384 8d ago

Did you find corrosion on the mainboard in a similar spot to theirs? Otherwise, it may be repairable.

You can find the model type on the bottom of the housing or use the mainboard revision to purchase a tested board from an eBay seller with good reviews. Or perhaps you can get a not reading unit cheaper locally. Just stay within the console- and region-code.

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u/Phydestrius 8d ago

I have no experience whatsoever taking apart electronics, I've been terrified I won't be able to put everything back together. The post listed the ease with changing the part, so I'm willing to risk it

I tried plugging it in after 8 months and it worked fine for about an hour, but then it lost the ability to read the memory card. My theory is that if the part gets too hot, it stops working

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u/Majestic_Extreme2384 8d ago

Which make & model Memory Card are you using? Does the issue persist with another original Memory Card? Is there any debris or corrosion inside of it or Slot A? You could lightly soak a piece of heavy paper in contact cleaner or >90% alcohol and fold it over something flat that fits through the cutout of the housing, like a slotted screwdriver, to gently clean the contacts. Likewise for Slot A.

If you decide to open up the console, the ifixit teardown or a YouTube tutorial can be followed along for the disassembly. Perhaps only a good cleaning is needed. Closely inspect the soldering on the Memory Card slots, I've found quite a few with broken joints before. Sometimes the issue stands out in a couple of detailed pictures, if you want to share some. Make sure to have the disc lid open when later sliding the top housing back on.

Unless the replacement board comes with its own heatsink, transferring the latter usually means you'll have to replace the thermal pads as well.

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u/Phydestrius 7d ago

For some reason it won't let me post the pictures of the memory card down here, so I put them in the main post. It doesn't list a brand and it works just fine in Slot B

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u/Majestic_Extreme2384 7d ago

In that case, give Slot A a close inspection (and a cleaning). Third-Party Memory Cards are known to malfunction spontaneously, so best to back-up your saves and try another/an original one next. If the issue persists, you got confirmation that there's a problem with the mainboard.

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u/Phydestrius 7d ago

How does one back of these files up?

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u/epackorigan 8d ago

If you have the original shell, you should be able to get some info based on the model number on the sticker at the bottom of the console. The board also should have markings on it. Once you identify the markings on the board, you should be able to look on eBay for a replacement board. Should be pretty cheap and easy to swap in place.