Plan C | Atari 2600 from Oven to Heatsink (Light Sixer) @Plan-C | Uploaded November 2022 | Updated October 2024, 9 hours ago.
While refurbishing a couple of Atari 2600s, I experiment with a cheap and simple way to convert the RF can (which contains the mainboard and 3 custom chips) into a heatsink. The seed for this idea came when watching a video by @GadgetUK164 where he said it would be a good idea to mount a fan in or on the RF can (link below).
Normally, the three custom chips slowly 'cook' inside the RF can as they get hot and there is very little airflow. It is literally like an oven!
Over the years, the heat from the 3 chips had left heat/burn marks on the roof of the RF can!
The 3 custom chips (RIOT, TIA and 6507) are no longer manufactured and date from the very early 1980s or even late 1970s. The chips in these units were dated early 1981. Chips generally last longer if kept cool.
Replacements are available from retailers like Best Electronics in California but once they run out, that is it.
Hopefully, this modification will help to keep these custom chips (and therefore the 2600) going for as long as possible.
Good Luck All
Gadget UK video that started me thinking:
youtu.be/BP84oiKwGiA @17:15
Orange paint mod for bezel here:
youtu.be/qxfbHP4LmQw @13:42
While refurbishing a couple of Atari 2600s, I experiment with a cheap and simple way to convert the RF can (which contains the mainboard and 3 custom chips) into a heatsink. The seed for this idea came when watching a video by @GadgetUK164 where he said it would be a good idea to mount a fan in or on the RF can (link below).
Normally, the three custom chips slowly 'cook' inside the RF can as they get hot and there is very little airflow. It is literally like an oven!
Over the years, the heat from the 3 chips had left heat/burn marks on the roof of the RF can!
The 3 custom chips (RIOT, TIA and 6507) are no longer manufactured and date from the very early 1980s or even late 1970s. The chips in these units were dated early 1981. Chips generally last longer if kept cool.
Replacements are available from retailers like Best Electronics in California but once they run out, that is it.
Hopefully, this modification will help to keep these custom chips (and therefore the 2600) going for as long as possible.
Good Luck All
Gadget UK video that started me thinking:
youtu.be/BP84oiKwGiA @17:15
Orange paint mod for bezel here:
youtu.be/qxfbHP4LmQw @13:42
