Glossary
Glossary
Common terms you will meet throughout this wiki. Skim it once now and refer back whenever a page uses shorthand.
Core terms
- Recap: replacing all of a board's electrolytic capacitors with fresh ones. The headline repair for any Game Gear.
- Electrolytic capacitor: the cylindrical or surface-mount components that age, dry out, and leak corrosive electrolyte over decades.
- SMD (surface-mount device): a component soldered flat to the board surface rather than through holes. Game Gear caps are SMD.
- Main board / sound board: the two stacked PCBs inside the console. Both carry capacitors that need replacing.
Upgrade terms
- McWill LCD: a high-quality aftermarket screen kit with a sharp image and optional scanlines.
- IPS LCD: a more affordable replacement panel using IPS technology for good color and viewing angles.
- EverDrive-GG: an SD-card flashcart that runs Game Gear, Master System, and SG-1000 software.
- Donor shell: an old cartridge case reused to house a bare-board flashcart.
- AV-out: a mod adding clean external video and audio output.
Tools
- Flux: a paste or liquid that helps solder flow cleanly and lift old joints.
- Tri-wing: the security screwdriver bit needed to open the shell.