Retro Console Recap (Other Consoles)

Assessment £4.99 Quote confirmed before work starts

No fix, no fee · 12-month warranty · Insured, tracked returns

Signs you need this repair

  • Sound is quiet, crackly or missing
  • The picture is dim, wavy or unstable
  • The console sometimes won't power up
  • You want the ageing capacitors replaced on a console you still play

Old consoles use electrolytic capacitors that dry out over decades. As they age, they can cause quiet, crackly or missing sound, a dim, wavy or unstable picture, and sometimes no power. A recap replaces those capacitors with new ones of the right values.

This page covers consoles that don't have their own recap page, such as the Sega Saturn, PC Engine and Mega CD. Recaps start from £45, but the work varies a lot from one console to another. If your console isn't one I've listed, get in touch first so I can confirm I can work on it. Tell me the console and model and what it's doing, and I'll tell you whether I can help and what it's likely to cost. If you have a SNES or Mega Drive, book the SNES recap or the Mega Drive recap directly.

You book the £4.99 assessment, post the console to me, and I send you a quote before any work. I remove the old capacitors, fit new ones of the right values and test the console for sound, picture and power on my bench before it goes back, insured and tracked. The recap has a 12-month warranty.

Here's the honest part. A recap is skilled board work, but it's not a cure for every fault. On some consoles it's a common fix for sound; on others it's rarely needed. Some faults need parts that are hard to find, and if that's the case I'll say so up front. If you're not sure a recap will help, is recapping worth it? is a good place to start. If I can't complete the work, there's no repair fee: no fix, no fee.

Retro Console Recap (Other Consoles)

Frequently asked questions

How does the £4.99 assessment work?
Consoles differ a lot inside, so the work and the price vary. You book the £4.99 assessment, post the console, and I send you a quote before any work. If you accept it, the £4.99 comes off the recap. If you decide not to go ahead, it covers the cost of sending the console back to you.
Will a recap fix my console?
Not always. A recap replaces ageing capacitors, and it's not a cure for every fault. If the problem is something else, a recap won't solve it.
Which consoles does this cover?
Consoles without their own recap page, such as the Sega Saturn, PC Engine and Mega CD. The SNES and Mega Drive have their own fixed-price recap pages.
Do you repair retro controllers?
No, I don't repair retro controllers.

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About this service

How does your mail-in repair service work?
Three steps: book and pay for your repair online, post your item to me using the packing instructions I email you, and I repair it, test it, and send it back tracked. You'll get updates as it moves through each stage.
What is your no-fix-no-fee promise?
Payment is taken upfront at booking. If I can't fix your item, there's no repair fee — I refund what you paid, less £4.99 return postage to send it back to you. Assessment bookings work differently: the £4.99 covers return postage and comes off the repair if you go ahead, but isn't refunded if you decide not to or it can't be repaired.
Do your repairs come with a warranty?
Yes. Every repair carries a 12-month workmanship warranty against the same fault returning. If it does, I'll put it right.
How long will my repair take?
Most repairs are completed within 3-6 working days of arrival, then posted back by tracked post. If a part needs ordering, I'll tell you as soon as I've diagnosed it and give you a realistic date. Diagnostic-led jobs take a little longer if I'm waiting on your approval of a quote.
How do I package my item safely to post it?
I send clear packing guidance when you book. In short: wrap the item well, use plenty of padding, and a sturdy box — the return leg is insured and tracked, and good packing on the way in protects your item too.
Where do I send my item?
Your postage address is included in the confirmation email after you book — you don't post anything until you've booked, so your item is always matched to your order.
Do you cover the whole UK?
Yes — I run a mail-in repair service, so you can send your item from anywhere in the UK. There's nothing local you need to find.
What if my item turns out to be unrepairable?
I'll post it back, and the £4.99 you paid covers the tracked return postage. If you'd rather I recycled it responsibly, I'll refund the £4.99 in full.