Jump to content

Nintendo 64 Capacitor Replacement Guide

From RetroTechCollection
Nintendo-N64-Motherboard-Top
NUS-CPU-03 mainboard. The 18 electrolytics are the surface-mount cans at C15, C16, C24, C25, C26, C28, C33, C34, C73, C81, C128, C130, C131, C134, C140, C141, C142 and C145.

The electrolytic capacitors on a Nintendo 64 mainboard are all surface-mount parts, and a board has between 13 and 18 of them depending on its revision.[1][2] The external power supply has its own, larger, through-hole capacitors and is covered separately below.

The revision is printed on the mainboard: NUS-CPU-xx on NTSC boards, NUS-CPU(P)-xx on PAL boards and NUS-CPU(R)-01 on French boards. Read it before ordering parts. C33 changes from 68 µF 10 V to 10 µF 16 V from NUS-CPU-05 and NUS-CPU(P)-02 onwards, C145 is not fitted from NUS-CPU-05, C34 and C128 are not fitted on NUS-CPU-08 and later or on NUS-CPU(P)-02, and the PAL (P) boards have no C15 or C16.[1]

Nintendo's service-centre manual lists the N64's replaceable parts down to the complete main board and gives no component values.[3] The lists below are Console5's. For NUS-CPU-03 and -04 they agree, position for position and value for value, with RDC's schematic of those boards, which also shows what each capacitor is connected to. silvestron's board map for NUS-CPU-01 to -04 and Evan-Amos's photograph of an NUS-CPU-03 show the same 18 positions.[2][4][5]

NTSC mainboards

[edit | edit source]
Nintendo 64 NTSC mainboard electrolytics, by revision
Designator NUS-CPU-01 to -04 NUS-CPU-05 to -07 NUS-CPU-08 to -09-01 Connected to (NUS-CPU-03/04 schematic)
C15 220 µF 10 V 220 µF 10 V 220 µF 10 V Composite video, through R5 (75 Ω) to multi-out pin 9
C16 220 µF 10 V 220 µF 10 V 220 µF 10 V S-Video luma, through R6 (75 Ω) to multi-out pin 7
C24 33 µF 25 V 33 µF 25 V 33 µF 25 V AMP-NUS (U2)
C25 10 µF 16 V 10 µF 16 V 10 µF 16 V Audio output, through R58 (1 kΩ) to multi-out pin 11
C26 10 µF 16 V 10 µF 16 V 10 µF 16 V Audio output, through R57 (1 kΩ) to multi-out pin 12
C28 33 µF 25 V 33 µF 25 V 33 µF 25 V AMP-NUS (U2)
C33 68 µF 10 V 10 µF 16 V 10 µF 16 V Audio DAC (U1) REF pin
C34 10 µF 16 V 10 µF 16 V not fitted Audio section
C73 68 µF 10 V 68 µF 10 V 68 µF 10 V Vterm
C81 68 µF 10 V 68 µF 10 V 68 µF 10 V +3.3 V
C128 10 µF 16 V 10 µF 16 V not fitted PIF-NUS (U6) pin 2, power-on reset
C130 68 µF 10 V 68 µF 10 V 68 µF 10 V +5 V
C131 68 µF 10 V 68 µF 10 V 68 µF 10 V +3.3 V
C134 68 µF 10 V 68 µF 10 V 68 µF 10 V +3.3 V
C140 68 µF 10 V 68 µF 10 V 68 µF 10 V +3.3 V
C141 68 µF 10 V 68 µF 10 V 68 µF 10 V +3.3 V
C142 33 µF 25 V 33 µF 25 V 33 µF 25 V +12 V
C145 68 µF 10 V not fitted not fitted +3.3 V
Total 18 17 15

Values are from Console5; the last column is from the schematic and applies to NUS-CPU-03 and -04.[1][5] When C33 changes value on the later boards its voltage rating changes too, so fit the part for the board in front of you.

PAL and French mainboards

[edit | edit source]
PAL and NUS-CPU(R) mainboard electrolytics
Designator NUS-CPU(P)-01 NUS-CPU(R)-01 NUS-CPU(P)-02
C15 not fitted 220 µF 10 V not fitted
C16 not fitted not fitted not fitted
C24 33 µF 25 V 33 µF 25 V 33 µF 25 V
C25 10 µF 16 V 10 µF 16 V 10 µF 16 V
C26 10 µF 16 V 10 µF 16 V 10 µF 16 V
C28 33 µF 25 V 33 µF 25 V 33 µF 25 V
C33 68 µF 10 V 68 µF 10 V 10 µF 16 V
C34 10 µF 16 V 10 µF 16 V not fitted
C73 68 µF 10 V 68 µF 10 V 68 µF 10 V
C81 68 µF 10 V 68 µF 10 V 68 µF 10 V
C128 10 µF 16 V 10 µF 16 V not fitted
C130 68 µF 10 V 68 µF 10 V 68 µF 10 V
C131 68 µF 10 V 68 µF 10 V 68 µF 10 V
C134 68 µF 10 V 68 µF 10 V 68 µF 10 V
C140 68 µF 10 V 68 µF 10 V 68 µF 10 V
C141 68 µF 10 V 68 µF 10 V 68 µF 10 V
C142 33 µF 25 V 33 µF 25 V 33 µF 25 V
C145 68 µF 10 V 68 µF 10 V not fitted
Total 16 17 13

Console5 gives no list for NUS-CPU(P)-03.[1]

The external power supply

[edit | edit source]

The AC Power Supply (NUS-002) delivers +3.3 V at 2.7 A and +12 V at 0.8 A. At the console socket, pins 1 and 2 carry +3.3 V, pin 4 carries +12 V and pins 3, 5 and 6 are ground. The plug, and RDC's schematic, number the same pins the other way round: +3.3 V on 2 and 3, +12 V on 6 and ground on 1, 4 and 5.[6][5] Identify the pins with a meter before connecting anything else to them. The console makes its own +5 V from the +12 V rail.[5]

Warning: the supply's primary side runs at mains voltage, and its primary reservoir capacitor (C2, or C103 on the Panasonic board) can hold a dangerous charge after the supply is unplugged. Discharge it through a suitable resistor and confirm with a meter before touching the board.

Several manufacturers built the supply. Read the board's own marking and use the matching list. Values are Console5's.[1]

110 V supplies

[edit | edit source]
North American N64 power supply capacitors: LSEP and Mitsumi boards
Designator LSEP1015 / LSEP01084 / LSEP01128 LSEP01106 Mitsumi
C2 100 µF 200 V 100 µF 200 V 100 µF 200 V
C3 1 µF 250 V
C5 22 µF 35 V
C8 100 µF 35 V 100 µF 35 V
C9 0.1 µF 50 V (LSEP01084 only) 0.1 µF 50 V 1 µF 50 V
C10 560 µF 35 V
C11 2200 µF 16 V
C12 22 µF 35 V
C19 270 µF 10 V
C24 120 µF 25 V
C103 680 µF 35 V (560 µF found on LSEP01084) 680 µF 35 V
C104 2200 µF 16 V 2700 µF 16 V
C105 47 µF 35 V 47 µF 35 V
C106 680 µF 10 V (330 µF found on LSEP01128) 680 µF 10 V

The three LSEP boards in the first column carry slightly different values from one example to another. Console5 does not know whether that was deliberate, and fits the largest value seen in each position.[1]

North American N64 power supply capacitors: Zebra boards
Designator E4184-4201C E4184-4501D / -4501E E4184-4601A
C2 100 µF 200 V 100 µF 200 V 100 µF 200 V
C4 56 µF 35 V 56 µF 35 V 56 µF 35 V
C10 330 µF 25 V
C12 330 µF 25 V 330 µF 25 V
C15 1800 µF 10 V
C16 1800 µF 10 V 1800 µF 10 V 270 µF 10 V
C17 270 µF 10 V 270 µF 10 V
C18 47 µF 16 V
C20 220 µF 6.3 V 47 µF 35 V

220-240 V supplies

[edit | edit source]
PAL N64 power supply capacitors
Designator JRC NJD-4662 JRC NJD-5168 LSEP01143 Zebra E4184-4301C Panasonic ETYNT184SE
C2 47 µF 400 V 47 µF 400 V 33 µF 400 V 39 µF 400 V
C4 82 µF 35 V 82 µF 35 V 56 µF 35 V
C7 10 µF 25 V
C8 470 µF 25 V 470 µF 35 V 100 µF 35 V
C9 2200 µF 16 V 1800 µF 10 V
C10 270 µF 10 V 270 µF 10 V
C12 330 µF 25 V
C14 10 µF 25 V
C16 1800 µF 10 V
C17 270 µF 10 V
C20 47 µF 35 V
C103 680 µF 25 V 47 µF 400 V
C104 2200 µF 10 V
C105 47 µF 35 V
C106 220 µF 10 V
C202 680 µF 35 V
C203 560 µF 25 V
C205 330 µF 10 V
C207 22 µF 50 V

The primary reservoir is rated 200 V in every 110 V supply and 400 V in every 220-240 V supply, so the two cannot be swapped between mains regions, and a 200 V part must never be fitted to a 220-240 V board.[1]

Replacement procedure

[edit | edit source]
  1. Remove the Jumper Pak or Expansion Pak. Undo the six 4.5 mm Gamebit screws in the base and lift off the top cover. The screws inside are JIS cross-head; use a JIS or iFixit cross-head driver.[7]
  2. Remove the metal shields and the board, following iFixit's motherboard guide.[8]
  3. Photograph the board. The polarity stripe on each can faces different ways at different positions.[2]
  4. Remove each capacitor by heating both terminations, with hot air or a fine iron, flux and added solder. Do not twist or lever a can off; the pad comes with it.
  5. Clean the pads with isopropyl alcohol and check them and the nearby traces for damage before fitting the new part.
  6. Fit each new capacitor with the value, voltage rating and polarity listed for that revision.
  7. Check for solder bridges and shorts across the rails before refitting the Jumper Pak and powering up.

Use 105 °C parts with voltage ratings no lower than the originals. See Recommended Tools and Capacitor Failure Symptoms.

Before recapping the mainboard

[edit | edit source]

N64brew puts most black-screen faults down to the cartridge or a dirty cartridge connector, and a dark or dim power LED down to the power supply. It suggests the mainboard capacitors when +3.3 V at PIF-NUS pin 28 is missing or poor.[9] Measure both supply rails at the plug, and check that the Jumper Pak or Expansion Pak is seated: the console does not start without one.[10] The Nintendo 64 Troubleshooting Guide has the rail and test-point checks.

[edit | edit source]

References

[edit | edit source]
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Console5 TechWiki, "N64" (retrieved 2026-10-01). Community wiki; per-revision mainboard and power supply capacitor lists compiled from physical boards. The power supply lists for the LSEP boards note that "largest observed sizes are to be used in place of smaller".
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Evan-Amos, "Nintendo-N64-Motherboard-Top.jpg", Wikimedia Commons, public domain. North American NUS-CPU-03 mainboard.
  3. ↑ Nintendo of America, Authorized Service Center Manual, Rev. June 2002, chapter 7 (Nintendo 64), pp. 43–46: disassembly, screw torques, exploded view and parts list, with the main board as one part (PCB, MAIN CPU CD NUS REMAN). Hosted as Nintendo Authorized Service Center Manual (June 2002).
  4. ↑ silvestron's bits and bytes, "Nintendo 64" component map, NUS-CPU-01 to -04 (retrieved 2026-10-10). Community board map: the 18 electrolytics with the same values as Console5.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 RDC, Nintendo 64bit (N64) Motherboard, schematic NUS-CPU-03/04 (NTSC), dated 02-07-2013. Hosted as N64 NUS-CPU-03-04 Schematic (PDF). Polarised capacitors drawn with values: C15 and C16 10 V 220 µF; C24, C28 and C142 25 V 33 µF; C25, C26, C34 and C128 16 V 10 µF; C33, C73, C81, C130, C131, C134, C140, C141 and C145 10 V 68 µF. The +5 V regulator is U13 (78M05).
  6. ↑ The Hardware Book, "N64 Power" (retrieved 2026-10-01), after Christopher James Pepi's Video Game Power Supply Voltages and Minor Repair FAQ. Plug and console-socket pinouts with ratings.
  7. ↑ iFixit, "Nintendo 64 Screwdriver" (retrieved 2026-10-01). 4.5 mm Gamebit for the console base, JIS for the internal screws, 3.8 mm Gamebit for cartridges, JIS #1 for the controller.
  8. ↑ iFixit, "Nintendo 64 Motherboard Replacement", guide 1608 (retrieved 2026-10-01).
  9. ↑ N64brew Wiki, "Non-Booting Troubleshooting" (retrieved 2026-10-10): cartridge and connector as the usual cause of a black screen; power LED off or dim points to the supply; bad mainboard capacitors as a cause of a poor 3.3 V at PIF pin 28.
  10. ↑ Nintendo of America, Nintendo 64 Instruction Booklet, form NUS-S-HB-USA-4 (1996), p. 3. Hosted as File:Nintendo 64 Instruction Booklet NUS-S-HB-USA-4.pdf.
Retrieved from "https://retrotechwiki.com/index.php?title=Nintendo_64_Capacitor_Replacement_Guide&oldid=25136"