Lifetime of a cart

[FamicomFreak]

I was wondering how long will cartridges last for any console that uses cartridges that is. I mean will we eventually have to go to special stores to get the parts to fix our cartridges?? just wondering....

[manuel]

I never heard that carts would stop working.
If it has a battery, then that has to be replaced some time, but the carts themselves should be ok for a very long time if you store them right.
My oldest carts are way over 20 years old and still work flawlessly.
I guess you can still use them when the CDs and DVDs slowly start to crumble.

[133MHz]

* A ROM based cart stored adequately will last all the way to the end of time.
* An (E)EPROM based cart stored away from light sources (assuming it has the erasing window) will last between 10 and 20 years, but in practice they usually last more.
* Pressed CD/DVD - forever in adequate storage conditions
* CD/DVD-R between 20 and 100 years (much less if not treated well, I've seen some die at ~5 years and some at as low as 1.5 years, usually cheapo discs)

[manuel]

I have pressed CDs from the late 80s that I stored in really good conditions, but some of those are dead. No player will play them. So I wouldn't say forever. It's "forever in principle".

[133MHz]

"adequate storage conditions" usually means in a vacuum and stuff like that

[manuel]

It's just such a hassle to put that in a vacuum bag every time. 

Well, there are also very good CDs and DVDs.

[FamicomFreak]

Thanks for the info. Must vacuum everything now!

[133MHz]

Vacuum, light/radiation shield and temperature control

[keiffer01]

* An (E)EPROM based cart stored away from light sources (assuming it has the erasing window) will last between 10 and 20 years, but in practice they usually last more.

So are you saying that rare and unique NES prototypes using EPROMS like Earthbound for example will be compeletly erased in a few years?

[133MHz]

(E)EPROM technology stores bits in floating-gate transistors. They store an electric charge (the bit in question) and they can hold it for decades, but eventually the charge will fade away. I have EPROMs from the 80s and they still work perfectly, so I don't really worry about it. The rare protos should be stored away from light though, if UV light gets into the chip window (like the sun) it will be gradually erased.

[FamicomFreak]

how about light from a lightbuld?

[133MHz]

It's mostly visible and IR so no harm, but if you really value your EPROM carts, keep them away from light (and backup if possible ).

A hard and opaque plastic casing like those from NES carts is excellent for blocking light, the Fami ones look translucent to me (maybe because I'm full of FC pirates? )

[JC]

(and backup if possible )

That's the key to preserving protos and NWCs. You've gotta dump them so you can put them back on the EPROMs! I think most of the rare stuff has been dumped and is secure, though some of these rare ones (and unreleased games) aren't widely available, so there's still a risk of losing them.

[FamicomFreak]

One more thing I heard that blowing on the carts is bad so I stop doing it but I would also like to know what is the best substance to use to clean a cart like for NES,FAmicom,SNES etc.

[JC]

Some say blowing on the contacts is bad because your breath is moist and will in time decay the contacts. Sounds true enough, though the process of decay would be slow. I imagine the best thing to do, and someone with more knowledge can confirm this, is to buy one of those aerosol air cans people use to clean keyboards and scanner glass.