The Nintendo Entertainment System better known as the NES. One of the most popular and recognizable game consoles on the entire planet. If you grew up in the 80s either you had one or maybe your friends had one.
But where are they now? Well it may come as a surprise but there are still a lot of these consoles in existence today. They were built of simple components with very few moving parts. And they were built like a tank.
But most of them had one huge problem…
THE RED BLINKING LIGHT!
If you had one you know what I’m talking about. If there were memes in the 80s it would of been a meme.
In this article, I’ll show you how you can score one of these all-time greatest consoles and not break the bank while shopping for one.
Where to Find Fixer-Upper NES Consoles
eBay: If I were looking to find a bargain NES, I would start with eBay. Just a quick search returns 1000s of results ranging from $20 to $200. So let’s focus on the lower end of those searches.
Facebook Marketplace: Buying from eBay can scare folks because you may overpay for shipping. Facebook Marketplace is a good way to actually have something in your hands before forking over some cash.
Craigslist: Yes Craigslist is still a thing. And honestly can be a great place to source an old NES because people that are still using Craigslist are not looking to make a bunch of money.
Yard Sales: The NES is becoming more difficult to find at yard sales. But if you are out in your neighborhood and see a yard sale, stop by and see if they have one. And if they don’t, just ask if they happen to have an NES they would want to sell. People at yard sales are looking to get rid of stuff.
Spotting a Restorable Bargain
How do you find a bargain on an NES? This is the great part about the NES. It was so durable that if it looks good on the outside, it is probably good on the inside. The main failure point for the NES was the 72-pin connector, and those are easy to replace.
Make sure there are no major chips in the case and that it has the cartridge door. NES can be scrubbed down once you take them apart so if the case is dirty you might be able to salvage it just by cleaning it. I’ve even heard of people taking them apart and putting the case in the dishwasher.
Look for broken ports. Make sure the controller ports are okay and intact. Also, check the power supply and A/V cable plugs to make sure they are in good shape and not broken off.
Make sure the tray can be pushed down and locks and then releases. I’ve hardly ever encountered a bad tray but that doesn’t mean there isn’t one out there.
Common Repairs and Costs
The most common issue that an NES will encounter is having a bad or loose 72-pin connector. This is the mechanism in the NES that the cartridge slides into to read the games.
The root cause of the issue is that over time, the pins get loose or dirty and lose contact with the cartridge. When this happens, you get the red blinking light of death. You can fix this generally for less than $20 by yourself.
The second common issue with an NES is not even an issue with the console. The cartridge you are trying to play may be dirty. With a few things you have lying around the house, you can remedy this issue.
Another common issue is when the cartridge tray will not stay down. This can happen when the console was not properly put back together after being taken apart. There is a clip that has to go in correctly when reassembling the console and if it isn’t done right the cartridge tray will not stay down and lock into place.
Less common repairs are power supply issues or corrosion. Power supplies can be replaced with aftermarket models. But corrosion might mean you are out of luck with that console. I’ve seen bugs get into consoles and cause major corrosion, and once that happens, it is usually dead in the water.
Tools and Skills You’ll Need
To open the NES, you just need a good Philips head screwdriver. I recommend a magnetic tip so you don’t lose the screws while working on them. Almost all of the screws in the NES are exactly the same with the exception of 2 so keeping track of what screw goes where is pretty easy.
Here is a video showing how to disassemble an NES
If you are going to replace the 72-Pin connector, this is a pretty simple job. You disassemble the system, remove the old one, and push the new one into place.
Can I repair an NES without spending money?
Yes. There is a way to repair the 72-Pin without spending money on a new one. You can take it apart and refurbish the 72-Pin connector.
The easiest way that I have found is to boil the connector in water for 15 minutes. Now I understand that may seem crazy to throw something electronic into boiling water but it works. You just have to make sure and let it dry for 24 hours after boiling it.
There are also ways to bend the pins back into shape, but I haven’t had much luck with that. Typically, just by boiling the 72-pin connector, I have about an 80% success rate on fixing NES consoles.
Also don’t forget about the hookups. Aftermarket power supplies will generally do the trick but if you can find the OEM used for under $10 then scoop those up.
Don’t worry about the old school coax video hookups as most people won’t even know how or where to hook those u,p and they won’t work with newer TVs. Just get some cheap A/V cables (yellow/red/white) and throw them in with the console.
For controllers you should always get official OEM ones. You can usually find them for less than $10 on eBay.
Flipping for Profit or Playing for Nostalgia
Now, are you looking to flip for profit or are you wanting one for your own personal use? If you are flipping for profit, then you want to stay as close to the original on everything as that will drive more money. But I would temper my expectations as the NES systems were so mass produced and so faulty they just don’t command a hefty price.
I think on average I sell them with all hookups and a controller with a few games for $80. So keep that in mind when you are trying to buy one on the cheap.
If you are just wanting one for your personal use I would recommend going one of two ways.
- Buy an original and buy an aftermarket top loader
- Buy an original top loader model
Because of the pin failure rate you may end up frustrating yourself to the point you don’t want to play it. But if you like the idea of seeing it on your shelf, you can get an inexpensive aftermarket top loader that can play NES cartridges and works so much better. Here is a picture of the one I bought and I think I paid less than $40 for it.
If you can find one and want to spend a little more than just buy the original NES top loader version. They are harder to find and thus they are more expensive, but they will play better and last longer than the original.
So, whether you’re hunting down a childhood memory or just want to tinker with some old-school tech, restoring an NES can be a fun and rewarding hobby. It’s one of the few consoles out there that’s simple enough to work on and still iconic enough to proudly display on a shelf.
You don’t have to be an expert to bring one of these classics back to life. A little patience, a Phillips screwdriver, and a few bucks for a replacement part, and you’re in business. And hey—if you can boil water, you can probably fix a 72-pin connector too.
At the end of the day, it’s not just about flipping for profit or playing for nostalgia. It’s about the hunt, the restoration, and that moment when you press power, the screen flashes, and Super Mario Bros. fires right up like it’s 1989 all over again. That’s the magic of the NES—and now you’ve got the tools to bring one back from the dead.
Good luck out there, and happy hunting.
If you want to talk more about video games or NES restoration, you can find me on X and strike up a conversation.
Year of the Dad Gaming on X