NeoGeo on a CRT with MVS carts

[shmupsrocks]

I recently got a BVM and I'd like to play my MVS carts on it but with a console-like experience meaning no separate supergun and all that goes along with that. I think an Analogue CMVS would be awesome but they seem impossible to find plus I think they're pricey now. Do I want an AES console with some kind of adapter for my MVS carts?

[orange808]

TimeHarvest still sells a consolised MVS. That's what I have. A lot of us bought them when they were crazy cheap. They're expensive now.

I see their new model adds usb inputs, looks like a full version of UniBIOS?, and an expansion port to plug in an external JAMMA add-on daughterboard for driving PCBs (the board isn't included).

I have an older TimeHarvest MVS console (that was ridiculously inexpensive), but I don't trust the RGB output. The component output is fine. I remember they promised the RGB issue was fixed long ago, so it's probably okay.

[bobrocks95]

After shipping my Timeharvest CBOX was $305 USD.

Both Saturn controller ports have pins ripped out just from normal use, maybe 10 plug-ins/removals. Needless to say they no longer work.
I have had 2 different MV-1C boards in the unit break. Sent the first one in to Will at Retro Hacks and he said diagnostic BIOS showed a CPU failure. The second board that's in there now started showing the same symptoms so it sits on my shelf until I feel like messing with it again.
Maybe just really bad luck, or maybe the 12V power supply or the power circuitry in the unit itself are just garbage. I don't have the tools to test that myself, though I'd love if someone knew Neo Geo voltage tolerances since I can at least check what it's getting in.

My RGB output does at least seem to be alright, but for the price I paid (over $400 for unit, replacement MV-1C board, repairs, and shipping costs) it's been nothing but headaches with mine.

I would get an Open CMVS component kit if I had to do it again. I believe its circuitry for both power and video have been put through their paces much better.

[BazookaBen]

I'm consolizing a 1-slot right now. I didn't buy a supergun since mine is a MV1F and already has separate audio out and controller ports. So the only thing I'm using the Jamma connector for is RGB and 5v.

I haven't figured out what I'm going to do for the shell. There is a OMVS shell for the 1F but I don't know where I could get it 3D printed. There is also a Lions3 acrylic top/bottom that is currently out of stock.

I've also thought about fashioning one out of 1/4" plywood but that can get sloppy fast, I think.

But part of the fun for me is doing this cheaply. If I wanted easy, I'd probably try to find something on Ali Express that has good feedback on the various message boards

There is also the Arcade Works Omega which goes in and out of stock a few times a year.

[shmupsrocks]

Oh wow OMVS all day. It's too bad no one sells complete units. At least it looks like all the components are available:

https://retrogamerstuff.com/products/om ... onents-kit

https://www.laserbear.net/products/omvs-shell

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=mv-1c

Is there a good place to have the UNIBIOS installed on a MV-1C?

[orange808]

After shipping my Timeharvest CBOX was $305 USD. ... it's been nothing but headaches with mine.

That sucks. I haven't bought anything from them in a long time and I think I'll stay away. Seems their quality control never improved. Maybe I got lucky.

The low price was a big draw for me on the unit I bought. If mine does fail, I won't be able to diagnose it, because I specifically purchased it to use a cheap multicart that is probably not right. So far, it's working fine.

Neo Geo is such a mess. I assume you checked your carts to make sure they are genuine and built properly? I hear counterfeit MVS carts are common and they aren't built well. That has caused some people issues, too. I keep my good MVS board and my cart collection seperate from the TimeHarvest and stored away. The convenience of not needing a supergun or swapping carts will be great while it lasts.

[bobrocks95]

After shipping my Timeharvest CBOX was $305 USD. ... it's been nothing but headaches with mine.

That sucks. I haven't bought anything from them in a long time and I think I'll stay away. Seems their quality control never improved. Maybe I got lucky.

The low price was a big draw for me on the unit I bought. If mine does fail, I won't be able to diagnose it, because I specifically purchased it to use a cheap multicart that is probably not right. So far, it's working fine.

Neo Geo is such a mess. I assume you checked your carts to make sure they are genuine and built properly? I hear counterfeit MVS carts are common and they aren't built well. That has caused some people issues, too. I keep my good MVS board and my cart collection seperate from the TimeHarvest and stored away. The convenience of not needing a supergun or swapping carts will be great while it lasts.

They're old arcade boards that were probably run for thousands of hours so I get it, but I don't like the coincidence of getting the same sorts of CPU problems on two different boards inside the Timeharvest unit.

For the first one I had won a multicart in a bundle auction and very briefly tried it out to make sure it worked and sample a couple expensive games before I resold it. Ran it for maybe 20 minutes total. It was a few weeks later that it crashed in the middle of Metal Slug and then never started up properly again. I blamed the multicart and figured I'd just never try one again.

All my other carts are authentic or proper 5V "conversions" with original SNK boards and burned EPROMs. Those multicarts are definitely poorly made but honestly I see people running them in MV-1C's all the time, so my luck might just be terrible with them. Boss Battle Games in Indianapolis (home of 3 deluxe F-Zero AX machines) is running one of them in their MVS machine.

Ultimately I'd say to OP to buy an OMVS piecemeal and very closely inspect the MV-1C board you get for trace damage, corrosion, leaks around the battery circuit, anything that could potentially be wrong with it. Ask for board pictures with the plastic top piece off and don't be afraid to be pushy if you get a board in that doesn't look as good as the one you ordered.

[Josh128]

Suggest getting an MV1C or MV1B and a Neo Jamma supergun kit for it. They are quite easy and fun to assemble and work great. Cyril is a really cool guy.

https://www.facebook.com/NeoJamma/

[shmupsrocks]

https://retrogamerstuff.com/products/om ... onents-kit

https://www.laserbear.net/products/omvs-shell

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=mv-1c

Adding these to the list:

https://retro-access.com/products/genes ... and-extron

https://stoneagegamer.com/omvs-neo-geo- ... -frog.html

Here's a power switch so I don't have to unplug the OMVS to turn it off:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B096G22VCH

[shmupsrocks]

The RGB cable I need to go between the OMVS and BVM is still not available:

https://retro-access.com/products/genes ... and-extron

Where else should I shop for this kind of cable?

[Gara]

The RGB cable I need to go between the OMVS and BVM is still not available:

https://retro-access.com/products/genes ... and-extron

Where else should I shop for this kind of cable?

Use the Retro Access custom cable builder. You should be able to build that cable and order it just fine. Their stock on certain items is weird sometimes and you're probably not going to have much luck emailing them to ask if it's a mistake. Using the custom cable builder at least gets you in the queue.

https://retro-access.com/products/custo ... 1748455670

I threw this one together as an example.

[VEGETA]

for neo geo i always suggest the aes. cheaper route overall and works well with anything.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

The RGB cable I need to go between the OMVS and BVM is still not available:

https://retro-access.com/products/genes ... and-extron

Where else should I shop for this kind of cable?

Use the Retro Access custom cable builder. You should be able to build that cable and order it just fine. Their stock on certain items is weird sometimes and you're probably not going to have much luck emailing them to ask if it's a mistake. Using the custom cable builder at least gets you in the queue.

https://retro-access.com/products/custo ... 1748455670

I threw this one together as an example.

The thing about ordering more than one RGB cable through Retro Access is, the website used currently, only processes an order for a single custom RGB cable. I had ordered two different RGB cables in a single order -- received one and inquired via e-mail as why the second one wasn't shipped. The lady, Sara, whom made both my two custom RGB cables said the website only processes a single order (hence why they weren't shipped together). She had to fill out the order herself through the website for my second RGB cable and finally shipped it out via USPS. It arrived rather quickly.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Gara]

The thing about ordering more than one RGB cable through Retro Access is, the website used currently, only processes an order for a single custom RGB cable. I had ordered two different RGB cables in a single order -- received one and inquired via e-mail as why the second one wasn't shipped. The lady, Sara, whom made both my two custom RGB cables said the website only processes a single order (hence why they weren't shipped together). She had to fill out the order herself through the website for my second RGB cable and finally shipped it out via USPS. It arrived rather quickly.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

I wonder if that's a one off mistake or if they have actually broken something on their website within the past few months. My last order with multiple custom cables was a few months ago and I didn't have any kind of issue like that. Just another oddity to add to the pile I guess. Retro Access has always made ordering from them hard, but there customization and quality make it worth the trouble.