Really affordable pcbs?

[moh]

Waiting for my blast city to arrive at my door, im looking to pick up my first pcb.

I really dont plan on using the blast with any arcade boards because i just dont think i can afford it considering how expensive CAVE pcbs can be. but i thought i'd give it a try! (plus i need to test it).

Im just looking for some reallllly cheap, fun pcbs.

any suggestions?

[Dave_K.]

Plenty of cheap boards on eBay.
Raiden
Raiden 2
Raiden Fighters
Raiden Fighers 2
Viper Phase 1
Strikers 1945
Strikers 1945 II
Tengai

[shmuppyLove]

Can't go wrong with an MVS and some neogeo carts. A single-slot MVS board should be < $100 and carts range wildly, but the common ones are very affordable. That's how I got started with my arcade stuff, then you can work your way up to the $100-200 PCBs (a lot of Sony ZN-1 and ZN-2 stuff) or even into the other multi-game systems like CPS2, G-Net or F3.

You could also start out with a lower end PC and run MAME while you save up. Most people have an older desktop or laptop lying around that would be fine, the only trick is getting proper low-res video output (a bit difficult) and interfacing the controls (not that difficult).

[Bananamatic]

Dimahoo

[moh]

Can't go wrong with an MVS and some neogeo carts. A single-slot MVS board should be < $100 and carts range wildly, but the common ones are very affordable. That's how I got started with my arcade stuff, then you can work your way up to the $100-200 PCBs (a lot of Sony ZN-1 and ZN-2 stuff) or even into the other multi-game systems like CPS2, G-Net or F3.

You could also start out with a lower end PC and run MAME while you save up. Most people have an older desktop or laptop lying around that would be fine, the only trick is getting proper low-res video output (a bit difficult) and interfacing the controls (not that difficult).

judging by the prices of the MVS carts, I think buying an MVS board is defnintely the better option for me!

I think i'll stick with MAME for the first little while so i can recover from how much i blew on that cab.

but you mentioned getting the proper low-res video output? I planned on just plugging in my macbook through the VGA input on the blast. will that not work properly?

[Korszca]

You can find working Aero Fighters PCBs on eBay for as little as $10.

Plugging a VGA signal into the Blast will work as long as the resolution NEVER exceeds 640x480 or you will blow your chassis.

[moh]

You can find working Aero Fighters PCBs on eBay for as little as $10.

Plugging a VGA signal into the Blast will work as long as the resolution NEVER exceeds 640x480 or you will blow your chassis.

HOLY SHIT, you made my heart skip a beat when i read "blow your chassis".

but doesn't a vga cable only transmit a 640x480 signal?

plus, where are these aerofighters pcb's???? i couldnt find anything near that price.

[mesh control]

Taito G-Net mobo + some cards are pretty cheap. There's a decent selection of games for the system too.

[Korszca]

HOLY SHIT, you made my heart skip a beat when i read "blow your chassis".

but doesn't a vga cable only transmit a 640x480 signal?

No. It can transmit any arbitrary signal provided you have a fast enough DAC. Your MacBook probably has a 400 MHz DAC, which would give you a theoretical max resolution of about 2048x1536.

plus, where are these aerofighters pcb's???? i couldnt find anything near that price.

I'll PM you.

[moh]

HOLY SHIT, you made my heart skip a beat when i read "blow your chassis".

but doesn't a vga cable only transmit a 640x480 signal?

No. It can transmit any arbitrary signal provided you have a fast enough DAC. Your MacBook probably has a 400 MHz DAC, which would give you a theoretical max resolution of about 2048x1536.

plus, where are these aerofighters pcb's???? i couldnt find anything near that price.

I'll PM you.

hmmm...so if i bought a vga cable for my xbox 360 (which natively outputs vga, I believe), wouldn't that blow my chassis as well? Since i doubt the resolution is 640x480.

[Korszca]

The Xbox 360 can output 640x480 up to 1920x1080 over VGA. It will work just fine in the Blast.

[neorichieb1971]

If your starting out on PCB's I would stick to newer cheap PCB's like the Mr Driller 2 thats on sale by RGB in the trading thread.

Its 41 Euros. Its a fantastic game as well. I've had mine in a cab for almost 3 years

Psikyo boards might be cheap, but an audio whine sound is common on the Strikers 1945's, so avoid those at first.

Don't buy from ebay, there are so many reputable sellers on here. Most ebay PCB's are semi faulty from my experience. They will work, but usually have some kind of niggly problem (like the Psikyo audio problems i've experienced).


Good luck with your buying purchases.

[moh]

The Xbox 360 can output 640x480 up to 1920x1080 over VGA. It will work just fine in the Blast.

great, thanks for the help!

but now im terrified to plug anything into my cab D:

will consoles auto adjust to the required resolution? I have no experience with candy cabs so i dont want to plug something in and have my monitor melt.

[Korszca]

Yes, the 360 will auto-detect and set itself to 640x480. I've seen plenty of Blasts with 360s in them.
If you have a 2930 chassis, however, you may have to manually set the sync of the monitor if it's not already on 31KHz. If you have the 2931, it auto-syncs for you.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

You shouldn't be scared of booting up any cool arcade PCB that comes your way, moh. I'm sure if the right opportunity (and right timing + a bit of "lady luck" on your side) comes along to get a classic Cave shmup PCB (like DP or DDP), would you pass it up?

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[shmuppyLove]

If your starting out on PCB's I would stick to newer cheap PCB's like the Mr Driller 2 thats on sale by RGB in the trading thread.

Eheheh too late, I just nabbed that one

[emphatic]

Yes, the 360 will auto-detect and set itself to 640x480. I've seen plenty of Blasts with 360s in them.

Really? I'd rather hook the 360 up to a TV or something that has VGA and manually set the resolution to 480p and 4:3. Better safe than sorry. The Dreamcast is excellent in 480p as well using a VGA cable. Lots of great arcade ports including Ikaruga, Zero Gunner 2 and Shikigami No Shiro 2.

[Korszca]

It really does. At least mine does.
But there's nothing wrong with what you describe. I'd probably do the same if I were to hook up my 360 to my Blast, but that's an absolute no-no in my book

EDIT FOR CLARITY - I have not hooked my 360 into my Blast, but it does autodetect on the all the VGA monitors I have plugged it into.

[neorichieb1971]

Haha.. I offer advice and its ignored.. and he's talking about a console in a cab. Idea - Give the cab to someone who is going to use it for the purpose it was built for and get yourself a nice rotating VGA HD monitor and decent joystick.

Same result, 1000% less likely to go wrong.

The console in a cabinet idea is for those who have PCB's "And also want to play consoles in their cab". What your doing is not right.

Sorry, just my opinion.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

The elegant solution to get to play 360 on a true low-res 15kHz candy cab, I use one of those Ultracade's UVc adapter does the trick quite nicely & easy as pie. But going that particular route really can't match the overall sharpness afforded by a high-res 31kHz cab setup indeed. Ah, such the quandary to be in. Sure, a tri-sync monitor chassis (with the handy VGA input) would do the trick in my situation but then again, I'd be giving up the sharpness afforded with the dedicated low-res monitor chassis setup. So, it's low-res all the way and am quite content with that setup. It's quite something to be able to boot up a DDP-DFK 1.5 PCB on a dedicated low-res cab setup as it was meant to be.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[jepjepjep]

I'd suggest Sky Shark. Classic Toaplan goodness and it's generally around the $50 range.

[moh]

Haha.. I offer advice and its ignored.. and he's talking about a console in a cab. Idea - Give the cab to someone who is going to use it for the purpose it was built for and get yourself a nice rotating VGA HD monitor and decent joystick.

Same result, 1000% less likely to go wrong.

The console in a cabinet idea is for those who have PCB's "And also want to play consoles in their cab". What your doing is not right.

Sorry, just my opinion.

well not everyone can afford pcbs that cost several hundred dollars =\

[dunpeal2064]

I'd suggest Sky Shark. Classic Toaplan goodness and it's generally around the $50 range.

Great suggestion! There are a few on ebay even.

Pure shooting fun, bitchin music... you can't go wrong!

Sadly, if you are after Cave stuff, the cheapest would be Esp Ra.De, which is about $250 (for int ver at least)

I'm unable to afford Cave pcbs, but Cave stuff got pretty accurate ports for the most part. Use the cab to play some fun, affordable pcbs, and play Cave on your 360 elsewhere. Best of both worlds

[moh]

hmm, now that you guys are here, can someone compile a short list of "things not to do to make sure your cab doesn't explode?"

because I really have no experience with this shit..I've been doing as much reading as I can, but this resolution thing came as a surprise to me, anything I may be missing out on?

[colour_thief]

Man Moh, if you don't mind my asking where did you find the Blast? I've got a New Astro, but since several of my favourite PCBs support 480p I really feel like I'm missing out. I'd love to get in on that if there are more in the area.

[Korszca]

hmm, now that you guys are here, can someone compile a short list of "things not to do to make sure your cab doesn't explode?"

The big one is don't feed your chassis improper resolutions. I like emph's suggestion of hooking the 360 up to an LCD monitor, setting the resolution to 640x480, then connecting it to your Blast's monitor. Besides that, we're talking silly things like "don't lick the anode cap" (this will kill you anyway, enough of a deterrent I'd think) or "don't smash the CRT tube."
With my Blast, I only got a 2-prong plug since it came from Japan. I switched it with a 3-prong plug.
With the 360, you'll need to plug the audio into the Blast's audio amp to hear anything out of the speakers. It will be easy enough if you have a -001 loom in there but if not, I'm not sure how to do it. I'm sure someone here (emph?) can tell you how they did it.
With PCBs, it's easy. Plug into the JAMMA harness, (maybe) set your resolution on the monitor if you have a 2930, and you're good.

[gct]

PM me if you want a MVS. I've got a super clean US region MV-1C with box and manual. Can't remember who I got it from though, but it was somebody here, 6 or 7 years ago. I haven't used it in a while since I would use my AES instead, which I also haven't used in many months......

Even though I still browse the (off-topic) forum daily, I haven't been playing shooting games for months (years?). I don't know what the MVS is worth these days so make an offer if you want it.

For other PCBs, IMO OutZone is a must-have. I guess the price went up but back when I was into this stuff, it was only $80-$100...

[neorichieb1971]

For the resolution issue. Plug your 360 into a TV, set the resolution to 640x480, then put the 360 in your cab. Job done.

As for all ways of doing it, just don't be an idiot and poke around in there.

As for buying PCB's for 100's of $$$$. Just buy one at a time. Most of the time you will get 90% of your money back if not more.


I bought a whole load of crap to put in my cab 2 years ago. I wish I hadn't bothered. By the time you get it working you'll want to change the console or put a PCB in there and you'll find its a pain in the ass. Be prepared to spend alot of time on your knees. If you have low levels of light have a flashlight (and an extra person if poss).

For myself, I wasn't content until I had 4 cabinets. At least that way each cab had a purpose, but again, its lots of money.

[chempop]

I just got a Blast City too, fully intend to drop a 360, DC, and the occasional pcb in there
What's your price point?
$50-100? $100-150??

I think some of the best deals are:

Dimahoo (phoenixed conversion) $150
Progear (" ") $150
19XX $100-150
Gunbird or Strikers 1945 $75-ish

First I've heard about a 360 blowing a Blast chassis... I've tested my VGA cable out, seemed fine on my 2930. Do I have to be careful about what resolution my 360 is set to, and should I toggle my chassis dips before powering up the 360?

[burgerkingdiamond]

If you roll with a MVS you're not going to be able to play any verts.

cheaper boards would be stuff like Aero Fighters, Strikers 1945 and Gunbird.

You can always just do an eBay search for "Jamma" and see what pops up. There are tons of boards that will pop up. A lot that
you probably haven't heard of. I got Thundercade/Twin Formation for like $40 or something and it ended up being pretty fun (slight nostalgia factor also from my NES days).