Agree 100%

I fixed up an Arika Fighting Layer #arcade board running on Namco System 12 hardware this weekend. It started up with a scary FIRST POWER ON DATA ERROR message, but replacing the RTC chip sorted it out. Full writeup at jammarcade.net/fighting-layer

The handles on those computers are so cool. 😎

That turned out great! I see tabs on the left side - is it a lid for a case?

Screenshot of the Arcade Manual Archive website arcadeRTFM.com (dark mode) showing detailed technical specifications for the classic Sega Out Run arcade machine (sitdown/upright Rev B, 1986). The page includes hardware specs (2x Motorola MC68000 @ 10 MHz, Zilog Z80 @ 4 MHz), raster horizontal display (320×224 at 60.05 Hz), audio chips (YM2151 OPM and Sega PCM), controls (1 player, steering paddle, pedal, 1 button, 2 coin slots), a full DIP switch settings table for coin credits, cabinet type, demo sounds, time adjustment and difficulty, plus links to downloadable service manuals and schematics. Site header reads 'ARCADE MANUAL ARCHIVE' with stats 7,821 machines and 2,405 service manuals; search term 'out run' is active.

I radically improved arcadeRTFM.com this week. It's now a fully indexed archive of arcade repair/operator manuals plus schematics. It has details for 7,800+ arcade machines and 2,400+ manuals. You can search by game, manufacturer, year or even chip! Share it wherever you think it might be useful.

It has a battery but it is very, very dead.

Just in time for #marchintosh , this Powerbook 1400cs was just gifted to me. Featuring a 233 Mhz PowerPC CPU, 64 MB RAM, 800 MB hard drive, Zip 100 drive, and 28.8k baud modem, this time capsule is in really nice shape! Now I need to figure out how to load some games onto it. 😎

I was only addressing the original meme anyway. 😅

Well actually - four systems:

Genesis cartridge
32X cartridge
Sega CD
32X CD

A CPS3 #arcade cart came in for service after suiciding due to a dead battery. It wouldn’t work after flashing the Darksoft UltraBIOS. I noticed missing solder next to the clock crystal, so I addressed that and now the cart works great! I wish all repairs went this smoothly. 😁

Namco Assault! Awesome game.

Triggered! 😭

Ack!

Careful - you never know what could jump out of a treasure box in Phantasy Star II! 😁

Ugh, hope you’re feeling better.

Game Arts was part of the Sierra family? 🤨

I’m taking a short break from repairing #arcade boards to actually *play games* on them once in a while. Currently drilling Deathsmiles MBL, Dogyuun and Viewpoint for a monthly #shmup score competition.

Terminator?

If you'd like to try your Spiderman ROM board on my System 32 base board, shoot me a PM.

Suggestions:
-We've ruled out bad Z80 CPU, Z80 RAM, and IC21 GAL, and final amp that only leaves the 315-5385 custom.
-I strongly recommend trying the Spiderman ROM board on another System 32 baseboard.
-If the ROM board confirms good, reflow the 315-5385.
-If the 315-5385 is still dead, replace it.

@ohpoorpup.bsky.social OK, so here's what I learned:
- There are 4 Sound ROMs with Spiderman (IC22, 26, 31, 35)
- The OE pins for all four are driven by outputs from the GAL chip at IC21
- The GAL Input lines partly come from the Z80 CPU and partly from the 315-5385 Custom
[continued]

That looks really clean! And no protection mechanism on that one too which is definitely nice. Thank you for the pic - I’ll do some further digging on the schematics and will let you know what I find out.

@ohpoorpup.bsky.social can you share a photo of your Spider-Man ROM board? As directly overhead as possible please so I can read the IC labels on the parts. I want to cross-check a few things against the schematics.

I’m thinking that your Z80 CPU is good and the Z80 RAM is good (so the diagnostic passes and you hear the pulse) but if the OE lines on the Sound ROMs are inactive then the Z80 isn’t able to pull data out of them for some reason.

Hmm…so no signs of life with another GAL then. Drat. It’s my bedtime here but I’ll take another look at the schematics tomorrow. Since you have an EPROM programmer, can you dump all four Sound ROMs and make sure they match the files in MAME?

There’s a protection bit set on the Sega originals, so you won’t be able to Erase or Write to it.

OK. Those should trigger as the Z80 runs. It’s possible that the GAL chip on the ROM board failed - it triggers the OE lines on those ROMs. Replacement part is a GAL16V8 and needs to be programmed with an EPROM programmer. I can program and send you one if need be. File is here: tinyurl.com/4mteukcw

Can you check the OE pin on the two Sound ROMs on the ROM board and see if they’re triggering? They should be Pin 24 on IC35 (27C010) and Pin 24 on IC31 (27C4000).

I’ll have to check the schematics later to refresh myself how the customs get involved in the sound generation circuit. At least you can safely cross the Z80 off the culprit list.

Apologies-I misconstrued what you meant when you said the Z80 clock signal looked like mine. If the clock signal looks healthy and the reset line briefly triggers at power on then check the M1 (pin 27) next. It’ll pulse regularly if the Z80 is processing code. If the Z80 is running, check the amps.