Arcade Cab question

[pvt_awol]

Hey guys, I didn't see an Arcade Cab section, so if this is in the totally wrong place, maybe a mod can move it?

Anyway, I got a guy dealing with me that has a NEO-GEO MVS 2 slot arcade cab. The cab is complete SNK, buttons and all, marquee has the 2 game slots, etc.

Now, he says that it works, but the power supply went out, so I have no way of testing it. I've been doing a bit of research (as this will be my first cabinet) and supplies can range in the $100 to $150 area. I've also read that you can use an old computer power supply. (I see LukeMorse on Youtube do this all of the time) Thats not "too" bad, if it's true. Also, the unit comes with 2 games, World Heroes 1 and 2. He'll sell it to me for $150.

There are only 2 arcade cabs I want in my collection, one being a variant of Street Fighter 2, and the other a Neo Geo cab.

Should I jump on this guys? If I do, how hard is it to get involved in the maintenance and fixing of these things? I'm technically skilled (I work professionally in the IT industry and know my way around wiring schemes and irons and such) so I can do work myself, I just never have before. Are there specific things I should be on the look out for when I go look at this beast? Again, he says I won't be able to test it, but he is giving me a 100% money back guarantee if I'm not satisfied. Seeing as how I'll know where he lives, that seems decent to me. Any input?

[Bradtemple87]

Go on the neo-geo forums and post your questions to my friends 300 wins (Roger) and BIGTIME (Dan). They can fix just about anything arcade related.

[GamingDutchman]

Id pay 150 for a defective one!

[Breetai]

Ask if you can test it with your own power supply that you provide.

[skate323k137]

That sounds like an amazing deal. I'd jump on it in a heartbeat. Hell, if just the motherboard and monitor work, that alone is worth $150. Plus the 2slots are easy to put a universe bios in. And yeah, you should be able to use a PC power supply, at least for the JAMMA harness. I'm not 100% sure how the monitors are powered, but arcade-museum or the neo-geo forums (as suggested) would know.

[dunpeal2064]

A 2 slot MVS won't have a JAMMA harness, it will have an MVS pinout harness, right? I'm pretty sure only the single slots are wired for JAMMA initially.

Either way, I paid almost a hundred bucks just for a single slot mobo... so I'd say you are most likely going to get your monies worth. If the monitor works, you are golden.

[skate323k137]

A 2 slot MVS won't have a JAMMA harness, it will have an MVS pinout harness, right? I'm pretty sure only the single slots are wired for JAMMA initially.

You're completely right on that. Only the one slots are technically JAMMA wiring. MVS is the same edge connector, slightly different pinout. The pinouts for power and ground are the same though. Worth noting that all neo geo boards should not need the -5v, only +5, +12, and ground.

see http://www.hardmvs.com/html/jamma.htm for a PDF with the differences between standard JAMMA and the MVS as far as wiring goes. Main diff is sound, and game select/test button/coin sw locations.

[pvt_awol]

Ask if you can test it with your own power supply that you provide.

How can I test it with my own supply? Is it something that I can do quickly while on site? I was thinking that if I use a PC power supply, there will be significant wiring changes that need to be made. If it's simple though, then by all means, that is what I'll try out. At this time, I don't have a "legit" power supply to test with, and I'd hate to spend the $150 on one, just to use as a tester. (I'm all for buying one after the fact, just not before hand.)

[skate323k137]

There's no way a JAMMA power supply should cost you $150.

Assuming the monitor is powered from the "mains" (The AC in), all you need is something that can supply +5 and +12 to the mainboard. A PC PSU should be fine. It would be "easier" to use something like this, as this is likely what's already in the cab but bad:

http://na.suzohapp.com/powersupplies/80006400.htm

edit: also, this is for generic arcade cabs, but it should give you an idea of what to expect:

[driph]

This power supply should be a direct replacement:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 049wt_1047

A Neo-Geo cab is a great first arcade cabinet, and they are general easy to work on and easy to get parts for.