soul edge questions

I just got a soul edge board, with hopes of converting an old final fight machine. It's a jamma game, so I plugged it into two of my machines here, and got the same behavour both times.

The screen flickers, against a blue backgroud.

some of the graphics look garbled, not sure if that's related to the flicker.

none of the buttons worked. I have a kick harness, but assumed that was just for the 4th button. It's also possible that it was waiting for a credit before working, I didn't want to leave the board in too long if the screen was off. You never know if you're doing damage.

So, I didn't get a manual with this board. I was thinking of buying a manual, but I want to know if anyone knows what these issues are first. I just don't want to spend more money on a board that's having a common problem that can't be fixed.

If this is just a question of changing some settings, then I'll buy the manual and continue the installation.

I simply plugged my Soul Edge board into the supergun and it played no problem (except the guard button right now)

Check the power readings that are going into the board.

I tested it in two machines and got the same behavour on both. I've used both of those machines to test new bords in the past, without ever having a problem, so I seriously doubt it's a power issue.

I was hoping someone would tell me there was a dip switch for lower refresh monitors or something like that.

Is there a -5V line?

the Dynamo system I'm using for a test system does have the -5 connected, however, the soul edge board has that edge completely disconnected.

So, in short, it couldn't be that...the board isn't using it.

Soul Edge only has 2 dips. The first one flipped on goes to the test mode, and the second one on would crash it. Check and make sure thats not on.

I tried going into the 'test' system, and it just looked like a few underscores where the letters should have been. My guess is that there's a section of ROM that's not working, because it seems that some of the graphics just aren't there.

I've tried adjusting for a higher voltage, and that got me nowhere. I had it at exactly 5v when I started, and I went up to 6.5, tested at the board, and it didn't change anything.

before anyone asks, lower voltage didn't help either.

I think it's just a dead board. Man, I'm really striking out lately with Ebay.

It does sound dead :| The dips were the only thing i can really think of other then it being damaged.

Disconnect the top PCB and the ROM PCB from the motherboard, then reconnect them to make sure they are conected well.

I did disconnect both daughterboards and sprayed pretty much everything with contact cleaner.

I got a hold of the guy who sold it to me, and he asked me if I'd reseated the DIPs. I told him everything I had done, and he offerred to give me a refund. He's selling another Soul Edge kit, So, I'm buying that off him and, after the refund, it shouldn't cost much more.

I'm not going to hassle him over shipping. A broken board sucks for everyone, and if he's cool enough to give me a refund, I'm going to try to respect that.

Thanks for all the help, as always!

Youll love the game when you finally get a working one

Though now I have a question about both my System 11 boards. Is there a battery onboard that saves the settings? Mine seem to revert back to how they were set, and I cant change them *though it reverts not to the default, but custom settings that are the same every time*

There is no battery, it's either a flash RAM save, or a self powered NVRAM device on the main motherboard.

Borman said:

Youll love the game when you finally get a working one

Click to expand...

Maybe...It's a fun game and I play mine sometimes, but it is a 1st gen 3d fighter, and 3d fighters hardly ever are as much fun as 2d fighters. The dynamics are just all different.

cheers,
-DT