Console systems to Jamma.. yippie

Okay so in my searching around I've noticed a few systems that people have been able to set up for play in an arcade cabinet.

I'm not very technical in such respects, but can read and understand some of how such things are done. I just lack a bit of the skills for the most part I think, but that is not quite the point here. I've been playing with an idea to set up a cabinet to play some old console games on arcade style for some good times at a get together in the not too distant future and am wondering if anyone knows much about such matters here.

And no I don't want to put my neo geo in a cab.

I've searched and can't seem to find much info setting up a good old nes for a jamma system. Is such thing possible or even worth the effort. I've seen a few pictures of a genisis set up like that and it was pretty cool. I would not mind getting my hands on one of those.

If anyone has any usefull links or the know how to help me set up an nintendo for such maddness then please share. Or even if there is s service or someone I could buy those systems already modded from.
Thanks!

i have seen a few kits on ebay that convert xbox,ps2 and dreamcast to a jamma cab but nothing on nes or snes

Send a PM to NeoGeoO he has a Jamma NES. Maybe he can help you.

Its not as easy as the Genesis or TurboGraphics. The NES takes alot of work. I just finished mine a few weeks ago:

The problem with the NES is that the original PPU does not output RGB. So you need to replace the PPU with one from one of the VS arcade boards. The problem is there are only a few games that are very close in compatability with pallets (and even they have slight issues and arent 100% identical). Once you have done that you need to add video and audio amps to bring the signals to where they should be for an arcade, and then you get to deal with the controller interface. I built my own rather than hacking controllers apart because I had more control over size and could keep the controllers for use on my main NES I keep hooked up in the house. Finding places to cram all the little extra boards and wires is a treat too...although its easier than inside of the Genesis2 which is the one I am wraping up right now.

Well it sounds like a real job and well beyond anything I know how to do.

Looks like I'll have to outsource this one.

Though that does look pretty cool, I could stand with something not near as cool looking as it would be hidden in a cabinet. Making everything fit inside would not be an issue as it would be well out of sight. I actually thought maybe there was some kind of board that one could just hook up the output for the video that would convert it over.
Makes sense though not to hack up controllers as I would think they are getting harder to come by.

Well you could always pick up something like this but you would still need a controller interface and the video clarity wouldnt be as good. I was thinking about bulding an external all in one board for different systems but unfortunatly the pricing to do small runs of professionaly made pcbs made the project to cost prohibative. I had a nice board layout done that had a video and audio amps, mono/stereo switching, and an interchangable daughterboard for the controller conversion that would be plug and play in most older systems (16bit and up) but I scrapped the idea when I found out the boards+parts was going to cost about $250 each...not including making anything off the deal since I cant sell hundreds of them...then the daughter boards were only about $15-20 each. Still though no one wants to pay $300 to do something that some time, soldering, and about 1/4 to 1/3 of the $ would take If you want I can always make you a jamma NES, Genesis, TG-16, or PCEngine (Im sure there are others as well but those are the ones I have made so far and am 100% sure I can do) but they arent cheap to build right...hack jobs can be made prity cheap but I dont like to go that route...I like my stuff durrable and built to last forever

Xian Xi said:

Send a PM to NeoGeoO he has a Jamma NES. Maybe he can help you.

Click to expand...

I've been trying to get NeoGeeO to post about his jamma NES (1 slot playchoice) project for awhile now, It came out clean, I've been using it regularly on my cabs. Everyone needs to give him shit till he posts about it.

$199 bux?

Wow.

Which PPU did you use? I have some laying around here.

This has all the information that you need:
http://nfggames.com/forum2/index.php?topic=1592

I will add this... You can use an Ultimarc RGB amp instead of making your own amp. It works great.

Ok, First lets start with some links

Moosmann Website on RGB mod NES
-------------------------------------------------
http://mbrandel.vizionaires.net/?page_id=107

Forum post that talks about doing the RGB mod to your NES
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://nfggames.com/forum2/index.php?topic=1592
(Thanks norton9478)

PPU Information Link ( I used the RC2C03B PPU)
---------------------------------
http://johnsarcade.com/nintendo_vs_ppu_info.php

RGB Color Booster
---------------------------------
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b14/moosmann/electronic/famiamp.png
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b14/moosmann/electronic/sep015.jpg



Pas already touched on this, but here is a general NES to JAMMA checklist


1. Get a PPU that can output RGB and has similar color palette to NES. I used the RC2C03B PPU as this was recommended by Moosmann. The PPU can be found on Playchoice boards as well as a select set of VS titles (Tennis/ Duck Hunt)

2. Remove old PPU and replace with socket (40 pin I think). You want to use a good quality socket, one with the round holes - precision socket I think

2a. When installing the socket - you need to lift the RGB pins. The PPU outputs un-amplified RGB signals that need to be amplified before displaying on an arcade monitor.

3. Either build an RGB amp or use an ultimarc (Thanks again norton9478). Feed the un-amplified RGB into the amp - out from the amp to the jamma edge connector.

4. The PPU also outputs un-amplified SYNC signal - you can pull the sync from the 'point of picture'. I had the run the Sync through a JROK sync cleaner - otherwise I had wavy lines on the Egret. (Not needed on a Neo Candy 29 - Go figure). Terminate this 'cleaned' sync signal to the jamma edge connector.

--------------------Video Done------------------------------------------------

5. The sound needs to be amplified for arcade speakers. I just ran the sound through a PCB from a set of old PC speakers. The speaker amp needs 12Volt, which I take from the JAMMA edge connector. Still mono, then again, so is the cab so it works for me. Also, now I have a dial to adjust sound volume.

--------------Sound Done---------------------------------------------------

6. I hacked 2 NES pads (They had button problems to begin with ) and wired the hacked pads to the JAMMA edge connector. I used a DPDT switch on the clock and latch signals of the controller to allow me to switch between the hacked pads in the JAMMA NES, and external controller ports. This allows me to hook a light gun up and play duckhunt or some Hogans Alley. Also, if I want to ever use a D-Pad, I can always just hook one up.

Pas said:

...and then you get to deal with the controller interface. I built my own rather than hacking controllers apart because I had more control over size and could keep the controllers for use on my main NES I keep hooked up in the house

Click to expand...

Wow building your own controller interface - thats freakin sweet.
---------------------Controller Done----------------------------------------

7. Now we need to power this beast. I hook my NES right off the 12v of the JAMMA edge connector. I know the NES runs on 9volt, but works fine on 12. Also, I hooked up a watt meter and am drawing less than 1.0 amp (.8 actually) off the 12volt, so my PS aint getting abused. Hopefully

-------------------Power Done---------------------------------------------------

Also, for shits I decided to make my old NES a top-loader while I was soldering on it anyways. I had an old project box from a fucked up supergun, so I decided to stick all the guts in that. I did not even this this would work in the begining, so my wire colors are all wrong and the box is a little sloppy, but here it is


--------------------Top-Loader Done-----------------------------------------


Bottom of NES mainboard. You can see the new PPU installed in its socket. Also, you can see the RGB amp mounted upside down. Notice the top-loader connector soldered to the edge connector of the mainboard.



Another shot of the bottom - this one with the hacked pads installed.



Top of Jamma NES. In the bottom left are the RGB pots. These pots are connected to the RGB amp - like my knobs??? Notice the sync cleaner in the top left. Top loader connector show in top center - duh. I removed the RF/PS unit and use a short run of wire to connect it. Relocating this let me stick the NES in a small project box. On the right is where the controller ports will go. Notice the DPDT switches to allow me to switch between the hacked pads below and the controller ports.



Top of Jamma NES with sound amp installed and controller ports installed


Side shot showing switches and controller ports. Notice the solid piece of Maple under the game connector.( Just the very edge shown in the pic) THis is epoxied to the bottom of the connector and I will screw it to the bottom of the box. This provides great compression support and good extraction support.


Opposite side with JAMMA edge connector. Cut a slot and epoxied it in. Used some black dye in the epoxy.



Jamma NES installed in Egret 2. Notice the way the cart faces. This is just how it needs to face with the top-loader mod. All you are basically doing is taking the cart in the orig. position and rotating it up 90 degrees.


More



Like I said, I can use the gun. Not very well though


Yes I took that Dial off. I actually put it on the Egret 2 as the dial for the sound pot. Anything for the Egret 2



Zelda on a Cab. This is a bad pic, looks much better in person -


One More

good work my pale and sweaty friend!

Check out my snes guide here, might be of some use?

http://.com/snes2jamma

Edit: Odd, tiny-you-are-ell links not allowed!?

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/j.wilks/s2j/s2j.html

Well there sure is a lot of impressive work been brought out in this thread. Goodness.

I like your audio amp Spectre, I may just use that on my next jamma nes project.
I have another nes and I got a PPU, finding the PPU is the hard part, voltronbadass hooked me up with one from his spare playchoice

ive recently been developing a box myself and figured i can provide this as a service for all you jamma+ cabinet owners out there, i guess now its sorta official:

game console to jamma box





pm me if interested,

i havent done an NES RGB mod myself. After talking with the help of NeoGeeo, I am looking into it, but finding PPU's seems definitly like the hardest part of this mod..

Nice plug.

thats if you consider my service a 'plug' rather than trying to help aid toward the topic of this forum, its my hobby.

theres a reason why i dont post this in market, etc..

*i'll be happy to provide any info ive learned through out my research, given i was in the same situation. Its from all fellow hobbiers/forum heads as yourselves~

I called it a plug since it was in a thread that wasn't made by you announcing it (Which I think you should do so everyone knows. Post it in Arcade Central). Sometimes I get requests like these but I don't offer the service but I'll shoot them your way when they come in.

hope this will help...... consoles to jamma
http://pc2jamma.mameworld.info/misc_arc1.html

After messing with several consoles on several setups... I am convinced that the only way to do this is to do it yourself...

There are many many variables to consider.

Sorry to revive an old thread but I just performed this mod and I'm having problems. I socketed a Playchoice 10 ppu and lifted the necessry pins and ran them outside the console. I pulled sync from the same place as pictured above. When I hook it up to an arcade monitor, all I seem to get what looks like a smashed picture horizontally rolling. Anyone have any ideas?

FA-MAS said:

Sorry to revive an old thread but I just performed this mod and I'm having problems. I socketed a Playchoice 10 ppu and lifted the necessry pins and ran them outside the console. I pulled sync from the same place as pictured above. When I hook it up to an arcade monitor, all I seem to get what looks like a smashed picture horizontally rolling. Anyone have any ideas?

Click to expand...

If all controls settings fail,

Check your grounds.

I'm having problems with the picture.

Did you use an RGB amp when you hooked it up? The picture is really dark without and amp, so that makes it harder to troubleshoot.

On some cabs/monitors I was able to tap the sync directly off the Composite on the RF Box, on other I had to tap Pin21 of the PPU and use a Sync Cleaner.

Google Translate this, unless you can read German. He has the best diagrams even if the translation isn't perfect.
http://playoffline.wordpress.com/mod/nesrgb/

I'm not using an RGB amp yet. the Playoffline site is actually where I've got the instructions from.

I built the RGB amp on that site, but I wasn't able to find the exact transistors locally. Fry's sells NTE components, so I went on their site and used their search to find the equivelents.

BC33725 came up with their NTE123AP which I found at Frys.
BC557 came up with their NTE159, but I was only able to find NTE159M, which I don't know if is a direct replacement. I used it anyway and get garbage video.

Here's a slight breakthrough though. I went direct, no amp. And tried adjusting my monitors horizontal and vertical hold and I am getting a picture now. It looks like this. Think all I need now is an amp? Would someone be willing to build or sell me one?

Anyone got a link to the ultimarc one if I decide to go that route?

Edit: lol, I just responded to your youtube posting asking where to get the RGB amp. I didn't even realize it was you DewmanSNK

Double Edit: Is It this one? http://www.ultimarc.com/vidamp.html