Pandora Box 3 Multi-Game 520-1 PCB

donluca

Ninja Combat Warrior
Joined
Aug 19, 2015
Posts
529
Here's the page of the Retroarch on Pandora's box project:

https://github.com/sebastian404/aus_japb_retroarch

it has most of the info you need, including the compatible versions of pandoras.

Here's the thread were developments are discussed: http://www.jammaplus.co.uk/forum/fo...ID=753457&title=pandoras-box-4-hacking#753457

It's a general pandora thread, so the information about retroarch is mixed with many other posts about pandora's box.

Here's my custom image: http://www.mediafire.com/file/a3d5wjulaumnqq3/Retroarch.img.7z

Just write it to an 8GB SD (the one which came with the Pandora should be fine, be sure to back it up first), and put the roms in the empty disk that pop ups.

Right now there are some people having issues with the rom partitions because it seems there are no tools on Windows which are able to write properly the image to the SD. No issues on Mac and Linux.
I've just tried Etcher on Windows ( http://etcher.io ) and that seemed to work fine for me, but further tests are needed.

Quoting myself from another thread about the changes I've made:

Several small tweaks has been done: a slight overclock, 1P Start + 1P Button 1 to return to retroarch menu (instead of the physical button on the Pandora's Box), 382x240 resolution (so 320x240 games are displayed correctly, as well as CPS1/2 which are 384x224 - black borders are added where needed, you'll have to adjust your monitor geometry), smaller message font (so they are entirely readable) and, of course, the FAT32 partition where you can directly dump the ROMs in. (otherwise you'd need a Linux machine to read the EXT3 partition and put roms in)

I think I've made some other very small changes but right now I can't remember, maybe something on the audio resampler to have a lesser impact on the CPU although I don't remember if I reverted it back in the end or not.

Tomorrow I'll post some pics for you guys.

EDIT: Just to make it clear

It's one thing to say that "you did it", then tell everyone that they should do it,

I'm not telling someone to go and do it, I've just stated my opinion on the matter, based on my own experience, so YMMV as with anything else.
Someone might like it, somebody else might prefer the tearing and issues of the original Pandora.
The UI is really barebones (it's RGUI for those familiar with Retroarch) but it's ok for me as I just care for the games.
 
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FilthyRear

Neo-Geo.com's, Top Rated Bully.,
15 Year Member
Joined
Jan 24, 2007
Posts
8,152
Here's the page of the Retroarch on Pandora's box project:

https://github.com/sebastian404/aus_japb_retroarch

it has most of the info you need, including the compatible versions of pandoras.

Here's the thread were developments are discussed: http://www.jammaplus.co.uk/forum/fo...ID=753457&title=pandoras-box-4-hacking#753457

It's a general pandora thread, so the information about retroarch is mixed with many other posts about pandora's box.

Here's my custom image: http://www.mediafire.com/file/a3d5wjulaumnqq3/Retroarch.img.7z

Just write it to an 8GB SD (the one which came with the Pandora should be fine, be sure to back it up first), and put the roms in the empty disk that pop ups.

Right now there are some people having issues with the rom partitions because it seems there are no tools on Windows which are able to write properly the image to the SD. No issues on Mac and Linux.
I've just tried Etcher on Windows ( http://etcher.io ) and that seemed to work fine for me, but further tests are needed.

Quoting myself from another thread about the changes I've made:



I think I've made some other very small changes but right now I can't remember, maybe something on the audio resampler to have a lesser impact on the CPU although I don't remember if I reverted it back in the end or not.

Tomorrow I'll post some pics for you guys.

EDIT: Just to make it clear



I'm not telling someone to go and do it, I've just stated my opinion on the matter, based on my own experience, so YMMV as with anything else.
Someone might like it, somebody else might prefer the tearing and issues of the original Pandora.
The UI is really barebones (it's RGUI for those familiar with Retroarch) but it's ok for me as I just care for the games.

Good enough for me. Thank you.
 

Kenpark

n00b
Joined
Oct 3, 2017
Posts
3
Looking to pick up a 4S.
They put Cotton AND USAAF Mustang on the PB4S, screen tearing aside...:annoyed:
 

basic

back to basics
15 Year Member
Joined
Jun 2, 2006
Posts
4,557
Anyone know anything about this new Pandora's Box 5?
http://www.jammaplus.co.uk/forum/fo...ID=761152&title=pandoras-box-4-hacking#761152

I also saw some random ebay listings for a Pandora's Box 6 with 1099 games, but couldn't find any stand-alone units.

I think the latest one is the Pandora's Key Box 5s...definitely no version 6 yet. From what I read many of the issues, like screen tearing in side scrollers, are fixed or not as noticeable. So tempting...I'm considering putting one of these in our office.
 

Syn

There can be only one.
10 Year Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2009
Posts
9,079
I think the latest one is the Pandora's Key Box 5s...definitely no version 6 yet. From what I read many of the issues, like screen tearing in side scrollers, are fixed or not as noticeable. So tempting...I'm considering putting one of these in our office.

There's 6s on eBay in a control panel without a jamma connection. EDIT - Looking for the one that has the pic of the board.
 
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basic

back to basics
15 Year Member
Joined
Jun 2, 2006
Posts
4,557
There's 6s on eBay in a control panel without a jamma connection. EDIT - Looking for the one that has the pic of the board.

Is there? Hmm...I thought the latest one came out late October. My bad then.
 

JoeAwesome

I survived Secret Santa, It wasn't Easy.,
Joined
Feb 19, 2016
Posts
3,115
Any idea why my 4s+ won't play nice with my WEGA CRT through HDMI? Is it the 800x600 resolution?
 

JoeAwesome

I survived Secret Santa, It wasn't Easy.,
Joined
Feb 19, 2016
Posts
3,115
Mine is a WEGA Rear Projection. I get nothing via HDMI with the 4S+. On that TV I'm forced to go via VGA.

I can't even get composite out from my supergun. So I have to settle with HDMI on my LCD (eh) or possibly VGA on my smaller LCD (ugh).
 

Xian Xi

JammaNationX,
15 Year Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2005
Posts
27,748
If anyone is looking for a 4s for cheap, let me know. I think I have one or two.
 

basic

back to basics
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Joined
Jun 2, 2006
Posts
4,557
Just ordered a 5s. The alphabetized list of games clinched it for me.
 
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