I/O Board Help?

[Mulletron]

Ok, I'm sort of new to this whole arcade scene, I have a pretty general knowledge of everything, but on the newer stuff, thats starting to get to me...

Lets say I bought an Atomiswave or Naomi Board.... Pretty chunky 200-300 dollar price range for the boards themselves... but then I'd need an I/O board for either... yes? How big is this? Are their specific brands/Versions/whatever for the specific board? My Neo-Geo MVS doesn't need one, True? Unless its integrated or something I'm missing, So I guess the general question here is about the I'O Board. Brands, Purpose, Specifics, Prices, Where to buy, Anything like that. I'm trying to sizeup the cost of an Atomiswave, but If I have to chunk in this I/O board, I may reconsider.

Thanks!

Mulletron.

 

[EVIL NICK]

I don't know about the AW stuf, but I do know you do need one for the Naomi...

For that, best one is the Capcom IO board, expect to pay ~$200 for that...

 

[Amano Jacu]

Nick is right, AW doesn't need any I/O, it works basically the same as MVS.

However, you do need an I/O to use Naomi in a JAMMA set-up. There are 2 types, Sega and Capcom, Capcom is the best one as it has all you need, while with the Sega one you need a separate psu and possibly a sound amp.

Check www.sega-naomi.com for more info.

 

[Mulletron]

Under their FAQ, it mentions...

Is the SEGA NAOMI JAMMA-compatible?


NO. The NAOMI is JAMMA-2 Standard. It outputs a video signal of VGA, and the controls are USB. BUT! with a simple I/O converter it can be. Check HERE for additional information on I/O boards.


Any Idea where it could be pointing to?

Mulletron.

 

[Amano Jacu]

Well, sorry, that supposed link just doesn't exist as far as I know, that website is far from complete (and it is more or less abandoned) but it is a good start. Just ask whatever questions you might have here or on the boards there.

Anyway, if you want more info about the Capcom I/O this link is very complete:

http://www.solvalou.com/arcade_naomicapcom.php

 

[Mulletron]

Ok, I'm understanding more on how the JAMMA's work and Naomi's and what not... but with this whole I/O scene.... What specific companies need I/O boards? Is this just a Sega Ploy? And also, Kick Harness is merely for the Capcom and Naomi Combined? Or any Capcom? Thusly meaning The Jamma can only provide 6 buttons per player, including starts?

Mulletron.

 

[Amano Jacu]

Well, the JAMMA standar was established something like 15 years ago, and as you know that's an eternity in the electronics field. Some years ago a new arcade standar called JVS (or JAMMA 2) was established, more modern and with more features. Naomi and other modern arcade boards such as System 246 are made according to this standar. New cabs were built that were compatible with this.

However, since some people could want to use the new standar boards in the old JAMMA cabs, I/O's were made for games that can be played with regular controls.

About the kick harness, this is not new, many old JAMMA games that need more than 3 buttons need one, for example 6 button Capcom fighters. JAMMA standar is only 3 buttons + start, but there are 2 more empty pins that can be used for 2 extra buttons, like Atomiswave and MVS do.

Check http://www.homearcade.org/BBBB/plus.html for more info on kick harness.

Notice that the same kick harness works with CPS2, CPS3 and Naomi with Capcom I/O. Other boards such as CPS1 all use different kick harness.

 

[Mulletron]

SCORE! I just got a Naomi Board for 80$, and I was wondering where/who would have the cheapest I/O board (Preferrably the Capcom one) or where I could get it, and what they should run for. I've seen them on E-bay, but I wanna be educated before I purchase.

Mulletron.

 

[Amano Jacu]

I/O's are much more expensive than naomi boards. I'd say 200$ is the regular average price for the Capcom one. They pop in ebay from time to time, or you can try arcade dealers. But it is usually easier to buy everything as a set (mobo + capcom I/O + cheap cart).

 

[Mulletron]

What about the GDRom? A worthy investment? Expensive? Needs additionaly power supply? Naomi 2? Fill in answers as needed, lol.

Thanks.

Mulletron.

 

[Amano Jacu]

A GDrom+DIMM costs around 220-300$. Many games are in GD format only so it is worth it if you want to play these games. If you have a Naomi 1 and a Capcom I/O most likely you'll need an aditional psu. Naomi 2 is backwards compatible with Naomi 1, and the GD unit is the same for both. A Naomi 2 mobo costs around 400$. I'd say it's only worth it if you want to play Virtua Fighter 4.
Finally, take care that any GD game needs to load for a while when you boot up.

 

[Mulletron]

Yeah, I've seen Initial D and Guilty Gear Load.... takes a long while. And... would I need a WHOLE nother PSU similar to the one already used to power the rest of my cabinet? What specifically do I need to get enough power to this Capcom I/O, or that other one (Assuming I get it, which I probably wont). Will this mean I'll have 2 Plugs for my machine?

Little confused.

Thanks.

Mulletron.

 

[Amano Jacu]

A regular arcade psu only outputs +5V and +12V (sometimes -5V too but it is not needed in most arcade pcbs), and the naomi also needs 3.3V. The capcom I/O takes the power from the regular arcade psu and converts a 5V line in a 3.3V one. The Sega I/O doesn't do this, so you need a psu that already has a 3.3V line and connect it directly to the naomi. However, if you use a Naomi 1 with a GD drive, the Capcom I/O can't output enough juice to power both, so you will have to use that aditional psu with a 3.3V line in adition. So yes, in that case you will need 2 psu's (it might be possible to disconnect the regular psu in your cab, but I'm not sure).

 

[RGP]

This is why somtimes having a Naomi 2 + capcom I/O can be nice even if you don't have any N2 games.

 

[Mulletron]

So I need a Capcom I/O and an additional Power supply? I mean, I'm getting info, but its jumping around.

What exactly do I need for it to function?

Mulletron.

 

[Amano Jacu]

So I need a Capcom I/O and an additional Power supply? I mean, I'm getting info, but its jumping around.

What exactly do I need for it to function?

Mulletron.

What's exactly "it"? Naomi 1 or 2, with or without GD?

 

[Mulletron]

Naomi 1, Without GD Rom.

(Or any possibility so I don't have to pop back If I get another, but specifically the one listed above.)

[Oh, I also saw you were pretty much a Guru at the Sega Naomi site! Thanks for taking the time to help me out Amano]

Thanks.

Mulletron

 

[Amano Jacu]

A Naomi 1 with a Capcom I/O should work with just the regular psu of your cab. If you have a Capcom I/O, the only combination that would most likely require the aditional psu is Naomi 1 + GD.

 

[Mulletron]

In that case, would I need a WHOLE nother PSU similar to the one already in my cabinet? Or is there a specific/cheaper one I can use? What voltage does it need exactly?

Mulletron.

 

[Amano Jacu]

As I said in post 13, you would need a WHOLE psu that outputs 3.3V, 5V and 12V. The official Sega one is pictured here:

http://www.sega-naomi.com/Pages/hardware.htm

There also are the same explanations I'm giving here.

 

[Mulletron]

Oh, now I get it... sorry, lol.

Took a while, but it clicked in.

They mention a Sega Power Supply, is this made anymore/is it expensive?

Mulletron.

 

[Amano Jacu]

I can't talk about those psu's because I've never had any. The Sega one shouldn't be that hard to find, but there also should be other cheaper brands out there. However make sure they come with a power connector compatible with the naomi power plug.

 

[Mulletron]

I don't get how this second PSU will be powerd... from the original making it sort of like a step down transformer? Or will there be a second Current from the outlet running to it? Thats what I'm not getting, sorry.

Mulletron.

 

[Amano Jacu]

That second psu will have its own AC cord and will have to be plugged to an outlet. However, I think certain arcade cabs have an outlet inside them you could use, that takes the AC power from the own cab's AC cord before it goes to the psu/monitor inside the cab.

 

[Arcader]

It says on that site that you linked to that the capcom converter should be able to power a Naomi + GD if you turn up the arcade psu +5V all the way up.