Leaderboard

I selected all new components and prototyped them all running on original Card. Zn404 is engineered out in 3 components. All the replacement transistors selections are modern. There...is...alot of planning and datasheet work not shown in this picture!

I have to say Matty, this is all very impressive 👌

The first test board is built and up and running- im testing it out with existing pre-tested IC's. I'm Pleased to report im 24hrs in and its running sweet... nailed it first time... 20260709_213132.mp4

I built a schematic for the board first then laid it all out (more on this on the following board). With a 4 layer board i could have made it very compact or laid it out orientated totally differently but didnt think it would 'look' right. I decided on keeping it looking roughly the same with the same dimensions. I also wanted it to look as cool as possible. Here's a 3d render of the finished design-note the JPM rosette in place of the Varta mofo battery!

i have v2.0 and 2.1 versions of NIFTY FIFTY. does anyone have the dx so i can run it in the emulator please? also does anyone have any other rom variants. this machine was originally a 3 pound jp called SUPER SILVER but at the last minute they changed oit to 4 pound nifty fifty 1: the dx layout 2: any other versions or SUPER SILVER BARCREST 1986 would be great thanks james

I don't think we have any rom variants, as i could only find v2.0 and v2.1 the rom can be altered to make it £3 jackpot, but sadly i can't get the jackpot tune to work after i have altered it. don't know if this is of any use? if so i will alter it later when i get home tonight . cheers

WOW! Topped out at £655 SNG is on my hotlist, but not at that price!

+1 yes, impressive. well done

Thanks fellas. Fingers crossed on getting something better soon. Ha a clever one i am not Bob, your fault finding and scope work are miles better than what I can do. I think anyone who understands schematics can easily build boards with no worries. Its just going through the pain barrier of learning how to build a schematic and learning to use the all the design software. Once you do that it all transfers over to the board layout-so you cant connect anything up incorrectly theres error check tools to stop you missing anything too. Im more of a moth hitting a light bulb until I crack it 😆

Lovely work matt, and I wont pretend to understand it all but I know how much work goes into these projects .👏

Hats off to you Matty, I've never sent a gerber to a PCB house as I'm always worried I've missed something so I leave it to the cleverer guys. To nail that one first time is a real achievement, well done.

Here here, very impressive. Being able to showcase your considerable skills in this way Matty should indeed help your CV and help at interviews. You can't keep a good man down, so you're bound to find a good position.

I got 5 manufactured in China... the manufacturing tabs down the sides of the board are for the component placing machine and snap off. Rather than ground traces ive made large ground planes to help reduce noise and reduced the length og power traces and kept them isolated on the back of the board. The Decoupling caps are now pretty much right on the +vcc pins. I will be keeping one unpopulated like this to show in interviews...

i have the emulator just found it so the various rom sets if any would be great

You can tap out the inside of the psu case with a hammer slightly, if thats to much work you can knock in a wooden wedge prop between the psu and cabinet-work above to take away the vibration. Or failing that just a heavy but small weight like a piece of mild steel on top (not covering the the thermal exhaust slots on the case).