Burned on Ebay again...Primal Rage Board Not Working

Ironmike20

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Burned on Ebay again...Primal Rage Board Not Working

I got a Primal Rage board that was supposed to be a 100% working (Aren't they always?), but as soon as I plugged it in I just got static. I just contacted the seller, but these things are usually sold as-is. It just pisses me off because this is like the 5th time this has happened to me. I just read that primal rage needs a jamma+ adapter for sound. Even without that, it should at least display video. It has a switch on the board, not sure what it does, but when you switch it and power the game back up you just get a different kind of scrambled static. I was hoping that it would maybe be a different resolution switch or something. grrrr
 
I made sure all 3 of the boards on primal rage were firmly locked together. There doesn't appear to be an physical damage to the board. I just get a scrambled static screen when I turn it on, you can't make out the image at all. I really didn't want to touch anything else just in case I might void any possibility of a refund.

I just spoke with the seller. He said that he tested it right before he packaged it. He actually seems like a decent guy and is trying to help me out. The last time this happened with a different seller, the seller didn't even respond to my messages regarding a problem I had with his double dragon board.

I would rather just have a working board than a refund, but If I can't get it working at least I have that option now.
 
What is the monitor model? G07? Need to be sure the video sync is correct for the monitor you are using with the game. That is what bongoben was alluding to. The seller will likely ask about this as well.
 
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The monitor I'm using Says Zenieth GA63A DG25X on the back of the tube. I hope this helps. Thank you again pseeds.
 
The monitor I'm using Says Zenieth GA63A DG25X on the back of the tube. I hope this helps. Thank you again pseeds.

That is the tube but on the chassis (where the electrical components are) there should be a sticker with wells-Gardner, electrohome, etc on it. The sticker may have come off. If you can't find any id on the chassis then a pic of the chassis may help id it. Also look for the sticker loose in the cabinet where the monitor is/was located.
 
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perhaps a rough ride through the mail. try reseating chips, connectors etc.

review the manual ,...pinouts etc. just to double check.
 
If you're having issues with multiple boards in that cab, perhaps the issue is with the cab, not the boards? What are your voltages?
 
I'm gonna try and pick up a multi-meter at radio shack on monday to test the voltages. I might have another cab I can test it in. Its an old Thundercade cabinet. I have to drill the locks on it though because the guy that sold it didn't have any keys. I know it's a vertical monitor, but I still should be able to get an image if the board works. I don't think there is anything wrong with my cab, It plays NBA Jam and the capcom 18-1. They are both pretty big boards. I will get the tester just to be sure though
 
also keep in mind if what you are describing is a sync issue (kinda sounds like it) you may need to adjust the monitor a little bit to work with that particular board. Or any specific board for that matter. I have a jamma cab that just about every board I swap in requires a slight adjustment to the monitor to sync correctly.
 
Unfortunately we don't have a Frys around here. Trust me, i'd rather not buy it from radio shack lol. I have a lot of jamma boards that work problem free, maybe there is something different about Primal Rage. It is a monster of a board. Any other boards I had problems with either had damage, corrosion, or a bad Rom. Although I did have a similar problem with Time Killers. I'll have to look into adjusting the whole sync thing just in case. Thanks
 
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Did you ever get Time Killers working? I haven't had time to play legos with the different parts on the boards I have, would be goods to know what was going on if it was resolved in case I run into that problem w/ mine. To echo what others have said, depending on what the static looking screen actually is, it may be a matter of having to fiddle w/ the monitor pots, I had the SF boards working great in the fighter cab but I had to mess w/ hold a bit when I dropped in Soul Edge. Was a really slight adjustment and adjusted it still works with the other boards. Hopefully the PR problems are as simple as a sync issue, sounds like you've had bad luck w/ those.
 
Monster boards generally suck more power. Sucking more power = you need to make adjustments per game. Checking voltages should be the very FIRST thing you should do with games that are flakey. The multimeter is one of the most important tools in your toolbox. And any voltage checks should take place in three places: first on the power supply to make sure it's actually doing /something/, next on the harness to see what the voltage drop is, and next on the PCB itself in two spots: right behind the harness and on a RAM chip or an EPROM.

You check it behind the harness and note the difference between on the harness and on the board. If there's a large difference (more than half a volt) you should clean the edge connector and the harness plug. Do that and measure again.

The 5VDC should meter ~5.18 or so.

I have some cheap meters available in my store if you're interested.
 
Does Primal Rage have an option for a medium resolution or a stanadard resolution monitor? Grab a manual and make sure the dip switch settings are correct for the type of monitor you are using.
 
Does Primal Rage have an option for a medium resolution or a stanadard resolution monitor? Grab a manual and make sure the dip switch settings are correct for the type of monitor you are using.

judging by MAME, the only dipswitch I'm seeing is for service mode.

I think the extra audio harness is only for running stereo sound, but I could be wrong.

only way you'll find out what's going on is if you get some voltage readings. I've seen games run with super low +5 voltage, and some with absurdly high. if anything, they might reset or lock up, but this static business is certainly weird, I've never encountered anything like that.

I'd try the board in another cab if you got one, or make sure the JAMMA edge is squeaky clean.
 
No TK_Monkey, unfortunately I never got either of my time killers boards working. Hopefully if primal rage does in fact work, then this will fix both problems. I mean they are more or less doing the exact same thing. The seller swears he fired it up a few times before sending it, and even considered keeping it. His packaging was excellent, so I don't believe it was damaged in shipping.

I guess I need to get out of my head that even if have a bunch of boards that work fine, doesn't mean I don't need to make adjustments to my equipment when a board doesn't play. Primal Rage and time killers are the only 2 boards that I felt weren't broken, yet I couldn't get a picture. Time killers used to work fine on a Dedicated Mortal Kombat 4 cab I had like 6 years ago. I know that a lot can happen when it just sits around for that long. I even got a replacement battery for it, but that didn't help. It always made me wonder if my cab now (Wrestlefest) was setup a little differently. I'm leaning towards that whole -5v thing, because MK4 needed it, and time killers uses it....so my cab could be lacking that. All the old school side scrolling 4 player beat'em ups konami games work with no problems.....X-men, Simpsons, GiJoe, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1&2. I have Battletoads, Captain America & the avengers, Spider-man, Superman, Avengers in Galactic storm, Aliens, NBA Jam, Pacland, Double Dragon 3, Robocop, Ninja Gaiden as well as the Capcom 18-1....All work completely fine as well. I guess thats why this whole thing drives me nuts.

I had a problem with one of Yatons crappy multi-jammas too. I have another cabinet I will test on, I just need my friend to come over and drill the locks (hopefully tomorrow or Tuesday). We'll see if that rules out anything else. It's an old dedicated Thundercade that I'm trying to fix up to sell (at least I hope I can find someone that will buy it). I have a Narc Cabinet that I'm redueing but I don't think that has a jamma harness in it. If Primal Rage had a medium option on the board it could be another one I could possibly test on. Although, I have to drill that one too....oh fun! lol Doesn't anyone ever save the keys to these damn things? I've had to drill every Cabinet I've ever had.

Almost forgot, I did have some trouble with a bootleg Punisher jamma board I got. The pic was really fuzzy (I think it was B&w too) and made static come out of the speakers. I always wrote that off to being a boot. I just didn't want to have to worry about the suicide battery on the old capcom one.

Regarding the whole sync thing, what am I supposed to adjust on the back of the monitor? I just don't want to screw anything up for my other games. Hopefully I can find that happy medium that p1899m mentioned.

I'm gonna grab that multi-meter tomorrow hopefully (I should have already bought one) & test the voltages. I'm gonna test all those areas u mentioned Peale. I would definitely buy a multi meter off you, but I want to get to the bottom of this soon, so it's easier to just go down the street and grab one, even if it costs me a bit more.

Everyone here has been so helpful, thank you to all.
 
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