Discussion: Arcade PCBs worth more for the socketed parts than as a whole -wkg or not

RobMcRaf

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Discussion: Arcade PCBs worth more for the socketed parts than as a whole -wkg or not

I've heard them referred to as "TTL Donor boards" or "TTL Storage Devices"

Some game PCBs that are worth more in loose parts (EEproms, socketed IC's, CPU's, etc.. ) than the actual PCB will fetch for a non-working or untested unit.

Some might even be worth more for the chips, even if it does work!

Pit Fighter was mentioned in another post.

I would add:
Birdie King
Birdie King II
Birdie King III
(see a pattern?)

Additionally I have some cards from old trivia games (pre-touch screen) with 100% socketed IC's just filled with old-chip goodnees, but just about useless as a complete unit.

Any others? I have a feeling that this could be a sensitive subject because there are those who think that EVERY pcb should be saved, but I have tried and been unable to practically give away some boards. Have lost money after shipping and fees on some eBay listings doing a "lets just see what happens when I list this unpopular game PCB", so I know that there are PCBs destined for the scrap heap.
 
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I bought a cheap non-working Arch Rivals board on eBay, which has served as my TTL boneyard for a while. It's a nice, big board. About 85% of the time it's had the random chip I've needed for a repair, and it was cheaper than trying to stock 30+ different TTL ICs.
 
Arch Rivals, yep

I bought a cheap non-working Arch Rivals board on eBay, which has served as my TTL boneyard for a while. It's a nice, big board. About 85% of the time it's had the random chip I've needed for a repair, and it was cheaper than trying to stock 30+ different TTL ICs.

Local guy could hardly give a boardset of that game away. Big, and if you have the mounting plates...even bigger.
 
I agree with this partially. It's hard to have every TTL chip in stock. I even searched ebay for large quantities of these 74xx chips:

~5 cents each chip
($546) Qty:10,000+ 74-SERIES TTL LOGIC DIP ICS 74ALS,AS,LS,C,HC,HCT,HCTLS,F,FCT,AC,ACT
http://www.ebay.com/itm/APPROX-10K-...-LS-C-HC-HCT-HCTLS-F-FCT-AC-ACT-/272071677655

~5 cents each chip
($280) Qty:5,000+ 74-SERIES TTL LOGIC INTEGRATED CIRCUITS ICs
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-000-74-SE...-ICs-DIP-SM-IN-ANTISTATIC-TUBES-/161913399603

11 cents each chip
($ 55) Qty:500+ 74-SERIES TTL LOGIC DIP ICS 74ALS,AS,LS,C,HC,HCT,HCTLS, & MORE
http://www.ebay.com/itm/QTY-500-74-...74ALS-AS-LS-C-HC-HCT-HCTLS-MORE-/281864009183

71 cents each chip
($248) Qty:350+ JAMECO VALUEPRO 7400 LOGIC SERIES COMPONENT KIT
[10x each: 7402,7405,7408,7410,7414,7416,7417,7420,7430,7432,7438,7447,7470,7485,7495,74107,74123,74132,74151,74153,74157,74160,74174,74175,74279]
[20x each: 7400,7404,7406,7407,7474]
http://www.amazon.com/PIECE-7400-LOGIC-SERIES-COMPONENT/dp/B00B887XVM

That jameco set seems nice, but that doesn't fill every single 74xx you need for arcade boards! sigh
 
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Also, does it really matter about the series stuff in the middle???

Code:
74       Series: Standard 74 Series, not recommended for new designs, 
                 as has been superseded by 74LS, 74HC series.
74LS     Series: Low Power Schottky Logic Family, offering improved 
                 speed and reduce power consumption to standard 74 series.
74LS SMD Series: Low Power Schottky Logic Family, in SMD type for compact designs.
74HC     Series: High Speed CMOS Logic Family
74HCT    Series: High Speed Low Power CMOS Family, similar to LSTTL.
74F      Series: Very High Switching Speed with Good Output Drive 
                 Capability similar to LS TTL.
74AC     Series: ?
74ALS    Series: ?
74LVC    Series: ?
74S      Series: ?
 
Anything Poker or Gambling related makes good donor boards. I also still have two large boxes of misc function cards from an old 80's large computer system with loads of PROMs, TTLs, etc. Several of those boxes were sold off years ago and I imagine the buyers are likely still using those chips today.

Scott C.
 
Narc has been a good source for years ;)

Narc_-_1988_-_Williams,_Inc..jpg
 
Narc eproms

Narc has been a good source for years ;)

That is a ridiculous amount of eproms. I've got one of those boardsets. Didn't want to say that one because I'm holding out hope that it will come in useful one day.


BUT, along those lines, converting a couple Exidy Crossbow 440 boardsets to the Multi-game Collx'n yielded something like 70 eproms that are now free for other duties.
 
I picked up some bootleg/modified of galaxian (I'm sure the game was something else). It had wires added which many had become disconnected from their solder points. There really wasn't any way of bringing it back, and the roms had also been previously removed.

I picked it up on ebay, and every chip was socketed.... so that help bolster my TTL inventory. Of course, you never know if they are all good or not.

As for someone mentioning the different 74 series chips.... I've heard that some of the newer chips don't always work in the older applications. But I do not know from experience, just from what I've read that some applications are sensitive to the timing or load differences that each of the series are capable of.
 
1983 trivia game

These things are great. Just want to say thanks to whoever splurged for all the sockets :)
 

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I'm about to sac a BK3, just ended a GT 98's run as well. I do enjoy having a GT board to test new cabs and new power supplies/adjust them, real handy and i don't fry a game i like.
 
Add the PCB Street Smart by SNK to the list. I can't get rid of a working one for $20. Sheesh.
 
Add "Trivia Whiz" to the list

Add "Trivia Whiz" to the list
 

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