exactly. for boards that are easily and quickly fixable, i don't bother keeping extras. but when i had my wizard of wor, i had a complete spare cage and boardset. but if it's a game like pacman or mario bros, dk, etc, that i could go on ebay and see 5-10 readily available working boardsets, there's no need for me to keep a spare.
How many backup PCB's do you need (or trying to cure my hoarding)
- Thread starter joemagiera
- Start date
exactly. for boards that are easily and quickly fixable, i don't bother keeping extras. but when i had my wizard of wor, i had a complete spare cage and boardset. but if it's a game like pacman or mario bros, dk, etc, that i could go on ebay and see 5-10 readily available working boardsets, there's no need for me to keep a spare.
Hyde
Well-known member
I have no backup pcbs. I guess I never really thought about what would happen if the current ones died.
modessitt
Volunteer: Encyclopedia Submission Moderator
If it's something problematic like Pole Position, then maybe keep a spare.
Otherwise I don't buy extra PCB's for games I own. In my experience, if a game has a good wiring harness, good power supply, and a surge protector, the PCB rarely fails for anything other than battery damage.
Now, that doesn't mean I don't have multiple copies of a game PCB. A lot of times I pick up free PCB's or bulk buys that end up having a bunch of the same game, so I hang onto them until i can test them properly before selling them....
Otherwise I don't buy extra PCB's for games I own. In my experience, if a game has a good wiring harness, good power supply, and a surge protector, the PCB rarely fails for anything other than battery damage.
Now, that doesn't mean I don't have multiple copies of a game PCB. A lot of times I pick up free PCB's or bulk buys that end up having a bunch of the same game, so I hang onto them until i can test them properly before selling them....
I had a back-up board for my Asteroids and TRON, and after tripping over each of them for over a year and scared they'd get damaged, I sold them.
I think I've got 5 sets of 720 boards, in addition to 2 more that are in cabs. None of the spare video pcbs are working...
SeaWolf
Active member
backups
2 for your common games
3 for your faves
All should be working
as a computer guru I am huge on back ups
2 for your common games
3 for your faves
All should be working
as a computer guru I am huge on back ups
It depends on the architecture. If it is a common platform like the Williams classics, then a couple of each component should be enough, with spares for the hard to find items (Sinistar I/O & ROM, Bubbles MPU & ROM, etc).
ken
ken
modessitt
Volunteer: Encyclopedia Submission Moderator
Yeah, with Williams games, it's always good to have one working or each piece. Makes troubleshooting much easier...
Mike Doyle
Well-known member
I ended up with a bunch of spares, mostly via bulk buys; not with the intention to create some ultimate cache, but more by default.
It's pretty bad for some titles- GORF alone, maybe 100 some odd boards or so? Pac & Ms Pac, 25 or maybe 30.
I'll be thinning the heard soon, the parts are stacked just too deep around here.
It's pretty bad for some titles- GORF alone, maybe 100 some odd boards or so? Pac & Ms Pac, 25 or maybe 30.
I'll be thinning the heard soon, the parts are stacked just too deep around here.
7146aaron
New member
Back ups
I have at least one back up for most of my games. Not all. (I need to update my Vaps) The MCR games, I have several. 15 or so Kick mans. 2Tron and 2Spyhunters. 5 or so Asteroids, 4 Burgertimes. 2 Pole position and on and on. Still looking for a good deal on an extra Crazy climber and Looping. This is just an example of how this hobby is a disease. It is amazing how things acumulate.
I have at least one back up for most of my games. Not all. (I need to update my Vaps) The MCR games, I have several. 15 or so Kick mans. 2Tron and 2Spyhunters. 5 or so Asteroids, 4 Burgertimes. 2 Pole position and on and on. Still looking for a good deal on an extra Crazy climber and Looping. This is just an example of how this hobby is a disease. It is amazing how things acumulate.
Riptor
Well-known member
I have spares for some of my games that are harder to find boards. Examples would be professor pac, pacmania, pacland, killer instinct. I always have anywhere from 50-100 pac boards on hand.
I decided not to keep a bunch of extras around, if one breaks I will fix it.
I decided not to keep a bunch of extras around, if one breaks I will fix it.
Daviea
Permanently Banned - See: Ram Controls Forum Secti
Joe, try this. Keep hoarding until you can't stand it anymore. Then, if it works as planned, you'll swing 180 and shed everything. If you learned from it, you will probably never EVER hoard again. 
You have to WANT to get rid of everything, otherwise there's no point in trying.
Dave
You have to WANT to get rid of everything, otherwise there's no point in trying. Dave
What games do you guys have that demand you keep a spare around? Super teh rare or you just can't handle being without a game you've been playing for decades, for 5 days?!
Riptor
Well-known member
What games do you guys have that demand you keep a spare around? Super teh rare or you just can't handle being without a game you've been playing for decades, for 5 days?!
Tried finding a professor pac boardset lately?
p1899m
New member
I would say none but I guess the correct answer would be that I might want an extra if the game is one that no one really repairs.
splattergatz
Well-known member
if i can get a good deal on it and id hate to see the board go to waste or whatever.
might run into a cab that needs a board or if i can trade it for something else that i really want....
love playing the games and enjoy restoring cabinets...i just wish they were selling for a bit more these days
might run into a cab that needs a board or if i can trade it for something else that i really want....
love playing the games and enjoy restoring cabinets...i just wish they were selling for a bit more these days
Joe doesn't exactly have a normal/common collection, so I'd have to say one in the cab and one on the shelf along with some parts for the local repair guru that can help in a pinch. Two spares on the shelf *maybe* for the really rare stuff, but I don't think its necessary. I've had a few parties where the games were on for 12+ hours and the only game that ever went down because of a pcb issue was my ms pac CT. All the other games had cp failures/breakage.
Just think of all the space you'll have in the basement!
