Dual 5101 RAM Adapter board for Stern MPU-200 pinball machines. This adapter replaces both 5101 RAM ICs (at U8 and U13) on a Stern MPU-200 board with a single 6264-compatible RAM or NVRAM chip (available for purchase separately).

Makes for an inexpensive way to upgrade MPU-200 games to NVRAM versus having to buy 2x individual adapters.

mpu200_adapter_v1.1_bare_front_(resized).jpg

Available @ http://www.pinitech.com/products/stern_mpu200_ram.php

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So you won't be needing any is what you're saying

I went with the wire harness to avoid any issues with the socket(s) having been replaced and eliminate needing exact pin alignment of both RAM chips. Also helps if the sockets are at different heights (either soldered higher or depending on the type of socket or socket strips).

I'm going to make a PCB order for these within the next several weeks. I'd expect to have them ready to ship mid-March or thereabouts. If anyone else is interested in one of these let me know in the next week so I have an idea of how many boards I should order. Thanks!

I decided to make this a single board plug-in solution instead of messing around with two separate boards and a wire harness. I have some more prototype boards ordered and should have something to show in a few weeks.. and will likely offer a few of them up to people interested as long as everything looks good. What I hope to do is offer an adapter for basically a 6264->dual 5101 RAM pinout. This means if you already have a 6264 RAM chip or a compatible 6264 NVRAM chip you can throw it in the adapter and you're good to go. Also means if you order it with the 6264 NVRAM you could always pop the NVRAM out and use it in a newer machine.

The reason for going to a single board design instead of separate boards was simple. There's just not a ton of space between the boards and you're also somewhat limited with space above and below the 5101 sockets. Below the U8 RAM you're okay, but I wanted to get away from manually crimping a cable together since that adds time/cost. To do this I was going to use a 10pos ribbon cable connection and had bought the parts for them last year, but due to the lack of space between the 5101s, the 10pos connector would have had to go at the bottom of the U8 board and ribbon cable would have had to cross over top one of the boards. Not aesthetically pleasing and it was enough beating my head against the wall trying to make it look nice. So.. to keep it simple, it's going to be a single board design. Another benefit to a single board design is I can pick up the signal lines, power and ground from both sockets.. duplicating the connections in case the connection is bad at one of the sockets.

If anyone's interested in helping out with testing the single board prototype in their MPU-200 machine, send me a PM or reply here. I'll discount the adapter some since you'll be providing feedback & also allow for a full refund if you want to return the unit to me after you're done testing it and/or want to trade it in for one of the final versions when they come in. Otherwise, I'd expect to have these available Mid-March, offered with or without NVRAM.

The male machine pin strip headers should be tolerant of slight differences in the sockets and for the extreme height differences I'm thinking adjustment could be made by doubling up on machine pin strips or a socket at the lower height socket. Even if both 5101 sockets aren't perfectly centered, there's also only so much they can be shifted off of each other. It may not work for 100% of the scenarios with MPU-200 boards that have had sockets replaced, but if it'll work for 95% of what's out there and allows for redundancy of connections on many of the signals that seems like a pretty good compromise to me.

I have the prototype MPU-200 adapter in and built, but have been working on getting an MPU-200 mpu cleaned up and working solidly for testing. The board I cleaned up had corrosion damage.. more than I thought it did and I cleaned up and replaced anything that got hit and sealed with conformal coating. It currently has issues with the reset section, so I need to find which component(s) have the flaky connections.. assuming it's from vias that were compromised by battery corrosion. So with that, it's going to take me a bit longer than I planned to get this MPU-200 nvram board tested. What sucks is I have a fully working mpu board inside a Stern Black Beauty Shuffle Alley, but can't get to the back of the machine to pull the board. Ah well

Figured out the issue with MPU board I was using to test with at the bench (“Galaxy” ROM versions were different causing it to not boot correctly sometimes). After fixing that, testing of the updated RAM Adapter boards has gone well. Updated pictures are below.

With 6264-compatible NVRAM:
mpu200adapter_nvram.jpg

With a generic 6264 RAM IC:
mpu200adapter_6264.jpg

mpu200adapter_inboard.jpg

So this MPU-200 RAM Adapter board can work in 2 ways:

• Use with a 6264-compatible NVRAM and it replaces both 5101 RAM and eliminates need for batteries. A single 6264-compatible NVRAM is all that is needed.
• Use with a low power 6264 RAM IC and it again replaces both 5101 RAM. You will still need batteries connected to your MPU if using a low power 6264 RAM however.

LOOKING FOR TESTERS: If anyone with an MPU-200 game within the United States wants to help test, let me know. I'll contact a few people from this thread that already expressed interest, but I'll be looking for 10-15 individuals to test these in various configurations and will discount the adapters in exchange for some feedback. If for some reason it doesn't work out or you want to return it for any reason, I'll refund the purchase price & one-way shipping so you're only out a couple dollars to ship it back to me.

Discounted prices for adapters (for people wanting to help test in their games) will be:
$15.00 (adapter with no RAM, you bring your own RAM)
$17.50 (adapter with brand new low power 6264 RAM)
$36.00 (adapter with NVRAM)

Shipping will be $3.50 regardless of the number ordered.

I have a limited number on-hand right now to send out at the discounted price so contact me if you're interested. I expect normal pricing to be $18.00 (adapter no RAM), $20.00 (with brand new 6264 RAM), $40.00 (with NVRAM).

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Got a handful assembled today, just have to do some final testing on them. I've sent a few PMs to those interested, have a few more to send out. Imagine most of this first run will be spoken for. Thanks for the interest everyone, looking forward to hearing how this works out in more Stern MPU-200 games!

mpu200.jpg

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Looks like I still have a few more of these available if anyone else is interested. Ideally looking for people that have one or more MPU-200 games and can provide some feedback in exchange for the discounted price.

I can offer them with Ramtron 28-pin DIP IC (FM1608B) too if you want a slightly cheaper NVRAM option. $31.00 + shipping with the Ramtron FM1608B-PG. See picture below.

mpu200_ramtron.jpg

"No more speed-matching 5101s" BUMP!

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BUMP -- still have a few more of these available if anyone's interested. Those that have purchased one have reported they are working fine. I'll be adding these to the website in the next month or two and will have options with or without NVRAM memory.

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http://www.pinitech.com - "Pinball Inspired Technology"
Kits, upgrades and test equipment for pinball machines

Update:
The MPU-200 RAM Adapters are now available for sale directly at:
http://www.pinitech.com/products/stern_mpu200_ram.php

Purchasing options with or without RAM / NVRAM.

Many thanks to everyone that helped with additional testing / verification of these boards!

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http://www.pinitech.com - "Pinball Inspired Technology"
Kits, upgrades and test equipment for pinball machines

I'm thinking of offering a DIY kit version of the MPU-200 RAM/NVRAM Adapter in January or February 2015.

Fully assembled versions of the adapter are of course available now with or without RAM/NVRAM from the website below. I don't have documentation for kits yet, so I won't be officially offering them on the website just yet -- but if you're interested in an "unofficial kit" before I have them on the website (and don't mind not having assembling instructions).. send me a PM.

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http://www.pinitech.com - "Pinball Inspired Technology"
Kits, upgrades and test equipment for pinball machines

Running a sale on these MPU-200 Adapters (with or without RAM/NVRAM) for JANUARY: http://www.pinitech.com/products/stern_mpu200_ram.php

Additional discounts if ordering a quantity (3-PACK and 5-PACKs were added in the drop-down box). Please select the appropriate quantity there instead of adding individual adapters if you want to take advantage of the discounts.

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http://www.pinitech.com - "Pinball Inspired Technology"
Kits, upgrades and test equipment for pinball machines

Last week of the sale on these MPU-200 NVRAM/RAM adapters (ends Saturday 1/31).

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http://www.pinitech.com - "Pinball Inspired Technology"
Kits, upgrades and test equipment for pinball machines

One last bump on these since the sale ends tonight.

Link: http://www.pinitech.com/products/stern_mpu200_ram.php

The 3-PACK and 5-PACKs will remain (just bump up slightly since they're also on sale). So there will still be discounts if you're ordering a bunch for your classic Sterns with MPU-200 mpus.

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http://www.pinitech.com - "Pinball Inspired Technology"
Kits, upgrades and test equipment for pinball machines

Everyone, I have added some DIY options on these adapters. Bare boards are $7.50 and kits (that include a 28-pin socket and headers) are $9.50. You will still need to supply your own RAM/NVRAM or that's also available for purchase if needed. No official assembly instructions are included right now for the DIY adapters, but there are only a few components so it's really not too complicated.

http://www.pinitech.com/products/stern_mpu200_ram.php

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Kits, upgrades and test equipment for pinball machines

Sale on assembled MPU-200 RAM/NVRAM adapters is back up on these for the month of AUGUST. Additional discounts if you order 3x or 5x. Options available with or without RAM/NVRAM. Also DIY / bare board options available. Bare boards will have the smd cap soldered on already.

mpu200_adapter_400.jpg

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Kits, upgrades and test equipment for pinball machines

BUMP. Sale technically ended yesterday, but only had one person buy one in August.. so I'll keep the sale up for another week or two unless I run out of the handful I have assembled before that.

There's some lower priced NVRAM out there these days (ie. RAMTRON FM1608 DIP parts) that combined with a MPU-200 Adapter DIY kit would be a cheap way to upgrade MPU-200 games to nvram. Just sayin'

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http://www.pinitech.com - "Pinball Inspired Technology"
Kits, upgrades and test equipment for pinball machines

Going to end the sale on these EOD on Friday 10/16, so one last bump!

This may be a cheap way for some people to upgrade their MPU-200 machines to nvram now that there a lot of options available there.

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Kits, upgrades and test equipment for pinball machines

Thank you sir My Black Beauty still needs one of these, has an early prototype (2x separate boards) with dupont connectors making the connection lol. It's behind pinball machines that don't get moved often so. It's really actually ridiculous how the stuff I sell is better than what I'm using in my machines (often earlier prototypes end up staying in my machines). Planning to address that this winter lol.

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Kits, upgrades and test equipment for pinball machines

LOL. I'm not sure if it's a good thing to have a monopoly on a board that isn't in very much demand -- but for what it's worth, the few sales that happen are all mine!! hehe.

Have sold a few handfuls this year, none from the recent posts in this thread though.. so for anyone judging demand.. there you go I think maybe people with MPU-200 machines are just using 2x nvram adapters or not worrying about upgrading. I'm surprised.. the market feels as "soft" as the market for Gottlieb System 1 stuff. Surely there's more people that want to upgrade their MPU-200 games.

I think with the cheap used RAMTRON pulls now available this adapter should sell a little better. Maybe a few more handfuls per year!

Thanks for the bump!

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http://www.pinitech.com - "Pinball Inspired Technology"
Kits, upgrades and test equipment for pinball machines

One last bump for the sale that's ending today.

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Kits, upgrades and test equipment for pinball machines

More PCBs for these due in early February. There's been more interest since people are importing DIP RAMTRON, so I ran out of bare boards/kits toward the end of last year & it's been bugging me not to have them available. Problem will be solved soon enough

Also did an ENIG finish on these this time around -- longer shelf life if left unsoldered, higher quality finish. Price on a bulk of them was decent enough, so expect a little more of a discount on current pricing all-around.

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http://www.pinitech.com - "Pinball Inspired Technology"
Kits, upgrades and test equipment for pinball machines

DIY / Bare Board options are back in stock & available @ http://www.pinitech.com/products/stern_mpu200_ram.php

I shrunk the through-holes slightly on the headers for the round male header pins which I think will make assembly a bit easier. ENIG finish. Lower pricing all-around too (running a sale that may even stick around for a while if numbers work out).

Get those MPU-200 machines upgraded to nvram! No excuses!

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http://www.pinitech.com - "Pinball Inspired Technology"
Kits, upgrades and test equipment for pinball machines

Forgot to mention, quite a few quantity discounts were added on bare boards & kits for these when the new pcb order came in, so good for people with larger collections. If you've got dozens of machines or more, contact me and we can work out something.

Hopefully I can actually get one of these in my shuffle alley this time around -- still using an early 2-board prototype with dupont cables for connections lol.

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Need to get some of these moving, running a deeper sale on bare boards and kits (in quantity). Now as low as $4.75 per bare board or $6.75 per kit.

I'll keep the sale going for the month of February.

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Hey Ingo, got your package shipped out yesterday -- will send you a PM with tracking info. Thanks for the comments!

Bump.

If anyone has a huge number of MPU-200 machines (ie. big collection, museum, etc) to upgrade to nvram & has already bought imported DIP nvram, etc. Let me know.

I'll give a better price on kits or assembled boards if there's a 1-2 dozen or more going out. Sales on these picked up very slightly toward the end of last year and I ran out of boards, but now I'm sitting on just about all the boards I bought beginning of this year when I restocked. And now that there are others creating MPU-200 nvram adapters it's going to take longer to sell through any amount of these. So I'd rather keep things moving. Larger volume orders will get better pricing than what's on the website.

Just a heads up, now offering these in SMD version, currently on-sale for the Holidays at $18.95ea or as low as $15.95ea in quantity. These use the same CYPRESS chips as the other nvram I sell.

mpu200_adapter_cypress_300 (resized).jpg

The DIP-28 style MPU-200 Adapter is also on-sale & once those are sold-out they may just get phased out entirely since there's light demand on that style and they take a bit longer to build and clean-up since there's a socket to work around. So if you want to grab some kits for that style & use your own NVRAM, you might want to do that sooner-than-later.

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http://www.pinitech.com - "Pinball Inspired Technology"
Kits, upgrades and test equipment for pinball machines

Close-out price on the 28-pin DIP style adapters - $5.00 for a DIY Kit, $4.00 for a bare board. No RAM included, but you can pick up a RAMTRON NVRAM DIP pull for $7ea or low-power SRAM for $1.50ea. So an nvram solution on MPU-200s for a whopping $12 (or less if you source your own NVRAM). Only DIY Kits & Bare Boards being offered. Available @ http://www.pinitech.com/products/stern_mpu200_ram.php

A few dozen boards available. Once these are gone they'll be removed from the website & the SMD version will be the only version offered, unless of course there's large enough demand to keep them going. But I have not seen that demand in recent years

Thanks for looking!

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http://www.pinitech.com - "Pinball Inspired Technology"
Kits, upgrades and test equipment for pinball machines

Ok remaining PCB inventory was actually around 50x boards on these.

30x are now gone, roughly 20x boards remaining.

Yep, that's what's being used by most people I believe.

Believe with interest in another larger order for bare boards, the remaining PCBs I had for the DIP version are now spoken for. Thanks everyone!

And if you'd like to see the DIY/bare board options come back for the DIP style adapter, I'm not completely opposed to doing another board run... these just haven't been moving really quick and I'm no longer interested in offering fully assembled boards for this item. There's now a sign-up/waitlist under the DIY options @ http://www.pinitech.com/products/stern_mpu200_ram.php -- I'll leave the page up for a few months just to gauge if there's any future interest in the DIP style DIY options.

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http://www.pinitech.com - "Pinball Inspired Technology"
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I was testing with the GQ-4X and a custom adapter, I'm forgetting if I ever tried in the Neoloch with a single 5101 adapter I had made for GQ-4X. But I write a few files through GQ-4X, verify checksums and that's about it on that one.

Most of the other nvram modules I'm testing on the Neoloch first after assembly, then before shipping I write/read a file through GQ-4X and zero them out.