What's the deal with this "newly assembled" Atari MPU?

Did you try messaging the seller with your questions?
Hard to believe in this day anyone would redesign an MPU with a battery holder on the board which makes me believe its a copy or build of NOS boards.

Looks like he just sent in an original board for a scan/copy. Trace layouts look to be identical to the originals, as does the silkscreening.
Way too many things that can be done to improve that board, in addition to the battery holder.
Not NOS though ,as the originals had exposed traces.

Not just that, but you'd think if somebody re-did a whole board they'd realize they were Model-2, not Model-3 (which was only used in Road Runner and I think 4x4).

-Hans

To me it looks like a cloned board. There are dubious places that will scan a PCB and give you back gerber files.

Jameco at a time sold reject atari boards too. So blanks could be out there too. But this one doesn't look like how I remember atari PCBs

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He is selling them blank too

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Maybe someone should make a newly designed mpu for us with new up to date parts.
-Mike

It's been on my list of things to do for quite a while. Just a matter of available time and energy.

-Hans

I asked on ebay............has this been tested in a actual Superman Machine?

New message from: houstonpinball (807Purple Star)

Yes, it was manually soldered and they were tested on two Superman Atari pinballs. Plus the sound prom was tested. Not tested on a Hercules pinball but it includes the eprom. Remember it has a limited 90day warranty . Thank you for asking

I know this guy - houstonpinball. He did outstanding repair work on two original atari boards for me for a space riders at a very reasonable price. I was not aware he was also making replacement boards. Did solid work. I would suspect his replacement boards are good.