Another option would be to use an old PC power supply for the +5V. I'm surprised I don't see more people doing this. The power supply is basically free and will provide more than enough juice.

Thanks! This is good info for someone designing new displays.

I was implying that you would use the PC supply for all of the +5V, replacing the linear regulator. It would be way overkill for just the displays and you'd be better off with a wall-wart, as you mentioned. I would recommend getting a good quality one in that case. Lots of crap power supplies out there these days.

Big is an issue, but manageable, loud is also manageable, and everything inside a pinball machine is ugly as sin. Mount it in the cabinet and it should look fine. I doubt you'd hear the fan. You could probably re-use existing wiring in many cases. You could also use a Peter Chou style arcade power supply and you get a smaller, quieter power supply than a PC supply.

I'm not necessarily advocating for big ass PC supplies, but there are TONS of options for +5V supplies that are basically free which could be used. I'm still surprised I don't see more people doing that. Personally, I like the option that replaces the linear regulator with a buck converter supply in the footprint of the original regulator.

There's no real drop-in solution (IMO). I don't consider a replacement of the regulator to be a drop-in. Once you have a soldering iron in your hand it's all pretty much the same difficulty level.

Cool! I designed something similar when I designed my LED displays. I used a basic 6A step-down buck converter power supply powering all of the +5V. I didn't consider doing just the displays. That's an interesting idea. I can see where that would be a consideration if using EZSBC regulators. I think you're better off just eliminating the original regulator completely and building your own power supply on the PCB. Just use the example schematic in the buck converter datasheet. I would also make it adjustable. I also considered the option of using the 190V to generate the +5V for the displays as Wolffdp is planning to offer, but I didn't really like leaving the original high voltage power supply in use. That is a problematic supply at the best of times, but admittedly I never looked at the current draw so it might not be a big issue.

Coming up with ideas is the easy part. Building and shipping the boards is what takes effort. It's cool to see so many options coming out for these games. Kudos to everyone building stuff for pinball.

I like PC supplies because they're so plentiful and cheap. Pick a good one and it will last for years. Though I do also prefer arcade game power supplies in general. The +5V being adjustable also makes them a better option. There are not too many cheap options for new arcade style supplies where I live.

I assume most people just run with the original power supply or replace the linear regulator and that's why you don't see too many people exploring other options. I knew an operator with arcade style supplies in a lot of their pinball machines so it's not like it's unheard of, in any case.