I'm starting work soon on Genie (Gottlieb System 1).  I'm toying with the idea of just completely replacing the boards with aftermarket products.

There are two options to choose from:

1) Pascal Janin's board.  The PI-1 X4 replaces all boards in the game (power supply, driver, CPU and sound), and adds new attract mode and diagnostic functionality.  Cost unknown at this point.

http://www.flippp.fr/en/

Pascal Janin also offers PI-1, which is only the CPU board.  Cost also unknown at this point.

2) Ni-Wumpf offers two separate boards:

The CPU ($185US):  http://www.ni-wumpf.com/System1CPU.html

and the Driver ($85US):  http://www.ni-wumpf.com/System1Driver.html

Has anyone had experience with either?  Any recommendations?

Thanks!

I've only used the X4 Pascal board.   No complaints - a huge price and you'll never get the cost back though.   I really like the Pascal MPU board though - lots of improvements over the main board (attract mode, great diagnostics, high-current protection, skill shot, free-play, hi-scores, ...)

If you are just fixing and then selling down the road the NiWumpf seem to be more popular.

The prices I have for Pascal's boards from a few June are:

Quoted Text

the PI-1 X4 still costs 210 euros, no change since last year when you ordered me one

only shipment fees to Canada changed a little bit:
15 euros for handling and airmail registered shipment, but no insurance and no tracking
OR
20 euros (PI-1 X4) for handling and airmail registered shipment + insurance, but no tracking
OR
25 euros for handling and airmail registered shipment + insurance + tracking

the PI-1 board (CPU alone) costs 130 euros + shipment (roughly same as the PI-1 X4 board)

from 2nd board up, the PI-1 costs 115 euros and the PI-1 X4 costs 190 euros, but without manual (+ 5 euros per additional manual)
shipment fees are recomputed (degressive).

So 235EU shupped, or around 350$CDN. If you ask me, a frickin steal. Blown System 1 are everywhere. Some of these pins are in fantastic shape and cheap as hell. I have seen them go for less than 100$. Personally, I would get the PI1X4 and get one of the following:

Sinbad
Totem
Asteroid Annie
Buck Rogers
Genie
Joker Poker
Close encounters
Roller Disco
Count-down

... in fact, if I find one at or under 100$, I wouldn't even care which one it is.

Quoted from Tuborg

I've only used the X4 Pascal board.   No complaints - a huge price and you'll never get the cost back though.   I really like the Pascal MPU board though - lots of improvements over the main board (attract mode, great diagnostics, high-current protection, skill shot, free-play, hi-scores, ...)

If you are just fixing and then selling down the road the NiWumpf seem to be more popular.

The prices I have for Pascal's boards from a few June are:
the PI-1 X4 still costs 210 euros, no change since last year when you ordered me one

only shipment fees to Canada changed a little bit:
15 euros for handling and airmail registered shipment, but no insurance and no tracking
OR
20 euros (PI-1 X4) for handling and airmail registered shipment + insurance, but no tracking
OR
25 euros for handling and airmail registered shipment + insurance + tracking

the PI-1 board (CPU alone) costs 130 euros + shipment (roughly same as the PI-1 X4 board)

from 2nd board up, the PI-1 costs 115 euros and the PI-1 X4 costs 190 euros, but without manual (+ 5 euros per additional manual)
shipment fees are recomputed (degressive).

I recently bought a Ni-Wumph board for a Sinbad from Great Plains Electronics and I was very happy with the board and the transaction. Prompt response and decent shipping cost. Smaller board than the original, fits by moving a couple of the plastic retainer pins. Also a good source for new connector contacts.

Chris

I too bought a NiWumph from PBR, good thing I like it NiWumph will work with all 16 Sys 1's . Not sure if Pascals do. As for driver board....I justr rebuild them, its cheap and easy to rebuild them, same for power supply boards.

Yeah, Pascal's work for all boards too.   I think the price is a steal too - its just if you are trying to recover your costs in the resale it can be tough (unless you find a System 1 for $100).  

I would have thought the value of the board would stand up well as a resale item.  

Personally, I'd prefer to buy a machine with all new electronics, and added features, rather than 30 y/o parts.  I'd be willing to pay extra for it.

Maybe that's just me.

Quoted from Tuborg

Yeah, Pascal's work for all boards too.   I think the price is a steal too - its just if you are trying to recover your costs in the resale it can be tough (unless you find a System 1 for $100).  

I'm picking up a working Sys 1 tomorrow...$200.00 Woot

Nice Briguy. Which pin?

I have fixed a few dozens of Gottlieb System 1 machines in the last few years,
and I prefer to leave them original, incl. boards, if possible (assuming no or
very little corrosion, and that the spider chips all work on the MPU).

The power supply, some stuff on the MPU, the driver board, and all harnesses
are all fairly easy to fix (along with the ground mod). They are reliable once all
the work has been done (especially connectors & ground, and +5V power supply).

I have bought three Ni-Wumpf to replace impossible to repair MPUs over the years,
and these are great (once found a software issue however; support from the
founder of Ni-Wumpf was excellent). One Ni-Wumpf board became defective two
years after installation (a simple TTL chip on the switch matrix circuit, easy fix).

While Pascal Janin's boards certainly seem more advanced and have fun features,
the cost and limited production ruled it out for me. As others have mentioned,
the cost of replacement boards cannot be fully recoup'ed in most of these Sys1
machines, if you are not to keep the machine for a long time...

Good luck & Cheers,
- Sylvain.

I bought a PI-1 board a few years ago to put in a Countdown..  Made the game so much better.  You can have the board play the original ruleset or the new and improved rulesets..  Most have a skill shot, higher bonus, flashing lights when targets hit, attract mode, high score list with initials, etc..  Breathes new life into otherwise so-so games..  Can't recommend it enough.  

I ended up fixing the original board at the time and the buyer didn't care for the new features (didn't want to pay more) so he got the original and I sold the Pi-1 on Ebay...  For more than what I paid..  They are in demand..  I was lucky enough to have a run being done just when I needed the board so didn't wait long.

Mike

Quoted from Ricker

Nice Briguy. Which pin?

Sinbad, apparently it all works but for sluggish kickers and popo bumpers. Apparently dude oiled everything! Gonna go see it this morn and pick up tomorrow, as I dont have my van today ....

Oiled everything? Must have taken advice from ALJO!

Quoted from wbradley

Oiled everything? Must have taken advice from ALJO!

But he says oil dries after a couple of years! He couldn't be wrong, could he?  

Quoted from cooke

But he says oil dries after a couple of years! He couldn't be wrong, could he?  

Here... you will need this:

Ummm...is that a forge workers suit? Gonna be doing some metal casting?

Quoted from wbradley

Ummm...is that a forge workers suit? Gonna be doing some metal casting?

For the current application, let,s just call it an oily-coily flame suit.

Quoted from cooke

But he says oil dries after a couple of years! He couldn't be wrong, could he?  

Ask any tinman and he will agree.

Um...a little focus back to the original topic would be nice....  Thanks.

Here's some YouTube videos I did of Sinbad.   First is video from the Pinball Hall Of Fame of Sinbad at the beginning of the video.   This would be the "original" game with no skill shot / attract mode / etc.

My two videos are of the game play and the board audits / tests / settings.   Poor quality videos (sorry necro) and also sorry Sparky - I still don't have the "Sparky Clearcoated" playfield in there:

Pinball Hall Of Fame



Audits



Game Play

Damn you Tuborg... now I REALLY want a System 1.

So... anyone have one for sale?

I'd really like to try this on my Circus but it already plays great (thanks Wayne - websherpa) aside from a few sunken inserts and crummy backglass. It would add that little extra awesome though.

Quoted from Bish

I'm starting work soon on Genie (Gottlieb System 1).  I'm toying with the idea of just completely replacing the boards with aftermarket products.

There are two options to choose from:

1) Pascal Janin's board.  The PI-1 X4 replaces all boards in the game (power supply, driver, CPU and sound), and adds new attract mode and diagnostic functionality.  Cost unknown at this point.

http://www.flippp.fr/en/

Pascal Janin also offers PI-1, which is only the CPU board.  Cost also unknown at this point.

2) Ni-Wumpf offers two separate boards:

The CPU ($185US):  http://www.ni-wumpf.com/System1CPU.html

and the Driver ($85US):  http://www.ni-wumpf.com/System1Driver.html

Has anyone had experience with either?  Any recommendations?

Thanks!

I'll take all your old boards if you dont want them.....how much would you want for them?

Defiantely buying new boards is good and you can always use em in another machine is the bonus, especially if yoiur not electronically inclined , because repairing some boards can be a b****! as well as costly.