Konami Bubble System

From Caps Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
For more information, see this article's corresponding Wikipedia page: Bubble_System.

The Konami Bubble System (Also known as the Konami GX400) is a 16-bit arcade machine platform produced by Konami in the 80s. Unlike it's contemporaries, the Bubble System utilized bubble memory technology in favor of floppies, silicon-based ROMs, or hard disk storage. The system is known for it's boot screen and music ("Konami Morning Music") as well as the original platform for iconic video game franchises such as Gradius and Twinbee.The system was a commercial failure for being more expensive than existing ROM-based systems and the obsolescence bubble memory chips.

Konami Bubble System
Preliminary Information
Release Year 1984
Mounting Technology Through Hole
Capacitor Types Electrolytic, Ceramic
Hardware Specifications
CPU Main CPU: HD68000P8K (Motorola 68000) @ 9.216 MHz Sound CPU: NEC D780-1 (Zilog Z80) @ 3.579545 MHz
Memory Capacity Program RAM: 128K Total (4K SRAM + 124K DRAM)

Bubble Memory / Program ROM: 2 MB (x2 Fujitsu FBM54DB 1 MB)

BIOS: 64 KB EPROM
Graphics 256x224 Resolution,

Supports sprite scaling,

Supports up to 256 sprites
Sound x2 General Instruments AY-3-8910 PSG (Programmable Sound Generator),

x1 Konami K005289 WSG (Waveform Sound Generator),

x1 Sanyo VLM5030 Voice Synthesizer

Known Issues

The Konami Bubble System is known for being particularly fragile and highly sensitive to electromagnetic interference. If the system is subject to strong magnetic interference (ex. Unshielded CRTs or Speakers) the cartridge will likely be irreparably damaged.

"Program ROM BAD"

Causes

  • The Bubble Software cartridge is corrupt.
  • The game failed to load correctly.

Solutions

  • Reseat the Bubble Software cartridge.
  • Replace/restore Bubble Cartridge with a Bubbless cartridge and/or ROM dump of installed game.

System does not boot

Causes

  • Faulty RAM.
  • Bad BIOS ROM.
  • Reset circuitry is malfunctioning or damaged.
  • Corrupt Bubble Memory Cartridge.
  • Bubble Memory Controller is faulty/damaged.

Solutions

  • Replace DIP RAM chips with equivalent SRAM/DRAM.
  • Replace DIP BIOS ROM chip with a freshly burnt EPROM using the bubsys BIOS.
  • Check 74-series logic chips near Bubble Memory Controller using a logic probe. [1]
  • Replace/restore Bubble Cartridge with a Bubbless cartridge and/or ROM dump of installed game.
  • Replace Bubble Memory Controller (if possible).

Audio doesn't sound right

Causes

  • Malfunctioning / Faulty AY-3-8910 chips.
  • Malfunctioning / Faulty K005289 chip.

Solutions

  • Replace DIP AY-3-8910 chips with working old stock or modern AY-3-8910 compatible chips
  • Replace DIP K005280 chip (if possible).

No spoken countdown or spoken speech in games

Causes

  • Faulty VLM5030 chip.
  • Voice volume potentiometer is set too low.

Solutions

  • Replace DIP VLM5030 chip (if possible).
  • Tune the voice volume potentiometer until spoken countdown can be heard.

"Warming up now" screen is corrupt

See example here.[2]

Causes

  • Faulty / bad RAM.
  • Possible glitch.

Solutions

  • Replace DIP RAM chips with equivalent SRAM/DRAM.
  • Allow the system to finish booting.

Disassembly Notes

Under no circumstances should the system be exposed to magnetic tools or unshielded magnetic components. Almost all Konami-branded components are virtually unobtainable, repair at your own risk.

Original Parts

Basic PCB Name

Note model numbers and board revisions here

Capacitor Specifications and Footprint Information
RefDes Qty Capacitance Voltage Mount Diameter/Size Height Lead Spacing Temp Type Brand Series
2 220 µF 10V Through Hole Radial 0 °C
Active Components
RefDes Qty Part Number/Model Number Package Manufacturer (If Applicable) Explanation Datasheet
4066 2 M4066 DIP-14
Z80A 1 D780C DIP-40
2SC2320 2 2SC2320
LS00 1 74LS00 DIP-14
LS02 2 74LS02 DIP-14 Quad 2-Input Positive-NOR Gate SN74LS02
LS04 1 HD74LS04P Hex Inverter SN74LS04
LS08 1 H74LS08P DIP-14 Quad 2-Input Positive-AND Gate SN74LS08
LS32 1 74LS32 DIP-14 Quad 2-Input Positive-OR Gate SN74LS32
LS138 2 74LS138 DIP-16 3-Line to 8-Line Decoder/Multiplexer SN74LS138
LS157 5 SN74LS157N DIP-16 Quad 2 Line to 1 Line Data Selector/Multiplexer SN74LS157
LS174 1 H74LS174P DIP-16 Quad D-Type Flip-Flop w/ Clear SN74LS174
LS244 3 74LS244 DIP-20 Octal Buffer and Line Driver with 3-State Output SNx4LS24x
LS245 1 HD74LS245 DIP-20 Octal Bus Transciever with 3-State Output SNx4LS245
LS253 8 74LS253 Dual 4-Line to 1-Line Data Selector/Multiplexer SN74LS253
LS258 1 74LS258 DIP-16 Quad 2 Line to 1 Line Data Selector/Multiplexer SN74LS258B
LS367 1 74LS367 DIP-16 Hex Bus Driver with 3-State Output SN74LS367A
LS373 3 SN74LS373 DIP-14 Octal D-Type Transparent Latches SN74LS373

Replacement Parts

Basic PCB Name

Capacitors
RefDes Qty Compatible Part Number Order Links
2 860020273009 / 10YXF220MEFC6.3X11 Digikey Mouser LCSC(Order 10)
Active Components
RefDes Qty Compatible Part Number Order Links
4066 2 DigiKey Mouser LCSC
Z80A 1 DigiKey Mouser LCSC
2SC2320 2 DigiKey Mouser LCSC
LS00 1 SN74LS00N DigiKey Mouser LCSC
LS02 2 SN74LS02N / XD74LS02 DigiKey Mouser LCSC
LS04 1 SN74LS04N / XD74LS04 DigiKey Mouser LCSC
LS08 1 SN74LS08N DigiKey Mouser LCSC
LS32 1 SN74LS32N / XD74LS32 DigiKey Mouser LCSC
LS138 2 SN74LS138N DigiKey Mouser LCSC
LS157 5 SN74LS157N / XD74LS157 DigiKey Mouser LCSC
LS174 1 SN74LS174N DigiKey Mouser LCSC
LS244 3 SN74LS244N DigiKey Mouser LCSC
LS245 1 SN74LS245N DigiKey Mouser LCSC
LS253 8 SN74LS253N DigiKey Mouser LCSC
LS258 1 SN74LS258BN DigiKey Mouser LCSC
LS367 1 SN74LS367AN DigiKey Mouser LCSC
LS373 3 SN74LS373N DigiKey Mouser LCSC


If parts are not available or different selection is preferred, you can use the values in the Original Parts section to perform a parametric search.

Related Links

References

  1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faXm8fNFrEo
  2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d42k_nr668s
Retrieved from "https://caps.wiki/index.php?title=Konami_Bubble_System&oldid=6136"