Neo Geo Universe Bios Installation
If you've heard of the SNK Neo-Geo, then you really should know about the Universe Bios. Developed by Razoola, many see it as an essential upgrade to their AES console or MVS board.
(It's worth noting that you can only buy the Universe Bios from Razoola, or have it fitted by an installer listed on the official site, please do not purchase one from anywhere else)
If you get the Unibios installed professionally then it will probably have the original bios chip removed and a socket installed. This is the neatest solution and looks fantastic. BUT it's not easy to do (that's why the Pros do it), especially with normal everyday soldering equipment. I practiced on a few old circuit boards and didn't get on with it.
Some people do manage DIY installs by removing the existing chip and replacing it with a socket, some cut the old chips legs off as close to the motherboard as possible and then use either a desoldering pump or braid to remove the excess solder. I really can't get the hang of this method, but did read instructions on the official page about piggybacking the new bios on top of the old one so thought I would give this a go.
Here's the parts, a 15k Resistor, a 40 pin DIP socket and the Bios chip (I've put a label over the erase window with my name on to discourage people pinching the photos, it's unlikely to be erased whilst installed in the console I guess)
Once you've opened your console up (hidden screws underneath the foam feet) locate the BIOS chip, I then placed the socket on top, test fitting it (I had to bend the sockets legs very very very slightly outwards, but they should be a nice tight fit over the original legs)
Now the destructive part, you need to snip leg 2, preferably as close to the motherboard as possible. Not too difficult with a pair of decent side cutters. Be VERY careful of the motherboard and any traces that might be near pin 2. If you are unsure which is Pin 2 then check out Razoolas excellent text document for a diagram. Once snipped off, carefully bend the leg outwards so it's parallel with the motherboard.
You can't really see it, but the photo above also shows that I have added the tiniest bit of solder to each and every leg of the bios chip, it really is a very small amount.
I thought it would be easier to test fit the resistor before the socket was in place. I insulated it using some heat shrink and then bent the legs into place so that one end goes to the lifted Pin 2, the other end to Pin 40. DO NOT solder in place though, otherwise you may struggle with soldering the socket in place!
With the extra solder in place on each leg it will be a very snug fit for the socket, but it's worth it because it makes soldering a lot easier and you've got 39 legs to solder together! The first photo above shows a test fitting - notice Leg 2 is bent outwards to match the one on the chip. When test fitting the socket, be careful not to let any leg bend inwards (this happened to me, you'll see in a minute)
I then went around each leg with the soldering iron, carefully heating the solder on the old leg up, and dragging the iron up and over the leg of the new socket, if necessary add a tiny bit more solder, but be careful, you don't want to add too much and accidently solder adjacent legs together.
The first photo shows the end of the resistor is soldered to Leg 40 of the both the old bios and the socket (you'll also see I need to re-solder leg 39 and that I accidently bent leg 38! oops, but they both soldered up okay). The second photo shows the other end of the resistor (I need to trim it!) soldered to leg 2 of the original Bios chip.
Nearly done now :) You should be able to see that I've soldered a thin wire from leg 2 of the socket onto leg 20, that's all the soldering done now. You'll notice that it's quite close to a game cart, but there's just about room - promise!
Of course, this is all thanks to Razoola, please show him support and don't buy a Unibios chip from anyone else (the 3rd party installers on the official site will supply an official chip for you). Please do not ask me to supply you a chip, all emails requesting this will be ignored.
All the information here is from the official site, photos are by mmmonkey :)
Summary of Components needed
1 x Universe Bios
1 x 15k resistor
1 x 40 pin DIP socket
some wire
