Neo Geo MVS Pause Button Mod v1.1

A simple mod to add pause button functionality to a Neo Geo MVS board.

Created by Derf of ConsoleMods.org.

Massive thanks to 12voltman as it wouldn't have been possible without his help!

Concept and Demo

The Neo Geo MVS does not normally support pausing of games through regular controls. However, (all?) games support a special pause mode when DIP switch #8 is flipped to the ON position during gameplay. This is a graceful pause, as background animations and sound generally continue playing. This mod simply allows you to use a dedicated button on your controller or control panel to electrically toggle this DIP switch. In short, this is a momentary-to-toggle switch board.

Note that this has only been test fit to sit flush on a MV-1AX motherboard. If you install this mod on a different motherboard, please let us know if it sits flush and we can note that here.

Click the image below to see a demo of the mod in action.

Manufacturing

• Feel free to remove all silkscreen except "ConsoleMods.org".
• 1.0mm thickness recommended.

Parts

(Shopping cart containing the items below)

• One AIP74LVC2G14GC363 or equivalent SOT-363 dual inverter Schmitt trigger (INV).
• One SN74LVC1G175DCKR or equivalent SOT-363 flip flop (FLP).
• One MCP130T-315I/TT or equivalent SOT-23-3 chip for Power on Reset (POR).
• One 1kΩ resistor, preferably 0603 size (R1).
• One 10kΩ resistor, preferably 0603 size (R2).
• One 150Ω resistor, preferably 0603 size (R3).
• Two 100nF (0.1µF) capacitors, preferably 0603 size (C1 and C2).

Installation

1. Assemble pause button PCB. Positions are marked on the board as described in the parts list.
2. Place PCB onto motherboard and align with DIP switch #8 and solder into place.
   
3. Solder a wire from a 5V source (such as the "C" pad marked in the picture below or any pad connected to it) to the 5V pad on the PCB.
4. Solder a wire from your desired button to act as the pause button to the SEL pad on the PCB. The suggested button is the Player 1 Select button marked in an image below. Multiple buttons can be wired to the SEL pad at once.
   • For a MV-1C:
     
   • For a MV-1AX:
     
5. Press the pause button during gameplay to pause the game!
   • If UniBIOS is installed, you will need to first press Select to pause the system, then hold Start and press Select to access the UniBIOS menu.

Schematic