BallyFA - a Bally MPU based on a low cost FPGA

This is a 1:1 functional replacement to a original Bally MPU, without the additional features of a LISY35, but with much faster boot and lower costs. You can build a BallyFA for less than 70 Euros!

v 1.041 with DIP components 'hand soldered' by JLCPCB
complete with FPGA & headers

documentation

components needed:

- preassembled PCB (see section 'how to order your BallyFA PCB' below)

- CycloneII FPGA (my DIY board or via Aliexpress) plus USB Blaster (Aliexpress), see also here

- a few other 'standard' components, see Reichelt shop cart below

- the program ('pof file') for the FPGA

- the Bally Roms on a micro SD card (see 'SD card image' below)

Have a look at my FPGA page to select which one you want to use.

At the moment 49 different Bally Games and 4 Stern games along with their 'free play' and '7digit' variants ( 128 in sum) are supported and can be selected via Dip switch 'Game Selection.

For each game BallyFA all software settings, Highscores, .. are stored independently.

Latest Software version do support 'flicker free' LEDs without additional hardware needed. Just set option DIP 4 to ON

how to order your BallyFA PCB

Have a look to the PCB documentation section.

Needed Gerber Data, BOM and Component Placement List (CPL) you find on my repository server; see link below. I do provide BOM&CPL in JLCPCB format for a 'full assembly' or 'smd only'. In the later case you have to purchase and solder the DIP components yourself ( see Reichelt shop cart and digikey list below)

NOTE: I had reports that version 1.10 do not work. In case you ordered v1.10 send me a mail, there is a workaround available.

Note: Pin Headers in the Reichelt shop cart have 11mm height. For better contact use Pin Headers from Digikey with 13 mm height. Digikey Part: WM50017-36-ND

Digikey list provided by Jeff! Many Thanks

BallyFA in a Bally 'Six Million Dollar Man'