Since there are a number of Irem games that were available on different hardware and a lot of conversions going on I thought I'd make a simple guide to telling them apart.
First of all you should check the print along the parameter of the PCB as it should clearly state "M72-X-X" or "M81-X-X" and so on. However if you can't read that label for whatever reason here is how you can ID the hardware type from the PCB's features:
if you can't read the labels here is a simple guide:
M72 = 3 PCB stack, JAMMA edge on center board, upper PCB is smaller and has a notch in the corner for the heat sync, also has 2 large ribon cables on one end and a 2 smaller harnesses on the other.
Original games on M72 hardware:
M81 = (looks nearly identical to M82) 2 board stack JAMMA edge is on the upper board and both boards are the same size, no cables between boards, note that there are 3 PCB connectors, 2 on the back edge, and unlike M82 there is one on the side near the front edge.
Original games on M81 hardware:
M82 = (looks nearly identical to M81) 2 board stack JAMMA edge is on the upper board and both boards are the same size, no cables between boards, note that there are 2 PCB connectors, 2 on the back edge, and unlike M81 there is none on the side near the front edge.
Original games on M82 hardware:
M84 = (looks nearly identical to M85) 2 board stack, JAMMA edge is on the lower board, upper board is half the size of the lower board, no cables between boards. note that there are 2 PCB connectors on the back edge, unlike M85 which are on either side
Original games on M84 hardware:
M85 = looks nearly identical to M84) 2 board stack, JAMMA edge is on the lower board, upper board is half the size of the lower board, no cables between boards. note that there are 2 PCB connectors on either side, unlike M84 which are both on the back edge
Original games on M85 hardware:
These are not my photos. Thank you to those who pictures I borrowed
First of all you should check the print along the parameter of the PCB as it should clearly state "M72-X-X" or "M81-X-X" and so on. However if you can't read that label for whatever reason here is how you can ID the hardware type from the PCB's features:
if you can't read the labels here is a simple guide:
M72 = 3 PCB stack, JAMMA edge on center board, upper PCB is smaller and has a notch in the corner for the heat sync, also has 2 large ribon cables on one end and a 2 smaller harnesses on the other.
Original games on M72 hardware:
- Air Duel (Also found on M82 hardware)
- Battle Chopper/Mr HELI no Daibouken
- Daiku no Gensan <Hammerin Harry> (Also found on M81, M82, and M84 hardware)
- Dragon Breed (Also found on M81 hardware)
- Gallop: Armed Police Unit <Cosmic Cop> (Also found on M84 hardware)
- Image Fight
- Legend of Hero Tonma
- Ninja Spirit/Saigo no Nindou
- R-Type [Not Viable for Conversion or Multi due to different ROM board]
- X-Multiply (Also found on M81 hardware)
M81 = (looks nearly identical to M82) 2 board stack JAMMA edge is on the upper board and both boards are the same size, no cables between boards, note that there are 3 PCB connectors, 2 on the back edge, and unlike M82 there is one on the side near the front edge.
Original games on M81 hardware:
- Dragon Breed (Also found on M72 hardware)
- Hammerin Harry (Also found on M72, M82, and M84 hardware)
- X-Multiply (Also found on M72 hardware)
M82 = (looks nearly identical to M81) 2 board stack JAMMA edge is on the upper board and both boards are the same size, no cables between boards, note that there are 2 PCB connectors, 2 on the back edge, and unlike M81 there is none on the side near the front edge.
Original games on M82 hardware:
- Air Duel (Also found on M72 hardware)
- Daiku no Gensan <Hammerin Harry> (Also found on M72, M81, and M84 hardware)
- Major Title
M84 = (looks nearly identical to M85) 2 board stack, JAMMA edge is on the lower board, upper board is half the size of the lower board, no cables between boards. note that there are 2 PCB connectors on the back edge, unlike M85 which are on either side
Original games on M84 hardware:
- Cosmic Cop <Gallop: Armed Police Unit> [M84-D-B Bottom Board, M84-B-B Top Board] (Also found on M72 hardware)
- Hammerin Harry/Daiku no Gensan [M84-A-A Bottom Board, M84-C-A Top Board] (Also found on M72, M81, and M82 hardware)
- Lightning Swords/Ken-Go [M84-D-B Bottom Board, M84-B-B Top Board]
- R-Type II [M84-A-A Bottom Board, M84-B-A Top Board]
M85 = looks nearly identical to M84) 2 board stack, JAMMA edge is on the lower board, upper board is half the size of the lower board, no cables between boards. note that there are 2 PCB connectors on either side, unlike M84 which are both on the back edge
Original games on M85 hardware:
- Pound for Pound
These are not my photos. Thank you to those who pictures I borrowed

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