There are three different "official" generations of the DataEast pinball CPU systems. All boards use a 6808 (or 6802) CPU chip, and are essentially a copy of Williams' System 11 CPU board (without the on-board sound circuitry). These are known as Version 1, Version 2, and Version 3. There is actually one other slightly different version of Version 3, which I call version "3b".
Version 1 (#520-5003-01): Only used for part of the production of DataEast's first game (Laser War). The RAM at location 5D is a 2K (24 pin) 6016 RAM.
Version 2 (#520-5003-02): Used from Laser War (partial production) to Phantom of the Opera. The RAM at location 5D is an 8K (28 pin) 6064 RAM.
Version 3 (#520-5003-03): Used from Back to the Future to Batman Forever. Uses "non-reflexive" circuitry (CPU control) for the kickers and pop bumpers. Version 3b (my term) is the same as Version 3, but 3 extra pins added at connector CN3 for a printer option (Last Action Hero to Batman Forever).
All DataEast/Sega CPU boards are downward compatible (so Version 3 could be used in a Version 1 or Version 2 game). However, it is not possible to use a CPU Version 2 board in a Version 3 game, since the reflexive circuitry used in Revision 3 does not exist in a Version 2 CPU board. Also, to modify a Revision 3 CPU board to work in Laser War (Revision 1), some modifications to the board must be performed. Check out DataEast service bulletin number 6 for this modification, by clicking here.
CPU Boards:
1) CPU Rev 1 : Ram size = 2k (0x0800) (Early Laser War Only)
2) CPU Rev 2 : Ram size = 8k (0x2000) (Later Laser War to Phantom of the Opera)
3) CPU Rev 3 : CPU Controlled solenoids (Back to the Future to Jurassic Park)
4) CPU Rev 3b: Printer option (Last Action Hero to Batman Forever)
Display Boards:
1) 520-5004-00: 2 X 7 Digit (16 Seg. Alphanumeric), 2 X 7 Digit (7 Seg. Numeric), 1 X 4 Digit (7 Seg. Numeric)
(Used in Laser War Only)
2) 520-5014-01: 2 X 7 Digit (16 Seg. Alphanumeric), 2 X 7 Digit (7 Seg. Alphanumeric)
(Secret Service to Playboy)
3) 520-5030-00: 2 X 16 Digit (16 Seg Alphanumeric)
(MNF to Simpsons)
4) 520-5042-00: 128X16 DMD - z80 CPU + integrated controller.
(Checkpoint to Hook)
5) 520-5505 Series: 128X32 DMD - m6809 CPU + separate controller board
a) -00 generation: (Lethal Weapon to Last Action Hero)
b) -01 generation: (Tales from the Crypt to Guns N' Roses)
6) 520-5092-01: 192X64 DMD - 68000 CPU + separate controller board
(Maverick to Batman Forever)
Sound Board Revisions:
1) 520-5002 Series: M6809 cpu, YM2151, MSM5205, hc4020 for stereo decoding.
a) -00 generation, used 27256 eproms (only Laser War)
b) -02 generation, used 27256 & 27512 eproms (Laser War - Back to the Future)
c) -03 generation, used 27010 voice eproms (Simpsons - Checkpoint)
2) 520-5050-01 Series: M6809 cpu, BSMT2000 16 bit stereo synth+dac, 2 custom PALS
a) -01 generation, used 27020 voice eproms (Batman - Lethal Weapon 3)
b) -02 generation, used 27040 voice eproms (Star Wars - J.Park)
c) -03 generation, similar to 02, no more info known (LAH - Maverick)
3) 520-5077-00 Series: ?? (Tommy to Frankenstein)
4) 520-5126-xx Series: ?? (Baywatch to Batman Forever)
DataEast/Sega Version 1-3 and DataEast/Sega Version 3b
http://techniek.flipperwinkel.nl/desega/index1.htm#gen:
CPU Board Generations.
There are three different "official" generations of the DataEast pinball CPU systems. All boards use a 6808 (or 6802) CPU chip, and are essentially a copy of Williams' System 11 CPU board (without the on-board sound circuitry). These are known as Version 1, Version 2, and Version 3. There is actually one other slightly different version of Version 3, which I call version "3b".
All DataEast/Sega CPU boards are downward compatible (so Version 3 could be used in a Version 1 or Version 2 game). However, it is not possible to use a CPU Version 2 board in a Version 3 game, since the reflexive circuitry used in Revision 3 does not exist in a Version 2 CPU board. Also, to modify a Revision 3 CPU board to work in Laser War (Revision 1), some modifications to the board must be performed. Check out DataEast service bulletin number 6 for this modification, by clicking here.
PinMAME
https://github.com/vpinball/pinmame/blob/ba34a20a34b670eef34a275796b4508106d85924/src/wpc/degames.c