Pandoras unboxed- What to look for in your arcade console

What is an official Pandoras box arcade gaming console?

No, we’re not talking jewellery. Pandora’s Box is a home arcade and console gaming machine pre-loaded with built in retro games. How many games come included on a Pandoras box? they come with a crazy amount of variations including 99, 600, 620, 1399, 1660 with some having over 10,000 games. The better units will include and play both arcade and console games quite well. Consoles can include N64, GameBoy, Playstation, Dreamcast and many other consoles. 

They are popular due to their ease of use and no tech or tinkering experience needed, simply plug in, select a game and play - when you're done turn it off and store away. Minimal space and minimal effort with a ton of Nostalgia.

With so many models out there along with platforms and sellers including Alibaba, AliExpress, eBay and a ton more, it really is buyer beware as these little arcade machines may all look the same but differ dramatically in finish quality and internal components. If you're looking for some quick answers here they are, otherwise if you'd like to read up in more detail, you can scroll down further.

Here are the top question being asked about the Pandora's Arcade Box...

Is a Pandoras box arcade any good?

Pandora box boards and versions vary in game titles and performance. They are low maintenance and usually well priced for what they are. Before making a purchase ask to see a video preview of your specific model, you can then decide if it has the games you want along with how each one plays. If you are after older arcade titles like Galaga, PacMan, Moon Patrol then an entry level board should do you well. If you are wanting to play those and more demanding games like Ridge Racer, Mario Kart then you'll need to consider a more advanced Pandora model.,  and each model should be 3A Games released Pandora box versions 3 & 4 in 2014 which was a very popular upgrade that turned old single game arcade cabinet machines into multi gaming consoles. 

Who makes the original/ real Pandoras box?

3A Games released Pandora box versions 3 & 4 in 2014 which was a very popular upgrade that turned old single game arcade cabinet machines into multi gaming consoles.

What is the Pandoras box arcade official website?

While 3A Games has an AliExpress store, they are a small part of the equation. The manufacturing and retail space for Pandora boxes arcade boards is flooded to say the least. With so many variants, manufacturers and sellers many don't even know what version or gameboard they are selling and there is no official Pandoras box website you can refer to. Hopefully sites and articles like this will help buyers be more aware of what they are buying irrespective of where or from whom. In short beware of marketing claims and seek out details and specifics of what's being sold.

What is a clone and should I avoid them?

Clones were initially inferior copies of the 3A product, however its been over 7 years now and just like Hyundai started off as an inferior product and has grown its quality and market share, we now have 2 Pandora box clones that lead the market in performance. That said there is much confusion and you can easily find yourself disappointed with an inferior clone or a 3A games genuine Pandoras box.

What games does a Pandoras box 11, 12, 18, 28 etc have?

Game count ranges from 60 in 1 to 10,888. A mid tier performance Pandoras box will play a good amount of Arcade classics well including;

• 1942
• Bomb Jack
• Double Dragon
• Galaga
• Moon Patrol
• Mortal Kombat
• PacMan
• Rampage
• Space Invaders
• Street Fighter

However if you want a smooth experience and ability to play more demanding consoles and games like Dreamcast, N64, Playstation then a 3A Games Pandoras box doesn't have what it takes.

Can I use a Pandora box fightstick as a games controller?

Yes, most Pandora box units have a USB port dedicated to connecting to your PC or PS3. Simply connect the included USB cable and power on both units. Once identified you will be able to use your Pandora box as a dedicated arcade fight stick on your PS3 or PC. 

What Pandoras box will play arcade and console games smoothly?

The EX2 Pandora's box and the Pandoras box 3D Plus are substantially ahead in performance and gameplay compared to any other Pandoras box be it a clone or a 3A games product. You can expect to play more demanding games like;

• Ridge Racer
• Mario Kart 64
• NBA JAM

What is the latest version of Pandora's box?

There's a lot of new Pandora Boxes, the challenge is that many run on older slower gameboards so while they are marketed as newer or have a higher model number like a pandora box 28,30 they are inferior to the models that came before.

The original manufacturer being 3A games has released their latest EX board which hardware wise is more powerful BUT as a complete package under delivers and feels like an incomplete product. While the original version, its far from the best.

So the question that should be asked is..

What is the best performing Pandoras box?

The fastest Pandoras boxes are clones made by PSA and Austar. They are the Saga EX2 and the 3D+. Although very similar hardware wise, we believe the Saga boards run faster and smoother. In addition the latest Saga EX2 comes with 3 USB ports meaning no USB hub is needed to run 2 additional controllers for 4 UP action.

  

From game count, to model number to year of release and fit-out quality.. How do you chose the best or even the right Pandora's box console for you?

Does a bigger number mean a better console?

The higher version number must mean its newer or better? a PB28 must be better than a PB18.

and 10,000 games must be better than 4,500. The more the better right?

Are you truly buying the best and latest 2021 or 2022 model? or just the best marketing pitch?

In short model numbers mean very little and when was the last time you played 1,300 games and left upset you didn't have 4,500, 8,000 or even 10,000?

no one mentions that, not all games will play well on every machine, and 15 versions of each game along with a heap of non English versions isn't everyone's cup of tea.

Searching the web for information

If you've looked on the web and eBay there is a crazy amount of long ads with no mention of hardware specs or motherboard model and surprisingly a heap with no image of what the actual interface looks like..

We've reached out to endless sellers on different platforms and purchased from many as well. While there are those that know their product, the consensus is that many don't.

So what are you actually buying? A pretty box?

YouTube reviews with caution

You'll find an abundance of reviews on YouTube which can be very helpful. Those that show the gameboard are great as you can't make an accurate decision based on the case alone. Looking under the the bonnet is critical in understanding how a particular Pandora's Box console performs?

Here are two examples showing how easy it is to be mislead and end up buying a slower performing games console.

Game on friends review

Pandoras box 9 is an entry level arcade gaming console sold by Jaycar and many other Australian retailers. Visually from its 'game on friends' writing, orange branding, case and everything else its indistinguishable from its much faster sibling mostly sold overseas. A Google or YouTube search includes reviews of the faster 8 core CPU gameboard. A popular and decent review is from ETA Prime. The challenge here is that Jaycar nor any resellers actually share pictures of the gameboard or actually publish/know the specs of the board. A case of buyer beware.

12s, 18s or now even the 18s Pro, 28s and 30

The 12s being a PSA-H3-H001 (A7 Quad-core) has also been sold under many other numbers including Pandoras Box 18s and 28s.
Two YouTube videos regarding the Pandora Box 12s from Chigz Tech Reviews which collectively received over 286,338 views show a 12s with 3,333 games.

Both units were rated "the best performing pandora box he had tested to date with no noticeable lag". The first review was a genuine 12S PSA-H3-H001 (A7 Quad-core) which is a mid tier performer that will show signs of lag on games like Mario Kart 64.

However the second review was a substantially faster PSA-S812-S001 (A9 12-core) which is actually an 18s/Saga. There is simply no comparing the two. Due to runout stock this was branded and unknowingly sold by many as a 12s.
So if you were to follow this review and purchase a 12s you would be underwhelmed  and end up with a much slower H3 console.

Thankfully Chigz did open the case and show the boards, so IF you were checking for the board ID you would spot this, even though he did state he believed the s812 was a quad-core, opposed to an actual 12-core :-(.

While Chigz puts together a lot of nice reviews, this emphasises the amount of confusion out there by sellers, promoters and general consumers. With a crazy amount of manufacturers, assembly partners, wholesalers and re-sellers,  you can see why it's crucial to check the specs, as model numbers and stickers can mean very little.

^^ PSA-H3-H001 (V1)

^^ PSA-S812-S001 (V1)

Less is more and quality over quantity applies here in spades.

Always look at and validate the actual motherboard ID, CPU and features. The last thing on your list should be game count - with the right machine you can add the specific games you want. This article will provide some history on Pandora's boxes and help you make sure you are actually getting what you think you're getting.

Happy reading ;-) and you can reach out to us here or here on FB

A quick look at the history of these Pandora boxes

Pandora’s Box was initially released by 3A Games who started by creating JAMMA compatible arcade boards that could easily upgrade old arcade machines. This easy fix or upgrade increased older arcade machines from 1 to a 60+ games machine.

If you're looking for pointers on what makes a good arcade machine check out our how to choose an arcade machine guide

Pandora box models included 2,3,4,4S,4S+,5 and 6.

The ability to support the old 15hz CRT CGA tube screens was a big selling point, and in 2015/16 the official 3A games pandora's box 4 with JAMMA harness did just that. Needless to say being the first it received a lot of attention and praise.
In 2017 3A games released the PB5, but for some strange reason dropped 15hz support. With a ton of manufacturers wanting a piece of the pie, many so called PB5 and 5s version were sold that supported CRT. It turns out that the PB5 and PB5s units that supported CRT were third party clones that copied the older PB4 spec and chipset.

As most of the older, especially arcade games were made pre-widescreen, when playing these on newer screens the biggest challenge is maintaining correct display proportions (Aspect Ratio).  With larger and widescreen monitors/ TV's the challenge that standard Pandora boxes face is picture stretching and distortion of ratio.

By now, the numbers race and customer confusion is well underway.

The official PB4 used an A13 single core, while the PB5 had the A7 quad core. The A7 processor can still be found in the Pandora's box 11s, X, X plus and PB9.

Versions 5 & 6 saw arcade and family versions released. The arcade version kept the dedicated JAMMA 28 pin connection, while the family version used a different 48 pin black socket connection. Thankfully there's a family 48 to JAMMA 28 pin converter allowing both units to be interchanged.

PBX, PBX plus and PB9 appear to be PB5 clones - A7 chipset.

In 2018, the JAMMA version of Pandora's box 6 re-introduced support for CRT screens through JAMMA for CGA at 15hz.

This made it ideal for arcade machines, even though some more demanding arcade titles still struggled.
The family version used a different connection with HDMI and VGA output that supported LCD flat screens. They were meant to support old school CGA but as mentioned this was hit and miss dependent on model and if it was a clone.

The arcade version had a pink case while the family used a see through green. The 5 came with 960 games vs 1300 games on the 6.

Below is a PB5s 1299 in 1 with a blue case with CRT support - so very likely a cloned/ rebranded PB4 or PB4s.

During the time of the Pandora 5 & 6 versions, the circulation of clones was becoming evident as was the inclusion of original 3A or clones boxes inside portable arcade stick setups. These could be connected to an existing TV or display screen, turning it into an instant arcade machine. They could also be used as a joystick with your PC or games console.

The numbers race

In 2020, 3A Games skipped from version 6 to DX which comes with 3000 games, of which 38 are 3D. It includes a pause, save and high score function. It also has a search feature, list games by type, recently played or by 3D which are actually newer generation versions of the game be it PSP or PSX, opposed to the 2D old school arcade version.

So by now you've probably got a hunch as to why 3A games named their newer console DX instead of 7, 9, 9D, 9H, X, X+ 11, 11s, 12, 12s, 18s, 19, 28 and so on....

Yes, Clones. DX instead of another number helps 3A cut through the noise and differentiate, but is that enough? Clones have evolved and come a long way, and while the clone war is rampant with a lot of variations, most will play the old classic retro games to a comparable standard of the PB6 or DX - But is that enough? If you're chasing a more complete gaming experience, then the differences really start to stand out between the more advanced elite clones and the rest of the pack.

People often ask is this a genuine Pandora's Box? Unlike Nike or Apple, in today’s market 3A is clearly not the only manufacturer of these boxes. Many now classify some of these elite clones as a better option compared to the original and current Pandora's box.

The problem is, the clone’s race is flooded with variations and subsequent model numbers that makes comparing incredibly difficult.

None of these models are manufactured by 3A Games -> 7, 9, 9D, 9H, X, X+ 11, 11s, 12, 12s, 18s, 19, 28, Saga. While these can be grouped and classified by the board and processor they use, a large amount of online listings for these gaming console sticks don’t include this information and may refer to them as pandoras box key 7, pandoras box treasure or treasure 3D.

It can get confusing real fast and you could easily think your buying the latest and greatest and end up with something else all together. The best way to try avoid this is by looking at key features and if possible compare what the main boards look like for clues. If the seller can't or won't provide this key information - walk away.

I want the games console with the most games I can get

Lets keep in mind that these are all emulation consoles, so there is a program that is loaded and in turn it runs and interprets the chosen game. For example MAME is the program used to run arcade classics. The most common versions are MAME .139 and .78. Most Pandora boxes will emulate/ play arcade classics well as the processing demand is relatively low. So if that's all you want then an 11s or anything with an A7 chip should tie you over. Remember with emulation - nothing is ever perfect.

As you start exploring other emulators that demand more powerful hardware, depending on your console you may start to notice sound clipping, page tearing, freezing, crashing or even game exit. The majority of Pandora's box consoles don't provide the ability to adjust game settings like frame skip that can reduce this impact and make a game more playable, making pandora's box selection more critical.

So back to game count.. Pandora's box consoles include games from different consoles including Arcade, Game Boy Series, SNES, PC-Engine, Megadrive, Dreamcast, N64, PSP.
Each Console and subsequently each game has different requirements.

Anyone who's ever owned an emulation console will tell you that not all games work, and for those that do they don't all work well. Lets skip forward a bit here... If you want to increase the probability of desired games playing well on your games console, then you need to seek out the best hardware - and thus lies the challenge. 

The moral of this story is more is not better. If anything once you have your console, you will likely want to delete games that you don't like or don't run as well.

So what is screen tearing or Lag, whichever you prefer to call it is when the game being emulated struggles due to limited hardware or software resources and this impacts the gameplay and image motion/ smoothness.

Where are we today?

Using the below you should be able to categorise or come close to understanding where in this hierarchy a Pandora's box arcade console stands.

No matter what number a Pandora's box is advertised, as mentioned always look at and confirm the specs. As a base check, if the advert doesn't show it has the following features then its either 11s spec or older - Game list filtering (All, Category, Recent, Search) or Save and Load game progress.

Pandora X and X plus along with PB 12 images below from eBay listings are PB 11s spec.

 

Be it local or international, beware of incomplete listings and images showing features not listed. It might also be a good idea to buy from those who know about the products they are selling... Do your research as having to return an item can be costly and very time consuming.

Capcom Home Arcade stick console

This lil beauty has been popping up in mainstream retail outlets ranging from target to Kogan and everything in between.

While it has premium controls, given the game count and price we've placed this as our entry level unit.

Priced between AUD$199 to $299, it includes Sanwa JLF-TP-8YT joysticks and Sanwa OBSF buttons along with the below 16 classic titles;

• 1944: The Loop Master
• Alien vs. Predator
• Armored Warriors
• Capcom Sports Club
• Captain Commando
• Cyberbots: Full Metal Madness
• Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors
• Eco Fighters
• Final Fight
• Ghouls'n Ghosts
• Giga Wing
• Mega Man: The Power Battle
• Progear
• Street Fighter™ II: Hyper Fighting
• Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo

Spec wise looks good with video output of 1080P. Emulation software used is RetroArch on a Linux base with 4GB NAND, however it only uses a H3 processor. This blast from the past makes a serious visual statement and comes in at 74cm x 22cm x 11cm.

 

Pandora 11s

While the 11s is made by PSA and the Pandora's box 9 by Austar they are both the the same entry level spec. The 11s however comes in two iterations being a Quad-core Cortex-A7 1.2GHz CPU; GPU Mali 400MP2 graphics processor with 1600, 2600, 3399 games or the older H2 A7 quad-core with 2989, 3003, 3188, 4710 games. Micro SD Card is either a 16GB or 32GB. 

It plays all the classics and has a small amount of 3D titles which are not its strong point. It has no save state, so it can't store your high score, save game progress or load previous position. The console does include search, pause and exit features. The 11s also known as the plus or key 7 treasure comes in a varied game count including 1299, 2167, 2706, 3000, 3009 and 3399. The Pandora's box 11s stores its games on a either a 16GB/32GB micro SD card. if you're looking to occasionally play old school classics like Galaga, Moon Patrol, Space Invaders, Pac-Man and so on then this unit will do the job. If you can pick one up dirt cheap its a good start.

Irrespective of name, if your interface looks similar to the below you very likely have an entry level board running a Quad-core A7 Mali 400MP2.

Interface:

PB 11s Motherboard:

 

Pandora 9

The Pandora 9 made by Austar runs a blue board just like its big brother but without the oomph!  Made in China like the rest of them, Austar has nothing to do with the Australian telco with the same name. This PB9 is basically an 11s with less games. Its the same same spec being a Quad-core A7 Mali 400MP2 with no save or search functions.

A common design we've seen is the The 'Game on friends' single deck sold by Jaycar Electronics, Betta Home Living, Kogan, Catch and other resellers. This comes with 1660 games and retails from AUD$249 to $305 :-(.

Interface:

 

PB 9 Motherboard:
Motherboard identifier: SG.GB2000S.REV2_32

Pandora Alpha Fight

Released The Pandora Alpha Fight released after the 11,12, 9 boards has a unique interface and different looking black board with gold lines. Sadly the spec isn't any better running a ARM cortex A7 quad-core 1.3Ghz (4 core CPU, 2 core GPU) with a Mali400MP2and 256MB RAM. HDMI & VGA output is 1280 x 720P. That's .1Ghz faster than the entry boards before it, the board looks fancy though ;-).

Interface:

 

PB Alpha Motherboard:

Pandora 12

The 12 is also branded as the 12s, X Plus, Saga 13 XIII, Saga 14 XIV and in true Pandora tradition now we also have the 28s Pandora Pro RRTV. This is the next step up with a slightly higher spec Quad-core H3 1.5GHz; GPU Mali 450MP2 with a 32GB card housing anything from 3188, 3333, 3800, 4800 games of which around 70 are 3D and has Wi-Fi as an option. Released in 2019 there was also a short board JAMMA version which didn't do too well.

 

To give you a visual feel of graphics ability, here is the Mali graphics chip performance comparison in GFLOPS. You can see in Orange, the 12s graphics processing is double the speed of the older 11s. The 18s and EX boards shown in blue double the graphics ability of the 12s.

The 12s Skin and user interface look newer with access to the game store where you can download more titles. In addition it introduces game list filtering and save state which allows you to store high scores, save game progress and load previously saved games.

Due to the newer skin and interface many confuse this with the faster A9 machines.

The 12 boards play the basics well and while capable of playing some of the more demanding games, on some titles like Mario Kart you may notice sound chopping and frame skipping. While there's still lots of fun to be had, it really depends on each individual's requirements. As seen in the below interface the 12 is also pushed as the 28S Pro. To identify what you are actually buying, please always refer to the pandoras box motherboard.
Motherboard identifier: PSA-H3MM-002 

Interface:

 

Motherboard:

 

 

Pandora 9D

The 9D also know as Pandora Games 3D is very similar to the 18s/ Saga and shares the same spec ARM Cortex A9 Quad-core processor and 2GB RAM.

While the 9D GME GB3000 is distinguishable by its blue motherboard and copper heatsink. Not to be confused with it's entry level little bro the GB2000 that has a silver heatsink. The key differences between the GB3000 and the 18s are;

While the games are still stored on the micro SD card, with onboard NAND, the operating system is stored on the motherboard itself.

Having the operating system on the motherboard means it can’t be updated, which isn't a biggie but if patching the board and it goes wrong the board is toast.

That said you're unlikely to notice the game play difference on the 9D compared to the 18s/ Saga/ EX2.
Motherboard identifier: GJ.GME.GB3000.REV1.2

Interface:

 

Motherboard:

 

Pandora 18s, 18s Pro

The marketing hype continues as the 18s and 18s Pro are the same machine. with no difference. With a 12-core ARM cortex A9, 4 core CPU+8 core GPU 2.0GHz; Mali 450MP8, the 18s 3D model comes loaded with all the features and grunt to handle the included 4500 old school and newer 160 3D games. This unit is smoother and faster with video output of 1920x1080P that will ensure a maximum arcade experience. While you may in fact be happy with a 11s, 12s or older board - the 18s uses newer generation chipset and just does things smoother and with less effort. In short enabling you to play more demanding games.

As this machine supports larger SD cards like the Saga EX2, in true pandora box tradition, it comes with more games including 8,000 and 10,000. The 8,000 includes an extra 40 3D titles meaning better graphics versions from either PSP or PS1.

After much testing the 18s Saga was our preferred board for some time.

While the 18s will play more demanding games like Mortak Kombat, Tekken, Mario Kart 64, and Initial D smoothly and with ease, the last boards were cleared out and sold as the slower 12s and subsequently the 18s was discontinued by early 2021.
The manufacturer claimed too many returns due to reliability and heat dissipation which lead to brittle wires and ocassional wire/fan contact.

Around February 2022 we noticed some new PSA-S812 single boards doing the rounds even though the manufacturer had discontinued its production.

If you're looking for a faster machine with smoother game play across the board, the A9 chipset be it an 18s, Saga s812, EX2 or *9D GB3000 with a 12 core processor (quad core CPU + 8 core GPU) is the way to go. With its lower price point and chipset, this setup delivers more bang for buck, making it an easy decision for many.

*As mentioned previously, marketing vs actual can be very different. We've seen Pandora box 9 & 9D listed with A7 processor making it entry level. Always confirm the board spec.

Early 2021 we started noticing the s812-004 which is a shorter board with the power and P1/P2 sockets removed. While most use the 48-PIN connector to do the same along with the rear facing power jack.

Motherboard identifier: PSA-S812-004

Interface:

Motherboard

This is the now older s812-001 with the additional connectors and longer board. Same chipset and performance. The black cable with mini board is the WiFi receiver. This test unit solidified our position - we are not fans of the WiFi model as it expires, is unreliable and hard to find what you want. There are better alternatives that will save you time and hair.
Motherboard identifier: PSA-S812-S001

and just to spice things up here is the same 18s saga v1 using a black PCB board with a square heat sink.

Pandora's EX2 6800/ 8000/ 10,000 in 1 - The King

The EX2 Pandora's box performance is inline with the 18s/Saga/3D as it uses the same s812 chipset.

While it is a newer 2 board setup, performance wise it delivers the same as the existing 18s saga.

The key difference from the older 18s to the new EX2 is the removal of the fan. While we initially thought fan is best, the fan actually poorly disperses heat leading to malfunctions. Harness/button wiring can also creep down onto fan fins. While easily corrected an iteration was inevitable. The move to passive cooling reduces noise, power usage and clearance issues. The Operating System has been moved to onboard and games left on SD Card.

WARNING: as always check the board and confirm with the seller as we have noticed the exact same 6800 in 1 and 8000 in 1 listings with single circuit board setup which is a 12s PSA-H3MM-002. This is a slower board. Pic for reference shown below.

The unit comes with a 64G card with 6,800 /8,000 games or a 128GB card with 8,000 and 10,000 games. More games will give you more diversity and introduces some nice titles, but as expected more games does not mean they will all work well or that you'll like them all. The large game count does it will take longer to navigate and of course some more effort in finding that one title ;-). Thankfully the s812 machines all have a search and favourites function.

The EX2 comes with and without WiFi. While not big fans of the game store as its offline quite often, it does provide an easier non technical way to add games to your Pandoras box. As such  we stock the WiFi model which enables you to access the store.

We have found that the EX2 also comes with 4800 games on a 32GB card. Due to the smaller card you'll find that in order to get the impressive big game count :-) the included games have to also be a smaller size. So expect to miss out on the larger file size more complex or detailed PS1 games here.

The EX2 uses a split circuit board with the same 48PIN family connector you'll see on most Pandora's boxes.

In addition to what you expect on a Pandora's box arcade, the EX2 has a;

• LAN port
• Digital audio out so you can use an optical audio cable to push sound to your TV, amp or other supported devices
• 2 more USB ports (4 in total). unfortunately only 2 are accessible and 1 is still only usable for external joysticks/ gamepads/ keyboard. So you will still needed a USB hub to connect more than 1 device
• Passive cooling instead of the active cooling heatsink fan seen on previous models

Gamepad compatibility on Pandora boxes can be hit an miss, however this newer EX2 version is meant to play nicer with more gamepads.

HDMI output is 720P and unlike the 18s/Saga it has onboard NAN which stores the operating system instead of having it on the micro SD card.
Motherboard identifier: S812-WJ-025

Interface:

Motherboard

April 2022 the revised Saga EX2 board was released. The biggest update being 3 usable rear facing USB ports. The two outer are for USB controllers - meaning this is the only Pandora Box that doesn't need a USB hub to run 2 external game pads or fight sticks. The center USB port is for using it as a fight stick on your PC or PS3.
Motherboard identifier: S812-WJ-026

 

and the below is the 12s, 13 XIII imposter being sold as a Saga EX2 which it clearly is not. As you can see this uses a single circuit board opposed to the the real deal above which has 2 circuit boards - BE CAREFUL! Whats your preference? a fast machine with less games or a slow machine with too many games? Another reason to not buy based on games. Expect the below board to struggle with many of the included titles.

 

Pandora DX

The Pandora boxes from 3A were the first and are still well suited for old arcade machines using 15hz tube screens.
The DX released early 2020 is a decent unit and for what it’s worth remains the original. For those chasing the best arcade experience, sadly the stock DX has been losing out with many either avoiding it or upgrading away from it.

The DX power plant is a Quad-core Cortex A7 1.5GHz with Mali 450MP2 and 2GB DD3 RAM. Graphics output is via HDMI or VGA while resolution is the same as H3 12s at 720P. It includes a save state, so you can save and load game progress along with saving of your high scores.

Keeping with tradition it comes in Arcade with Jamma connection seen below or Family edition which has the 48PIN black plug you usually see on Pandora boxes.

While the spec has improved from the previous Pandora's box 6, the DX looks to sit somewhere around the 12s spec wise, which puts it way below the leading pack.

For this reason it struggles with faster games and as mentioned sadly many upgrade away from it to the faster 18s, Saga, 9D powered consoles.

That said if you are chasing a gamesboard that supports a 15hz screen or are happy with just the old school arcade classics, then the DX with an aftermarket software patch delivers a lot of improvements over the factory release.

 

Pandora CX

The CX is 3A Games revision of the DX and released late 2020. The Pandora box CX is a 2800 in 1 and runs a Quad-core Cortex A7 1.5GHz with Mali 450MP2 and 2GB DD3 RAM with 16GB micro SD storage. Graphics output is via HDMI or VGA while resolution is the same as H3 12s/13 at 720P. It includes a save state, so you can save and load game progress along with saving of your high scores. Yes almost an exact copy and paste from the DX spec. The board is a new L shaped  approach with a few more onboard connections that most wont use and a passive heat sink on the CPU as there's no room for fan cooling.

Not sure why 3A games released the CX as spec wise, it looks exactly the same as the DX. Wicked Gamer mentioned it has better gamepad support as worked with an XBox 360 controller, looks like that's as good as it gets. Fingers crossed 3A have something better in the works.

Pandora EX

Many have been waiting for this moment where 3A finally release their response to the clones that have been leading the way for some time now... Would the Green Pandora Box EX be what we've been waiting for?

Well the Super Console X which uses old hardware has an Amlogic s905M/X CPU. The Green Pandora EX uses an Amlogic s905x2 and our Super Console X3 Max runs an Amlogic s905x3.

Relased late 2021, the EX has the fastest hardware so far from 3A and can push 720P and 1080P using a Mali-G31. As a complete package it comes across unfinished :-(. 

Spec wise 3A games EX green meanie runs a Cortex A55 at 2.0Ghz with a Mali-G31 MP2 and 8GB DDR4 Ram. On paper its sounds good, but where not playing on paper.

While screen tearing that previous versions experienced is gone, the software including emulators, interface and configuration along with 3:9 screen ratio of the EX needs much work.

With 3rd party patches the slower DX still comes in ahead of its newer faster green sibling.

Hopefully future revisions will see improvements however the s812 and s905 boards including Saga and 3D remain miles ahead.

 

Standard Pandora family 40PIN plug and diagram

 

Having issues or not sure how to wire up your new Pandora arcade box to your cabinet or fight stick? The pandora family boards in most cases use the standard 40PIN connector. This has Player 1 and Player 2 on opposing sides of the plug and is pretty straight forward including ground, joystick and button wires.

Most wire are pretty straight forward, you can wire your buttons in whatever layout you like, just keep in mind each button has a trigger wire be it A,B,C,D,E, F including P1/P2 and Coin/Pause. All these buttons will share the same ground cable which runs as a single daisy chain from button to button and can get messy - so be sure to figure out the cleanest route before connecting the ground cable.

Cable colours can vary depending on manufacturer but the PIN locations are pretty standard across most Pandora Boxes. While pretty safe as there's no power on the 40 PIN plug, if you're doubting anything please cross reference this with where your existing cables go or with your seller/supplier. 

Standard 40PIN Pandoras box wiring harness

 

Player 1		Player 2
	A20	B20
	A19	B19
GND	A18	B18	GND	Black
Coin	A17	B17	Pause	Yellow
1P Start	A16	B16	2P Start	Red
Joystick Up	A15	B15	Joystick Up	Yellow
Joystick Down	A14	B14	Joystick Down	Orange
Joystick Left	A13	B13	Joystick Left	Red
Joystick Right	A12	B12	Joystick Right	Brown
Button A	A11	B11	Button A	Pink
Button B	A10	B10	Button B	White
Button C	A9	B9	Button C	Grey
Button D	A8	B8	Button D	Purple
Button E	A7	B7	Button E	Blue
Button F	A6	B6	Button F	Green
	A5	B5
	A4	B4
	A3	B3
	A2	B2
	A1	B1

 

* Cable colours are for reference only and can vary per loom depending on manufacturer/supplier and application.

 

What other consoles play retro games well?

There are many out there that can, but a much shorter list of those that do it well.

Our favourite portable handheld is the Anbernic RG351P and RG353P

The newest Super Console X3 Max+ an android TV box that uses the same emulator as the Anbernic and varied gamepad controller options from wired to wireless and stores out of the way.

If you're wanting to use a Raspberry PI 3 or 4 or even a PC then x-arcade stick will help provide that real arcade feel.

So back to Pandora's....

Wi-Fi models and Games store

If the Pandora's box you're looking at has Wi-Fi its likely at minimum a H3 processor placing it in the mid tier range. The S812 and GB3000 also come with Wi-Fi as an option - as mentioned these are faster spec boards.  

The Wi-Fi models allow you to connect to your network and access the Games store located on the web.
While this gives you access to a claimed 15,000+ titles, as it’s free to access, here are the conditions;

• Amount of games you can download is restricted - up to 500 however this includes failed downloads and connections
• Connecting and download speed varies so can be hit and miss
• Title names are often translated incorrectly, so finding the game or version you want can be a challenge
• You are restricted by how much free space you have on your memory card located in your Pandora's box
• The plus is you can add games relatively easy - when its online - as there are no guarantees

 

 

 

A box is a box right? Whats in a Case..

Large case, small case, plastic case, all metal case, wooden case, single case, split case, acrylic top?
Once you've found the motherboard you want, then you'll need to decided on you're playing style and case you'd like.

The most common cases I've come across are either all steel or a steel case with acrylic top. The occasional base is made of wood or a thick plastic compound.

While the steel sheet base with acrylic top is very sturdy and allows for an LED strip option that lights up the panel, depending on the look you are after a solid steel case is also a great option. These two options are available in a single console where P1 and P2 are connected or on our preferred split consoles which provides P1 and P2 with their own console and preference on how they sit and play.

Steel case

Steel case split consoles with acrylic top

 

 

Joystick and button quality

The majority of Pandora's boxes come with the standard buttons. While there is room for improvement, for most they do the job.

If you're looking for improvement the first stop should be joystick followed by buttons. Zippy is a definate improvement at a good price. Sanwa joystick and buttons are arcade quality made in Japan. Keeping with Chinese tradition, Sanwa copies are still a decent update at a more affordable price.

Having used original and copies of the Sanwa joysticks and buttons, the experience is good. The low profile means they should fit into most cabinets including the mobile consoles that pack away.

You can also look at Zippy or Happ, however not having used Happ, you would need to check on fitment suitability.

Depending on who or where you buy from along with quantity and shipping fees/duration costs on these items will vary.

Here is some kind of indication to get you started.

An original Sanwa JLF-TP-8YT sells for around USD $25 each.

Sanwa joystick copies with 1 set of buttons go for around USD $15.

Happ single joystick and buttons can be had for USD $26

Zippy joystick with 1 set of buttons are roughly USD $16

Just like the joysticks, make sure the buttons you are looking at have the right barrel width - barrel that fits in hole, not the top lip! button depth is also critical as some of the screw on ones are quite long and you need to allow for the leaf switch if they are external - why the Sanwa OBSF buttons or copies are a good idea as they are short, clip in and easy to install in most scenarios.