New Life Games LLC
**Video Poker, Keno, Slots, 21** Gaming machines => IGT I-Game and Game King => Topic started by: smoothgrh on March 06, 2017, 12:19:18 PM
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Hi!
I installed a 3902 tray for my older IGT Game King, and the 3902 is supposedly compatible with my machine (manufactured 1998?)—it worked fine for two days. Now, upon startup it can get as far as the bill validator check, but then resets and has to initialize startup again and gets stuck in a loop. I tried plugging it into a different breaker circuit, but the behavior is the same.
I don't think the problem is related to the replacement board, but my question is: If I put the original motherboard tray back in, would there be a problem because I didn't clear the credits that were in the machine?
I guess a bigger question is what could be causing the resetting, but I'll hold off on asking that until I try a few other tests!
Thank you!
s
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A power supply will cause the machine to start up and shut down and then repeat. The big one with all the holes in it .. in lower section back wall.
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Thanks Ken!
I'll give it a good air spraying and connection check as my next step.
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I finally decided to swap the original motherboard tray back to the Game King machine, and had no restarting problem. I’ll continue this discussion on a more relevant forum thread.
In terms of credits, I don’t know if swapping the boards without clearing the credits was a factor, but my original motherboard wound up with the default games—not the custom configuration of games that I had set. Perhaps it would have reverted back to the default regardless if I had cleared the credits?
Although I did notice that all the selected denominations are still present—1 cent up to $25/credit—which wasn’t the configuration when I originally got my game.
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The game settings are stored both in the MPU RAM and in an EEPROM on the backplane. When you swap MPU boards the settings on the new MPU will not match those in the EEPROM and you will get an EEPROM error message. When you clear it by turning the key and pressing the MPU self test button 2-3 seconds the settings are cleared and initialized to default settings. You can get around that by swapping the MPU and the backplane EEPROM together. Then your settings will remain in tact. You'd need a second EEPROM for the other MPU is all.
Ken is right, sounds like a weak power supply. Do you have a 13" or 19" cabinet? Power supplies are difficult to find for the older Game Kings. In some cases the you can use a newer GK power supply in it, but the physical mounting is different. In other cases the AC wiring on the power supply plug needs to be changed to power the newer supply. If you look for an original style replacement make sure to specify the part number that matches what you have in the machine now. Otherwise you will probably end up with a new style GK/Igame power supply that may or may not work in your cabinet without modifications.
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Thanks for the tips, Tilt!
I'll look for a second EEPROM so I can switch my games.
I have a 13" cabinet. Still a CRT.
Maybe I'll check for an early 2000s power supply?
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Here's an update on my Game King. The restarting problem with the 3902 board gradually became less frequent. For awhile it would reset once upon startup, then work fine. Lately it comes on and does not reset at all. I hope the situation has resolved itself!
Seemed so weird that the older board never reset, but the 3902 board did.
As for my earlier query about having to reset credits, I don't think it matters whether there are credits in the machine if you're going to swap out the entire motherboard.
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<quote> You can get around that by swapping the MPU and the backplane EEPROM together. </quote>
Can anyone sell me a blank EEPROM so I can swap my 3902 board? (Maybe two!) Is it as easy as replacing the IC when I swap my MPU?
Thank you!
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Yep, it's that simple. You're probably better ordering some new ones from Digikey. I recommend putting the EEPROM in a socket and then plugging that into the motherboard socket. Then you can insert and remove it with your fingers instead of trying to pry it out of the motherboard.
Digikey parts links below.
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/stmicroelectronics/M24C16-RBN6P/497-8566-ND/1663589 (https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/stmicroelectronics/M24C16-RBN6P/497-8566-ND/1663589)
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/amphenol-fci/DILB8P-223TLF/609-4717-ND/4292069 (https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/amphenol-fci/DILB8P-223TLF/609-4717-ND/4292069)
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OK, I'm concluding that this IC in the photo is the EEPROM? On the digikey website, the item is M24C16. If so, I'll order that.
Cute little bugger!
Thank you!!
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Yes that's it. Make sure you install it with pin 1 in the proper position. Th new EEPROM will be blank of course so when you install it you will an EEPROM error message when the machine boots and may need to keychip it to set the options the way you want them. After that's done the settings will be written to the EEPROM and you simply swap the MPU and EEPROM together and all the settings/credits will remain intact.
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For the record, IGT refers to those as an E-square chip.
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Thank you! I'll order the chips and update you with the results!
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Cliff, can I assume that this will also work for the 044 platform?
Thanks,
Jason
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Yes it does, but the 044 motherboard uses a larger EEPROM (24C256).
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Thanks to reading this group, I also do this EEPROM swap and I avoid having to set everything up any time I want to change the software to something else. If I recall, only the RTC, Site ID and any stand alone progressives are the only things that need to be configured after each swap. I put a different colored dot on the chip labels to track what belongs together, including the little 8 pin IC.
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Yes it does, but the 044 motherboard uses a larger EEPROM (24C256).
Cliff, do you have a link to this chip? I'd like to purchase one and experiment. Game King 6.4 and SuperStar Poker take forever to setup, so this would be a huge timesaver.
Jason
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These should work for 044 motherboards, and yes they do!
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/fremont-micro-devices-usa/FT24C256A-UDR-B/1219-1052-ND/3516004 (https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/fremont-micro-devices-usa/FT24C256A-UDR-B/1219-1052-ND/3516004)
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These should work for 044 motherboards, and yes they do!
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/fremont-micro-devices-usa/FT24C256A-UDR-B/1219-1052-ND/3516004 (https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/fremont-micro-devices-usa/FT24C256A-UDR-B/1219-1052-ND/3516004)
Thanks Cliff. Also, do you have a part number for the 044 EPROM socket? I like the idea of just easily unplugging it like you referenced in the 3902 comment.
Thanks,
Jason
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The EEPROM socket is the same as a 3902 board. 8 pin DIP.
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/amphenol-fci/DILB8P-223TLF/609-4717-ND/4292069 (https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/amphenol-fci/DILB8P-223TLF/609-4717-ND/4292069)
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The EEPROM socket is the same as a 3902 board. 8 pin DIP.
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/amphenol-fci/DILB8P-223TLF/609-4717-ND/4292069 (https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/amphenol-fci/DILB8P-223TLF/609-4717-ND/4292069)
Perfect! Thanks again Cliff.
Jason
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Brilliant. So it looks like the wonderful 044 board that I bought has the damn EPROM soldered to the board instead of having a socket. Do most of them come with a socket onboard? I ordered the parts that Cliff recommended, but I guess I need to buy another 044 backplane that has the socket. Check out my pics and you'll see what I mean...
Jason
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I have 5 044 backplane boards and they all have socketed EEPROMs. Yours is the first I've seen of or heard that didn't. Just desolder the EEPROM and install one of the sockets you ordered on it and you'll be all set.
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I have 5 044 backplane boards and they all have socketed EEPROMs. Yours is the first I've seen of or heard that didn't. Just desolder the EEPROM and install one of the sockets you ordered on it and you'll be all set.
Cliff, would you happen to have a socketed backplane for sale? I put up a wtb since I want another backplane anyway as a backup. I'd prefer not to mess with any soldering.
Thanks,
Jason
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No sorry, I don't. I'm sure one of our vendors will be able to hook you up though.
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This is THE best mod hands down for anybody that has an iGame or a Game King! I wish I could get all of the time back that I spent on swapping games in and out of my machine. Swapping games with this mod is 60 seconds!
Thanks again Cliff and to David as well for the parts!
Jason