Upgrading an older Game King 13 inch crt with 3802 and 4.3 software

[nateccnn]

I have three Game King 13 inch uprights.  Two of them are fully functioning machines and the third has been used as a parts machine but could be brought up to specs with a wiring harness and some buttons.

One of the working machines was somehow set to multi-denomination and is set to take credits in pennies even though the hopper and coin comparator are set to use quarters.  This gets to be a hassle when you have one dollar of credits and want to cash out...we usually keep about 20 coins in the hopper.  I just ordered a Key 17 so I can reset that machine to take credits in quarters.

Now I am thinking about purchasing some new boards to update these machines to newer games.  Is it possible to upgrade these machines to a newer 044 board style?  Trays look similar but I have not actually touched one so not sure about that.  My machine has two trays in the upper cabinet above the monitor.  The lower tray is the processor board where the game chips are installed.  The upper tray I assume is the main or mother board?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/o0ozxna9x5izsta/2015-01-19%2022.04.07.jpg?dl=0

I'd like to be able to swap boards out from time to time so I can go back and forth between old legacy software and games and the newer 044 based games.

What all would I need in order to complete this upgrade?

Thanks,

Nate

[Tilt]

Hello Nate 

You will be able to correct the machine denomination when you get your keychip.  The machine has to have zero credits to key it, that's easy to overlook sometimes.

Unfortunately you can't upgrade a 13" cabinet to be compatible with the 044 MPU.  The 044 MPU has different backplane connectors and IGT apparently never made a 044 motherboard that will fit in the older 13" cabinets.  You can however upgrade to a 3902 MPU which will allow you to play SIMM based I-game and Game King software on it.  That is just a straight MPU swap from the 3802 to 3902.

The board tray with connectors plugged into it above the MPU tray is your input/output (I/O) card tray.  That's where switch inputs, lamp outputs, and other  I/O signals are processed.

If you really want a machine to play 044 games on your best bet is to buy a 17" machine that has already been upgraded with a 044 MPU and motherboard in my opinion.

[nateccnn]

Thanks for the input, Tilt.  I was pretty sure that would be the case but wanted to ask the informed before making any decisions.

I think for now I'll pick up a couple 3902 boards and upgrade the games I have.  If decide later to add a machine or two then I will definitely look for something a little newer as you suggested.

This is all new to me.  My school used to teach slot repair as a part of an larger electronics training program but we stopped training in slots several years ago.  I just dug these machines out of storage and decided to dust them off.  It's kind of like a bug.  I started out thinking I would plug them in to see if they worked and throw the ones away that did not work.  That turned out to be all three machines.  But after several hours of stubbornness I ended up with two working machines and some pride in workmanship.  Now my wife says I am obsessed with these things.  She loves to play slots (which I hate) and I love to work on them (which she hates).  When my friends ask me if I pay out on royal flush I just tell them I give free beers when they play but they have to tip me.  Its all fun.

[Tilt]

You're welcome.  I enjoy tinkering with them as well, but occasionally play a few hands of video poker from time to time.  Glad you rescued two of the machines, now you can start working on that third one. 

[nateccnn]

The third one only needs a new set of buttons and wire harness.  Coin Comparator doesn't work but bill validator does.  Maybe Ill fix it up and sell it. 

Nate