New owner of IGT I-game 17" touch machine, Swapping games question

[rickhaye]

Hello new member here. Just recently bought IGT I-game machine (Stinkin rich). Just finished reading topic by Moderator Tilt about swapping games. Can anyone tell me if I will be able to swap games with this MPU. I'd like to eventually get my hands on Texas Tea but buying another machine is just too expensive. Trying to go with swapping out the MPU board tray, EPROMS/SIMMS method rather than getting a new machine. And if not much trouble, where can someone get a hold of the parts (MPU tray, EPROMS,etc.) and their actual chip number needed for this process. Thanks in advance.

[Tilt]

Hi Rick,

 

Sure, you can swap games with that MPU (it's a 3902 BTW) if you want to.  The easiest way without doing any modificiations is to get another MPU board with the game you want and a 24C16 EEPROM for it.  Then you swap the entire board out along with the EEPROM located on the motherboard the that MPU board plugs into.  That keeps all your credits and statistics intact. 

You can also just swap the game software on the MPU board you have too, but if you do it that way you'll have to set the game up and lose all your credits, statistics, etc.  Just swapping the game software increases the risk of damaging something removing and installing the chips and simms on the board.  Usually a broken pin on an eprom or zapping a simm with static electricity.  3902 MPUs are readily available and relatively cheap, so I'd recommend getting another MPU to put the software on rather than swapping two sets of software around on one MPU board.

You'll also want a keychip for your game software if you don't already have one.  You need one to make certain changes to the game settings.

Check with Jim (Midwest Slots) for a MPU board and RB for game software. 

[rickhaye]

Thank you very much for the quick reply. I'm so excited and thrilled knowing that I can accomplish this without having to buy another machine. You mentioned that I would need a keychip. Is that one keychip per software? Sorry to bother you with these newbie questions. I bought this machine for my mom-in-law. She loves to play slots but sadly she is not that mobile anymore. So the TV is pretty much it. At least this way, she can still enjoy playing without having to leave our house. I figure if I can get at least another one, It'll be like when she is actually at the casinos again. So I really appreciate all the information you have provided me so far. Now, time for me to hunt down a MPU and software...

[Tilt]

The keychip depends on the game software.  Basically there were three for 3902 software, Key 17, 22, and 40.  The software version determines which one you need.  If you have two games that use Key 17, then you only need the one key.  They're readily available and pretty cheap, so no cause for concern there. 

I did the same thing for my father-in-law years back.  He got to the point where he couldn't get around very well either, so we got him a video poker machine to help keep him entertained.

It should be pretty easy to find what you're looking for.

[rickhaye]

Thanks once again. I sent a PM to Jim... I hope I did it right. So I'll just wait for his reply. I was going to post in the Classifieds section but I guess I cannot do so.

[Tilt]

You have to be a contributing member to post in the classified section.  I'm sure Jim will contact you.  Your PM inbox is pretty small as a regular member too, like 5 messages or so, so keep it cleaned out or people won't be able to send you a message.  If you think you'll be around for awhile consider becoming a contributing member, you can do it as a subscription or one time donation.  It allows you to post in the classified section, unlimited PM mailbox, and access to the NLG File System.

[Jim]

Rick,  sent you a pm.

Jim

[rickhaye]

Jim,

I sent you new PM

Rick

[smoothgrh]

Welcome, Rick!

As Tilt said, get some extra 24C16 EEPROMs — they're really cheap. I order them through Digi-Key. You'll need them for all the new games you're going to get. 

And also as mentioned, the key chip depends on how "old" the software is: Game King 4.3, Neon Nights, and Triple Play/Five Play poker use key chip 17. When you start getting "newer" games like Kingpin Bowling, they use a key 22. (A rough estimate of "newness" is how many lines the game is: 9 lines = older, 25 lines = newer)

[rickhaye]

Welcome, Rick!

As Tilt said, get some extra 24C16 EEPROMs — they're really cheap. I order them through Digi-Key. You'll need them for all the new games you're going to get. 

And also as mentioned, the key chip depends on how "old" the software is: Game King 4.3, Neon Nights, and Triple Play/Five Play poker use key chip 17. When you start getting "newer" games like Kingpin Bowling, they use a key 22. (A rough estimate of "newness" is how many lines the game is: 9 lines = older, 25 lines = newer)

Thanks for the info. The picture attached is the 24C16 EEPROM installed on the backplane/motherboard of the MPU correct? When I receive the new MPU (Texas Tea), I'm gonna need the step by step procedure to perform the swap. Can you or somebody point me in the right direction. Don't want to ruin my new machine within a week of buying it, lol. Thanks in advance.

[Cocotech]

Can a similar setup for a second MPU and different game be done for a 19" I-game with an 044 (757044) enhanced MPU and matching 91422600 motherboard? Also, does anyone know if the old "Double Diamond " series of games are available for the 044 Enhanced I-Game with video monitor?

[Tilt]

Yes it can.  The 044 motherboard uses a larger EEPROM (24C256) is the only difference.  I'm not sure what Double diamond series you're talking about, but you can play 3902 game software on a 044 MPU with a legacy adapter board with the exception of international software. 

[smoothgrh]

Thanks for the info. The picture attached is the 24C16 EEPROM installed on the backplane/motherboard of the MPU correct? When I receive the new MPU (Texas Tea), I'm gonna need the step by step procedure to perform the swap. Can you or somebody point me in the right direction. Don't want to ruin my new machine within a week of buying it, lol. Thanks in advance.

That's correct — or 24LC16B to be precise.

Swapping the backplane EEPROM is super easy, barely an inconvenience. You'll need an IC chip extractor tool. You don't have one? Get one!

When you get the hang of it, it'll take you less than 3 minutes to swap games.

[Tilt]

I put the new EEPROM in a socket, then plug the EEPROM + socket into the motherboard socket.  It's real easy to remove/install with just your fingers that way.  No extractor required and if you do happen to break a pin somehow just replace the socket.

Rick, the most important step to remember is NEVER remove or install the MPU board (or any other machine component for that matter) with the power on. 

[rickhaye]

I put the new EEPROM in a socket, then plug the EEPROM + socket into the motherboard socket.  It's real easy to remove/install with just your fingers that way.  No extractor required and if you do happen to break a pin somehow just replace the socket.

Rick, the most important step to remember is NEVER remove or install the MPU board (or any other machine component for that matter) with the power on.

Ok, so I will need to purchase IC sockets for the EEPROMs. After "new" EEPROM and MPU inserted. I have to perform the initial setup the new software, correct? Never done that before so is there a how-to for this on the forums?

[Tilt]

I recommend it.

No, you won't lose anything for the current game (MPU and EEPROM) because you're going to keep them together as a pair.  When you get your second MPU and EEPROM you'll need to set that one up.  You'll probably want a keychip to make some changes to the default settings.  Once you have it set up the way you want you keep that MPU and EEPROM together and you won't need to change anything again until something happens (like the MPU battery goes dead). 

There's a few keychip guides here on the forum.  It's not real easy to make a step by step because game software menus can be different.  The procedures are the same (set denomination(s), select game payback percentage, enable/disable devices, etc) but the sequence of buttons to press to get to them can be different. 

[smoothgrh]

When you key chip a new game, you'll quickly get familiar with the menus and which settings you want.

A few adjustments that you should remember to do:
—Disable hopper (if you don't have one)
—Set jackpot limit (I set mine to $1200 to simulate a casino; you can set it to however high you want)
—Set machine credit limit (I set it to $10000 or whatever — the problem is that sometimes a machine defaults to $400 so you can never have more than $400 credit in the game, which is annoying)

[rickhaye]

Is there a substitute for the EEPROM chip listed with this Mouser part number = 511-M24C16-WMN6P? I looked it up and so far they are out of stock at Mouser and Digikey. Just wondering if there is another part number or vendor I need to look up for this part.

[Tilt]

These will work just fine.  In stock and .56c a piece.

https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/microchip-technology/AT24C16C-PUM/3046489

[rickhaye]

These will work just fine.  In stock and .56c a piece.

https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/microchip-technology/AT24C16C-PUM/3046489

Would you also have the part number for the surface mount type?