cheap upgrade kits - Page 3

*Kσn* · 03-05-2008, 06:00 PM

^ I have never taken out a monitor. It sounds dangerous, but I am sure I could handle it if I am extremely careful, and got help from a friend, or someone I know that is around to help removing it.

Also I am pretty sure if you order a monitor, it comes with instructions as most arcade parts come with.

Also the $500 one I was going to buy got sold before I got to it!

dammit.

roothorick · 03-06-2008, 09:23 PM

You NEVER take out the actual tube. If the tube itself is actually faulty, then the machine is just declared a lost cause. Instead, you usually separate the monitor control circuitry from the tube and send just the circuit boards in, which are not only unfragile but easy to ship. The two circuit boards you have to take out are the large board mounted to the cabinet directly beneath the back of the tube, and a much smaller board glued to the back of the tube by a type of silicone. Andamiro (or Happ or whomever is repairing your monitor) can walk you through the process. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE BOARD UNASSISTED. The tube is capable of storing static charges that will readily throw you through a wall if you touch the wrong thing. Said charges can remain on the tube for days after the system last saw power.

Depending on the problem, the repair could cost as little as $300. That machine may actually be worth a look.

EDIT: While I'm here, anyone know how much an NX -> NX2 kit is? I'd imagine it's cheaper than a full NX kit since you only need to replace the drive, dongle and marquee. If it's cheap enough I could probably talk my boss into it.

valius · 03-06-2008, 11:23 PM

$1100 if I remember right?

***June.H*** · 03-07-2008, 09:15 AM

Vouching for Roothorick, it's not just a matter of waiting like a few minutes to let it completely discharge, not to mention how heavy monitors are. Even in standard upright cabs, a lot of games these days (predating 2000), the monitors cost more than the games and cabs themselves. But most monitor issues stem from the monitor board.

As for throwing you into a wall, funny you mention that...when I used to work with Namco, I came into work seeing a huge hole in the wall...my manager apparently was working on something on a Rush 2049 machine, touched the wrong thing in the monitor and he went straight through the wall. Wasn't anything like brittle drywall or something either.

roothorick · 03-07-2008, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by June.H

Vouching for Roothorick, it's not just a matter of waiting like a few minutes to let it completely discharge, not to mention how heavy monitors are. Even in standard upright cabs, a lot of games these days (predating 2000), the monitors cost more than the games and cabs themselves. But most monitor issues stem from the monitor board.

As for throwing you into a wall, funny you mention that...when I used to work with Namco, I came into work seeing a huge hole in the wall...my manager apparently was working on something on a Rush 2049 machine, touched the wrong thing in the monitor and he went straight through the wall. Wasn't anything like brittle drywall or something either.

We've had two machines with monitor issues. Both times only the boards needed to be sent in and the repair was either in-warranty or fairly cheap. The only time the tube itself needs replacing is if it loses its vacuum or one of the actual guns dies, and that pretty much never happens. In either case, if you're in such a situation, feel free to smash the thing and sweep up the pieces, because the tube is worthless then.

Thankfully we've never had an electricity-related accident here, but I've heard plenty of horror stories just like that one. Another thing you want to be careful about, is look for bunches of three wires that are black, white, and green. The green is ground, and the black and white wires are carrying either 120VAC or 230VAC at very high amperages. Even if you're in the US, you could have 230VAC running through the system -- some machines (like recent PiU cabs) have a step-up transformer and feed the computer and/or monitor 230VAC. Of course, they're only live if the machine is plugged in and turned on, but sometimes there's no other way to diagnose a problem...

Kuhazan · 03-07-2008, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by June.H

Vouching for Roothorick, it's not just a matter of waiting like a few minutes to let it completely discharge, not to mention how heavy monitors are. Even in standard upright cabs, a lot of games these days (predating 2000), the monitors cost more than the games and cabs themselves. But most monitor issues stem from the monitor board.

As for throwing you into a wall, funny you mention that...when I used to work with Namco, I came into work seeing a huge hole in the wall...my manager apparently was working on something on a Rush 2049 machine, touched the wrong thing in the monitor and he went straight through the wall. Wasn't anything like brittle drywall or something either.

He LIVED?

He's one lucky man then... haha

Anyhow I've seen replacement monitors for the game go as low as $500.... but like stated... it's easier to just repair.

devilzukin · 03-10-2008, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roothorick

feel free to smash the thing and sweep up the pieces, because the tube is worthless then.

This is a HORRIBLE idea, like you said earlier the tube is vacuum sealed so if you did "smash" it you would have glass shards flying in all directions.

Also for people wanting a machine just keep watching Ebay, I grabbed the Prex3 GX that was up and then later pulled a day or two before the auction ended. What was great was the gut pulled the auction because the machine started freezing on him so the item wouldn't be as described. Got the guys # and picked it up for $1200; check everything out and it came with a MK-5 in it instead of a MK-3 and the machine hasn't frozen on me once. It did stop booting up at times later on but I have that fixed too. Now I'm just getting cash together to get NX-2.

Kuhazan · 03-13-2008, 04:31 PM

NX2 won't run on a MK5... you'll need to get an MK6

devilzukin · 03-13-2008, 09:57 PM

Ya I know so I have to get together $1600 for it with a MK-6. Hilarious that the upgrade kit is going to cost more then the machine.

Kuhazan · 03-13-2008, 11:00 PM

yeah I'm still holding off on upgrading... I'm just going to keep Premiere 2 for awhile until the machine receives a steady amount of play each week in a month.