What Exactly Does Clearing The RAM DO, And Does It Affect The RNG?

[5 ACES]

 Ok, I'm in the process of doing a "RAM Clear" and I have a few questions about it. I know that after every 100 spins on my S+, you get to see that little pause, which from what I understand, is the machine writing the information from those last 100 spins to a RAM chip. I would imagine over time, that RAM chip would eventually fill up and no more information would be able to be stored on it. Here's the questions I have:
1: What RAM chip is it that's being cleared AND what exactly is being cleared out?
2: After clearing the RAM, what settings must be restored?
3: When should you actually clear the RAM?
4: Should people really do a RAM clear on a regular basis?

 I know when I purchased my S+, it was never mentioned to me if this was ever done. I'm just curious if there comes a time when some error code will pop up because of a full RAM. I thank you all for your help and I wish each and every one of you a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
 
EDIT: Also, the chip I have says: S+ CLEAR IVC-103 GAME. Is this a RAM Clear Chip?

[StatFreak]

Ok, I'm in the process of doing a "RAM Clear" and I have a few questions about it. I know that after every 100 spins on my S+, you get to see that little pause, which from what I understand, is the machine writing the information from those last 100 spins to a RAM chip. I would imagine over time, that RAM chip would eventually fill up and no more information would be able to be stored on it. Here's the questions I have:
1: What RAM chip is it that's being cleared AND what exactly is being cleared out?
2: After clearing the RAM, what settings must be restored?
3: When should you actually clear the RAM?
4: Should people really do a RAM clear on a regular basis?

 I know when I purchased my S+, it was never mentioned to me if this was ever done. I'm just curious if there comes a time when some error code will pop up because of a full RAM. I thank you all for your help and I wish each and every one of you a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
 
EDIT: Also, the chip I have says: S+ CLEAR IVC-103 GAME. Is this a RAM Clear Chip?

First, the short answers to your questions are:

1. If you use your IVC103 clear (or a TEST123), you are clearing the CMOS RAM on the MPU board and the EEPROM data on the motherboard.

2. Doing a full clear will return of the software settings in the setup menu to their default settings and wipe out all of the bookkeeping history.
   This will include all of the settings in the setup menu (starts with option "2 --n" or "5--n", depending on your SP chip), as well as the hopper limits,
    jackpot limits, progressive setup* (if applicable), DBV* and denomination, etc. So, in short, you will need to go through everything to get it back
    to the way that you want it. For older chips that use the DIP switches, those settings will obviously remain as set.
    * NOTE: You will also need a SET chip to enable these features.

3. a) Only if the machine's data is corrupted and/or the machine is not functioning properly and you have determined that a clear is in order.
    b) Possibly after a battery change, but not necessarily. In many cases the CMOS setup settings can be reset (see answer 2) without
        clearing out all of the machine's history.

4. NO!


The information that you have is not entirely accurate. There are two locations in the machine that store data. One is a RAM CMOS chip that is located on the MPU board next to the game and reel chips, and the other is an EEPROM chip (non-volatile memory) that is located on the mother board (the small board on the floor of the machine that the large MPU board plugs into.

The pause each 100 spins that you refer to is the machine updating data on the EEPROM on the mother board. The chip contains a small amount of storage space used to maintain the most important information (mostly grand totals for the bookkeeping meters) so that it will survive even if the battery goes dead. It does not "fill up". There is a memory location for every piece of data that they wish to store, and the information is overwritten (updated) each time.

EEPROM memory was expensive when the S+ was new, and writing to it takes a relatively long time (hence the pause), which is why the rest of the data is stored in the CMOS RAM chip on the MPU board.

The S+ is a hardy, well built machine, and under normal circumstances a total clear should almost never be necessary. In fact, I have only cleared one of my machines once, and it turned out not to have even been necessary. The machine was acting screwy because my POS Willem EPROM burner had corrupted my original SP1271 chips (two of them!  ) when I was trying to get a backup copy of them. If I had installed a new good chip without the full clear the machine would have gone back to normal operation on its own.

When it comes to IGT S+ machines, members here use that clear chip much too often (not to be confused with the SET chips that enable the DBV and progressive setups).



NOTE: As an aside, Bally ProSlots are notorious for needing SAFERAM clears after battery changes, and are also notorious for eating up batteries like candy. I still have original batteries in my S+ machines and they are over 15 years old!! Bally knew that their design stunk, which is why they put a simple jumper on the MPU boards to do a clear without the need of any chips (with the older 5500 mains). I see it as compensation for bad design, IMHO.

[ROCKET]

STAT ,
I respectfully disagree with you 100% on the use of the RAM CLEAR BEING USED TO OFTEN as being in the business for the yrs i have worked on machines .


will a standard game change work fine without a RAM CLEAR ?? ANSWER   --YES !!  in most cases ..

BUT THE GAME MEMORY STORE POINTS STILL GET CLOGGED UP WITH THOUSANDS OF COIN DROPS -BILL INSERTED -SPINS ETC ..

IT IN FACT SLOWS DOWN THE S+ DRASTICALLY OVER A PERIOD OF TIME ITS THE SAME AS CLEARING THE CACHE OUT OF YOUR HOME PC .
AFTER VISITING THOUSANDS OF WEB SITES ETC FOR EXAMPLE .. THE COMPUTER -HOME PC BOGS DOWN . A HISTORY CLEAR AND CACHE CLEAR
WILL PUT THE MACHINE BACK TO NO SPINS -NO COIN IN NO BILL IN NO COIN OUT !!

IM SORRY AFTER SERVICING THE AMOUNT OF IGT S+ MACHINES I HAVE AND DONE A RAM CLEAR ..ITS LIKE GIVING THE MACHINE A TANK FULL OF PREMIUM FUEL AND A STRAIGHT ROAD TO RUN CLEAR OF DEBRIS -LEFT BY PAST GAMES INSTALLED !!


EVERY IGT -BALLY -MACHINE I PULL INTO TO SHOP OUT I RAM CLEAR IT TWICE . ON SPOT . TO GET RID OF THE OLD INFO STORED .
EXAMPLE I POSTED LAST WEEK MYTH OR LEGEND ON THIS SUBJECT OF THE RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR HAVING A STARTING POINT ??ON A RAM CLEARED MACHINE ???


HYPOTHETICAL GAME BUT TRUE STORY -- IGT 5-LINE DOUBLE DIAMOND ON NICKELS RUN 5 YRS 24/7 DAILY ON A 88% PAYOUT CHIP . IN A POPULAR SPOT IN CASINO
THAT GAME I HAD DELIVERED TO MY SHOP ONCE !!UNSHOPPED !!


THERE WERE SO MANY NICKELS -NOT TO MENTION BILLS THAT HAD PASSED THROUGH THAT MACHINE !!THAT THE ENTIRE FLOOR OF SLOT HAD ALMOST
A GOOD 1/8 " THICK OF NICKEL GRINDINGS WHICH AFTER CLEANED -PUT INTO A DIXI CUP ADDED UP . POORED  OVER TO A STANDARD COOKING  MEASURING CUP . IT WAS OVER 2-OZ. OF METAL GRINDINGS OFF THE NICKELS --OVER ALL THOSE YRS ..

THATS ONE HECK OF ALOT OF COIN IN -COIN OUT BILL IN ETC   THAT MACHINE FLEW AND SANG A SONG WHEN COMPLETED WITH A RAM CLEAR .


SO TO SAY ITS OVER USED BY MEMBERS ??????? IM SORRY   SEEING IS BELIEVING AND FOR THE SHORT PROCEDURE TO DO A RAM CLEAR .I DO IT ON EVERY GAME I DO A GAME SWAP .. NOT TO OFTEN BECAUSE I HAVE MOST GAMES ..

BUT NONE THE LESS IT NEVER HURTS TO PERFORM A RAM CLEAR 

Rocket

[Thor777]

I am not trying to take sides here (honest) but I have to agree with Rocket... After owning my S+ for well over a year it I changed the bill validator and decided to also do a full ram clear and not just a set.  WOW, what a difference in performance after that and I know what your going to say but within a week I hit the TOP jackpot once (Red White & Blue) and the 2ed jackpot (red 7's) twice on a RWB unit.   Never hit it before or since !

Just my experience 

[brichter]

OK, so I'll ask: What "increase in performance" do you see? Do the reels spin faster? Do they stop faster? Does the win counter increment faster?

[Thor777]

OK, so I'll ask: What "increase in performance" do you see? Do the reels spin faster? Do they stop faster? Does the win counter increment faster?

Just a general faster response such as no "lag" when the reels spin and a overall crisper response when playing...Can't really pinpoint it except to say that the machine seemed "slow" before?  Hits also seem to be more "lively" (no its NOT the drugs)

[brichter]

What is "lag"? Where would I notice this? Like it takes a long time between when you push the spin button or pull the handle and the reels start spinning?

Not sure what you mean by "crisp", either...

[Thor777]

What is "lag"? Where would I notice this? Like it takes a long time between when you push the spin button or pull the handle and the reels start spinning?

Not sure what you mean by "crisp", either...

Yes exactly..also the reels seem to spin faster and stop on a dime.. the lights all look brighter and the machine has a "glow" to it...sounds seem more enhanced and the payouts are in newer and greener money.  

Comon guys I need some Backup here... 

[ROCKET]

OK, so I'll ask: What "increase in performance" do you see? Do the reels spin faster? Do they stop faster? Does the win counter increment faster?

OVERALL REACTION TIME OF THEM ALL .. will you see the rpm of the reel increase with the naked eye .. in some cases yes i have seen drastic changes in reel speed .

as far as hitting jackpots --after a full ram clear and playing the new game right after .. only a few have I seen >>NOT THE GAME RAPID JACKPOT <<

BUT the>> hit of a jackpot<<< sooner than later .

plus lets you program the kit that was installed that may not be the same number kit that was removed .

in other words a type 19 kit may of been in the cabinet for yrs ..if you switch to a type 0 game you most likely would have to ram clear anyways to make the game work ..

back to the post last week i made..  seeing brand new IGT machines in a casino . roped off .but running no player contact !
i have stayed at casino's for 2-4 weeks at a time . on vacation and work . watching them set up a new row of 10 slots -20 slots 30 slots etc etc

i normally hit the slot floor in early A.M HOURS to hopefully get good seating and the pick of the litter .
you of course have time to watch the technictions install the slot stand wiring etc . wheel in the slots on dollies etc .
bolt them down turn them on . the faster they do it obviously the less revenue lost ..

but i have noticed once they have been turned on the carpet is clean machines are spit shined .. the yellow tape or rope stays up ??
my only conclusion can be to fine tune player tracking units ? have the master slot tech sign off on a job release form etc . but all the time these machines are running !! the RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR IS RUNNING ALSO !!!

so my guess as i said guess would be the manufacture of the machine advises a run in time of 168 hrs ?? 7-days ==a week ??
or the last time i witnessed this was 4 yrs ago at FOXWOODS CASINO CT. one man in suit opened the door
of each machine behind the NO GO LINE !!! of new slots take out a screwdriver and hit the white test button on comparitor to play a few spins
then . bookeeping came in one last time .. opened each door took the readings installed the log book .

after that it was approx 4:30 a.m. the tape came down the slots were ready for play !!..

i could only conclude on a brand new machine -regardless of the player tracking B/S THE FINE TUNE OF THE SLOT !! CHECK LIST THAT I HAVE THE SAME ONES THEY USED WHEN PUT INTO SERVICE & A REMOVAL CHECK LIST WHEN IT WAS RETIRED WITH TIME AND DATES ETC .

That they left them running for the 168 hrs for all the obvious reasons !!

1-were they set up correct

2.- player tracking work

3-. slot cleaned floor cleaned

4.- no malfunction within the 168 hrs

5. sign off by casino staff

6. numbers recorded for book keeping manually

7.-let that random nymber generator run for 7-days
before someone plays !!

8. is your guess there are retired and active slot techs on the forum see if they chime in to my observation .

BUT BACK TO ORIGINAL POST I MADE THAT A RAM CLEAR WIPES OUT THE MEMORY OF THE SLOT
IT DOES NOT TAKE >>ROCKET SCIENCE << TO BELIVE THAT !! OR CLEAR THE MEMORY CACHE ETC OF THE SLOT

OR WHY WOULD IGT -BALLY ETC ETC EVEN MAKE THE PART TO ERASE MEMORY AND START FRESH TO BEGIN WITH !!

EVERYTHING MADE BY HUMANS HAS A PURPOSE !!  

[5 ACES]

Very interesting! I always wondered what would happen over time, especially having the machine keeping track of everything like they do. It does seem possible that doing a RAM clear could actually be over kill in some cases, but I also see rocket's point as well and in some cases, it could actually make things better. I for one, am that guy that can't leave well enough alone! If something is working fine, I try and get it to work better and more often than not, I end up wishing that I should have just left well enough alone. My S+ is running great and actually, if history teaches me anything, I better just leave it be. Nonetheless, THANK YOU STATFREAK AND ROCKET for such a detailed explanation! That had to take some time out of your busy schedules to post that up here! If nothing else, I think we can all agree now on what the RAM clearing actually does....

[ROCKET]

Very interesting! I always wondered what would happen over time, especially having the machine keeping track of everything like they do. It does seem possible that doing a RAM clear could actually be over kill in some cases, but I also see rocket's point as well and in some cases, it could actually make things better. I for one, am that guy that can't leave well enough alone! If something is working fine, I try and get it to work better and more often than not, I end up wishing that I should have just left well enough alone. My S+ is running great and actually, if history teaches me anything, I better just leave it be. Nonetheless, THANK YOU STATFREAK AND ROCKET for such a detailed explanation! That had to take some time out of your busy schedules to post that up here! If nothing else, I think we can all agree now on what the RAM clearing actually does....

WELL DOWN IN TEXAS !! IN THE HOSPITALS LOL I THOUGHT IT WAS SAYING >>THE PROCTOLOGIST SAID <<< WHEN COMING TO VISIT !!

>> RAM CLEAR<< OUCH !!!

[5 ACES]

  OUCH!!! 

[stayouttadabunker]

I know the S+ uses the RNG to pick reel stops from the reel chip.
But why does it hit more often after a ram clear?
If I clear an S+, I can guarantee you it will hit something pretty big within a few thousand spins...everytime!
I have no facts to prove this but it's something I've noticed with S+'s - after doing a clear.
To me, that just blows the whole idea of a RNG.
It does NOT make any sense considering the amount of spins (10,000,000) PAR sheets are generated upon.

[brichter]

When I did a RAM clear on mine, it took 2 years to hit 2nd award. The hit frequency didn't seem to change at all from before the clear, as I had hit the same award a couple months after I got it and it had not beeen cleared when I picked it up.

OK, you guys and your "Livelier", "Crisper response", "Faster spinning", Faster stopping", and "No lag" comments have gotten my engineering side interested. Now I'm thinking of writing a test plan to quantify all these effects, then RAM clear my S+ and see if the testing actually bears out the claims...

[ROCKET]

When I did a RAM clear on mine, it took 2 years to hit 2nd award. The hit frequency didn't seem to change at all from before the clear, as I had hit the same award a couple months after I got it and it had not beeen cleared when I picked it up.

OK, you guys and your "Livelier", "Crisper response", "Faster spinning", Faster stopping", and "No lag" comments have gotten my engineering side interested. Now I'm thinking of writing a test plan to quantify all these effects, then RAM clear my S+ and see if the testing actually bears out the claims...

THE BOTTOM LINE BRITCHER WE HAVE DRIFTED FROM THE ORIGINAL POST ..OF WHAT THE RAM CLEAR IS MADE FOR !!


ITS SIMPLE MADE TO CLEAR MEMORY WIPE IT CLEAN .SO ANOTHER GAME CAN BE INSTALLED ..

AS FAR AS THE NOTICES WE HAVE ALL NOTICED THAT I EXPANDED ON THROUGH YRS OF DOING IT ON SLOTS>>RAM CLEARS<<< .DOES GO BACK TO WHAT >>>BUNKER SAID IN IDEA<<< IT BLOWS THE ENTIRE IDEA OF THE RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR OUT OF THE WATER .


DONT FORGET THATS NOT WHAT THIS POST WAS STARTED FOR !!!  

BUT I HAVE ALWAYS SAID MYTH??? OR LEGEND ???? IF THE MEMORY IS CLEARED AND YOU INSTALL A NEW GAME CHIP AND REEL CHIP !! DOES THE RNG HAVE A START POINT ???


NOW I DONT CLAIM TO BE BY ANY MEANS A EPROM -RNG EXPERT -- IF I WAS I WOULD OF RETIRED 10 YRS AGO NOT 5 YRS AGO STILL UNDER 50 BY A FEW MONTHS LOL   BUT THERE HAS BEEN MUCH TALK OVER THE YRS IS THE RNG REALY RANDOM ??

THEY SAY ITS THE LIFE OF THE MACHINE ?? IS IT ??

ITS CERTAINLY NOT A CHERRY MASTER WITH A SPECIFIED PERCENTAGE PAYOUT THAT WILL HOLD THAT PERCENTAGE OF PAYOUT . BUT CHERRY MASTERS DONT USE RNG . ALTHOUGH I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF CADDILLAC JACK RETRO FIT BOARDS DO ?? SINCE THEY DO RUN THEM IN CASINO'S AND HAVE TO ADHERE TO THE GAMING COMMISION LAWS OF THE STATE IT RESIDES ??


ALOT OF INFO HERE TO DEBATE NOW LOL

IM GOING TO WATCH THIS NOW ..THATS HOW WE LEARN
ROCKET

[Thor777]

BUT I HAVE ALWAYS SAID MYTH??? OR LEGEND ???? IF THE MEMORY IS CLEARED AND YOU INSTALL A NEW GAME CHIP AND REEL CHIP !! DOES THE RNG HAVE A START POINT ???
ROCKET

   I LOVE it!... Mabey we should apply for a goverment grant for "research"   

[ROCKET]

BUT I HAVE ALWAYS SAID MYTH??? OR LEGEND ???? IF THE MEMORY IS CLEARED AND YOU INSTALL A NEW GAME CHIP AND REEL CHIP !! DOES THE RNG HAVE A START POINT ???
ROCKET

   I LOVE it!... Mabey we should apply for a goverment grant for "research"    

I WORKED FOR THE GOV. IN PAST ..NAHHHH.


BUT I ALWAYS SAID IF YOU WANT CONTINUOUS EMPLOYMENT !! WORK ON A STUDY COMMITEE --TO STUDY THE COMMITTEE THAT IS STUDYING THE COMMITEE OF THE COMMITIES BEING STUDDIED AND YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE A CHAIR AND A OFFICE ..

SAY THAT TEN TIMES FAST LOL

[ROCKET]

When I did a RAM clear on mine, it took 2 years to hit 2nd award. The hit frequency didn't seem to change at all from before the clear, as I had hit the same award a couple months after I got it and it had not beeen cleared when I picked it up.

OK, you guys and your "Livelier", "Crisper response", "Faster spinning", Faster stopping", and "No lag" comments have gotten my engineering side interested. Now I'm thinking of writing a test plan to quantify all these effects, then RAM clear my S+ and see if the testing actually bears out the claims...

ALSO THE GAME YOU PICK TO DO YOUR STUDY ?? IM BEING 100% SERIOUS .. DONT USE A 10XPAY 3-COIN OR A 5X PAY 5 LINE ETC
JUST USE A STANDARD 2-COIN 3-COIN SINGLE PAYLINE RED WHT & BLU .

YOU NEVER MENTIONED WHAT GAME BRITCHER ??THAT YOU RAM CLEARED AND DID NOT HIT SHUUT AFTER 2 YRS ?? OR HOW OFTEN YOU PLAYED OR IF YOU LEFT MACHINE ON 24/7 ETC ETC ..ALL THESE FACTORS COME INTO PLAY ..

[Neonkiss]

OK, So two machines with the same game chip installed and a full RAM clear done.
Plugged into the same electrical power strip and turned on at the same time.

If you press the Max Bet button on both machines at the exact same time, When the reels stop will they both be the same?

[ROCKET]

OK, So two machines with the same game chip installed and a full RAM clear done.
Plugged into the same electrical power strip and turned on at the same time.

If you press the Max Bet button on both machines at the exact same time, When the reels stop will they both be the same?

ANSWER NO !!

the reel motors on one could be worn more than the other ?? to turn them on at exact time would be only under a laboratory electrical setting !
the mother board on one machine could be weaker than the other the eprom chip speed could be not the same ..to many variables for a answer to that question ..

[Neonkiss]

Well. I don't buy the reel motor worn theory you used, because if it is a RNG it doesn't matter how long it takes to spin or stop since the number has already been picked at the time of pressing the button.

[ROCKET]

Well. I don't buy the reel motor worn theory you used, because if it is a RNG it doesn't matter how long it takes to spin or stop since the number has already been picked at the time of pressing the button.

BUT THATS NOT YOUR QUESTION YOU ASKED IF THEY WOULD STOP AT SAME TIME
PLUS IF YOU THINK TWO MACHINES WITH >>TWO RNG ARE GOING TO PICK THE EXACT SAME NUMBER YOUR REALLY A GAMBLER LOL
OK, So two machines with the same game chip installed and a full RAM clear done.
Plugged into the same electrical power strip and turned on at the same time.

If you press the Max Bet button on both machines at the exact same time, When the reels stop will they both be the same?

[ROCKET]

THINK ABOUT THE QUESTION YOU ASKED NEONKISS

YOU HAVE TWO MACHINES

TWO RNG CHIPS

SAME GAME OR NOT

DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT THE RNG IS GOING TO PICK THE SAME NUMBER OF SYMBOLS ON BOTH MACHINES ??

THE ODDS OF THAT ARE IN THE BILLIONS

[ROCKET]

as i posted eraly on on this thread if the memory is packed full same as the broswer cache on your home pc

reload time or spin time of a slot is not going to be the same ..
even on a ram clear of both units using the same game same chip number and chip speed
one machine is going to react faster or slower than the other ..
under the naked eye they may appear to stop at the same time but if you ran a rpm tool on both and a calibration wheel on both
meaning all 6 reels  3-each per machine if you have a strip or reel strip basket out of alignment etc etc you will never notice a true speed of which stops first or if they stop equal
the question is to far out of the common question to ask >>for a plausible answer <<

[stayouttadabunker]

All of the machines' board components/chips/reels power supply and
wiring connections have to be exactly the same.
My guess would be - brand spanking new perhaps?

The words to describe that way these machines act after a ram clear such as
"Livelier", "Crisper response", "Faster spinning", Faster stopping", and "No lag"
do not need to be laboratory tested...it's simply a matter of "feel"...
I believe that the human brain can do that better than any computer on earth.

Look at like jumping on finely tuned 10-speed bike and something you've had sitting in the back of
your garage for the last 10 years.   
Your brain will sense that the tuned bike is much "Livelier", "Crisper response", "Faster spinning", Faster stopping", and "No lag"
without the aid of any computer technology.
 I believe these men 100%, that they sense  that their S+'s run better after a ram clear...there's no doubt in my mind.