Tucking my tail, bowing my head, asking for help......

[reptileink]

Alright, alright, you guys win.

Against most of your opinions here, I went with the X-Arcade for my cab. Thing worked awesome......before I took it out of the housing and transferred it over to my existing CP.   

Now, it won't work with any emulators, only the Xbox system I am/was using for the "brain". I have tried everything to get it configured, and it just does not work.

My Xbox is technically crashed. The Xbox has to run off a rescue disc, so it becomes a royal PIA to back out of an emulator to use another one. I literally have to shut it down, restart it up, and hope the disc takes(it doesn't 2 out of 3 times). THEN go to the other emulator, load up a game, and repeat this process over and over switching systems. I have a spare PC in the basement, that I used to run all the basic emulators off of with the exception of N64 and Mame. I figure some tweaks will fix that. So now I might just bite the bullet, pull off all the wiring on the X-arcade buttons, and get a Jpac??

Here is where I need your help. I have NO idea what to buy. I went to Ultimarc to browse and now my mind is  J-pac, I-pac, I-pac2.....wth??

Basically I have no keyboard yet, and a wireless mouse. The PC has I think 3 USB inputs. I will also need an AV out to hook up to my TV

I have a total of 18 buttons including P1 and P2. I also have two side buttons that can be used for pinball, but I don't really need to use them if I can't.

So what do I get, and how much am I going to scramble my brain trying to wire it up?

[HaRuMaN]

A few questions:

Is your cab JAMMA?

You'll be using a TV, right?  What inputs does your TV have?

[gryhnd]

Contact X-Gaming, their customer service is awesome.

That said, you were using this on an x-box and are now trying it on a what? PC? If so, I believe you'll need a different adapter...or remove the Xbox adapter...something like that. Anyway, XG can help you.

[reptileink]

I spoke with X-gaming, and they basically said 

I never told them I removed the hardware from the box. I did extend some wires with standard "hook up wire" from Radio Shack, but I can't see why that would be an issue. All connections were soldered and taped up, so they are firm. It was only a couple buttons so I can't see all of them not working, and again, they all work if just playing Xbox games.

My TV has AV inputs only.

My plan is to totally do away with the X-arcade system just keeping the buttons and joysticks, then wire a JPac(or whatever) and switch to PC. I know they make a Jpac adapter for Xbox, but again, the Xbox is a PIA.

My cab is gutted, so I don't think it matters if it's a JAMMA cab....lol

[HaRuMaN]

If it's gutted, you don't need a Jpac.  Jpac is for hooking a PC to a Jamma cabinet.

You need an Ipac to hook your controls directly to your PC.

Also, you'll need a video card for your PC that can output to your TV.  When you say AV inputs I'm assuming you mean composite video?  (Yellow RCA plug)

Or, you could replace the TV with a standard CRT monitor and forget about the video card.

[reptileink]

If it's gutted, you don't need a Jpac.  Jpac is for hooking a PC to a Jamma cabinet.

You need an Ipac to hook your controls directly to your PC.

Also, you'll need a video card for your PC that can output to your TV.  When you say AV inputs I'm assuming you mean composite video?  (Yellow RCA plug)

Or, you could replace the TV with a standard CRT monitor and forget about the video card.

Yes, composite. I have a video card in the PC now that takes input in(of course...lol)  A monitor would be too small I think. The space for the monitor is 24" wide, the TV I have in there is a 19" , and it feels too small as it is.

Ok, so I need an Ipac, but I see there is an Ipac, and Ipac2(squared)...which do I get?

[HaRuMaN]

I used one of these for my last cocktail cabinet build:

21" Sony PC monitor

It looked awesome, btw.

I can't see the ultimarc website (blocked at work) but if I'm not mistaken, there is an Ipac2 and an Ipac4.  2 just refers to two players, while 4 is four players.  It sounds like you want the Ipac2.

[Dr Zero]

Yes, composite. I have a video card in the PC now that takes input in(of course...lol)  A monitor would be too small I think. The space for the monitor is 24" wide, the TV I have in there is a 19" , and it feels too small as it is.

Ok, so I need an Ipac, but I see there is an Ipac, and Ipac2(squared)...which do I get?

How about a LEDWIZ?

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=76_81&products_id=306

Introducing the LED-Wiz+GP™, the only I/O Controller of it's kind. The LED-Wiz+GP is a true 16-Output LED-Wiz™ with all of the same special built-in lighting effects, coupled with a high-performance, 16-Input Gamepad-style arcade controls interface! For the first time, a single controller board provides a simple way to control relays, RGB and High-Output LEDS, etc., while also allowing for up to 16 switch based controls, including Joysticks, Pushbuttons and more. The output side of the LED-Wiz+GP™ is a fully featured LED lighting and output logic controller capable of delivering up to 500ma per output at 5v DC. Programming tools are available for integration into your custom projects.

This is the one I am going to order for my mame machine (if I can quit buying machines LOL) you get the joystick and button inputs and also have the LED options if you decide to use them.

[severdhed]

Yes, composite. I have a video card in the PC now that takes input in(of course...lol)  A monitor would be too small I think. The space for the monitor is 24" wide, the TV I have in there is a 19" , and it feels too small as it is.

Ok, so I need an Ipac, but I see there is an Ipac, and Ipac2(squared)...which do I get?

How about a LEDWIZ?

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=76_81&products_id=306

Introducing the LED-Wiz+GP™, the only I/O Controller of it's kind. The LED-Wiz+GP is a true 16-Output LED-Wiz™ with all of the same special built-in lighting effects, coupled with a high-performance, 16-Input Gamepad-style arcade controls interface! For the first time, a single controller board provides a simple way to control relays, RGB and High-Output LEDS, etc., while also allowing for up to 16 switch based controls, including Joysticks, Pushbuttons and more. The output side of the LED-Wiz+GP™ is a fully featured LED lighting and output logic controller capable of delivering up to 500ma per output at 5v DC. Programming tools are available for integration into your custom projects.

This is the one I am going to order for my mame machine (if I can quit buying machines LOL) you get the joystick and button inputs and also have the LED options if you decide to use them.

the problem i could see with that is it only has 16inputs, which would only be enough to do a single player panel.  the keywiz or gpwiz would probably be a better fit, even though they don't do the lighting controls.  he already said he plans on reusing his x-arcade buttons, which are black and therefore lighting controls are pretty much pointless.