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Making an old Casine cab into a MAME machine! (NOW WITH PICTURES)
DKong101:
Hey you guys, I am currently building my MAME cabinet out of an old casino cab. I will put pictured of the cab up soon, all I've done to it currently is paint it black!
I will be using an X-arcade dual for the control panel
HyperSpin is my FrontEnd of Choice
I am putting this PC inside of the cab:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6077140&csid=ITD&body=REVIEWS#tabs
And this monitor:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6378938&csid=_25
I will be running MAME, Daphne, Nintendo 64, NES, and SNES emulators.
If you guys have any ideas or criticisms about my idea please feel free to post them in reply to this thread!
severdhed:
do you already have the x-arcade? because if you don't, please dont use an x-arcade on a cabinet...it is just not cool. i've been there and done that, and it didn't last. no matter what you do, it looks out of place, plus the button layout is less than optimal. i've even went as far as transplanting the x-arcade components into my own panel, which is also a mess because of they way they wire up the controls. they don't use a common ground, and the wires are very short. i am still using the encoder from my x-arcade in my vertical classic cabinet because i didn't have the money to spend on a new one, but as soon as i do, that thing is coming out of there.
if you already have it, then i guess you make do with what you have, but if you haven't already purchased it, please get a real encoder from Ultimarc or GroovyGameGear, and some decent joysticks and buttons (i vote happ or sanwa)
and make sure you post pics of these cabinet.
also, for the monitor, did you already buy it? the reason i ask, is all of these games you wish to emulate were setup for a 4:3 monitor, not a widescreen. so you will end up with either big black bars on either side, or a really stretched image. you may be better off with a non widescreen monitor. for instance, a 20" 16:9 widescreen monitor will display a 16" diagonal 4:3 image. so a 19" non widescreen monitor will give you a larger picture. (technically 19" non widescreen LCDs are 5:4, not 4:3, but it is still better than on a 16:9). i didn't see any on tigerdirect, but newegg.com has a good selection of them. here is one for $139
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824254047
i have a similar hanns.G model in one of my cabinets and it works great (mine doesn't have internal speakers).
of course, if you already purchased the monitor, it is too late.
I'm not trying to rain on your parade, just trying to let you know there are better options out there if you haven't already purchased this stuff
borals:
--- Quote from: severdhed on October 13, 2010, 11:08:31 pm ---do you already have the x-arcade? because if you don't, please dont use an x-arcade on a cabinet...it is just not cool. i've been there and done that, and it didn't last. no matter what you do, it looks out of place, plus the button layout is less than optimal.
--- End quote ---
A massive +1 on that. ;)
BadMouth:
I don't think the x-arcade would look all that horrible on a cab if it were mounted like a normal control panel
and extended slightly past the sides of the cab (the dualstick may be too narrow for that).
Something like this, but the cab would almost have to be black with black t-molding to look like the x-arcade belongs.
I've never seen it attempted that way (or any way that looked decent).
People always try to build some type of huge blocky frame to hold it.
The worst version is the one x-arcade sells themself that has giant cutouts on the sides that you have to reach into for the pinball buttons.
Like they said, if you haven't bought it yet, build your own.
If you already have it and don't want to get into building your own control panel,
here's a mounting idea for you:
I've been using a tankstick on my "temporary" setup for the past year.
It's just sitting on a plank that has been drilled for the rubber feet to drop down in.
Take the bottom off, use the screw holes in the bottom to mark where the feet sit, drill those spots out with a spade bit just big enough for the feet to slide down in.
That's about it. No giant conraption around it. It doesn't budge unless you pick straight up on it
DKong101:
Yes, I already have the X-arcade. Plus, the relative who is helping me says that we aren't experienced enough for woodwork, so making a control panel won't happen for me. I will definitely get pictured up as soon as possible!
No, I do not have that monitor yet and I will probably check out the one you showed me!
Once again, any ideas for a name or criticisms are accepted!