planning Donkey Kong bartop... need yer halp

[ChurchOfSolipsism]

This $%&/(%"!§"$ computer just deleted my almost complete post   so bear with me if I keep it as short as possible the second time around.

I'm planning to build a Donkey Kong bartop; I'll be using a 13" TV with a SCART port (?) and a 60-in-1-vertical pcb. Now there are still some questions left to be answered before I can start work, and I'd be grateful if you people could help me out. I tried searching the forum, but couldn't find the info I need or the info wasn't very clear. If there's already a thread, I'd be grateful if you could link me to it. Cheers. Anyway:

- I read that I can connect an arcade pcb to a European TV, provided it has Scart input, without having to interpose an RGB switch or similar. (I know that I'll have to make a Scart connector, but I'm good with a soldering iron so that shouldn't be too difficult). Does this really work? (Just asking because it essentially makes Superguns almost redundant for us, doesn't it?)

- So, provided this works, all I need (besides the TV and controls) for the hardware is a pcb and a Jamma wiring harness (like this one http://www.arcadeshop.de/Steckverbinder-Jamma-Kabelbaum_301.html )?

- Does anyone here have the exact measures for the original DK cab (including the size of the buttons etc.)?

- I read that there are more or less original versions of the 60-in1-pcbs and bootlegs; can anybody tell me if the one that arcadeshop.de sells is legit? Or should I order one of the really expensive ones from lizardlick? What are the drawbacks of the cheaper versions? I'm not a hardcore Donkey Kong connoisseur/ player, so the odd sound effect her and there won't bug me much...

[javeryh]

I highly recommend that you just use MAME for something like this.  You will be able to play a lot more games than what comes with a 60-1 and connection to the monitor shouldn't give you any trouble.  I don't have exact dimensions but if you check Jakobud's site he has plans there that are either exact or close enough.  As for the hardware - take a look at Mike's Arcade - they sell just about everything that goes into a DK cabinet.  There are lots of people around here who have built something DK-related (including me).  I'm sure you will get plenty of help.

[apfelanni]

a scart tv , the fitting mamepc to scart cable , a computer p4 or better , a keyboard controller like ipac and some quality buttons and sticks . thats all it takes . forget bout the 100x pcbs . spare the cash for other components. in case u dont want to plug in lots of original game pcbs theres no need for the jamma stuff.

[BobA]

Everyone seems to discourage using the 60 in 1 boards but they are quite easy to use and give you a jamma compatible cab for very little cost.  The link to the PCB is illegal on this forum and the board is also illegal as no 60 in 1s are legal.  Some are more dependable than others so buy from a recognized supplier and you should not have any problems.  There have been some dk bartops built and some look very nice.  Search may find them for you.

Sorry I am in Canada and ther are no SCART connectors here for me to comment.   I used the switch on the 60 in 1 to output VGA as used monitors are very easy to get.  All you need it 2 or 3 play buttons 1 joystick 1p and 2p start and 1 coin in unless you set to free play.   A trackball is optional. Any arcade PS or a PC PS will work.

[ChurchOfSolipsism]

@ javeryh and apfelanni: Cheers for the tips fellas. Re: the 60-in1-thing, I already have a mamefied Candy Cab and a (vertical) bartop for shmupping that play everything I want to play; this time, I'm going for the authentic PCB-experience, including a 4-way-stick. I know that the 100-in-1 upwards units are nothing but (relatively cheap) Mame-PCs, but according to everything I've read the 60-in-1-units are the real deal - no emulation, which is what I want. By the way, I checked out all Donkey Kong bartop threads, but there's still some info I'm lacking.

@BobA: Thanks for the info, I removed the link to the 60-in-1-pcb. Re: the monitor, I don't know man, if I can't emulate the scanlines via Mame, won't the picture look not-arcade-athentic at all? As I said above, I'd like this thing to be as authentic as possible (as far as it's reasonable).

So, does anybody else have experience with Jamma setups and Scart-TVs?

[stuckpixel]

The 60-in-1s use a VGA connector, so you really don't have a JAMMA compatable cab - unless the jamma board you are using happens to do video via VGA header as well (most don't).

Given the cost of the 60-in-1s, why wouldn't you just buy an mini-itx board and a hard drive? It'd be cheaper - and you'd have a significantly more flexible machine. I got my motherboard with an atom processor for less than 50 bucks, and HDs are dirt cheap these days.

[Donkey_Kong]

This $%&/(%"!§"$ computer just deleted my almost complete post   so bear with me if I keep it as short as possible the second time around.

A long time ago I got into the habit of highlighting and copying long posts, emails, etc...before clicking that send/post button. This way if you lose it you could just paste it back. It's pure habit for me now and I'm a lazy sob, if I type in just a few words I will copy it just in case.

highlight text> ctrl+c (copy) .... position cursur> ctrl+v (paste)

Good luck on the bartop machine!

[ChurchOfSolipsism]

The 60-in-1s use a VGA connector, so you really don't have a JAMMA compatable cab - unless the jamma board you are using happens to do video via VGA header as well (most don't).

Given the cost of the 60-in-1s, why wouldn't you just buy an mini-itx board and a hard drive? It'd be cheaper - and you'd have a significantly more flexible machine. I got my motherboard with an atom processor for less than 50 bucks, and HDs are dirt cheap these days.

Hmmmm, now you've got me thinking... if I can't even connect them to a cheap TV, what's the point... cheers for pointing that out to me.

This $%&/(%"!§"$ computer just deleted my almost complete post   so bear with me if I keep it as short as possible the second time around.

A long time ago I got into the habit of highlighting and copying long posts, emails, etc...before clicking that send/post button. This way if you lose it you could just paste it back. It's pure habit for me now and I'm a lazy sob, if I type in just a few words I will copy it just in case.

highlight text> ctrl+c (copy) .... position cursur> ctrl+v (paste)

Good luck on the bartop machine!

Yeah that's what I do every time, just not in that particular instance... oh well. Thanks anway.

[jipp]

This $%&/(%"!§"$ computer just deleted my almost complete post   so bear with me if I keep it as short as possible the second time around.

A long time ago I got into the habit of highlighting and copying long posts, emails, etc...before clicking that send/post button. This way if you lose it you could just paste it back. It's pure habit for me now and I'm a lazy sob, if I type in just a few words I will copy it just in case.

highlight text> ctrl+c (copy) .... position cursur> ctrl+v (paste)

Good luck on the bartop machine!

i do the same thing if its anything over a paragraph.. iv lost way to many posts cause of windows back in the day.. now its just habit. 

ChurchOfSolipsism  -
good luck on your cab.  i like the idea of the 60-1 boards for people who want to keep it simple.. like if i was to make a cab for my step dad.. i would go that rout.  or id be on the phone trying to fix something he cant figure out. laughs.

chris.

[ChurchOfSolipsism]

ChurchOfSolipsism  -
good luck on your cab.  i like the idea of the 60-1 boards for people who want to keep it simple.. like if i was to make a cab for my step dad.. i would go that rout.  or id be on the phone trying to fix something he cant figure out. laughs.

chris.

Hahah- hold on, did you just call me simple? I don't appreciate that at all!

[LeedsFan]

In my DK bartop I used an LCD monitor with a Mame PC and used scanlines. I didn't think it would look very good with an LCD but with the play window made smaller (using mame sliders in TAB menu) the scanlines actually do look very good. But I think I just got lucky with that particular combination.

If I was gonna make a bartop dedicated to 4-way games I would deffo get the original DK 4-way joystick from Mikes arcade. I used a U-360 but I wanted it to play as many vertical games as possible and I added a 2nd action button as well.

I have no experience of the 60-in-1 boards etc. but I do know they use an older version of Mame on the board. Many games have poor sound etc. Unless you really want the Jamma capability (and that is good if you want it) then I would just go with a Mame PC.

[BobA]

The 60 in 1 also has the output for a standard arcade monitor.  The VGA/arcade monitor is switch selectable.

[jipp]

ChurchOfSolipsism  -
good luck on your cab.  i like the idea of the 60-1 boards for people who want to keep it simple.. like if i was to make a cab for my step dad.. i would go that rout.  or id be on the phone trying to fix something he cant figure out. laughs.

chris.

Hahah- hold on, did you just call me simple? I don't appreciate that at all!

naw, keeping something simple and being simple are two different things.  or are they.. shrugs.  laughs.  im simple.. so take that for whatever its worth i guess.. peace.

chris.

[ChurchOfSolipsism]

ChurchOfSolipsism  -
good luck on your cab.  i like the idea of the 60-1 boards for people who want to keep it simple.. like if i was to make a cab for my step dad.. i would go that rout.  or id be on the phone trying to fix something he cant figure out. laughs.

chris.

Hahah- hold on, did you just call me simple? I don't appreciate that at all!

naw, keeping something simple and being simple are two different things.  or are they.. shrugs.  laughs.  im simple.. so take that for whatever its worth i guess.. peace.

chris.

No worries mate!
Dan