Main > Main Forum
School me on putting a MAME cabinet together
(1/8) > >>
MagicManPA:
I'm picking up an empty Gunsmoke cabinet this weekend to use for my MAME project. I will be sticking my old desktop tower in there to run it. I want to use a LCD monitor instead of the heavy & dangerous CRT. I believe I will go w/the X-Arcade Tankstick as well. I want to run it all from the PC. Is it possible, and fairly simple, to run the x-arcade controls from the PC?

What size monitor would be ideal? Where can I buy a bezel for it?

What are my best options for sound?

What else should I need to know & buy? Trying to do this on a budget aka as cheap as possible.

How much am I looking at spending to get this setup? I don't need a working coin door or anything & I'm not worried about the decals & such at this time.
upprc04:
Look through all the projects in the Projects sub forum for ideas.  It kind of depends what games you want to play, how authentic you want it to be, full size/bartop, etc etc.  The Project Arcade book is referred to as a great start for beginners (I haven't read/seen it myself, but I'm sure it is great).  If you are completely new, I would say look for that.  Or just start reading through other peoples project threads and start thinking up ideas based on that.

I was in the same boat as you and finally took the plunge.  Ordered all the materials and parts and just waiting to get access to the tools to start working on it.
MagicManPA:

--- Quote from: upprc04 on December 09, 2010, 07:18:28 pm ---Look through all the projects in the Projects sub forum for ideas.  It kind of depends what games you want to play, how authentic you want it to be, full size/bartop, etc etc.  The Project Arcade book is referred to as a great start for beginners (I haven't read/seen it myself, but I'm sure it is great).  If you are completely new, I would say look for that.  Or just start reading through other peoples project threads and start thinking up ideas based on that.

I was in the same boat as you and finally took the plunge.  Ordered all the materials and parts and just waiting to get access to the tools to start working on it.

--- End quote ---
I did mention that I'm picking up an old Gunsmoke cabinet which is an upright fullsize cabinet. I don't care about authentic. I care about functional & not costing me a fortune based on the things I want in my original post.
Donkbaca:
I love, love, love x-arcade.  But not to put on a cab.  I have yet to see one that looks right.

What you NEED for your arcade might be way different from what you want on your arcade.

My original plan was to just an old TV and an old P4 laying around, I was going to gut my x-arcade dual and use the joysticks and buttons, but then I decided to add LED buttons.  I like the x-arcade joysticks, I have a hori fight stick with seimitsu joysticks and buttons, I like the x-arcades better.  Personal preference.  Anyhow, I started out swapping out the x-arcade buttons.  Then I decided to ditch the CRT and go with an LCD screen so I can build a slim cab.  Then decided to ditch the regular marquee and experiment with an edge-lit plexi marquee.  Now I am thinking about inlaying some light-up designs into my cab.  Really there is a ton of crap you can do with your arcade, and a ton of options for each of those things.

I guess in order to help a few questions need to be answered:
How many players? (please say two)

What type of games are you going to be playing? (This will help decide how many buttons to get, what type of joysticks to get, etc...)

Do you need a trackball? (I thought I did, got one, then realized that it wasn't worth it since I am not a big trackball game guy)
Do you want a spinner?
Do you want light guns?

Does the cab have a coin door?  Does it work? DO you want it to work?  Does it take tokens or quarters?

IS there a monitor in the cabinet?  Does it work?  IF so, just use it.  Get a Jpac and arcade VGA and you are good to go.
IF the monitor doesn't work, what type of monitor do you want?  I am using a 21.3" 4:3 lcd in mine.

Man there is just so much to answer.  I guess just start with the basics.  how many players, and what games you looking to play?
newmanfamilyvlogs:
The x.arcade should be fairly plug and play. But building your own controls into the existing cp does not have to be hard or expensive. Pics of the cab will help.

If you go with an lcd you'll probably need to do a custom bezel. Glass spray painted black from the back looks very nice and can be done rather cheap.
cheap  pc speakers work just as good as expensive ones. You can always add nicer ones later if they are mounted inside the cab and cannot be seen.
Navigation
Message Index
Next page

Go to full version