I have decided to put together a cabinet for my game room and have been trying to decide whether to purchase a used cabinet or build from scratch. I often have anxiety about starting projects from total scratch and I thought it might be good to find a cabinet that I could play around with and later rebuild just the way I want it. I have pretty much made the decision that an arcade monitor is the way I want to go since the actual retro mame games are what I think I will enjoy the most.
I have found a used cabinet that is complete except the pc. While I really don't like the cabinet (although it's an actual arcade cab with coin door and marquee, etc. all in good shape) and it's missing a spinner and trackball, it does have good 'bones'. A nearly new Wells-Gardner D9400 monitor with just a few hours use, the pushbuttons and joysticks that are there are Happ good quality parts and the Ipac is included... I can probably pick this unit up for $350.
It seems the monitor is likely to cost me more on it's own. Does this sound like a good way to get started?
I want to eventually go with all illuminated controls and of course a trackball and spinner as well as a different case design most likely.