OK! Project back up and running! (couple of questions)

[Charlie97L]

Hey guys!

Well, after a business related break of over a year, I'm back to finish up my bartop project.

I wanted to run the specs by you all and see if I'm missing anything.  My specific questions are marked with a *.  Thanks!

Intel 3.0 GHz single core processor
256 mb ATI 9550 GFX
1 gb ram
160gb HDD
Power supply
Usb/headphone out
19" lcd

*I scavenged some of this stuff from an old comp case, but the power button broke/fell apart.  Can anyone point me to a generic power switch?
*Are these specs good enough to run some classics?  Pacman, DK, TMNT, Simpsons, Galaga, SFII.  Nothing more "modern".

This was just a comp I had laying around, if I need to go more powerful, I can, certainly, but I'd like to try and make this work, if possible.

Mameroom LCD bartop kit with the CP uncut.

*What size hole saw do I need for Ultimarc buttons/u360/magstik?  Those are the 3 types of parts I have.

I'm planning on a P1 joy - buttons - Joy layout, so my wife can play pacman with her right hand as she is used to doing.

*Any good speaker and fan recommendations?  Those are the only parts I have left to order.

Thanks so much, I will post up pics as the work progresses!

[Donkbaca]

*I scavenged some of this stuff from an old comp case, but the power button broke/fell apart.  Can anyone point me to a generic power switch?

the power switch on Pc's is a momentary switch.  You can rewire the leads on your broken power button to a standard arcade button and microswitch, then mount this button on the outside of your cab to be your power button

Are these specs good enough to run some classics?  Pacman, DK, TMNT, Simpsons, Galaga, SFII.  Nothing more "modern".

Believe it or not, that spec is powerful enough to run most games, even the modern 3d ones if you use the M2 and Zinc emulator.  I am running a 3.0ghz p4 and can run most everything I want to run, everything up until tekken 3 runs prety well.

*What size hole saw do I need for Ultimarc buttons/u360/magstik?  Those are the 3 types of parts I have.

Standard button size for american arcade buttons is 1 and 1/8 inches.  The hole for the arcade stick and the buttons are the same size. You might want to e-mail andy to verify

What kind of monitor are you using?  If its an LCD, you don't need a fan, just vents in the back will do.  for speakers, any old PC speakers will do fine.

[Charlie97L]

thanks!

i am running an lcd.  great to know i don't need fans!

i actually already chucked the button assembly, i guess i'll run by microcenter to grab one.

thanks for the tips!  once i get windows on it (Going to use 7 i suppose), then i will have some software questions i'm sure.

[Donkbaca]

don't use 7.  Try and get a copy of winxp.  Its what most people use, its stable, and its easier to hide then windows.  I would only use 7 if I wanted to go 64 bit, as there are some advantages to 64 bit versions of mame, but you can't go 64 bit on your single core machine.  Since your running an older rig,   XP will be less resource intensive.  Trust me, go with XP

[Charlie97L]

sure thing.  is the regular one ok, or do i need to use a trimmed down version?

i have an xp disc around here somewhere.

[Donkbaca]

I wouldn't mess with Tiny XP or anything like that, they are often more trouble than they are worth unless you are running something like a P3 or older and resources are really sparse.  Just do a clean install of regular xp, get the service packs and keep the install to a minimum.

Do a search for something called "instant sheller" it will automatically hide XP for you so when you boot your machine it will boot straight to a front end.

[Charlie97L]

slick thanks.

i guess while i'm here, the only other software questions i have are, which emu should i run, and how is it possible to get the games to start without that odd jibberish pattern each time?

[Donkbaca]

Emu? or front end?

An emu is the program that emulates the games.  The front end is the interface you use to manage the emus.  Generally, you find a front end you like, and there are a bunch, MALA, hyperspin, gameex, maximus arcade, atomic FE,  etc.  I use gameex.  You set up your machine to hide windows and boot straight to the front end.  Its pretty neat.

As far as emu's go, if you want just arcade games, get MAME, Zinc and M2.  Mame, I am guessing you are familiar with.  Zinc is an emulator based on the 3d games that used the sony playstation hardware, The Tekken series, for example.  M2 is a sega model 2 emulator, it runs house of the dead, virtua fighter and a bunch of others.  These should run pretty well in your rig, they use the same roms as MAME does.  There are also emu's for console games.


I use gameex, its super easy to set up with different emulators, a lot of the leg work to get things mapped out right is done for you, and its an active project so its update all the time with new features being added.  Its like 20 or 25 bucks for the registered version.  I think its worth it.  Hyperspin is the flashiest front end, but you won't be able to utilize its features on your machine. 

To get rid of the jibberish you need to compile your own version of MAME.  Do a search for Headkaze's Mame compiler.  Its pretty simple and straight forward.

[Charlie97L]

ok great!

thanks.  makes sense.

i will post progress in this thread!

[Charlie97L]

alright so i dug up a copy of win xp, ordered a sata hdd, new power cord for the supply, monitor mount bracket, a few internal cables, and i'm going to swing by mircocenter tomorrow and grab a power switch.

very exciting.  also my wife picked out the artwork, just working a few details out with mamemarquees to get it finalized.

can someone recommend a light for the marquee?  what's normally used?  LEDs?

[Charlie97L]

it liiiives.

pc fired up.  need a new power supply, it's pretty noisy, so i ordered that.  good deal.

no one has a recommendation for a light unit?

[BobA]

For lighting these are good and require very little power.

Nova Matrix Linx

Or any PC Mod ccfl light.

[Charlie97L]

Thanks!

I got the nova light, and got my art ordered with some customizations.

spent half the morning today (day off) putting together most of the cabinet.  i found it to be decently difficult, first time doing t moulding, and some of the parts were tough to screw in.  got all the main pieces in, except the control panel, which i'm going to lay out/drill this weekend, and the bottom, which i have to attach the computer parts to.

i will start a project thread here soon, i suppose!

[Charlie97L]

one last question.

if i have to go win7 32 bit, will that be an issue?

i know it's a little resource hungry but i upped the RAM.   reason being is my legit copy of xp's key is not working (been a while), and MS can't reset it without a receipt, which i don't have seeing as i bought this copy like 4 years ago.

[Donkbaca]

No real issue, but XP would be better if you are only running 32 bit if for no other reason than its easier to hide.

[Charlie97L]

gotcha.

it's still possible to hide win7 though, right?

[Donkbaca]

Yeah, you just can't hide the boot logo from what I gather.

[Charlie97L]

alright.  i have a couple more codes to try from my dad, then i'll have to go to 7.  bleh.