Watch my back, I am going in....

[Voodoo_Ray]

Six years have passed since I got the Project Arcade book. The plans were printed and I was ready to go. Then work and life got in the way and the idea and enthusiasm passed somewhat but never completely. During these fallow years I have had to get my retro gaming fix from the odd visit to poor arcades that have some truly mediocre games in a state of disrepair. And as you will know, this just won't do to recreate that golden age buzz.

I have a new job starting soon, the best bit of which is that I finish at 2:30 each day. So, with all this time on my hands, I thought now would be the perfect time to dust off the manual. I have just offered to buy the wife a very expensive camera for Christmas as payment in kind for putting up with me following this ambition to join the home arcade enthusiast set and also to house the cab till death do us part. So, with her onside, I'm ready.

It would appear that things have moved on quite a lot since 2005. The amount of information and the community seemed to have mushroomed.

The big initial question I had to ask myself is what build level will  I start at? I would like start from scratch but the two things holding me back are lack woodcraft skills and tools. The former I'm not too bothered about as I like to have a go but the tools is a problem. I priced up the tools in the book and it came to about £500 ($750). I can't justify that as I will probably never use them again. So I was thinking of buying a kit or getting a carpenter to make me the cabinet to the Project Arcade plan, more or less. I like the kit idea but there are not many options in the UK. Anyone have any recommendations? The only I know of are Turnarcades and Gremlin.

Whilst I deliberate on the above. I have decided to get a PC and getting cracking on that side of the project. I am looking at getting this:

http://www.ebuyer.com/251310-zoostorm-desktop-7873-1036

I know it is well overspec for what I need but I thought I'll have it for a long time so I will build it once and hopefully not have worry about hardware failure for many years. I plan to install Windows XP on it, is this the best OS for convenience and cost? It has just one PCI E slot which I will need for the Ultimarc Arcade VGA as I intend to got the 25 inch Scart colour CRT TV option. Will I need any other PCI E slots? And am I correct in thinking that CRT TV is the best way to go? Someone commented on the PC, "No 6 pin power connector for the GPU to be found." Excuse my ignorance here but will this in any way affect my ability to power bits of the cab off the PC PSU?

That's it for my first round of questions. I hope you will be charitable in your responses. I am sure to have many more questions down the line. I look forward to joining and working with you.

Voodoo

[wweumina]

Hi,

You could assemble your own computer system a bit cheaper (and higher spec) than that one.  Also, decide if you need a case or not.  You can get away with mounting the PC to a board and dropping it in.  If you haven't assembled a PC before it is another experience this hobby can give you (and it's pretty simple these days).

I'd also consider building your own cabinet.  You can build a pretty decent cab with a jigsaw, router and drill.  You can pick that up a lot cheaper than 500 pounds.  My first real woodwork experiences have been through this hobby and I've been surprised the amount of times I've used the tools since.

The main piece of advise is to take your time and enjoy building.  All sorts of time saving opportunites will come up during the process but I've found building can be as much fun as playing so don't skimp or you'll end up building again.

[Le Chuck]

Another route is to find the set of plans you want to build from and take them to a local cabinet maker and have them produce the pieces for you.  This will save you the shipping and is often times cheaper than the kits anyway. Then all you have to do is the assembly which should only require tools that anyone has on hand as is.  I totally agree that building the CP is a great route if you don't have a viable cast-off laying about.  There are a lot of BYOACers on that side of the pond and linking up with them online will give you the best resource on where to get things done locally.  No sense in reinventing the wheel.  Good luck and keep after it!

[wweumina]

Actually, having had a bit more of a look that system is pretty good value.  You could still assemble one yourself a bit cheaper (or get a socket 1155 system for only a bit more).  I think I'd underestimated how expensive hard drives had become lately.  The main issue with the system may be if they have really skimped on the power supply.  That would be a benefit of builing your own, you could make sure you had a reliable power supply.  The first one I put in a cabinet burnt up and fortunately didn't take anything with it.

[wizkid32]

I plan to install Windows XP on it, is this the best OS for convenience and cost?

Yes, if you plan on playing other games besides emulators, and future-proof your cab. for the (you guessed it!) future.  I'm using 98, since it is ALMOST as compatible.  If you want to run DOS games, you'll need DOSBox, as XP is not DOS based.   

[Voodoo_Ray]

Thanks for the wise words gentlemen.

I thought the PC was fairly good value as the HDD runs about £90, so £110 for the rest seems fair. The reason I will probably opted for a built PC as this part will be a Christmas gift and a bit easier for my dad to buy rather than a long list of parts. Am I ok with the one PCI E slot though?

XP it is for the OS then.

I have really wrestled with the idea of building it from scratch and know that the satisfaction factor won't be beat. But really, I have nothing apart from a very small toolbox and will surely end up lashing out more than a few pounds on kit? If not on kitting out on power tools then surely on other stuff necessary...?

Cheers
Voodoo

 

[wweumina]

Fair enough on the buying the PC part.  One PCI-E slot is enough as you will only use it for the graphics card.  You mentioned you are using a TV.  In that case I don't think you'll get any better results from the ArcadeVGA than any other video card that does TV out (unless SCART makes a difference..?). If you do get a different graphics card, make sure you don't get one that requires the 6-pin power that seems to be missing from the PSU.  On that note, the PSU will be fine for powering everything else, though if it comes without a 6-pin you might not want to overload it as it doesn't sound very high spec.

The 'extras' do add up a bit.  The trips to the hardware store for bolts, braces etc run the cost up quite a bit.  It's more about the experience than any money saving on assembling the cabinet provided you can find someone local willing to do a reasonable price.

Good luck.