Help with bartop computer build!

[DirtyDachshunds]

For my next project, I want to build a bartop arcade (well 2 actually).  One is a 'master' (with the computer inside) and the other a 'slave' (no computer).  Basically the slave bartop is just the interface for a second player, and it will have its own screen as well.

Anyway, I'm calling on you computer gurus out there to help find me a reasonable cost efficient computer build on newegg using a small mobo, and a graphics card decent enough to run dual  cloned displays on mame and a CPU able to run mame games up to late 1990s.  No case needed.  I want to try to keep it under $150.

I'm open to suggestions.  Thanks!

[CoryBee]

I am building several bartops that communicate through Ethernet port for multiplayer. They are all fully working though.

[Unstupid]

For my next project, I want to build a bartop arcade (well 2 actually).  One is a 'master' (with the computer inside) and the other a 'slave' (no computer).  Basically the slave bartop is just the interface for a second player, and it will have its own screen as well.

Wow!  What a great idea!  You ever consider using real arcade hardware?

[DirtyDachshunds]

How are you doing that?  Are you using networking signals to transmit data back and forth between the cabinets?  Or are you just using the wires in the ethernet cable to bring back button switches to somethling like an iPac?  Because I am planning on doing the ladder.

I am building several bartops that communicate through Ethernet port for multiplayer. They are all fully working though.

[DirtyDachshunds]

Do you mean joysticks and the like?  Or jpac stuff?

I will be using joysticks and buttons, but I want a computer as the brains since I want the bartop to be able to play multiple games...and I am not as familiar with arcade electronics.

For my next project, I want to build a bartop arcade (well 2 actually).  One is a 'master' (with the computer inside) and the other a 'slave' (no computer).  Basically the slave bartop is just the interface for a second player, and it will have its own screen as well.

Wow!  What a great idea!  You ever consider using real arcade hardware?

[CoryBee]

I am working on making a front end for kalliera to use over LAN. So the ethernet cable is just that, a cross-over cable. How would you go about making the second bartop's screen connect?

[DirtyDachshunds]

Having a video card that can handle dual video outputs and clone the computer screen on both monitors (some kind of vid card with 2 VGA or DVI ports on it).  I just don't know enough about video cards to know which can do that on the cheap.

I am working on making a front end for kalliera to use over LAN. So the ethernet cable is just that, a cross-over cable. How would you go about making the second bartop's screen connect?

[CoryBee]

I would go with a cheap 30 dollar 512mb card that has three inputs. I am a minimalist when it comes to mame builds. I use old laptops for my bartops and have had no issues with all of the games I have tried. Others may disagree but I use a card like this with ease in one of my full size arcade conversions.  ( lhttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121476R or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121484R)

I build computers for clients and always find the frugal prices for power when they ask for it.

I thought that's how you were going to do it. I like that idea actually.

So, bartop 1 is a dedicated cab. And bartop 2 is just a shell with a screen and gamepad.
Bartop 1 has a socket on the exterior for a usb male-male that goes to bartop 2 to use as second controller.
Same goes with the monitor cable, Bartop 1 has port for cable to bartop 2.

I have something similar on my recent bartop, except I turn the whole thing into a game controller for a different PC. Here is a video and a link to my build in signature, last one.





Like I said I like this idea a lot, only thing that bothers me is when they are not plugged into each other then you have a useless shell hanging around.....well actually you could plug that into any computer and play games on that with ease.

[kahlid74]

If you're looking to stay sub 200 you're probably going to want to hunt Ebay for a used computer.  A pentium 4 2.4 Ghz should run everything sub 1990's except for all 3D and a few of the more heavy CPU titles.  Most video cards now support two video outputs and Windows XP/7 seamless support clone displays so it's a non issue.

Your challenge would be finding a graphics cards that fits in said computer above.  I'm not going to build you a computer cause I'm a fan people building their own but here is what I use for my machines:

[Le Chuck]

For my next project, I want to build a bartop arcade (well 2 actually).  One is a 'master' (with the computer inside) and the other a 'slave' (no computer).  Basically the slave bartop is just the interface for a second player, and it will have its own screen as well.

Wow!  What a great idea!  You ever consider using real arcade hardware?

 

[molton]

make sure you know exactly what you got in that computer before you get a video card.  It would totally suck to buy a pci express card for a computer with an AGP slot, or to buy a low profile case (half sized PCI cards) and get a full sized video card, I suppose you could even get the wrong size and the wrong slot / connector type if you really aren't careful.

[CoryBee]

good call molton

[Unstupid]

Here's a tip for you... Think about what you are going to need in your slave cab to make it work...  What king of power do you need in the cab 120v?, 12v? 5v? You need to power the monitor, are you going to get it from the master cab? Do you need power for a marquee or lit buttons?  Are you going to have a keyboard/joystick encoder in the slave cab or are you going to do the encoding in the master cab?  Does the encoder need power?  Are you putting speakers in the slave cab?  Are you pushing an amplified audio signal to the slave cab or line level?  If line level, how much power is the amplifier going to need?  How many cables are you going to use to connect the 2 cabs? 1 cable?  How many pins 15 pin? 25? You putting amplified speakers, voltage and VGA signal in the same cable?  Will it work? 

[DirtyDachshunds]

Here's a tip for you... Think about what you are going to need in your slave cab to make it work...  What king of power do you need in the cab 120v?, 12v? 5v? You need to power the monitor, are you going to get it from the master cab? Do you need power for a marquee or lit buttons?  Are you going to have a keyboard/joystick encoder in the slave cab or are you going to do the encoding in the master cab?  Does the encoder need power?  Are you putting speakers in the slave cab?  Are you pushing an amplified audio signal to the slave cab or line level?  If line level, how much power is the amplifier going to need?  How many cables are you going to use to connect the 2 cabs? 1 cable?  How many pins 15 pin? 25? You putting amplified speakers, voltage and VGA signal in the same cable?  Will it work? 

All good things to think about.  Slave cab will have 3 plugs.  A 120V plug from primary cab for power to monitor and marquee, 1 usb plug for gamepad encoder and speakers (small usb speakers obviously), and 1 VGA plug for the monitor.  I will put a usb hub in the slave cab.  Let me know if you think this configuration should work.