specs for small dedicated pin - small dmd?

[tony.silveira]

hey guys,

i have a few projects going and go back and forth between them all.  next up, a small pinball cab to run virtual/future.  i'll be using a 20" widescreen lcd for the playfield and a 15" 4:3 for the backdrop.  anyone have any thoughts on how powerful the pc/vid card should be to run full bells and whistles?  i would like to use an itx mobo sincve they are so small and i would only need one slot for the vid card.

also, anyone know of any small DMD displays?

many thanks

[PL1]

Tony,

Some people are using 7" monitors like this for DMDs.  Power and data are thru the USB connection.

This way you can use a 2-monitor video card for the playfield and backglass and not need a second card for the DMD.


Scott

[Unstupid]

Do you need a dedicated 3rd monitor for the dmd?  Is it not possible to inset the dmd into part of the 15" backdrop?  Just curious.... I have a baby pin like this in my list of future projects!

[PL1]

Do you need a dedicated 3rd monitor for the dmd?  Is it not possible to inset the dmd into part of the 15" backdrop?  Just curious.... I have a baby pin like this in my list of future projects!

You can put the DMD display on any monitor you want, but having a separate DMD display between speakers under the backglass looks more like the "real thing".

For a 15" backglass, you may need a smaller DMD.  The 7" might work with a 17" or 19", depending on the speakers.

Protip: F5 in VP switches the DMD between small and large size.

3-monitor backglass (separate DMD)
 

2-monitor backglass (space for DMD and "speakers")  Glass looks a little squished on the vertical IMHO
 

1 screen w. DMD upper left



Scott

[Unstupid]

I was thinking about taking a 4x3 and mounting it vertically...

[PL1]

I was thinking about taking a 4x3 and mounting it vertically...

Interesting way to do a 2 monitor setup without the "squish".

It may take some resizing/tinkering with the backglass artwork, but it sounds doable.

*Scrambles to see what size playfield looks right with a spare 17" LCD.


Scott

[tony.silveira]

thanks for the input guys, appreciated.

how about pc specs and vid card?

[PL1]

how about pc specs and vid card?

Last year, I bought this GeForce GT 430 card that some guys at VPForums recommended.  I'm sure that better cards are available for this cheap now.

Even with an old Athlon 64 X2 6000+ and 4GB of DDR2 RAM on a Biostar TA790GX 128M MB, it does very well rendering WS tables in HD.

If you're not repurposing an old system, you'll probably want to put something a bit newer/better in your setup.

You will probably want to check VPForums.org for more current tips on recommended hardware.


Scott

[rockyrocket]

You could get away two screens if you mount a widescren like this...
One thing you mention is wanting all the bells and whistles, by this do you mean full force feedback IE contactors and shakers ect or uvp and b2s?.
I have made a mini pin with the screen sizes you are thinking and managed to cram in a matx mobo and a full size gpu but not much else.
My latest pin has a 32" playfield 22" backglass ,force feedback and a real dmd and even now I have to mount my second psu underneath due to lack of space inside.
My pc specs are close to PL1`s IE a 6000+ and a 460 - modest by some pincab standards but works plenty well for me.
Enjoy yor build.