A few questions for a noob

[Bobrobert]

I have decided to make an arcade cabinet for the first time. My projected goals are:
-have pinball support
-have 2 player support
-have gun support (aimtrak probably)
-have NES/SNES/N64/GEN/etc controller support using USB converters (I'm a sucker for using original controls)

I just have a few questions:

1) What are some recommended PC specs to run emulators from pre-2001 consoles? (ie. everything before 6th generation (GC, PS2, XBOX))
2) Would it be better to use a 4:3 or 16:9 monitor?
3) What is a "universal" button layout that can accommodate most games?

[Vigo]

1 - I don't know if you had dreamcast or PS1 on that list, but really any PC that can run windows 7 should have no problems running n64 and earlier. In fact, if it can run XP, it is probably fine as well. a couple ghz of cpu and a graphics card that is even slightly better than base onboard graphics and you are probably gonna be just fine.

2 - If 4:3 is an option for you, then absolutely go 4:3. You are talking non "HD Era" games. it is gonna look and feel better on 4:3. There are really only a couple big reasons why people would want 16:9. One, because they are trying to toss modern gaming into their cab, 2 - availability. 4:3 is easy to get with a crt, and if you don't mind using an old crt tv or monitor, (or better yet get a real arcade monitor) you are gonna be just fine. If you are set on a LCD, then you are not going to find it so easy getting a larger 4:3 monitor. 19" and smaller are readily available, but anything bigger has been phased out. Used 4:3 larger monitors can be found.

16:9 also doen't fit as well in a cabinet. People either change the shape of their cabinet to fit the monitor, which can often look off, or they go with a much smaller monitor that doesn't fit the space well, which also looks off.

Some people compromise and get a 16:10 monitor. It isn't an ideal solution, but if you must go widescreen, go with 16:10 before 16:9.



3- The "universal" layouts are usually 6 button street fighter layout, or a 7 button layout, which is the street fighter layout with a extra button on the lower left row. Not that there are a plethora of 7 button games, it is mostly to accomidate 4 button games like Neo Geo and allowing you to use only one row to play.


One suggestion I would like to make is don't focus so heavily on the other features just yet. Pinball, console gaming, lightgun should be second banana at this point. Design a really, really, really good 2 player cabinet first. Make sure the exact arcade games you want to run will be fully enjoyable first. Then find ways to work in your additions without compromising the core of your cabinet.   

[Bobrobert]

Wow, thanks alot for the response. You helped me clear up a lot of the confusions I had.

[Bobrobert]

I'll probably end up using a 4:3 20" monitor as that seems suitable enough for my purposes

[yotsuya]

I'll probably end up using a 4:3 20" monitor as that seems suitable enough for my purposes

Yep, smart man. 

[harveybirdman]

For Joystick layout a visit here is a must

http://www.slagcoin.com/joystick/layout.html

*In best Wooderson voice*

Now if it were up to me you'd lose the lightgun and pinball support, and jump in the three button maximum car with me but that's alright.... you build what you want man.

[JDFan]

I'll probably end up using a 4:3 20" monitor as that seems suitable enough for my purposes

If you don't have the monitor yet and don't mind refurbished ArrowDirect has an HP LP2065 for right at $40 shipped which is hard to beat -- Use discount code "Arrow" in the checkout code and it gives you free shipping and 25% off the listed price which brings the total to right around $40 depending on if they charge tax for your state. I think the free shipping and 25% off lasts until the end of the month (so only a few more days) so you might want to check them before that.

Link - http://arrowdirect.com/hp-compaq-na-lp2065-39.html

The LP2065 is a nice IPS panel with 1600x1200 max resolution and the view angle is great on them THey also have some Dell 2001 FP's for the same price but those have exteernal power bricks and do not include them so if you go that route you'll also need to buy a power brick.

Also for the PC - again if you do not mind used ( off lease)  TKW4rr10r has a for sale thread with some great deals for an i5 based system at a really good price ( theread here - http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,133968.0.html )

FOr example they start with the Basic model @ $75 shipped for

The Basic:
-   i5 CPU ( model  660 – 3.33 GHz )
-   2GB DDR3 RAM (Upgradeable to 16GB)
-   250GB HDD
-   DVD Drive
-   VGA and DisplayPort out
-   Windows 7 Pro 64-bit pre-installed and activated
-   Shipped with new USB keyboard and mouse, power and network cables.
-   Small Form Factor (SFF) casing.

[matsadona]

One suggestion I would like to make is don't focus so heavily on the other features just yet. Pinball, console gaming, lightgun should be second banana at this point. Design a really, really, really good 2 player cabinet first. Make sure the exact arcade games you want to run will be fully enjoyable first. Then find ways to work in your additions without compromising the core of your cabinet.   

Second that.
Wouldn't it feel odd to be standing next to a arcade cabinet with a Nintendo controller in you hand anyway?
Grab a Rasberry Pi for the console games that can be used in an good old sofa instead 

[Bobrobert]

If you don't have the monitor yet and don't mind refurbished ArrowDirect has an HP LP2065 for right at $40 shipped which is hard to beat -- Use discount code "Arrow" in the checkout code and it gives you free shipping and 25% off the listed price which brings the total to right around $40 depending on if they charge tax for your state. I think the free shipping and 25% off lasts until the end of the month (so only a few more days) so you might want to check them before that.

Link - http://arrowdirect.com/hp-compaq-na-lp2065-39.html

The LP2065 is a nice IPS panel with 1600x1200 max resolution and the view angle is great on them THey also have some Dell 2001 FP's for the same price but those have exteernal power bricks and do not include them so if you go that route you'll also need to buy a power brick.

Holy s#!t! I've been having some trouble finding a nice cheap monitor, but this one is perfect! I live in Canada, however, but they also offer free shipping there too (I checked). Thank you very much!

[Bobrobert]

Thank you to all who have helped, here is what I derived (correct me if I made any mistakes):

I will use one of those monitors from arrow (LCD, 20", 4:3)
I will most likely build a new PC with new parts and parts I have lying around (probably an i3, basic AMD card, ~2-3 TB HDD)
I will focus mainly on arcade games, then console games, then others (gun/pinball)

[Vigo]

Thank you to all who have helped, here is what I derived (correct me if I made any mistakes):

I will use one of those monitors from arrow (LCD, 20", 4:3)
I will most likely build a new PC with new parts and parts I have lying around (probably an i3, basic AMD card, ~2-3 TB HDD)
I will focus mainly on arcade games, then console games, then others (gun/pinball)

 
 
 

Looks like a solid plan!

[ChanceKJ]

Wait... Free shipping to Canada too??


Nice