Notebook Computer inside Full-size Mame Cabinet

[R0CK632]

Is there anything wrong using my old Notebook computer to run inside my new full-size mame cabinet. I already have all the roms and hyper spin setup on it already. Don't feel like transfering everything over to a tower.. Thanks

[TapeWormInYourGut]

Not particularly.

[harveybirdman]

Nothing wrong at all unless you plan to use its screen too..

[05SRT4]

^^^^ +1

[vwalbridge]

My only concern with laptops inside cabs is how to power them on from the outside of the cab.

[dkssprs]

My only concern with laptops inside cabs is how to power them on from the outside of the cab.

+1

I think that thats the only problem with laptops.

[monkeybomb]

How would you get a 15khz signal from a laptop?

[Yenome]

My only concern with laptops inside cabs is how to power them on from the outside of the cab.

i would say in this case best to plug it into a power strip and run the power strip cord outside the cabinet.

[harveybirdman]

+1 that's would I would do.

[R0CK632]

Heres my solution. I tapped into the power switch on my laptop and now i can run a momentary switch to anywhere I want in the cabinet.  Just worried about the laptop overheating in the cabinet.  I am going to purchase a cooling pad for it to run as well.

[spystyle]

My only concern with laptops inside cabs is how to power them on from the outside of the cab.

The laptop's power button should be a typical momentary switch with two solder points, I think you could solder wires from those two solder points to a momentary switch mounted on the outside of the cabinet.

[kooky]

Don't feel like transfering everything over to a tower

Do you say this because you don't have a tower already?  The transfer part is very easy - literally copy and paste.

[spystyle]

How would you get a 15khz signal from a laptop?

The "GBS-8100" looks like a good concept, but it got one bad review on amazon dot com :

http://www.amazon.com/Andoer-Portable-GBS-8100-Definition-Converter/dp/B00XKWX4F8/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1452024409&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=GBS-8100

Most laptops have VGA out, so a solution like that would work.

Or just switch to a computer monitor LOL.

[monkeybomb]

The "GBS-8100" looks like a good concept, but it got one bad review on amazon dot com :

http://www.amazon.com/Andoer-Portable-GBS-8100-Definition-Converter/dp/B00XKWX4F8/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1452024409&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=GBS-8100

Most laptops have VGA out, so a solution like that would work.

Or just switch to a computer monitor LOL.

That review is accurate, and I still don't know of a good way to use a laptop with an arcade monitor, but I misread the first post.  I thought it was already an arcade cabinet, but he is creating a "new full-size mame cabinet."  Probably no need for 15khz.

[oldschoolplaya]

I've successfully configured a notebook PC inside my JAMMA MAME cabinet.  More challenges than a PC, but it can be done.

To output the VGA signal to the 15k arcade monitor, I used a GBS-8100 board to downscale the VGA output.  I still have a problem I can't figure out - randomly, the monitor will drop the red color and the monitor shows the game with the color missing.  Just as random, the color will come back after a few minutes.  I've determined it's the 8100 board and not the monitor or laptop that's doing this.  I've tried two 8100 boards and they both do the same thing, so I have no idea how to fix.

To turn the laptop on / off, I leave the laptop in standby mode and configured it to awake on the click of a mouse button.  The I wired up an old mouse with a switch soldered to one the of mouse buttons so a press of the switch will simulate a mouse click, which will wake up the laptop.  I then set the O/S on wake up to fire off my MAME frontend, Hyperspin.  To put the laptop to sleep, I configured Hyperspin on power off to put the laptop in suspend mode.

There ya go, no hacking your laptop's power button.  If only I could figure out the color problem on the GBS-8100.

[P.H.U.]

How would you get a 15khz signal from a laptop?

Really dependent upon the graphics card in the laptop. Couple of ways you can do this:

• Soft 15khz
• GroovyArcade off USB stick
• External VGA-to-CGA convertor

- Soft 15khz doesn't work with all cards.
- GroovyArcade works with a limited number of graphics cards, but see if it works with yours. It runs off Live USB or CD and doesn't make any changes to your laptop configuration.