Verticade: bartop + vpin

Main > Project Announcements

<< < (3/3)

Ond:
I'm also a fan of this especially since you are running one of the Pro Pinball (Timeshock!) games on it. The physics simulation in them was way ahead of their time. I've played various versions of Timeshock! including the remake Ultra edition. Timeshock! Ultra does not play well on lower end PCs though. I'm not sure if you know, but it is possible to update/customize the music tracks on these games. The standard music tracks are fine, but it's also fun to mod them.! :cheers:

basbase:

--- Quote from: firedance on May 24, 2024, 12:35:43 pm ---What was the spec of the mini pc, which version of windows was it running ?

I used a dell thin client for my last bartop, windows 10 was way too sluggish so switched to windows 7, much better and plays almost all the vertical mame games ok via a coinops build :)

--- End quote ---

Lenovo M73 mini PC:
Intel Core i3-2120T CPU @ 2.60GHz (2 cores)
6GB DDR3 ram
Intel HD Graphics
120 GB ssd
Windows 10

HP EliteBook 8560w laptop:
Intel Core i7-2630QM CPU @ 2.00GHz (4 cores)
8GB DDR3 ram
AMD Radeon HD 6700M Series (1GB)
250 GB ssd
Windows 10

The biggest performance increase is probably due to the dedicated graphics card.

The mini pc has now been repurposed to act as the home server in the broom closet. I now use it as a NAS and game server.

An extra benefit of using a laptop in the arcade machine is that it has a battery. Before with the mini pc I would just cut the power when done playing. This is not ideal because important system operations could be interrupted. I believe I also once had a system recovery being triggered on the next startup because of this. Now with the laptop, once I turn off the power switch on the side everything will turn off except the computer. I have a script that monitors the system events for when AC power is disconnected. When that happens the Windows shutdown command is executed for a graceful shutdown. In the bios for the laptop I have enabled the setting to boot when AC power is restored so I can also turn everything on with the power switch on the side.

--- Quote from: Malenko on May 27, 2024, 04:19:31 pm ---I love everything about this. Any plans for art/vinyl/paint?

--- End quote ---
No plans to add any of these. The wood+white look blends in nicely with the other furniture in the kids room, it is after all made out of the same furniture :)
It is running a coinops build which has a nice banner for each game at the top, so that takes care of the artwork.
I did misjudge the finish on top of the wood panels. I thought it was a melamine like on My first arcade controls, but it is more like paper. So there is a bigger chance of damage or buildup of grime on the control panel. Maybe I should add some sort of mylar?

--- Quote from: Ond on May 27, 2024, 07:34:28 pm ---I'm also a fan of this especially since you are running one of the Pro Pinball (Timeshock!) games on it. The physics simulation in them was way ahead of their time. I've played various versions of Timeshock! including the remake Ultra edition. Timeshock! Ultra does not play well on lower end PCs though. I'm not sure if you know, but it is possible to update/customize the music tracks on these games. The standard music tracks are fine, but it's also fun to mod them.! :cheers:

--- End quote ---
I'd even say that the graphics and physics are still better than a lot of the current virtual pinball games (granted I have not played a lot of the latest ones). I didn't know about changing the music, but I wouldn't want to, the music has always been one of my favorite parts of Timeshock! :D

firedance:
Thanks the pc specs, yeah the mini pc would struggle, nice upgrade :)

Navigation

 Message Index

Go to full version