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So you want to build a Project Arcade and want to know how much?
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bigdady92:
After buying the Project Arcade book I went out shopping and found out how much on avg it would cost for items. Let's just say that the parts are NOT cheap and if you don't have a monitor/TV and computer you are looking at some $$$ if you want A-Grade parts.

here is my spreadsheet (hopefully it will take!) of what I found and where:





Supplies            
Name   Quantity   Cost   Total   Link
Clear coat poly acrylic paint   1   30   30   Home depot/Lowes
Gallon of Black paint   2   15   30   Home depot/Lowes
Galon of Primer   1   15.97   15.97   Home depot/Lowes
3/4" inch MDF   3   18.85   56.55   Home depot/Lowes
5/8" 18"x 35" hardwood for CP top   1   15   15   ????
Screws (various sizes)   1   9.99   9.99   Home depot/Lowes
2 1/2" L-Bracket   6   2.82   16.92   http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=45685-53911-ZAB205
2" L-Bracket   4   2.82   11.28   http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=45685-53911-ZAB205
Shelf Brackets (9")   4   3   12   
Cabinet Hinges   2   6   12   
Surface bolt for Cabinet hinge   1   5   5   
Velcro roll   1   2   2   
Grommet Sleves 2 "   1   1   1   Hardware store
Glue sticks   1      2.99   
Wod Putty   1      5.99   
Sand paper    1   5   5   Home depot/Lowes
Caster (3")   1   15   15   set http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=26222&item=3813810127&rd=1
Wood glue   1   2.99   2.99   Home depot/Lowes
Plexiglass sheet   1   $15    15   various sites
T-Molding (black)   60   $0    16.2   http://www.t-molding.com/cart/customer/product.php?productid=3&cat=16&page=1
            
Subtotal         280.88   
            
            
Control Panel            
Name   Quantity   Cost   Total   Link
3" Trackball   1   96.4   96.4   http://www.happcontrols.com/wp/item_search.html?item-no=56-0100-10
3" Trackball mounting plate   1   11   11   http://www.happcontrols.com/wp/item_search.html?item-no=55-1101-00
Horizontal Microswitch   25   1.85   46.25   http://www.happcontrols.com/wp/item_search.html?item-no=58-9100-L
1 Player Microswitch   1   1.95   1.95   http://www.happcontrols.com/wp/item_search.html?item-no=58-9111-L1PLY
2 Player Microswitch   1   1.95   1.95   http://www.happcontrols.com/wp/item_search.html?item-no=58-9111-L2PLY
Pushbutton Wrench   1   2.4   2.4   http://www.happcontrols.com/wp/item_search.html?item-no=53-8002-00
J-Stik Bal Top   2   14   28   http://www.ultimarc.com/controls.html
4-way Joystick   1   13.95   13.95   http://www.happcontrols.com/wp/item_search.html?item-no=50-7604-10
SlikStik Tornado Spinner   1   89.95   89.95   http://www.slikstik.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=4
18 AWG wire 45' spool1   1   5.49   5.49   http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=278-1223
22 AWG wire 45' spool   1   5.49   5.49   http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=278-1221
Quick disconnects-Blade   3   1.65   4.95   http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=64-3132
Spade Terminal (16 pack)   2   1.69   3.38   http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=64-3124
I-PAC4 PS/2   1   65   65   http://www.ultimarc.com/ipac1.html
Optic-PAC USB   1   44   44   http://www.ultimarc.com/optipac1.html
Opti-PAC Spare Cables   1   9   9   http://www.ultimarc.com/optipac1.html

Subtotal         429.16   
            
Misc            
Name   Quantity   Cost   Total   Link
MAME Roms   1   30   30   http://www.freemameroms.com/
24" TV w/S-Video   1   144.49   144.49   http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1051806303676&skuId=5336237&productCategoryId=cat03003&type=product
Athlon 2600+ computer   1   413   413   http://www.tcwo.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/st_prod.html?p_prodid=1504&sid=44oBmP0-IMSp7Rn
Radeon 9600Pro w/S-Video   1   135   135   http://www.tcwo.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/st_prod.html?p_prodid=740308&sid=44oBmP0-IMSp7Rn

Subtotal         722.49   


GRAND TOTAL         1432.53   

This is not including the tools it would take to build the thing, that alone is another $600 at least for a table saw, jig saw, and other equipment. Best to rely on your friends for that!
SirPeale:
There are many many ways to make this figure go way, way down.

One project I'm working on has cost me ~$100.  It's not a four player monster that plays every single game, but it will safely play 75% of all the games MAME supports.  You may thing that 75% isn't much, but think...that's 75% of 4000 games, which is 3000 games.  And there aren't even that many loaded on there.
mahuti:
Many of us here build arcade machines on a shoestring.


Prebuilt  Cabinet, free or cheap at an arcade auction. $125
PC, free... from friend, family.
Ultimarc.com trackball $35, $14 for mounting plate.


Those are just a few places to cut costs.
libref:
Thought I'd jump in on this topic as well.

I'm up in Canada and my figures match pretty well with bibdady92...except that you need to convert to Canadian :o

I find this is pretty common with most hobbies though...when you first start off, you tend to go with what you know will work...in this case new parts rather than used, new computer, monitor/tv etc. As you get more familiar with things and make more connections in the community of interest (ie. through BYAOC) you get more comfortable hacking older parts and tweaking components, so the cost goes down as your experience goes up.

I also feel the conservation aspect of building a MAME cab is important to consider. Like many of us building cabs, I grew up in the 80's, so the games we play on our MAME machines help preserve an important part of computer gaming history, as well as allowing us to revist the great times we had playing these games when they were new. I'm getting a little little philosophical I...but I guess my point is that, in the end, the enjoyment we get from building the CAB, getting everything to work and actually playing the games (and watching others enjoy them as well) helps to offset the build costs.

My 2 cents....

bigdady92:
Here's the thing guys. I KNOW you can skimp and shave corners. I KNOW you can find lil ways here and there to save some $$$.

this is for someone that wants to go out and BUY all the stuff that is in the book and THEN build it.


If you can build it on the cheap, then that's a good way to go. I sure am going to find used parts on ebay to suppliment this. No way I am paying out that much. This is all based and meant to be seen in perspective, nothing more. Use it as a primer, but know that there ARE ways to make it cheaper.
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