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So you want to build a Project Arcade and want to know how much?
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pointdablame:
What we're saying though is you don't have to spend that, and you won't be "skimping and shaving corners"

If you want to build a cab, that's all well and good, but that roughly $300 for the bare cabinet can EASILY get you a nice 25" cab with monitor, and perhaps even a game board installed and some good controls.  My Xmen cab was only $250 and it was a completely working game, except for 2 microswitches that needed to be replaced.

Your tracball is a Happs... great stuff, but the Ultimarc is less expensive if you're on a budget and arguable just as good. You can recycle old controls or get some cheap on eBay as you said as well.  For example, you can get new buttons with microswitches for about 2 bux all day long on eBay.  If you bought a cab with monitor, you wouldn't need that TV.

The video card in your list is WAY more than what you need to run MAME, and even more "advanced" emulators such as console emulators.  And I would bet money you could find a perfectly capable computer to run MAME for less than that $400 price.

All in all, that's a pretty extensive list, and you did a lot of research. It would definitely make one heck of a cab.  I think what people are trying to say however, is you are misinterpreting a few things.  The suggestions others are giving you are not "cutting corners" or "cheaping out."  It's just showing you that you do not at ALL need to spend that money.  When all is said and done, my cab will probably cost me about $600, and a lot of people here would say THAT is a lot.

No need to buy everything new when you can get a similar, if not better, cab for much less.
mahuti:
If you WANT to spend tons of money you can, that's the way of any hobby. I don't think that it takes lots of money to build a great cabinet. It only takes lots of money to build an Expensive cabinet.

Many people here spend lots of money on their cabs, some more than what you quoted. I don't think that it's accurate that you have to spend what your talking about to do it right, or great.
Daniel270:
So far, I've "invested" $300 into my cab... it doesn't have a trackball or any 4-way joysticks (which makes the Pac games a challenge in itself), but, it does play quite a few games very well.  My wife and I continuously struggle with Galaga, Galaxian and Gyruss in seeing who can dominate the scoreboard  ;D

Believe me, it doesn't take that much money to have a working cabinet that does what you want... which should be to have fun remembering all those games you grew up playing.  

As far as I'm concerned, I've already got a heavy return on my "investment" and am still getting more!
Generic Eric:
ya, well, I'm about $600 dollars into this, and I haven't even started the cab yet.

But I have several unique controls....T2 guns and the SW Yoke(which needs help) and a NOS happs 4" TB and 2 used ones.  Several Dual Strike Sidewinders.  etc, etc, etc

Point is, it adds up quick, even when your not expecting it.
Sylentwulf:
Just off the top of my head, I know I can get primer from home depot for $7.97. You priced WAY WAY WAY too high on the trackball and spinner. And you priced too many control components from happ (bob roberts is MUCH cheaper on a lot of the stuff you listed) Ultimarc and Oscar are both a lot cheaper on the spinner and trackball.

Most of the hardware in genereal that you have listed is a bit high as well, One bolt for $5?

edit - also half of the cost is the computer, TV and the highly UNneeded video card (you can get a radeon with s-video out for $30) Most people that are this into it can scrounge up an old computer that will work with 90% of mame games. But, don't get me wrong, yes, a lot of people WILL be buying/building computers and buying a new TV for their cab. I probably will.
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