Estimated Cost And other questions.

[JesterDEV]

After many years of contemplating I have finally decided to build a MAME cabinet. But I wandering about cost. I see several different people listing various price ranges. As my first project I'm planning on using a cocktail cabinet. I'll hopfully be getting 2 this weekend, but I dont have a price yet. Anyway can someone give me a general price range? I'm looking at around $400, for just something basic, and then ofcourse I'll go all out mad with the design later. Will $400 be enough?

I've never done anything like this before. Well, I've build computers but there was not majar wiring involved. I just slaped in a motherboard, some drives, cards, ps, and turned it on. So how hard is it?

Also I'd like to buy everything pre-hacked, I saw a post about some controlers that all I needed to do is just plug a few things in..

Anyway, I'm dedicated to doing this. Im really very exited so any advice would be seriously apreciated.

[SirPoonga]

It al really depends on what you build, the controls you are going to use, the deals you find.

My upright cab costed about maybe a total of $600-$700.
I got the monitor for really cheap, I got most of my controls off ebay.  Wood is cheap.

[SNAAAKE]

you can make it out on $400 if you have some tools handy and you are okay with basic wood and paint setup and find some good deal on computer and willing to use PC monitor or a TV....$400 is good but dont expect to get lot of good stuff like artwork,side decal for cab,or coin door.

these are some of the things that you should avoid if you have limited amount of money.you said $400 right?

look around on ebay for joysticks and buttons and get i-pac if its only for mame.

good luck

[1UP]

Biggest expense is tools, and building materials if you decide to use laminates or melamine, etc.  A proper arcade monitor will cost you a bit, so you can save by using a TV.  If you've got an old PC you can use, you'll save a bit there.  I ended up spending a lot on tools since I had none in the beginning.  Now I have a nice collection!    I also used a lot of Wilsonart laminate to cover some major mistakes in construction...  But if you're not clumsy like me, you'll save a lot...  

[Bursar]

My costs so far are as follows:

3 x 8'x4'x3/4" MDF

[Analog-X]

I'm not sure how much homework you've done, but do you're homework first...read as much as you can and look at as many projects you can, soon you will get a clear picture.

Every mame Project is unique.

In my Case I looked at how much it would cost for me to build a Cab from Scratch + Arcade Monitor + Controls + Coin Box etc..etc... The cost was out of my budget.

In my case I purchased a Fully Functional Cab.  A Street Fighter Alpha 2 with a 25" Monitor, 2 Joystick 6 button configuration, working Coin Box.  for $450 U.S. ($700 Canadian), slightly more than what it would have cost me to buy a Brand New Arcade Monitor.

I already have a PC that I will be putting in there, so the only other thing I had to invest in was a J-Pac since my Cab is Jamma.

Hope this helps a little.

[SNAAAKE]

very good point analog x  

buying an old cab is much better idea..then sand it and paint it and make it look new.

remember,cabs come with coin door,joystick,front glass,marque light,speaker,and possibly a monitor.so its much easier and cheaper to convert then from totally from scratch.

look around for cabs.you can find as little as $150 for a 27" nba jam 4 players.but thats locally here.

[Xiaou2]

Well, yeah you could buy a cab - but you may not want the monitor.  I know there are restrictions in how you get the disply to the thing, and the resoltions you can push on them.  In that respect, it may not be the best choice.

Sometimes, its a good idea to start out light... like making just a control-box... and later, as money becomes available... the cabinet/tools, monitor...ect.

[Mike]

My costs are as follows.
$20 for a empty cab from an auction
$50 for controls
$10 t-molding
$130 19" computer monitor

So I guess I spent around $210, I had a computer though. If you can't peice together almost a complete computer you'll have a tough time doing it for under $400.

[JesterDEV]

Well, Im going to buy 2 cocktail cabs hopfully this weekend if the guy ever
emails me back. I have a ton of computer monitors laying around, and I have
a few spare computers too. The one I'm going to use is a AMD Athlon 900mhz,
but the motherboard is fried, so I need to get a new one. But thats not really
a problem. The $400 I mentioned is about what I have left at the end of the
month, so thats not going to be the total cost. Just what I wanted to pay.

Buy chance does anyone live in Colorado and have a spare cab, upright or cocktail for sale?
Just incase this guy never emails me back. I would preffer a cocktail as I lack proper wood working skills to mount a monitor in a upright.

Btw, thanks for all the info.

[rampy]

In my experience... you can trade time for money...

you can also trade features for money.

It's a lot more work/time to do a keyboard hack than it's to use an ipac but you probably already have an old keyboard laying around by the sounds of it...

A simpler layout with less controls/control options is obviously cheaper...  

If you buy used arcade stuff and spruce it up (or get enough hand me down stuff in the cab/coctail you are looking to get)  like beat coin doors, misc hardware n' such...

A lot of times if you skimp out on stuff it really diminshes the quality/arcadeness/overall satisfaction...

I'm about $250-$300 into mine... taking it slow and as frugal as possible...   I'll end up redoing stuff later (like ditching the sidewinder hack for an ipac... maybe) or putting off non essential stuff (I'll put on the t-molding last... or ordering the trackball... etc)

*shrug*

rampy

PS I'm totally spacely sprockets today... so if that doesn't make sense...sorry...

[kgriffin]

I am a total cheepo. I bought an old NEO GEO cab for $75. It came with all the controls that I needed. I am using a monitor for now but plan on buying a 25" TV and an ATI video card soon. I am planning on having mine complete for less than $300 since I already had a stock of pc's and keyboards.

[JesterDEV]

A lot of times if you skimp out on stuff it really diminshes the quality/arcadeness/overall satisfaction...

Thats very true. So far I have so many plans for it there is no way I can do all of them. But I do want
something that looks nice and has an "acardeness" feel to it.

I always start my projects like this. Set an amount I want to spend. Then go all crazy.  

[SirPoonga]

I have no budget for my cabinet.  when I get monet to spend on it I will.  My cabinet will most likely never be done.

[Xiaou2]

Amen brotha!!!    ^_^


   Gota Luv it though.

 : )

[Darkade]

I built mine from scratch but luckily my dad has a tool addiction so I didn't have to spend too much on that.  My overall cost ended up being close to $1,000 and that's without a marquee (still waiting on that).  And you don't need a budget, just a credit card.  I, uh, still owe a little on mine.

[hyiu]

hmmm.... I don't know how others can stay within budgets like $400.... mine is overtime, overwork, overbudget....

empty cab, monitor, computer, controls, wood for fixes, new coin door..... numerous little things that I need to buy from radio shack....

did I mention Home Depot is now my 2nd home ?? I have to go there like 3 times a wk....

I think my cab total will cost around $1300.....        

well..... but.... bottom line is... ITS FUN !!!!! I LIKE IT !!!!
heee heee heee..... (ok.... going insane.... haaa haaa haaa...)

only thing is... have to finish it so that I can start playing....

   

[SNAAAKE]

REALLY ! ! !

1300 seems a lot man...

you cant even fit no 27" monitor in there...

i am guessing you pimped the cab so nice since you had some time to work on it...

but i would still say its possible around $400...if you can find a cab and just paint it,stick a old pc monitor,and have a computer already.

 thats it..hehe..

[neuromancer]

My costs so far:

working cabinet with game installed: $110
2 joysticks & 10 buttons: $40
1/4 sheet of MDF for panel: $5
piece of plexi: $5?
keyboard encoder $2
wires: $10
computer: already had

Bob