What would you do with a semi-gutted Neo-Geo MVS cab?

[Sasquatch!]

I have a semi-gutted conversion cabinet housing a 4-cartridge Neo-Geo MVS system...no monitor, no controls, but the MVS system does work, and I have a few carts for it.

So here's my dilemma: I'm wondering what to do with this thing.  My options are two-fold: what to do to the cabinet (convert it back to a working MVS system or to MAME it), and what to with the cabinet once I'm done (sell it or keep it).  

If I do decide to sell it, would it be more valuable as a Neo-Geo MVS cabinet, or as a MAME cabinet?  In the same light, would a full working MVS cabinet fetch a better price than just a 4-slot MVS boardset (given the money that it would take to get it working, of course)?

If you were in my shoes, what would y'all do?

[paigeoliver]

Ok, a Mame cabinet is worth more than a Neo 4-slot, UNLESS the Neo 4-slot is a dedicated 25" in nice shape with the RIGHT titles (or a Candy one).

What carts do you have? What kind of shape is that monkey klaw in anyway?

I would probably suggest fixing it and keeping it. I know my Neo Geo setup is very popular with most of my friends, and the cartridge system is easy to deal with, and even your most technophobe friends will be able to change carts.

I wish I had like a 4 or 6 slot board for mine. I just have a one slot board and an NOS one slot Irritating Maze board.

[Sasquatch!]

Ok, a Mame cabinet is worth more than a Neo 4-slot, UNLESS the Neo 4-slot is a dedicated 25" in nice shape with the RIGHT titles (or a Candy one).

It's not a dedicated cab, it's a generic.

What carts do you have?

2020 Super Baseball, 3 Count Bout, Art of Fighting, Fatal Fury 2, Fatal Fury Special, League Bowling, Samurai Shodown, World Heroes, World Heroes 2.

What kind of shape is that monkey klaw in anyway?

You mean the cab?  It's in very good condition.

I would probably suggest fixing it and keeping it. I know my Neo Geo setup is very popular with most of my friends, and the cartridge system is easy to deal with, and even your most technophobe friends will be able to change carts.

I wish I had like a 4 or 6 slot board for mine. I just have a one slot board and an NOS one slot Irritating Maze board.

Hmmm, that means spending more money, doesn't it?  

Hey, on a related note, where can I get a good deal on a 25" standard-res monitor anyway?  I've never gotten into this before...

[paigeoliver]

Ok, you have at least one "A LIST" cart (League Bowling)!!

If you need a standard res monitor than go to the thrift shops, tv repair shops, etc and pick up a 25" TV (doesn't have to work), and then order the chassis from http://www.8liners.com/ to convert it over. Cheapest way around to get an essentially NEW arcade monitor.

Then go and buy one of those auctions on ebay for a complete set of joysticks and buttons (offered by several vendors).

It really won't cost you much to complete your project. About $130.

[Sasquatch!]

I don't know if I'm skilled enough to do a monitor chassis swap, but I'll definitely look into it.  Thanks for the info, paige!

[paigeoliver]

It is EASY to do. You don't need any skills to do the 8-liner chassis.

Oh yeah, your signature doesn't work, it just displays an "access restricted" image.

[AmericanDemon]

Since you are turning your pc into an arcade.  Why dont you take the arcade and turn it into a console.  Take the MVS unit and build a supergun.

I know it defeats the purpose but a fun project none the less.

[itismejs]

It is EASY to do. You don't need any skills to do the 8-liner chassis.

Oh yeah, your signature doesn't work, it just displays an "access restricted" image.

I am 99.999999999999999999999999999999999999% sure thats a joke. Maddox was filtered by them so I gusse the sig is the same joke.

[Sasquatch!]

It is EASY to do. You don't need any skills to do the 8-liner chassis.

Oh yeah, your signature doesn't work, it just displays an "access restricted" image.

Does anyone have any kind of tutorial or anything online?  I looked around, but I didn't see anything.

And yes, my sig is a joke.  I can't get to arcadeparadise.org at work, so I took a screencap of it.  At first I was like, "Hey, I'm actually in Websense's database!" folllowed by, "Hey, I can't get to my own damn site!"

[gregor7777]

It is EASY to do. You don't need any skills to do the 8-liner chassis.

Oh yeah, your signature doesn't work, it just displays an "access restricted" image.

Does anyone have any kind of tutorial or anything online?  I looked around, but I didn't see anything.

And yes, my sig is a joke.  I can't get to arcadeparadise.org at work, so I took a screencap of it.  At first I was like, "Hey, I'm actually in Websense's database!" folllowed by, "Hey, I can't get to my own damn site!"

Hey Sasquatch, funny thing, I found your site a while ago and based my project off of your AP2 machine, printed the specs for visio or whatever and all. Long time before I found this site actually. THANKS!

OAN, I've been looking hard at the chasis conversions from 8liners as well, but unfortunately the directions posted seem a little disjointed. I emailed the guy and got a response that the directions were posted on the site when I asked for any help clarifying the process. I don't think he meant to be a jerk...just seems to be a little short on English.

Anyone know of any more detailed instructions? I don't think I could get it done from what is posted on that site.

[paigeoliver]

You need a multimeter first. Set it to resistance, measure the resistance across the points mentioned on his page.

None of it makes any sense unless you actually have the multimeter and tube in front of you, and it is REALLY simple and makes perfect sense then.

A lot of things in this hobby are like that, they sound all hard and complicated when reading about it, but if you actually go to do it you find it is really simple.

All of the below fall into that category.

Cap kits.
adjusting voltage
discharging a tube.
replacing a power supply.
replacing the atari big blue cap.

[gregor7777]

You need a multimeter first. Set it to resistance, measure the resistance across the points mentioned on his page.

None of it makes any sense unless you actually have the multimeter and tube in front of you, and it is REALLY simple and makes perfect sense then.

A lot of things in this hobby are like that, they sound all hard and complicated when reading about it, but if you actually go to do it you find it is really simple.

All of the below fall into that category.

Cap kits.
adjusting voltage
discharging a tube.
replacing a power supply.
replacing the atari big blue cap.

I'd really like to give it a shot. I'll have to get some cash up and going for it. I'm sure you're right, once you get your hands dirty things usually start to fall in place.

If I do it, I write up something to try and help others as well. Thanks!

[Stingray]

I'm glad Paige came along and talked you into resurecting this Neo-Geo system. Minus only the monitor & controls, that's a no-brainer. A working Neo-Geo is worth more to me than a MAME system in the same cab.

-S

[paigeoliver]

I must agree, my Neo Geo system gets more play than any of my mame cabinets.

[Iori]

Yea, I love to play games on my consolized MVS even though I can play most of them in MAME as well... one of these days I'll score myself a big red 2 or 4 slot or a 4 slot candy cab...    Just waiting for one on the cheap locally.