Critique my shopping list please

[JCKnife]

Just getting started, hope to begin / do most of assembly between Christmas and New Year. Just wanted to share my shopping list and ask any opinions, suggestions, obvious omissions, etc.

If I haven't selected a brand/model yet, the price is a guesstimate (I have NO clue what MDF costs?). Some of the other prices are average / educated guesses. Some are actual found prices from various sources.

Any advice, comments appreciated.

[JCKnife]

Okay, I tried to attach a graphic but it didn't take. Does [img] work on this board?

here's the list:

http://home.att.net/~jcknife/LIST.JPG

[shafor]

Two things to think about:

1.  What about a coin door?

2.  You could save a bit of money and use a pair of car audio speakers instead of the Klipsch speakers.  I followed the following link and added a pair of 5 1/4 Kenwood speakers into my cocktail cabinet. . Works like a Champ.

Good Luck

[DrewKaree]

MDF = 49" x 97" sheet for anywhere between 15-24 bucks for ³/₄" thickness.  Good guess, nice average.

Dunno if you are buying that Dell, but in my area, I can get a more-than-serviceable MAME PC for ~$250 less than what you're paying.  Give us more info about the PC

What exactly (under misc) does "tools, hardware" encompass?  If you need to buy a saw/router/sander, that price may be a touch low, but you haven't clearly stated what you'll need

The speakers - go to the Jukebox forum, look for June's jukebox, and check out the logitech speakers.  WAY less money, they'll sound just as good, you'll get a sub with 'em, you'll get an additional set of sattellites, mebbe use 'em on the side or lower section of the cab, and you'll save $100

Mebbe look into one of the new modular power supplies for your PC....it may serve your purposes better, or you just may like it better  

You must have a purpose for using the 360 8 ways, let us know why - I think they may be overkill, but if you have a reason, let us know....mebbe we could learn from you too!

Spinner, look at Oscar's.

[quarterback]

Dunno if you are buying that Dell, but in my area, I can get a more-than-serviceable MAME PC for ~$250 less than what you're paying.

Amen.  And you can get a new Dell for ~$300 (or less.)   I just got finished settup up my Powedge 400SC server (P4 2.8, hyper threading etc etc etc) that I bought for ~$300.   And I felt like a chump because a week later people were getting them for $124.

Check out the HotDeals forums at FatWallet.com

[shmokes]

Where do your prices come from for the trackball and spinner?  Are you planning to get used ones off Ebay?  If you're planning to buy new you need to at least double both those prices.

[JCKnife]

schmokes, my prices are probably wrong there. I haven't looked them up yet.

I saw the MDF at Lowes today for $24 a sheet.

On the Dell, I was thinking a P4 at 3.0 GHz would be needed to run the NFL Blitz and Killer Instinct games--is that accurate?

On the 360 opticals, I was just basing that choice on a review I read over at RetroBlast that said they were outstanding and well worth the price.

[DrewKaree]

If you have the cash to drop right now, and don't mind spending it right now, then get the 360's.  If you are looking to trim some money and want to still be able to play, just get some Supers or Comps and save yourself a phat chunk of change....see if you can get a layout diagram for the 360 so you make sure you leave enough room to upgrade in the future.

I dunno about NFL Blitz, but IIRC, someone posted here that Killer Instinct would play with ~2 Ghz pc, but take that for what it's worth, as I'm going off of memory there.  

Still and all, I'm betting you can roll your own on a PC with a 3 Gig proc for less than that, after all, you don't need a case, sound card, modem/NIC and all the other fancy junk on a case.  If someone else here can tell you if a 2 Ghz is fine for those two games you mention, then you can DEFINITELY build yourself an AMD machine that'll work and for WAY cheaper than that.  The modular PSU isn't the way to go to save money, but if money isn't an issue right now, I'd say spend some money there.  Reading quarterback, he just got darn close to the specs you think you need for WAY less money.

Help us help you further.

Do you have a budget for this machine that is flexible, or not.  Meaning, does this need to be a money saver, is price not an object, or do you have an amount set aside to spend already that you want to stay within?  

Next, you still didn't tell us what you mean by "tools".  Do you have to buy them, and what do you need to buy?

[JCKnife]

I have updated the list (still linked above) with more info I learned today (thanks for the replies)

Not sure what a PSU is? sorry.

By Tools, I don't have a router. I do have saws. Then just misc hardware like moldings, casters, bezel, various wires and cords...and a God Only Knows factor.

I was prepared to spend up to $3k on a cab so I was pleased to see where this ended up (of course that doesn't mean I want to spend money foolishly, but I do think I'll stick with those optical sticks).

[DrewKaree]

I have updated the list (still linked above) with more info I learned today (thanks for the replies)

Not sure what a PSU is? sorry.

By Tools, I don't have a router. I do have saws. Then just misc hardware like moldings, casters, bezel, various wires and cords...and a God Only Knows factor.

I was prepared to spend up to $3k on a cab so I was pleased to see where this ended up (of course that doesn't mean I want to spend money foolishly, but I do think I'll stick with those optical sticks).

PSU = Power Supply for your PC.  The modular one, you just plug in molex connectors for what you want, eliminating the wire clutter Click here for what I'm talking about

You can get a router for cheap, but make sure you get carbide tipped bits, otherwise the standard ones will dull quickly in the MDF.  Expect to pay ~20 for a straight bit, maybe go with a pattern cutting bit to make both sides exactly the same.  Pick up 2-4 spring clamps.  Also, pick up an 8' piece of angle iron to help you make your straight cuts.

Yeah, the money you were prepared to spend - if I were in your situation, I'd keep 'em too.  

[paigeoliver]

If you have the cash to drop right now, and don't mind spending it right now, then get the 360's.  If you are looking to trim some money and want to still be able to play, just get some Supers or Comps and save yourself a phat chunk of change....see if you can get a layout diagram for the 360 so you make sure you leave enough room to upgrade in the future.

I dunno about NFL Blitz, but IIRC, someone posted here that Killer Instinct would play with ~2 Ghz pc, but take that for what it's worth, as I'm going off of memory there.  

Still and all, I'm betting you can roll your own on a PC with a 3 Gig proc for less than that, after all, you don't need a case, sound card, modem/NIC and all the other fancy junk on a case.  If someone else here can tell you if a 2 Ghz is fine for those two games you mention, then you can DEFINITELY build yourself an AMD machine that'll work and for WAY cheaper than that.  The modular PSU isn't the way to go to save money, but if money isn't an issue right now, I'd say spend some money there.  Reading quarterback, he just got darn close to the specs you think you need for WAY less money.

Help us help you further.

Do you have a budget for this machine that is flexible, or not.  Meaning, does this need to be a money saver, is price not an object, or do you have an amount set aside to spend already that you want to stay within?  

Next, you still didn't tell us what you mean by "tools".  Do you have to buy them, and what do you need to buy?

I really doubt he is worried about costs, not with that kind of price lists. He is already at $2K and is missing A TON of stuff.

Personally I would just buy a $100 PC (my buddy just picked up a 1 ghz 256 RAM one for a $100), and spend the other $500 ON a Blitz machine or a Killer Instinct. In 5 years your $600 computer will be worth $50, but the Blitz or KI machine will still be worth what you paid for it.

[JCKnife]

"Missing a TON of stuff?" Like what? I've done a lot of reading already and I'm not sure what you mean?

Any hey, those aren't the only 2 games that take some processing power to run properly--just 2 I cited. I don't have room for 2 cabinets (I'm lucky to get one in the house).

[paigeoliver]

"Missing a TON of stuff?" Like what? I've done a lot of reading already and I'm not sure what you mean?

Any hey, those aren't the only 2 games that take some processing power to run properly--just 2 I cited. I don't have room for 2 cabinets (I'm lucky to get one in the house).

Coin door.
Glass of all type.
Wire
marquee
control panel overlay.
Marquee brackets.
Cabinet feet.
Paint.


As for the no room for 2 cabs in the house bit, I NEVER believe that one. I have 10 uprights, 2 cockpits, 1 cocktail, and one bartop in my 2 bedroom apartment, which is smaller than any house.

[JCKnife]

Hee hee, you're right, I didn't mean "room," I meant "clearance from the wife."

And thanks for clarifying the incidentals.

[DrewKaree]

Coin door.
Glass of all type.
Wire
marquee
control panel overlay.
Marquee brackets.
Cabinet feet.
Paint.

That's what he was saying the "misc" was for, at least some of those things

As for the no room for 2 cabs in the house bit, I NEVER believe that one. I have 10 uprights, 2 cockpits, 1 cocktail, and one bartop in my 2 bedroom apartment, which is smaller than any house.

COME ON!  Seriously, Paige, we've seen pictures of your apartment, and you're making the argument that he can fit them, but do you really believe there are tons of other people out there who are willing to use a perfectly good cocktail cab for their kitchen table? :-) 

Seriously, though, you ARE the exception to the norm in that area, as you don't have to worry about a wife or girlfriend living with you telling you to "get that crap outta here"!  You've even posted about how if you find the future Mrs Paige that you'd pare down your collection. 

[paigeoliver]

Oh, I don't expect other people to have huge collections, I just said I never believed the "I don't have room for two cabinets" story.

Especially when you later see pictures of the completed machine and it is sitting in a space that would hold 3 cabinets. 

[shmokes]

Arcade cabinets are SOOOOOO ugly.  They are total monstrosities and only a fool will put even one in their house.  Most of us are, in fact, fools, but you have to be certifiable to put more than that.   

[neuromancer]

As for the no room for 2 cabs in the house bit, I NEVER believe that one. I have 10 uprights, 2 cockpits, 1 cocktail, and one bartop in my 2 bedroom apartment, which is smaller than any house.

I can tell my wife doesn't live with you 

[neuromancer]

Are you planning on using it for playing music too (jukebox)? For just games you probably don't need such nice speakers.

Bob

[JCKnife]

Are you planning on using it for playing music too (jukebox)? For just games you probably don't need such nice speakers.

Really I probably won't play music on it much if at all, I was just going by the recommendation in the Project Arcade book. The little volume knob that can be relocated is appealing...