Newbie - Building 1st MAME Machine

[j123vt_99]

Ok.. I am a total newbie to building a MAME cabinet machine, but the posts here have helped so far.

I am looking to build a MAME machine capable of running other emulators (NES, Genesis, etc) as well as using it for a jukebox.

[Hoagie_one]

free is good.

welcome

[Goz]

If you want it going right away, go the JAMMA cab + JPAC = ArcadeVGA

Once you have the parts + the cab (assuming no defects) You are literally playing within an hour. Much less time if PC is already loaded.

-Goz

[j123vt_99]

can't decide.. the jamma cab only has 2 buttons per controller... if i go with an x-arcade joystick, is there a player 1/2 credit button?

if i go with the jamma, i only need jpac then? how do i get the controller to "talk" to the mame comp?

[Goz]

The JAMMA standard is 3 action puttons per player. There are some extra wires inside if it is in fact JAMMA and someone didnt yank them out of the edge harness.

[j123vt_99]

here is a pic of it

[RayB]

Just drill more holes and connect more buttons!

[j123vt_99]

Just drill more holes and connect more buttons!

i would , but not sure how to connect the buttons to the "mame" interface

[RayB]

i would , but not sure how to connect the buttons to the "mame" interface

Learn.
This website is the place to find out how. Just be sure to read the newbie FAQs and the site's main pages other than this message forum...

[krick]

Get a copy of the Project Arcade book and read it cover to cover...

http://www.projectarcade.com/

Amazon has it for $19.79...

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764556169/buildyourowna-20

[Stingray]

Buy a new JAMMA harness, they're cheap enough and come labeled. Then it's just a matter of drilling the holes for the extra buttons you want and wiring the CP up.

-S

[j123vt_99]

i'm really concerned about "playing" around with the elctronics/solidering/monitor etc on 1st machine.. .my thought is to use a pc/x-arcade and monitor in a cabinet to start with... once that is complete, then try building a CP (or buying one) and advancing from there...any thoughts>?

[Bloinkxp]

Seriously,
Berfore you plan out your build read Project Arcade.  So many things are in that book and it's CD-ROM will benefit you.  It will, for instance, save you the expense of buying an X-Arcade and being dissatisfied with it.

Now, look in the Project Announcement Area and the Hall of Fame Area.  Read the step by steps these guys have put together.  That will help out.

Luck,
-d

[j123vt_99]

ok.. guess i'm just really excited to get started.... can i purchase the book through this site or should i go to barnes & noble?

[RetroJames]

Here is a decent graphic of how the Jpac fits into a jamma setup.  I used an ATI RAGE video card, but it will look the same for ArcadeVGA. (You need to download it to view properly)

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,20395.msg236896.html#msg236896

From Ultimarc, basic Jamma supports 2 joys and 3 buttons per player (plus coin, start, etc) 

http://www.ultimarc.com/jpac1.html

"What controls does the JAMMA connector support?

The JAMMA standard supports 2 players with 3 buttons per player. There is an unofficial addition to this, some cabinets wire a fourth button. Plus coin, start etc."

This shows the pinouts: http://www.ultimarc.com/jpac2.html

Also, if you look here:  http://www.ultimarc.com/jpac.html

At the bottom is a link to a high res pic of the jpac.  See the white rails (with screws) that have positions labeled,

1SW4 to 1SW8 and 2SW4 to 2SW8

This means, Player one, switch 4 through 8 and Player 2 switch 4 through 8.  You simply wire up your extra buttons wires to those postitions.

Super simple.  HTH

[j123vt_99]

yeah.. that was way over my head

Here is a decent graphic of how the Jpac fits into a jamma setup.

[RetroJames]

Yes you should buy the book then.  Take it slow, you will get there.  If you go to fast and aren't sure what you need etc. you will end up with the 6 million dollar cab...

Good luck!

[j123vt_99]

Yes you should buy the book then.

[moonpatrol 4 lyfe]

where is this free cabinet?  if you dont want it, i do =)  any chance of me getting my hands on it?

good luck with your cab!

Thanks!
Bill

[j123vt_99]

austin, tx

[RetroJames]

Yes you should buy the book then.

[j123vt_99]

No, not at all.  The upshot is (with the jamma cabinet) all you need to do is this (oversimplified)

1. Get Cabinet

2. Remove existing arcade pcb board from Jamma harness.

3. Plug the jpac in where the board came out.

4. connect ps/2 cable from jpac to pc

5. install arcade vga in pc

6. connect vga cable from arcade vga to jpac

7. DISCONNECT POWER FROM CABINET POWER SUPPLY TO JAMMA HARNESS OR BE DANG SURE YOU HAVE the JPAC IN RIGHT SIDE UP!

8. play

9. Add buttons blah blah as desired when you are more used to the setup.

I'm leaving out lalot of details, like the fact that you need to setup mame, You will need to check ultimarc docs for proper jpac jumper settings, etc. 


But if you followed those steps as your milestones just to ge the cab operating and give you a better understanding of how it is all put together, you will be golden.

just got the book.. 2 questions..

1) is $300 a good deal for a working cabinet?
2) it sounds like it is easy to connect the jpac to the jamma board. i assume that gets all the existing buttons working.. how hard is it to add a couple of new buttons? are they easy to connect or is soldering involved?

[RayB]

1) is $300 a good deal for a working cabinet?

Depends on the cab, condition, monitor size, etc, etc...

[j123vt_99]

1) is $300 a good deal for a working cabinet?

Depends on the cab, condition, monitor size, etc, etc...

only have 1 pic so far

[Mameotron]

First of all, welcome!!

Really, you should buy the book & read through it before building.

[j123vt_99]

First of all, welcome!!

Really, you should buy the book & read through it before building.  I was so excited to build my 1st cab, but I ended up with something I really didn't like in the end.  My opinions of what I wanted and how I wanted it to work have changed SOOOO much.  I'm now building my 3rd cab, and I think this one will finally be the one I want.

Having said that, I think that $300 is a bit steep for the cab pictured, unless you KNOW that everything is in 100% working condition, and that includes the monitor.  For that price I would also expect the wood to be in excellent shape, and with a new paint job.  Unless you know what to look for (or this guy selling the cab is VERY trustworthy) I would wait a while on that.

Adding buttons is simple.  No soldering required.  You simply drill a hole where you want the button, insert the button, screw on the nut, and attach the wires.  Use spade connectors (middle of attached picture) on your wires.  They slide right on the tabs on the bottom of the button (left side of pic).  Use crimpers to attach the spade connectors to the wires (right side of pic).

Edit:  I just noticed the lock is gone from the coin door, and I can't tell if the coin mechanisms work or not.  Personally, I would pass on this one because I don't know the status of the coin mechs or whether the monitor even works.

thank you.. i bought the book and read through the relevant chapters... obviously, i will be reading it alot more carefully, but i got a feel.. between that and this board, i feel like i've learned a ton in one day... the owner  of the cab pictured is a member here so i would trust his opinion... i do have a little more time than i thought  to wait to purchase a cab as i will not be moving into my new house as soon as i thought..  i will post in buy.sell forum here to see if anyone can hook me up

[RetroJames]

2) it sounds like it is easy to connect the jpac to the jamma board. i assume that gets all the existing buttons working.. how hard is it to add a couple of new buttons? are they easy to connect or is soldering involved?

Yes the jpac to jamma connection in literally tab A into slot B.

[RayB]

Hard to tell what that cab was... Looks like it may have been an Atari cab. See age matters here because monitors don't last forever. You need to find out how old it is. (10 years? 20 years?)

You need to check for burn-in on the monitor. Check how crisp the monitor image is. Color, brightness. Is the picture squished? (don't assume tweaking a knob will fix that. Sometimes it's due to bad capacitors).

Also look for water damage in the wood (swelling, flaking).

After that kind of inspection, you'll have more ammo to lower the price more in the $150-200 range. You could even let the guy keep the Kageki game, marquee and bezel. It's a crappy game.

~Ray B.

[RetroJames]

To give you an idea about related costs etc.  I got this cabinet as the "Vigilante" seen in the first pics for $50.00

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,20395.0.html

To reconvert it back to a Moon Patrol (multigame) cost a grand total of $400.  I put a 333Mhz (or was it a 400Mhz?)PC inside with a  jpac.

Cabinet $50
Bezel $80 (original glass moon patrol)
Jpac $60 ish
PC $30
Marquee $25 (original moon patrol)
CP overlay $40 (repro from arcadeshop.com)
Misc for the rest...buttons, paint, stripper, wires, etc.

There may have been some other costs for smaller items I used that I had laying around like barrel locks etc as well which I really didn't figure into the mix.

[Rip]

Hey...I recognize that machine....that's mine !!!

The reason I went as high as $300 is that it has a brand new 19" monitor (Makvision), which cost me $225 that I had intended for another MAME project.  The controls are brand new ($35), and the cab is an excellent Phoenix cab (still has the Phoenix serial) with no water damage or busted corners and orginal walnut finish (but it will require the Centuri offset T-Moulding to be 100%).  I was also going to throw in another Centuri CP for use as an extra.  The coin door is wired but is missing the mechs, one coin reject, and the coin retrun flaps which could all be had for $20 on ebay.

I was going to restore it to it's original Phoenix glory, but have run out of room.  I think it is a fair deal, as most of the value is in the monitor.

I'd like to see the cab restored to Phoenix as it is in great shape, but then again, I'd also like to see my garage floor again too 

[RayB]

With a new monitor, thats a great deal.

[j123vt_99]

ok.. i made this a poll..

[krick]

Is it a good deal?  yes

Is it the right machine for you?  only you can answer that