You are all too optimistic. Any pc based cab of any speed worth building will be around $500.00 I have made them. and a slow poke p2 300 or a celeron 600 are just too slow OERALL. Yes they run anything from pac man to Neo Geo fine, but with all the cool new mame roms, it just wont cut it. Thats the whole point, an X-box runs 733 with CUSTOM drivers for it's Nvidea chip, and its super new so optimizing can happen for JUST this chip, not 1000 pc variations. So overal it's a competent processor and video chip, it's no screamer, but the potential for optimization is there. Try and run something like splinter cel on a p3 733, it chugs along like molasses! But the X-box version is better than anything but a 3 Gig p4 running the PC version of Splinter cel. I am just saying how an x-box can be a great cabinet solution, and more emus all the time. Don't forget things like zero crashing, instant on, PERFECT Tv out so you can use any TV instead of super expensive 33" arcade monitors, even HDTV out and component out, super crisp images. All of you using Pc monitors for mame are missing out! Arcade games were made for coarse pixel low frequency arcade monitors, which are really closer to TVs than PC MOnitors, but TV out from a pc introduces second generation blurring, bleeding and artifacts. An X-box video signal is first generation straight to the TV. I priced it out guys here goes, and this is REAL costs, not "find a crappy hard drive under the cat litter and toss it in" thinking, but NEW component costs, from mobo to hard drive to wood to lights, controls, encoder, all of it:
Arcade Cabinet costs:
Via Epia Based System Total Cost roughly $570.00
BookPC Based System Total Cost roughly $595.00
X-box/Matrix Based System Total Cost roughly $510.00
Dell Dimen.2350 Based System Total Cost roughly $674.00
Gigabyte Celeron 1.8 pieced together system $650.00
(mainly because if I were selling it, I have to BUY
Windows OEM for about $120.00
Now you are saying they are similar costs, but I also use the X Arcade as the controls for all of these at $149.00 its LESS than buying and bulding and wiring your own controls! HOW do they sell them this cheap! Look into it
Buttons and Stick just went up 15% at Happ also!
Buttons 2 player config, $1.87eachx 24 buttons with shipping $47.00
Two Happ Super Sticks cost about $38.00 with shipping
Ipac Encoder Costs $51.00 with shipping
Wiring Kit for buttons $22.00 with shipping
This is assuming you dont have an elecronics shop with tons of spare wire and connectors lying around.
Totalling $158.00 to build your own!Now I know you will all jump in and say that's what it's about, building your own! But Why not focus on the cabinet, t-molding etc, the look of your own cabinet, the craftsmanship etc. and But a damn X-arcade and pop it in! And since they had the foresight to include converters, play X-box, ps2 or gamecube titles also! If you want perfect controls also attatch a 4 way restrictor, or even swap in an 8/4 way stick!
Its just crazy to spend more money, more time, and most likely have many trial and errors getting a control pannel wired yourself to me. I have made 4 cabinets this way, and I have to be honest, I want to PLAY the games, and build a sharp looking cab, not be under the hood for WEEKS figuiring shich wire messed up. This is an exaggeration, and if you get good at it it would only take a day or so to wire up buttons, but WHY?!? I am no shill for xarcade, I don't even own one yet, but read all the great reviews. What we need to do is get all the people who love cabs but cant wire up daughterboards to ipacs like that guy did with the brigh led buttons, and make an "XBOX arcade Cab Forum" To expolore this further instead of bashing it as stupid or not feasable.
Whos With me! Lets PLAY games not spend 6 months on the cab! Spend six DAYS on a cab!