Choice of 3 Arcade Cabinets

[Vicked]

Hello All,

I want to start my own MAME cabinet project and I have a choice of three cabinets available to me:

1. Sega Dead or Alive 29" Cabinet - empty, no screen or board or anything.
2. Neo Geo - not sure of the size, doesn't work but comes with Screen
3. 80's Lowboy JAMMA Cabinet - working with 20" screen.

I have at home a 21" CRT Monitor which I would like to use if possible as I don't have to use a J-Pac or the like.

What is your advice on how to go about it, my options are as I see it:

1. Buy the Dead or Alive machine and put my 21" monitor in it, leaving some room I will have to tidy up.
2. Buy the Neo Geo and use a J-Pac and the current screen.

I think the benefit of option 1 is that I can play other games such as PC games and emulated Nintendo games etc.

I would appreciate some advice. Thanks!

[cabe]

Only if you try and keep the Dead or Alive cab looking as stock as possible., if you have to make changes to the cp build from scratch rather than maul it. (Im in the preservationist camp incase you havent noticed )

Otherwise gut one of the "generic" cabs. They hold no special place in my heart

[aumameman]

Dont destroy the DOA machine

Rather bring new life to the generic 80s machine.

[Vicked]

Whats a DOA cabinet worth? 100% original and working? 29"

Unfortunately, I'd like to use my 21" CRT and I don't know if it will fit in the other cabinets, also I like the viewing position of the DOA the best, much more vertical - the other two are almost horizontal.

I'm favouring gutting the DOA at the moment I'm afraid.

By the way - I'm in Australia too

[Havok]

Since it's already gutted, and you appear to like the DOA cab, I say use that. Don't cut it up though, make a new control panel unless that has been modified.

[Vicked]

The DOA isn't gutted at the moment. The place I'm getting it from will gut it for me if I want.

I will definately try and use the original CP and keep all the decals etc.

[RayB]

I prefer authentic arcade monitors.