Main > Main Forum

lifespan of an arcade machine

Pages: << < (2/4) > >>

RayB:

The question could easily be: How long does a PC last if it is only used X times a week?


davieboynj:

RayB's on it.  arcade boards are extremely durable and most true arcade components are extremely overspec'd.  I've seen a full millimeter coating of dried coke on a running PCB on more than one occasion. 

With a computer, you have very little durability.  Definitely spend a fair amount of money on the power supply and get some good internal surge supression.  I wouldn't reccomend pouring in a can of coke to test your motherboard, though...  If you can vent your cabinet near the computer's air intake you'll find things last a lot longer as well. 

ArcadeNerd:

Yeah, I have to agree with the computer thoughts.  I have a couple old games that are still kicking like champs with very little work put into them but I have had computers crap out on me in short amounts of time.

Old PCBs can be found/bought quite easily that run great.  Computers sometimes don't have quite the same longevity in my experience.  Don't get me wrong though, with a little luck and proper care a computer can last a long time as well.  Is it going to run all the time, does he know his way around a computer when the little things go wrong.  These are just some things that can hinder a MAME machine in the long run.

The way I look at it is that I just have to cross my fingers when I come across either an old game or an old computer.  Also hard drives now a days seem to crap out more from what I hear...

Vigo:

yeah, I'm a bit worried about the hard drive, since it is already five years old...I might just replace it to avoid future problems.

Most all the other components are brand new via newegg...The dvd drive is old and on its last legs, but I don't consider that as necissary right now...

I guess to answer a few questions....no it will not run all the time, maybe about 10-15 hours a week. Only when it is used is it on...

My brother knows his way around a computer, but not around a frontend. I doubt he knows how to access the computer outside of the frontend...but if something, say ram goes bad...and the bios beeps at him on bootup, he would know to replace it. I have been trying to teach him what is going on as far as the arcade controls and the jpac and that sort of hook up...

The hard drive is rarely altered though....I do have plans to add some of his music on it with a jukebox this summer...

jelwell:


--- Quote from: Vigo on April 10, 2006, 02:46:15 pm ---I had made a mame cab for my brother, but he doesn't know much about upkeep of a machine
--- End quote ---

Upkeep can include dealing with Windows. So a few suggestions to minimize trouble there:
1) Don't put it on a network - you're begging for trojans/viruses issues.
2) Don't expose Windows to your brother. If you leave a backdoor to exit the frontend don't tell him. Just let him restart the machine when there is a problem - A hidden reset button will do, you can even wire it to a button if you like.

I'd almost suggest a read only location for nearly everything (except nvram, hi, possibly a few others). I wonder has anyone tried setting up their cabinet with a read only setup?
Joseph Elwell.

Pages: << < (2/4) > >>

Go to full version