My first cab is complete!!

[dpz147]

Hey everyone!

I completed my cab last week and was debating posting it here or not because I know it'll get ripped for being wood grain finished, but I liked the look when I saw some others and went with it.

I'm quite proud of it considering I've never built a thing in my life and didn't even know what a router was...outside of networking.  I had a blast doing it and think it's one of the greatest things I've ever done!

I went with 3 p360's and love them.  I actually found a 27" security monitor at a local 2nd hand store for $40.  It looks great!  I modified the coin door to accept tokens and use it to control/reward my kids.

A huge thank you to everyone who contributes to this forum!  I couldn't have done it without you guys!

Anyway...here's some pics.  Sorry about the first few...I had to use my cell phone cam.

Rip away...   

[arcade-mad]

Hi
the cab looks great very nice for your first attempt.
I always make cocktails instead of upright i dont know why i just like cocktails better. I use my own design is that a design of your own or did you get it off the net.

Also i dont know if you know but if you put hardware stretch on in the mame setting you will get the game in full screen instaed of up the middle of the monitor. Just noticed in the pacman pic you dont have full screen coverage.

[Jeff AMN]

Nice job, I always love seeing someone's first completed cabinet.

[dpz147]

Thanks arcade-mad!  I was thinking that if I can ever talk my wife into letting me build another cab, I would build a cocktail.

I got the plans off the net but had to modify them a little due to the size of the monitor.

I'll have to try that stretch.  Doesn't it mess up the aspect ratio?

[mj147]

Nice work dpz147, looks very clean.

My first attempt was a wood grain finish, but the staining/sealing was way too much for me to handle as a first woodworking project- so much props to your efforts.

Looks like there is plenty of room for more cabs in that basement 


mj147

[MYX]

Nice work. I love the old timey look to it. Retro on retro.

[CheffoJeffo]

I love the penny arcade look ... it is beautiful ... nicely done!

Cheers.

[arcadefever]

  i'm sure the litlle girl on the picture dont care at all if it is grain finished, she just look like she's having lot of fun playing miss pac man 

well for somebody who never build something, you did a great job, it look very clean and well done.

another very good thing is, that you have a lot of space  that mean more ARCADES 

[dpz147]

Thanks for all the great compliments!

The kids are having a blast with it!  As far as they're concerned, it's the coolest thing in the world...and none of their friends have one!! 

[dpz147]

Hey guys,

I hate to resurrect an old post, but it's probably the easiest thing to do for reference.

This is the first and only cab that I've ever built...almost 14 years ago. Well, it's been a long time and we've added four more kids since then. This cab is still intact but the PC stopped functioning many years ago and I'm hoping to get it working again. I've been out of it for so long and I'm sure things have changed quite a bit, so I'm hoping to get some suggestions on the best way to get it back up and running.

The PC was running XP (which I know is WAY out of support) and it is stuck in a reboot loop. I actually have an IT background and have done some basic troubleshooting without any obvious answer as to what's causing it.

I'm guessing that there may be better ways to get this working again rather than wasting too much time troubleshooting XP. The hard drive obviously still has all of my front end software and ROMs on it. The monitor is an old tube TV with S-video.

What would be the fastest/best way to get this running again? I would love to have it up and running by Christmas. Should I slave the old drive in a new bare bones PC? I have a Raspberry Pi laying around but never tried using something like that before, and not sure there's a way to go HDMI to S-video.

Any suggestions? Any help is greatly appreciated!!

[pbj]

Pi has composite out, bro.  Download a premade image and go.

[javeryh]

agreed - the pi would be quickest and easiest way to do it... but honestly, I think it sucks.  For a temporary solution to get you through Christmas it's OK but I wouldn't want my main cab to be running RetroPie.

[jmike]

Hey dpz, I had a similar problem with my windows 7 pc just kept rebooting. I am no way a tech expert (dont even now how i manage to post here sometimes). I unplugged the power supply and blew some of the dust off it and removed and reinstalled the memory. Plugged it back, turned it on and it's working again. Maybe just dumb luck but the kids have been enjoying it again.