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| japangreg:
Greetings, BYOACers. Recently introduced to the MAME/home-brewed cab scene, I have a ton of questions I'd like to pose before I get too far into a project. I've done my best to search the boards and research the topic online, but I'd like to clarify/verify what I've found. First set of questions re: comp. set up: I'm planning on using an old PII, 400mhz 128mb 10gig system as the guts of my cab. Hoping to build this on the cheap, it's a left over comp. with Win 98 installed. With a focus mostly on mid-to-late 90's games (the Street Fighters, X Men, etc.) as well as some of the earlier favorites, is that processor/memory combo doable? Is upping the ram to 256 going to make a difference, or should I just go for a new processor? I've read a ton of threads on OS recommendations, and was surprised to see 98 as an occasionally favored one: does this still hold true (thread was from 04 or 05, I think) or will I have to find a way to talk MS into letting me install my XP home on a second box? Second set of questions re: control panel: I have an I-Pac sitting at home waiting for me to get the details worked out and put it to use. I'm planning on doing 2 builds: first for the little-woman's brother (to work out the kinks and get some experience) and then for myself (to fix all those mistakes I made in the first version). While I'm fairly certain both builds will be fairly simple 2-player affairs (2-8 way, 1-4 way joystick, 6 buttons per player), I'm going back and forth on the track ball/spinners. At this point, if I decide to put either/or into this first cab, I'm thinking of getting an Opti-pac as a companion encoder, but for my next build I was considering the Mini-pac. Not being familiar with soldering/electronics in general, is the mini-pac much harder to work with when wiring? I'm also looking for nice CP templates: I have been strongly impressed (as I'm sure everyone else has been) by the quality and professionalism of Knievel's designs and was hoping to replicate (read: rip-off) his CP design. Is there any one place that offers detailed CP plans with dimension/measurements? (Knievel, if you're reading this, do you make your templates available?) I've got more, but I think I'll leave it here for now lest I wear out my welcome faster than I should. :) Any help/recommendations welcome! |
| shardian:
The cutoff point for a 400 mhz is around 1985. I have one set up with vertical 4-way games. I haven't tried it personally with the newer games, as I don't see the point. Your framerate would be so low the games won't be playable.You can get a 1 ghz computer for next to nothing ($20 or so on ebay), so if you want to play early 90's games, definitely invest in a newer computer. My desktop is 1.3 mhz and runs everything in mame .54 release. Hope this helps |
| MovingTarget:
1. I don't know for sure but I think your planned computer may have some problems running some of those games. I would suggest loading some up and trying them out ASAP. You don't need to build the entire cabinet and CP just to find your computer can't cut it. I think if you were planning on just doing some old 80s games that computer would be fine. Some others may suggest you load an older version of MAME to help out. 2. Why not make it even more simple and just get a HAPP USB trackball? You can plug it in using USB or a PS2 mouse connector and you won't have to solder or anything. 3. I'm not sure what software program you're going to use to create your CP but I've got a Visio layout and my Photoshop layout you're welcome to. I also was "inspired" by Knievel and it has 2-8 ways w/6 buttons each, 1-4 way w/2 buttons, TB, and some admin buttons (Pause, Exit, P1 Coin, P2 Coin, P1 Start, P2 Start, Mouse 1, and Mouse 2). Look in the Project section for Alien Mame for pictures. The only problem is the Photoshop file is a few hundred meg but I could probably make that smaller if I removed the graphics and just left the button position stuff. |
| Dervacumen:
--- Quote from: japangreg on September 08, 2006, 02:51:16 pm ---on OS recommendations...Windows 98 is occasionally favored --- End quote --- I'm running Windows ME (forgive me) on one machine and Windows XP on another, and see no reason to upgrade to XP if you've already got a licensed copy of Windows 98. I think you're fine here. My processor is P3 800MHz and has no problems with the Neo-Geo stuff or anything less. Doesn't work too good with Virtua Fighter, though. |
| Outrun:
Hi there, I once helped a friend install a Mini-Pac into his own cab & was really supprised how easy it was to connect the wiring harness to the various controls/coin door I wished i'd brought one myself !! |
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