[POLL] - Entire PC or just the components?

[kelemvor]

Just wondering what most people have done with their cabients.  Do you have an entire PC (case and everything) inside your cabinet or do you just mount the system board to the wall and things like that.

Just Curious.

[javeryh]

I've got just the components I need inside my cocktail but I'm stuffing an old computer into my mini when it's ready.

[johnm160]

I have just the componants, but sometimes wonder if bolting the entire computer down in there wouldn't be faster and easier.

What I think it comes down to for me is it just looks cooler with the componants when you look in rather then seeing a computer. JMHO

[AlanS17]

Some people who have just mounted the motherboard directly and not used a PC case have reported heat issues. This is for a couple of reasons. First, most of these people don't put a fan across their motherboard like it would be if it were still in the case. Secondly, you don't get channeled airflow like you would in a PC case. That being said, if you supply enough fans, it shouldn't be a problem.

For what it's worth, I've done it both ways.

[sealslayer]

Bare bones for me, I really don't like the look of PC sitting inside a cab it takes away the essence of the machine and makes it look cheap.
I've got two fans sitting across the MOBO but neither are connected as so far I've got no issues with it getting hot, maybe in the summer they may need connecting.

[AlanS17]

I had a video card overheat in my first cab when I was running games in Zinc. Locked up the whole machine. Took me a while to figure out the problem.

[eccs19]

My bartop is only what is needed, as the entire PC won't fit. As long as all is well ventilated, then all should be good.

[TOK]

Right now, I'm the lone straggler in "some of each".

I'm using cases, but hacked up and screwed down to the floors of the cab. I tried using just a motherboard on the second cab, but didn't like how the cards seemed so exposed and floppy. Considered making a wooded strip for them to mount similar to the way they screw onto a PC case, but ultimately just used the case.

I did remotely mount the drives in that machine so that you can easily reach the CD from behind the coin door.

[Havok]

Just components mounted directly to the side of the cab in mine: I mounted the motherboard "sideways" so that the video card heat sink is pointing up (the way it should be!) and have no cooling issues at all. My cabinet regularly is left on when the kids forget to shut it down, and no problems! I also have no extra fans: only a cpu and (internal) power supply fan...

[PedroSilva]

I have a complete PC, but without the sides for better cooling ...

[MameJunkie]

Yup..the whole enchilada. 
More work to take out the components I needed and to mount them.

[leapinlew]

The whole computer is in mine. If I showed off the inside of the cab - I'd mount it to the wall, but since I don't...

[miles2912]

Seemed easier to put the whole PC in there.  I just mounted one side to the inside of the Cab.




D-

[Bill Mote]

I started with just the components mounted in the system, but I had a board die and a hard drive go bad.  Wondering if heat was the cause myself.  I've replaced the guts with an entire PC.  Not nearly as "cool" but it all looks the same with the cabinet closed up

dot

[Turnarcades]

I haven't got the time nor the effort to piece components together and worry about them collecting dust or getting damaged with movement. My cabinet comfortably accommodated my old PC so it just stays like that - at least if I ever want to upgrade I can just unplug it all and still have a complete PC at the end of it.

I have literally just started selling cabinets I construct myself: budget machines for a much fairer price than the four figures some builders are charging. The PC's inside them are complete units that, although not high-spec, are plenty for the majority of MAME games and are actually cheaper than actually buying components seperately. If I used components I wouldn't be able to knock them out quite so cheaply. At the end of the day there will always be someone on eBay just waiting to chuck that PC they thought wasn't worth shitting on. In steps me to take it off their hands for peanuts!

[Bill Mote]

I didn't buy the components to build the cabinet.  I had an old PC and thought it would look cool without the case.  I drilled out the rivets to free the motherboard mounting tray, drive cage, etc.  Once everything was in pieces I screwed the motherboard mounting tray to the side of the cabinet and mounted the PSU, HDD, and DVD drive to the base of the cabinet.  It all looked very cool.  All that said, *ALL* of my future cabinets will be complete PCs.

dot

[NickG]

'Always upgrading/messing around with my computers, so I leave them on the bench and run 15-16 feet of video/sound/and USB extension cables to my cabs so far.   

[loadman]

Just the bits...

I can't fit a decent PC and a case in the box anyway