Building my first Arcade and I'm a complete Noob

[Gavica]

Hi, I want to buil a MAME Arcade.

I've been browsing around the Internet and found a few pointers.

But I need help.

More or less what I am looking for is an empty cabinet to acomodate all the parts for the arcade.

So far this is what I got:



*Monitor (19" Dell P990 CRT )

*PC (P3 500mhz / 768mb PC-100 RAM / 20gig HD / 32mb Vid Card) *Note Computer can be upgraded if needed, that is not an issue*

*X-Arcade™ Two Player Joystick (Which I don't yet have, but plan on to buy)

*Speakers are Altec Lansing 4.1 (which can be converted to 2.1)


So If I am thinking this correctly all I would need would be the cabinet right???
Now, should I buy one premade? or build my own? problem with building is I don't have the tools, and since I live on an apartment building, I don't have the space either.

Another solution, I find this site, which sells the cabinets, and I like that they can acommodate the X-Arcade stick, problem is they are a bit expensive for like $600 +

http://www.mameroom.com/UAIIEkit_info2.asp



what do you guys recommend I do? and at least how powerful should a PC running mame games should be? That way if I need to build another PC i build the cheapest possible, with the bare minimum required.



Also, when placing the monitor in the Cabinet, since its really havy, can I just put it in there? because I have seen many pictures were people take the case off and just put in the screen. I am not very Monitor savy and would be afraid to do that and ruin the monitor.
I would rather just stick the whole thing in there.

[Scumgriever]

If you're going for quick and easy but still money consious your absolute best bet is to find a second hand gutted cabinet around somwhere. they go for pretty cheap with nothing in them, If you can find a good deal.

then mounting the x-arcade to the cab shouldn't be too hard.

My cab has a removable CP that you could replace with the x arcade, or just remove the exosting controlls and screw the sucker down.

[Gavica]

Thanks for answeres.

Do you know the part I posted about the monitor?

And where can I find locally where they sell Arcade Cabinets used???


Basically I'm trying to find something as Economic as possible

I found this pic on wikipedia

[FrizzleFried]

I bought my first cabinet with monitor, 2 joysticks, 14 buttons and JAMMA harness for $100.  I got my second cabinet with monitor, 2 joysticks, 8 buttons and JAMMA harbess for $35 and 8 DVD-R's...

I doubt  you can BUILD a cabinet for those prices let alone build a cabinet,  get a monitor, 2 working joysticks and buttons, etc.

[Xam]

Thanks for answeres.

Do you know the part I posted about the monitor?

And where can I find locally where they sell Arcade Cabinets used???


Basically I'm trying to find something as Economic as possible

I found this pic on wikipedia

Check Craigs List in your area...lots of free ones and cheap ones there if you are patient. Also check E-Bay...if you are in the area where one is being sold, you can get them for around $50.00 if you pick it up.

Also call the local arcades or arcade repair facility...they sometimes have older cabinets that are not worth (to them) reconditioning.

One final suggestion, Thrift stores. Several people on this forum have found some deals one cabinets there.

Also...I would recommend changing the joys in the X-Arcade to one of the better available ones...I know I changed mine and have not regretted it at all. The X is pretty good overall...but the joys are inferior in my opinion...other than that, I have no issues with mine.

Good luck and let us know your  progress in the project announcemnet board.

Xam

[Scumgriever]

If you do find a cabinet somewhere or another your best bet for installing the PC monitor (assuming you daont want to use an arcade monitor) is to remove the frame that is built for the original monitor leaving the usefull supart bits and stick your own shelf in there that you can just put the PC monitor on.

I decased a tv to fit it into the cabinet but I'm not entirely sure it was worth the effort for an extra couple of inches of screen. hopefuly it was, havent played on it yet.

[Gavica]

thanks for the replys

I have also found here that they sell plans and even full size cutout templates, this seems to make it really easy if I plan to buil it.
Do you guys anything about them? are they any good?


http://www.mameroom.com/UAIIPlans_info2.asp

[Scumgriever]

I wouldn't PAY for plans. there are lots going around for free.

Checkout LUSID's plans for example.

http://www.lusid.net/arcade/

[Scumgriever]

I don't have the skills/confidence to make one from scratch though.

Lots of people have made Lusid's plans and seem really happy.
It's almost to the point of people saying "ANOTHER Lucid machine"
But hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.


I hadn't noticed that the ones you linked to have a X-arcade base attachment... Don't know much about them.

[Xam]

I don't have the skills/confidence to make one from scratch though.

Neither did/do I.

Your best bet is to jump in and do it! If you have marginal mechanical skills (like me) you will be able to do it! I know my cab is not as nice as some on the boards...but it is nice enough and its all mine!

As far as "another Lusid cab" is concerned...so what? The only one it (the cab) has to please is you.

Xam

[Gavica]

which controller would you recommend beside the X-arcade? I live that one cause for $130 you get 2 players and free shipping.

[Xam]

which controller would you recommend beside the X-arcade? I live that one cause for $130 you get 2 players and free shipping.

Not the unit itself...the joysticks in it. I have the Happ's comps in mine.
The happ super, or one of the sticks from GGG, or Ultimarc,, or a Sanwa.

The Super and the Comp by Happ can be had for about $8.00 each + shipping through Ponyboy or Divemaster on the B/T/S board.

Xam

[Gavica]

do those have to be built?
could you provide a link pls?

[Xam]

Not built...but you will have to do a little work to remove and replace the existing joys.

http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/competition_joy.htm

http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/super_joy.htm

To do this you must open the bottom of the X-Arcade (won't void your warranty...they tell you this in the instruction manual) loosen the nuts on the existing joys, disconnect the wires (be sure to keep track of what wire goes where...mark them if you have to), disassemble the existing joy, install the new base (comp and super will fit in perfectly), reconnect the wires to the appropriate terminals, tighten the nuts, assemble the joy and BAM! You are pretty much done.

Here is a pic of my X-Arcade with 2 red Happ Comps. The second pic is of an X-Arcade hull with a Happ Super (GP-Wizeco solder version for the encoder) and a homemade spinner, with Happ Competition buttons.

Get the joys and buttons from Pony or Dive on the Buy/Sale/Trade board on this forum...Happ will kill you on the shipping.

Xam