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My Cabinet: The Final Chapter
Kaytrim:
--- Quote from: Chris on February 08, 2007, 06:15:31 pm ---Augh! Everything is just going to be so tight internally!
I think I'm going to have to pre-build this in 1/3 scale to make sure it all fits. 1/4" foamcore should make a perfect stand-in for MDF.
--- End quote ---
Just use a piece of cardboard box and do a full size mock up. That way you will know for sure.
--- Quote from: Chris on February 08, 2007, 08:16:58 am ---The more I think and tinker the more I'm moving away from modular/removable designs. I came up with an idea last night where I might be able to keep it all in one panel within the natural sides of the cabinet if I keep my diamond button layout rather than convert to a Neo-Geo layout. It's not ideal, but it's always about compromise. As it is, with lighting and LCD wiring and everything, the connections are going to be a bear as it is.
--- End quote ---
I feel your pain. I too am thinking of moving away from the modular system that I am playing around with now. I may end up building two cabs. The first one will be a fighter layout and be my FrankenMAME. The second one will be a multipurpose cab with the trackball and keyboard. My wife likes the slots at the casino so that will be the machine for the casino programs, MAME trackball games, second homework computer and other stuff. This one will be called Tere's Casino.
TTFN :cheers:
Naru:
--- Quote from: Chris on January 30, 2007, 09:00:42 am ---Still haven't mounted that monitor. I've been working on the insides instead.
I finally settled on an Athlon 64 4000+ on a Biostar GeForce-6100 motherboard It brings a few games that I really wanted on my cab frustratingly close to playable: Cruis'n USA, Soul Edge, Tekken, CarnEvil, etc. So for the first time in my life I'm actually experimenting with overclocking. The processor's native speed is 2.4 GHz; I had it up to 2.8 for a short time but couldn't keep it stable. Right now it's running well at 2.6 after adding a heat sink to the motherboard's onboard GPU, upon which I could have fried teeny tiny eggs. The board and processor support AMD's Cool 'n' Quiet, so when there's no CPU activity the speed drops to 1.1 GHz; starting MAME brings it up to full speed in less than a quarter of a second. It'll be interersting when I get to the front-end selection phase to see if it runs at 1.1 or 2.6 while running the front end.
I think all my major expenditures are over. I have all kinds of nickel and dime ideas that, if all implemented, could add up in a huge hurry to close to an extra grand. I think the last place I'm going to really spend money is on artwork; I've printed my marquees and CPO in the past but this time I may have them professionally done. I do need to think of a new theme, though. My cab currently has MAME plastered all over it, which I'm sick of, and the "nebula/stars" artwork and paintjob just didn't look as good as I was expecting. I was really taken by the nice clean look of some of the more abstract sideart designs like the grid currently on the news page, or the stripes on the Starfighter cabinet. I like lines; I may go with something reminiscent of Tron without actually making it a Tron theme.
The other major hurdle is the control panel. Yes, I still haven't decided on a new control panel design. Part of me is tempted to just keep what I have, as it's worked for years, but I've never been truly happy with it. I haven't even completely decided what controls to include! The dedicated 4-way is probably going to go; I only use it for Donkey Kong anyway. The trackball is a must-stay, and it's center point must be at least 6-8 inches from the glass. But I still don't know whether to keep my Supers, or go to switchable sticks or U360's. I'd love to use the U360's but it's hard to justify sinking another $200 into the cabinet to help out the handful of games that need it. It wouldn't be such a pain if those few games weren't among the best. :-\
Anyway, enough rambling. I need to force myself to select a CP design soon so I can start the woodwork.
--- End quote ---
My Pentium 4 3.2GHz wont run Cruis N' USA at full rate.
How close are you getting?
Chris:
And here we are two years later....
Unfortunately, I was laid off from my job this month. While I am looking for a new onem, I finally have time to finish this cabinet overhaul.
I have come to a few decisions:
- Swappable/Modular Panels: This is a no-go. My daughter will just use the regular 8-way joystick when playing racing games rather than hook up the Logitech clamp-on wheel as it is, so anything that requires "setup" just isn't gonna get used.
- Control Panel: I was all set to hack up the front of the cabinet and install an "aircraft carrier" panel but after some serious juggling in Visio I think I can keep everything within the confines of the main panel. So I am going to stick with a 23" wide panel.
- Motherboard/CPU: The Athlon 64 4000+ just didn't quite get where I needed it to be, so I picked up an Intel Core 2 Duo 6550 (Conroe). Using 64-bit XP, this will get me a number of new games. Ironically, it will run Cruis'n at full speed just as I have decided not to install wheels after all.
- Controls: Because I will not be swapping, I went ahead and picked up a pair of Ultimate 360's.
I built my cabinet seven years ago, and as I have tinkered with it the interior has become a mess. This upgrade will involve me touching almost every part, so I have a chance to essentially start from scratch. Here is what the interior looks like today:
Chris:
So here is what I am thinking:
FLOPPY/CD-ROM/USB CAGE: This was originally to give me I/O access through the coin door. With the advent of large USB flash drives, none of this is necessary anymore, so the cage and drives will be removed.
USB HUB: This is a powered 4-port hub. Since the U360's, trackball, and LED-Wiz are all USB based, I am installing a powered 7-port hub in the control panel with 3 ports having external access, so this hub will become surplus. I will either remove it or, if it is not in the way of anything, leave it but switch it to unpowered mode.
AMPLIFIER: On my main system I have a nice Altec Lansing speaker set with subwoofer that I never use since my monitor has built-in speakers and on the rare occasion I play cames on it, it's with the sound way down. So I may migrate these into the cabinet.
SPEAKER PANEL: The cheap plastic molding I have been using as a marquee retainer has broken with the cats always climbing on it. I have a proper Happ marquee retainer but the speaker grilles get in the way. i need to remake the panel with recessed grilles, or just slots or speaker cloth. I may replace the car speakers that are there now with the Altec Lansing's.
CONTROL PANEL: Well, that's the heart of the change; it deserves a separate post.
Chris:
I think I have the control panel plan nailed down. First, here is my current panel:
I never use the 4-way stick in the top center, and the diamond button pattern is non-intuitive and clustered a little too tght. The panel is too deep; it needs an inch ot two shaved off to use the sticks comfortably. And the overlay is a little TOO generic; it has the same starfield and purple clouds that the cabinet sides are painted with, but it is just boring. I saw GoddTodd's TRON-themed panel and really liked it, so I decided to create something similar.
So here is my planned new overlay, and what it should look like populated:
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