Astro Fighter Cocktail MAME Cabinet

[Stray_Catalyst]

I recently bought a non-working "Astro Fighter" cocktail cabinet.  It was Data East's first starfighter-type game, and wasn't particularly good, even when it worked.  I have a tiny P4 1.0GHZ computer with 512MB RAM (haven't found the graphics card yet, it's in storage) that I've installed in it, along with the associated power supply, and I'll be buying a JPAC to interface the computer to the controls and the arcade monitor. 
As I'm working on a limited budget, I'm going to start out with the controls, panel, CPO, etc, that the game came with originally - thus, a single button and a two way joystick for each player, which limits me to about five games.  Once I have more money to pour into the console, I'll get one of the 14-button-and-two-joystick combos that always show up on EBay - I can hook those to the same JPAC, and the control panel itself won't be a problem, as I have a friend who runs a sheetmetal prototype business.  The CPO will be more of a challenge, but I'm not too worried about that.
I wanted to post the unused parts of the game (the CPU, amongst other things) on the "free" section, but as I'm still a newb, I can't post there.  Does anyone want a non-working but not visibly damaged Astro Fighter CPU?  You can have it for the cost of shipping, or free if you feel like driving to the middle of New Hampshire to pick it up.

Stray Catalyst

P.S.  I'll post pictures of it a bit later.

[Stray_Catalyst]

Here's the game, in four steps - from complete but broken, to opened up, to emptied, and now halfway through the process of installing a MAME console in it - I still have to pick up the HD, the JPAC, and do a bit of wiring. 

[DrumAnBass]

Cool, I am about to take on a similar project with a very similar cocktail... What'd you use for a monitor? I am debating about trying to rig up the old 13" arcade monitor in mine to the PC, or go with a 15" vga crt...

[Stray_Catalyst]

Everybody I asked (and quite a few people I didn't) told me that I'd have a better end result with the arcade monitor.  The old games don't look right in high resolution - my goal is, as much as possible, to have this look like it did when it was earning quarters in some dive bar.  A computer monitor (while it won't look quite authentic) is a lot simpler - just plug and play.  The arcade monitor has special needs, including a need for a different type of video card. (different horizontal refresh rate, different voltage, etc)  I'm using the monitor - I've found software to tweak my cheapo vidcard to output the 15.75KHz refresh rate I need, and a JPAC will change the signal voltage to the range that the monitor needs.  One thing to consider with a cocktail - there's VERY little room inside it, you probably can't fit a normal computer.  I'm using a "Shuttle" computer that's got a motherboard that's only slightly larger than a paperback book - one PCI slot, no frills.  Full size cabinets have room to spare, but I got a bargain on this cabinet, and already had the shuttle, so I'm going for it.  Good luck with yours...

Stray Catalyst

[IG-88]

Interesting project. Keep us posted with lots of pics!

[DrumAnBass]

Which cheapo video card are you using? And which software to get the 15khz? I have an old GeForce MX4000 that I was hoping to use in mine...

[Stray_Catalyst]

The vidcard is a $50 one from Waldomart, runs on PCI.  The card is in my storage locker, and I'm not, so I can't get the model info until later.    I'll post links this evening to the software I'm using to output 15.75KHz - but keep in mind, it still won't work properly without a JPAC or some kind of signal amplifier, as the vidcard only gives .7V and the arcade monitor will expect 5V.

Stray Catalyst

[Stray_Catalyst]

DrumanBass -
http://community.arcadeinfo.de/showthread.php?t=9367
Here's the link to the software I'm using to get the 15KHz refresh rate I need in order to use an arcade monitor.  I have NO experience with that yet - if you have questions about it, post them on that forum.

Stray Catalyst