Cabinet size issue

[monkey puzzle]

Ok, I've read the Project Arcade book, am pretty confident, and I've now started the planning stage of my first cab which is to be based on the Project Arcade cab but not exact.
Whilst measuring out the space it would occupy in my living room, it suddenly dawned on me how big the ruddy things are! The width and height are what I expected but the depth (from front to back) seems much more than I thought. I want the cabinet to go besides my fireplace but 44 inches seems to stick out more than I thought and I don't want the machine to look unsightly. Other example Mame cabs I've looked at also seem to stick out too far.
Does anybody have any tips for making a shallower cab? Is it worth using a smaller monitor? I do like large screens but I understand I probably need to sacrifice something. Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.

[DaOld Man]

You could probably use an lcd monitor and cut a lot off the depth of the cabinet.

[leapinlew]

If you make a skinny cabinet, I would suggest calling it a Woody and use a LCD. I'm a genius. Someone should take my ideas and make a cabinet.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=55789.0

[monkey puzzle]

Ah good idea, thanks. I looked at LCD monitors a couple of years ago and came to the conclusion that they weren't as good for changing screen resolutions. I think that LCD screens have probably came a long way since then. Do you think this will be a problem? Does anybody else here use LCD monitors? This may well be the answer to my problem.

[monkey puzzle]

Nice cab leepinlew, very nice cab. I like the finish too, I am planning on going for the wood effect cabinet. You don't by any chance have any rough dimensions at hand do you?

[leapinlew]

Nice cab leepinlew, very nice cab. I like the finish too, I am planning on going for the wood effect cabinet. You don't by any chance have any rough dimensions at hand do you?

click the link

[Namco]

Keep on the lookout for a good small used cab. Like my Dynamo HS-1 cab that I'm working on. Only around 35" deep.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=73101.0

[mike_bike_kite]

LCD's are ok but you need to test the view angle as it's not as good as CRT screens. The end image is certainly as good though and it's lighter and way smaller than a CRT.

I've just built my cab and it's 24" deep, in fact it's 24" in all directions!  It's playable as an adult and for kids and will double as a table in future!

Info at http://www.bikesandkites.com/mame2.html

Mike

[MPTech]

I concur with LepinLew's suggestion. Knievel's cab is beautiful and I think you'll have less issues with an LCD and better resolution for other games. You can also cut both side panels out of a single sheet (saves money, although the LCD will offset that), and MUCH easier to work with and probably weighs over 100 lbs less!

My next cab will definately be an LCD and much smaller, depth-wise.
 
 

[maxmix]

I started a 'Skinny Cab' last week.... 3/8'' Hardwood also.... Very easy to move but still 23'' across...

All LCD of course.... I'll post up some pics as it comes along

What size of LCD is in there 'leap' ?

maxmix

[Knievel]

If you make a skinny cabinet, I would suggest calling it a Woody and use a LCD. I'm a genius. Someone should take my ideas and make a cabinet.

Hehheh where do you come up this stuff??

19" LCD in the Woody, a 20" non-widescreen is nice if you can find one.

[TheManuel]

If you are OK with the look of old games on an LCD screen with whatever effects might suit your taste, then that is probably the way to go for you.

However, you don't want to be changing resolutions.  Unlike CRT's LCD's have a fixed number of physical pixels on the screen to provide the image and anything other than the native resolution of your particular LCD screen will look blurry because the LCD has to simulate it.  Just set MAME to the native resolution and let it scale the image for you.