Are all the extra computer accesories necessary?

[ddrtist]

I am in the process of building my MAME machine and here is what I have assembled thus far.

Mameroom.com - Ultimate Arcade Cabinet II kit (not pre-built)
27" Sansui Digital TV with component video
Creative Inspire 5.1 speakers
X-Arcade Dual joystick

And my computer (I had it lying around from a couple years ago and never use it)
P4 Prescott 3.0 Ghz, 800Mhz FSB
2GB PC3200 RAM
GeForce 7900GTX
SB X-Fi
120GB WD SATA HDD
Plextor SATA DVD+-RW

So far, here are the EXTRAS I have purchased:
ATI Radeon 9550 256MB AGP (To use DVI->component dongle)
DVI to component dongle with mode switcher


Now, to get to my question and point (sorry!)

I see many people on here using add-ons like: ArcadeVGA cards, I-PAC interfaces, J-PAC interfaces, Soft 15K, etc.

I am just wondering if there is any advantage to using this additional hardware, or if it is simply for purists who want to maintain the original look and feel of the games.  I mean heck, I play MAME on my laptop with the X-Arcade on my 40" LCD and it looks incredible!  If I was NOT concerned about maintaining the authentic style of the games, is there ANY reason I would need anything else?

I am simply curious.

Thanks all!

[Kaytrim]

The interface cards allow you to connect real arcade controls to your computer.  These cards will be recognized as either a keyboard or game pad depending on the design.  The arcadeVGA is for the old arcade monitors.

If you are going to use joysticks and buttons then the interface card is necessary.  In my personal opinion that is the way to go.  You already have the cabinet, monitor and computer.  Go for the full effect and get the proper controls.

TTFN
Kaytrim

[HaRuMaN]

IPac is needed to interface controls to your computer... and ArcadeVGA is used to connect your computer to an actual arcade monitor.

Soft 15K refers to the ability of some video cards to output 15K (arcade monitor resolution).

J-Pac is used to connect a computer into an existing JAMMA cabinet.

[ddrtist]

So are you saying I need an I-PAC eventhough I have the X-Arcade? Or are you saying it is ONLY necesarry if I buy an actual control panel or build my own?   MAME seems to work fine with this joystick, and I haven't had anything to program other than changing keys used to navigate menus using the joystick.

Would "real" arcade control panels have the same programmability of the X-Arcade with the I-PAC?

[massive88]

In not familiar with the X-arcades original interface, how does your computer see it right now?  As a keyboard or as joysticks+buttons?

I guess it doesnt matter.  If you plan on using the xarcade, and the xarcade is currently working with mame, then no, you dont need an Ipac.

[ddrtist]

The X-Arcade is read as a keyboard.  You plug a USB or PS/2 keyboard into it's connector and it acts like a passthrough.  The buttons on the joystick have preassigned keyboard keys and can be programmed via 4 different mode switchers.

[Turnarcades]

I sounds like you're not entirely clued up on how an arcade cabinet goes together, in the way you have bundled together different hardware in one sentence like they're words you've heard in passing. The real question you should have asked before purchasing all that expensive PC hardware is "where do I really need to spend the money?".

Interfaces and adapters like keyboard encoders and modified graphics cards are the real heart of any machine these days - if anything the PC hardware is the inconsequential part when you consider even the lowliest P2 can run most classics and other console games. The hardware that puts together the PC, display and controls is really what will make the difference between a good and bad arcade machine. This is why you will read here that people's blogs mostly say " so I've got together my essential bits and I've got an old PC I plan to stuff in there....". These interfaces are all designed to make everything run smoothly as it's how they play that's important.

Whilst keyboard hacks etc. are possible, dedicated interfaces are designed for longevity and make for a far better experience. All-in-one solutions like X-Arcade aren't ideal either as they look ugly on a build and don't use the best encoders.

The bottom line is a better interfaced machine is better than shelling loads on a wood kit and high-performance PC.

[CheffoJeffo]

The bottom line is a better interfaced machine is better than shelling loads on a wood kit and high-performance PC.

[massive88]

The X-Arcade is read as a keyboard.  You plug a USB or PS/2 keyboard into it's connector and it acts like a passthrough.  The buttons on the joystick have preassigned keyboard keys and can be programmed via 4 different mode switchers.

Then the X-arcade already has built in its own version of an Ipac.  If you are set on using the X-arcade as your controls, then you do not need an Ipac.

If you were to make your own control panel, then you would need an Ipac to get the same effect as your X-arcade does now, in that you press a button and it registers as a keyboard key.

[Ginsu Victim]

I've read several different sources that have said the X-arcade encoder is a piece of junk. Main issue was that it didn't always register.

[Turnarcades]

I had many request for cabinets that could have the X-Arcade integrated into it and most people I had to turn down.

For a start, the units do not integrate into any shape very well, and look ugly when they do. I've advised people against them, yet a few hacked theirs apart to integrate into their cabinet and complained they did not work well, (like it was anything to do with me!) asking for my advice. I only got chance to test one from one of my friends recently, and found the parts clunky and the encoder to suffer from ghosting. From what I found on other forums, there have been a few variations of encoder used over the years and some are better than others.

Other reports suggested 'sticky' button signals (causing repetition problems), problems with the default key config on non-programmable panels (such as the 'shift' key prompting the stickykeys popup in Windows) and other probs (not reprogramming properly.)

[wbassett]

I have a TankStick and haven't had any issues with it at all as far as ghosting or anything else.  Now that I have had it up and been playing with it for 2 1/2 months I can say I don't use all those buttons!  It's nice having extra buttons for the games that need it, but I found I rarely use most of them and then remembering what buttons are mapped for each game can be maddening!

I bought mine because I knew the cp was going to be the longest part of my cab build, mainly because I am doing a modular CP and design and then building it is what takes the time.  This way I am at least up and running and able to play.  I'll probably give it to my son when I have my cp done.

The components are okay, but my wife and I quickly found how awful it is to play a game that used a 4way stick with an 8way.  The sticks also seem to have a bit of a longer throw than I like.  That may be something that can be adjusted though, I haven't checked on that.  It looks okay on my cab, but definitely doesn't look like an integrated cp.  All in all I don't think it looks any better or worse than some frankenpanels I've seen, but I agree it takes away from the look of a cab when the cp isn't part of the cab.

It's not junk, but also not high end or has that custom arcade look.  To people that haven't seen other Mame cabs and what they can look like, they tend to think it's pretty cool.  I'd say it's a good starter or good for people that don't feel comfortable building a cp right away.  It fills a niche market, but there is nothing like designing and building your own integrated cp.

[Jack Burton]

One thing I will add to this discussion is that if you think your MAME games look good on a 40 inch LCD then you will be blown away at the quality when it is properly connected to a good arcade monitor.  There is simply no comparison to me.

[RayB]

ddrtist: Pretty much everything you listed is overkill for a MAME system. (Especially 2 video cards)

[Blanka]

You have a 7900GTX laying around for nothing? Give it to the kid next door. Its almost as good as a 8800GT and that is still a very good card.
Does dvi->component really exist? How amazing. Strange those US tellies dont have RGB inputs like in Europe. That would be even easier.
About the X-arcade: disassemble it and put it in your own CP. Don't know what the sticks are though. Seems like if you are going to dissasemble it, replace the sticks and the controller, you might be better off selling the whole thing and buying a new set of buttons/sticks with a minipac or so.

[ddrtist]

Haha I am a tech, so I usually gank replaced parts if customers no longer want them.  The 7900GTX is pretty nice, but I had my mind set on using a 27" TV with component, because I had heard dreadful things about some arcade monitors and how difficult they can be.  I have also heard many many reliability issues after a year or so with them. 

The DVI->component converter I bought is on monoprice.com.  It is a nifty piece of hardware, but the only cards that support it are the ATI Radeon ~8000 up to around the 9800s.  I went with the 9550 256MB because it seemed to be popular amongst people building their own cabs.

[RayB]

I don't know where you're getting your info. "heard this", "heard that". I'm running a 1ghz system with 64mb ArcadeVGA (or is it 32mb??), an old Sound Blaster live card, 128 mb of RAM, 30 gb hard drive, 19" arcade monitor and Windows 98. Just about the only thing underpowered in this set up is the 1ghz processor. I'd bump it up to 2ghz if I could. MAME is really not very demanding other than raw CPU power.

[Turnarcades]

Gotta disagree. I've regularly got a clean install on P3's between 600-1000Mhz, running most pre-chd games without trouble, using a pre-0.106 build. I've found RAM makes more of a difference, but even at this low speed CPU standard, 256mb is enough for MAME and a lot of other platforms, though larger roms (NEO-GEO) do take a little while longer to load.

[wbassett]

I also agree you don't need a power house for 98% of the roms out there.  In my cab right now is an AMD Thunderbird running at 1.2Ghz and 256meg of ram.  All but the most CPU intensive games work perfect.  I'm swapping it out with an Intel 3.33Ghz and 2GB of ram only because someone gave it to me free because they said it was broke.  One new CPU fan later and a hard drive I had laying around and presto!  I have a new Mame system!

[deadsoulz]

You already have the ultimate Arcade from mameroom, why not splurge and buy  2 or 4 player control panel kit from mameroom.com, and do it right.  I am at the same stage as you, just got my mameroom quad Ultimate Arcade II kit.  Bought an, IPAC-4, Happ 3" Trackball, Slikstik Tornado Spinner, ArcadeVGA V2 PCIE, 2 x HAPP Perfect 360 controllers for player 1 and 2, 2 x Competition 8-way for player 3 and 4, 1 x Sanwa 4 way, got all my happ competition buttons, a Smart Power Strip so I can let my cabinet easily go to sleep/wakeup, using an core2duo 1.8ghz with 2gb of memory and 2x 500gb hard drives in raid 1(mirror).  Now I just need to find me a 2.1 speaker system and find a good source for a Nieman/Billaps 27" Arcade monitor and I will be set, unless I am forgetting something.  Either way I want to be as authentic as possible, I have built 3 slikstik machines for work/boss, and I thought Its about time I build one for myself.