What to do with my ultracade 33" cabinet??

[madgammer]

I have a large ultracad cab with a 33" monitor in VERY good shape, but not sure what system I should go with as it didn't have the ultracad system in it when I bought it.  It was a previous fighting cab so it only has the standard SF CP layout.  I have about $500 to spend on electronics so I'm trying to decide what to put in it as I want to be able to switch games from time to time since I only have room for this 1 cabinet.  Should I go with a Naomi, system 246, mame, xbox or what?  I don't know much about Naomi or how good the graphics are, but I do like the game list of the system 246 although it seems pretty limited. 

Anyone have suggestions on what would work best with this type of setup and still keep the cost to around $500?

[Ginsu Victim]

I don't know much about Naomi or how good the graphics are

They're great, but do graphics REALLY matter? Look around at the kinds of games we play here...

[madgammer]

Well if I had to choose between good graphics or a list of fun to play games I would probably go with the list of fun games.  So yes they matter, but they are not as important as gameplay.

With that said what would you go with?  The only other machines I own are dedicated so I don't know much about the other systems.  I would like to find a ultracade system, but they seem impossible to find since the company is no longer in business.

[Ginsu Victim]

You said Ultracade, so DAVE FOLEY will find you. No worries there.

Me personally, I'd go Neo Geo. Not too expensive, with a great catalog. This is your decision, though, so there's not much I can say.

[Malenko]

You said Ultracade, so DAVE FOLEY will find you. No worries there.

Me personally, I'd go Neo Geo. Not too expensive, with a great catalog. This is your decision, though, so there's not much I can say.

wow that was a lot of work for that font coloring,lol

I have a 2slot mobo and some games......

[emdkay]

I'd suggest http://www.willitblend.com/

[Ginsu Victim]

I'd suggest http://www.willitblend.com/

That would be an awesome margarita blender, considering it can turn marbles (and iphones) to DUST.

[davidrfoley]

There are still UltraCade Universal Kits out there in inventory.  Check with companies like Betson, Automated Services, CA Robinson, or Brady.  They used to stock the kits which let you convert any cabinet into an UltraCade. 

[madgammer]

There are still UltraCade Universal Kits out there in inventory.  Check with companies like Betson, Automated Services, CA Robinson, or Brady.  They used to stock the kits which let you convert any cabinet into an UltraCade. 

Thanks for the tip.  I contacted all the companies above and the only one that had any was betson and the prices where very high for the board and i/o.  http://www.betson.com/search/parts/ultracade/  then I would have to spend another $300 for games

[Axe]

If $500 is your "be all, end all" price, and that includes computer cost, you are going to have a hard time getting all the Mame guts and a computer for that!  You could make a lower end mame and maybe run games like SFII and the like, But if cost is the big issue, it makes the most sense to put a fighting game back in it lol!

For variety a Mame Motherboard and Jamma control set might be do-able, but nothing flashy, they MVS mobo's seem to be climbing skyward on ebay.

Maybe put a Jamma based harnessin it and save up for a multi jamma board, then you could update your games list as they get older...
 

[Axe]

Although if it is a showcase cab (which the 33's are right?) then a MVS system might suck unless you can get a 4 or 6 cart board, getting in behind those things would be annoying just tot change out a cart.

Do you have all the controls from before? is it still wired up as a jamma+ control set?

[madgammer]

The cab came with all the wiring etc, just not the board so it still has all the cables and even the I/O card for the controller.  Since I work in IT I have a nice rack mount server that I can propbably use as the PC so that's not going to add to the upfront cost at all.  It's not a NEW server, but it's only about 2-3 years old. 

[davidrfoley]

then all you need is a JAMMA to PC board and you can run your PC Software on the machine.

[madgammer]

could I use the Quantum3D JammaLinx coin-op I/O adapter that it came with?  If not do you happen to have a link to a good board that I can use.

then all you need is a JAMMA to PC board and you can run your PC Software on the machine.

[davidrfoley]

Yes, that board converts JAMMA to PS/2 Keyboard and PS/2 Mouse.  NanoTech Entertainment sells the RETR-IO which converts JAMMA to USB Mouse and Keyboard.  UltiMarc makes the JPAC.