What first: Wire controls or hook up PC?

[gman314]

Hello.  I am a newbie building my first cab (a bartop).  What should be done first (or at least recommended): wiring the controls or hooking up the PC?  Does it even matter?

I would have installed my controls already, but I'm still waiting on a custom CPO.  Would it be wise to hook up the PC components in the meantime?  Thanks in advance for any input 

[briktop11b]

I really think its just personal preference. But i would advise not getting the PC able to run any games yet, especially with a working control panel. Finish the cab before you get it playable or else you will never finish it.  Made this mistake on my first cab.  Good luck.

[Ginsu Victim]

Yeah, get the cabinet and control panel setup and ready, then put the PC in last. Finish everything BUT the PC first.

[Hemi]

As people already said, do not hook up the PC and the CP and attempt to test any games until you are completely finished, unless you like playing a mdf textured cab with no artwork, coin door, marquee and light, T-Molding, paint bezel, and CPO type cabs.    You will end up just playing your days and nights away and never finishing the job. 

[gman314]

So theoretically speaking, I could have the CP completely wired (and the Ipac plugged into the PC) before I even power the PC for the first time?

Thanks for the advice, by the way 

[miles2912]

I would make sure the ipac works ok before mounting everything.  Also helps to have a good understanding before you set up the cab.

I wired up the cp before I connected the pc.  It was just easier to work on a table instead of leaning over a cab.

[DeLuSioNal29]

Actually, I did the opposite.  My empty custom panel took a couple of months to arrive.  In the meantime, I assembled the computer and got EVERYTHING configured software-wise (outside of the cabinet).  I did this on nights when the paint on the cabinet was drying, etc.  Then the cab was all ready once I wired up the panel.

Also, you want to make sure that the PC components work properly (if new) before the return period is over.  There's nothing worse than leaving the PC for last and then discovering that something is not working right and having to wait until you get a replacement part.

~ DeLuSioNaL

[Benevolance]

I'm following Delusional's approach. On nights when I cannot work more on the physical cab - paint drying, parts haven't arrived, or it's raining and I cannot work outside -  I've been tinkering with my computer software. When the last of my cabinet parts finally arrive, I'd want to drop the computer into the cab and be ready to go.

[shock_]

I bench-tested the PC hardware by plugging it all together on, well, a bench ... and installed the OS, then when that was happy I transferred the PC guts into the cabinet and connected the KeyWiz to the motherboard. 

You can safely do that much without installing emulators/front end until you're out of the "playable but unfinished danger zone", assuming your bartop's design still gives you access to USB somewhere for keyboard/mouse/external HDD etc, which I hope it does!