PC Monitor Mounting Position

[moonchilddave]

I'm trying to figure out how best to mount the monitor in my cab and am looking for a little inspiration.

The cabinet is what I believe to be a Donkey Kong conversion kit, and the monitor is a Dell P1110 21" monitor.  It's going to be a horizontal mount.  What I keep going back and forth on is if I should mount it level or at an angle.  I'm afraid that if I mount it level, and right up against the bezel that it's going to be too close to the control panel and you'll basically be right on top of it.  When mounting level I'm afraid that it will just look odd being a horizontal mount.

This is my first cab, and I can see doing another one some point down the road at which point I'd likely convert this to a vertical only unit - but for now I'm looking for maximum flexability out of what I've got.

So, does anyone have pictures of their horizontal mounted monitor in a similar cabinet?  Normally I'd just try things out myself and I can usually get a good picture in my head of what things will look like - but this one escapes me, and well, the less I have to mess with this heavy beast of a monitor the better.

Below are pictures of my cabinet:

[javeryh]

Looks like someone murdered a Punch-Out!! cabinet.   

You should get a buddy to hold the monitor at different angles and when you find something you like, mark it off and install!  Good luck.   

[RyoriNoTetsujin]

I say go for an angle.  I think you're right about how weird it will look if flush with the bezel.  You can probably get away with a pretty steep angle too, in that style of cab. 

Also, if you de-case the monitor you'll have a little more breathing room to mount it.  A couple of inches at least, which can make a great deal of difference.  I just acquired the exact same model monitor and I have to say it's worth it to take the plastic shell off if--- AND ONLY IF--- you're comfortable doing that sort of thing(!!) 

It has a full cage around all the electronics but BEWARE that the anode cap is still visible/touchable... needless to say, if you're not already experienced DON'T MESS WITH THE INSIDES OF A MONITOR.  They can kill you.  You've been warned. 

[moonchilddave]

No, I've messed with plenty of monitors - including putting a new Richardson tube in a WG6100.  Had 2 years of tech school in electronics, so monitors don't scare me as I've discharged quite a few (but I do have a healthy respect for them).  BTW, since you mention having the same monitor - did you (or do you) have the issue with the screen being too bright until it warms up?  Seems like a lot of them have that issue and I've seen people say that changing a resistor in the G2 circuit resolved the problem - however I'm hesitant to do that as it seems fine once it's warmed up (and it could be only a band-aid fix as you're changing the way it was designed to work).  I also saw someone say that shorting 2 points together made it warm up almost instantly.  Might end up building a custom cap kit for it when I get around to it - but hadn't decided on if I want to decase it or not.

Thanks also for pointing out what it possibly was at one point... My only clue was the Nintendo USA sticker on the back that had Model No: PCKG1-UP-US (Serial No: 5584).  Looked kind of like a Donkey Kong minus the speaker cutout to me, and this page mentions it being a DK conversion kit.  Which is why I was planning on going with artwork that all featured DK.

Still would love to see pictures of anyone with a horizontal mount in a similar style cabinet.  I do think I am leaning towards angle mounting.  Just curious how it would look with the bezel - which I don't see as being flush with the monitor (kind of like DK or Space Invaders, etc).

[moonchilddave]

BTW, it was wired with a Jamma harness and still has the big ass isolation transformer block (and Jamma power supply) in the bottom of the cabinet.  Any good uses for that stuff?

[RyoriNoTetsujin]

did you (or do you) have the issue with the screen being too bright until it warms up? 

Yup, sure do... and I've got the two faint horizontal bars/lines on-screen that are supposed to be a "hallmark" of the Trinitron tubes they used to build them.  Neither of those things are worthy of note though-- I barely notice them (and I'm planning to put the monitor under tinted glass anyway.)