ballpark cost

[n88n]

Hello All,

Sorry if this has been asked a thousand times.  I searched and could not find and answer.

What would a 'real nice' setup cost me.  Presume that I have nothing to start with except all the tools, free time, solid computer skills. 

I want to start my own machine and I want to build everything from scratch.  in the end i would hope for it to look something like Trebecks.

http://www.trebeck.ca/gallery.htm

2 person cab with a good monitor, high quality CP parts and a PC strong enough to run everything that would be considered standard.

I know this is a horrible question and nearly impossible to answer, but I need a ballpark.  Are we talking $1,000 or $2,000 or what.

thanks

Nate

[smalltownguy]

$1200 will get you there.

Fabricate more = less cost (AKA 'rolling your own')

Buy more finished products = more cost


That's the short answer. If you want a longer one....well...check out some of project threads; some of them are more than 25 pages long.

[Epyx]

Most projects (assuming tools like you said) will break down to:

MDF -> $40-$60
Paint/Primer -> $40-60 or Laminate -> $60
Misc Consumables -> $20
Arcade Monitor (new tri-sync) -> $450 or Old monitor/lcd/tv (free to $$)
PC w/arcadevga2 or other video card and Soft15khz -> $500 (core 2 duo/2gb ram/the vc/500gb hd/dvd drive etc)
Flourescent Light -> $15
Plexi -> $40 (marquee/CP)
Powerbar -> $20
Coin door & mech -> new $100+ used $10+
Caster Wheels -> $30
2 Joysticks -> $24-$130 (Competition/U360s)
Pushbuttons -> $24-65
Trackball -> $60-$100
Artwork -> Sideart/Marquee/CP custom $150+

So let's see the range-> $1250 - $1500+

There are *always* added orders/HD runs to be made as well so id go with somewhere in the middle...having a spare monitor/computer etc obviously drives the price down considerably.

[HaRuMaN]

<Dr. Evil>
One meeeeelyun dollars!
</Dr. Evil>

[dafelandry]

$1200 will get you there.

Fabricate more = less cost (AKA 'rolling your own')

Buy more finished products = more cost


That's the short answer. If you want a longer one....well...check out some of project threads; some of them are more than 25 pages long.

Sometimes the homey touches are the best but as noted above $1200 to $1500 when building your own..

Mine was around $815 with gutting and modding an old cab...(cab was 50 and totally gutted...painted, modded (extra $175)
I had a good pc so that was free... but the CP was $350..... Marquee + T-molding was $45..21" monitor $200

$225 (Cab,paint,sanding,addional wood for mount)
$350 (wood for CP,hardware (2 joys, 18 buttons,trackball, paint, overlay)
$200 (21" Acer Widescreen)
$  45 (Custom Photoshopped marquee, 20 ft. T-molding)
-------
$820

(thats with buying and gutting an old cabinet, cheep yes and i happy with it HELL YES!!!)

[n88n]

thanks so much for answering my question.  Your answers were exactly what I was looking for and it gives me a great idea of where I need to be.

My idea is to get somebody to pay double that way I can make two and get mine for free.   

[dafelandry]

haha thats exactly what i did but it took 4 builds.... (all gutted cabs) luckily an arcade in town sells shells (haha tongue twister) for $50 a pop (its the monitors and such that they charge the most for) Plus my work got rid of 6...P4 pcs that i literally got for free it plays what my buddies wanted so that was a write off.... plus i have a freind who works at a local pc store so getting  20" lcd monitors for $150 helped (if only he would have let me know before i baught my original) i was able to build 2 at once just repeating the measurments and such it was a breeze... they all wanted xarcade tanksticks which i charged 350 (for unit and install)... i would simply round all my purchases and tack on 300 for "install, setup and delivery" definatly a great investment!! all my t-molding,marquees and plexi were the same size and that saved ALOT of time!! luckily one of my brothers does carpentry work so when it came to mounting the tanksticks (cutting the shell and mounting) he helped me out (and got a DIRT CHEEP CAB outta the deal) that and i finally got a quadcore and sick rack fans for my cab!!

now if only they could compete with me on MK3....

[n88n]

nice.  I hope to do the same thing but I think i will wait to find someone to will pay about $3,000 for one.  I know a lot of sales reps that make too much money and would love something like this for the basement.

I wanted a nice poker table and I wanted to build my own from scratch.  I found a great forum like this but geared to poker tables.  My brother-in-law and I found three others who wanted one also so we both got a free table and also made a couple hundred bucks each.  We made five tables together assembly line style and that was it.

I can't wait to play some Street Fighter and MK on a real cab so I have to get to work and find somebody who wants to buy a cab.

Nate

[dafelandry]

best way to get people interested...HAVE A PARTY!! hands down everyone will 

[Applekid]

MDF -> $40-$60
Paint/Primer -> $40-60 or Laminate -> $60
Misc Consumables -> $20
Arcade Monitor (new tri-sync) -> $450 or Old monitor/lcd/tv (free to $$)
PC w/arcadevga2 or other video card and Soft15khz -> $500 (core 2 duo/2gb ram/the vc/500gb hd/dvd drive etc)
Flourescent Light -> $15
Plexi -> $40 (marquee/CP)
Powerbar -> $20
Coin door & mech -> new $100+ used $10+
Caster Wheels -> $30
2 Joysticks -> $24-$130 (Competition/U360s)
Pushbuttons -> $24-65
Trackball -> $60-$100
Artwork -> Sideart/Marquee/CP custom $150+

Would that include mistakes? LOL
Getting started myself and I've already ruined two perfectly good wooden boards. I had forgotten why I got into software instead of hardware.

[Epyx]

Hehe nope doesn't include mistakes although I have made my fair share...It took me a few pieces to get the molding slot cuts down...