looking for advice

[pooljeff]

 
I started this out thinking it would be no problem well I was wrong I thought buying an old cab would save some

 time and cash but now I'm lost. I know I thought I had to buy a I-pac but as I read more I am led to believe I need

a  J-Pac which is right? Oh and with the J-Pac or I-Pac do I need to get a optipac for my trackball?

[dafelandry]

The first question i have is are you building a standard mame cabinet (pc) or a jamma cabinet? If its a standard pc mame cabinet use an I-pac!! and get an optipac for your trackball!! They are both manditory for the best response! Also be sure to check out the http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/ it is well put together and great for noobs like myself! these are great peices of hardware!! and make sure you check out divemaster127 vendor page (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=47066.0) great prices and its good to have some trade points beside your name!!

Any more questions feel free to fire away!

[pooljeff]

Sorry, I am building a standard mame pc but with the arcade monitor
thanks for the new site good info!

[dafelandry]

with an Arcade monitor you definatly NEED an arcadevga card which that seller sells as well.... You might know that already but good call on the classic arcade monitor it definatly gives it a nice perfectly scaled feel!! Good luck and have fun!

[pooljeff]

  I didnt know that. You have been very helpfull thanks

[dafelandry]

http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/ArcadeVGA

Quote from Wiki.....

ArcadeVGA is a video card, that was made specifically for Windows, that allows people to use an old arcade monitor, typically using a 15Khz signal.

Most modern PC video cards output a 31Khz or higher signal, which is incompatible and in some cases harmful to real arcade monitors. As video cards evolved, 15Khz signals were abandoned by card manufacturers as they were no longer used by modern SVGA monitors. This can make it difficult to get standard video cards to display correctly on an arcade monitor.

ArcadeVGA supports many arcade resolutions used by MAMEtm and other emulators, so you don't need any software scaling in most games. This results in games being displayed on your arcade monitor exactly as they were originally intended.

Some resolutions used by certain games may not work on your arcade monitor, so these may need to be disabled with a resolution tool.


Im glad i can help, i am not  a guru like some of the other genius' on this forum but nothing is better than a nice complete cab!!