Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: rollerball on December 02, 2006, 05:30:00 am

Title: This Laptop worth it for mame??
Post by: rollerball on December 02, 2006, 05:30:00 am

Hey guys...Ok Ive done my Full size cab...Im interested in making a mini-bartop cab...just for 4 way games....so for about 20 or so classic games....looking for a laptop to buy...found this one on ebay???Would it do the job do you think???And anyone know if its hard to get the screen so it will fold back onto itself???Remove the hinges ect I guess....thanks in advance for any help...paul...

Used IBM thinkpad I-Series notebook

Type 1161 -23M


Celeron 500mhz CPU
64MB RAM
4GB Hard Drive
CDROM Drive
External USB Floppy
Onboard modem
Onboard network card (no drivers)
Onboard speakers
2 USB ports
Parallel port
PS2 Port
VGA port
Headphones and mic jack
Power Supply
Couple missing screws underneath, and one for the hard drive
Hinge cap missing on screen
Small crack near the screen cover also
DOESNT COME WITH BAG
Clean install of Windows 98 , nothing else
BATTERY DOESNT CHARGE

Title: Re: This Laptop worth it for mame??
Post by: missioncontrol on December 02, 2006, 07:09:48 am

I would think so as long as it's only for classic games.... you may want to use an older version of MAME

Title: Re: This Laptop worth it for mame??
Post by: leapinlew on December 03, 2006, 01:42:12 am

Maybe it'll be ok, or maybe the onboard video will be terrible. Hard to tell with laptops till you actually try it. Another issue you'll have to get past is figuring out how the power switch will work and if you can use an external keyboard.

Title: Re: This Laptop worth it for mame??
Post by: lloydcom on December 03, 2006, 09:13:11 am

It will be fine.  Heck I use the P120 365x Thinkpads for Mame and the classic games works great. 

I mean you won't be able to play NBA Jam or the like, but if you have some of those old classics like robby roto, or the games made available from Star Roms, would work perfectly.

Are you going to use the LCD or a VGA monitor to view?

Let us know how you get on.

Title: Re: This Laptop worth it for mame??
Post by: kelemvor on December 04, 2006, 08:19:45 am

You want to use the Laptop screen as the screen or just the laptop closed up with a monitor?  There's not much play (if any) with laptop screens as far as the cable length.  They are made just to fit exactly where they are and that's about it so using a small LCD would be much easier.  Then the laptop can just remain closed and will fit anywhere.