Possible Bartop

[BurgerKingDiamond]

   Hey everyone. I've been reading a lot of posts lately and it's really making me itch to build another cab. I'm not quite happy with my upright cab right now. I want to put in a bigger monitor and laminate the sides, but that's another story... Anyway, after I get that taken care of I want to build a bartop (more affordable, takes up less space etc...) I haven't put together any drawings yet but I plan on using the 17" monitor that I have in my full size cab right now. I want to mount it vertically (that will probably make for a slightly bigger than normal bartop) for games like Dodonpachi, gunbird, and other vertical shmups (I'm thinking of doing a Dodonpachi theme with the golden bees and stuff like that...)
    The main point of this post is that I'm trying to come up with an idea of how much this will cost me, but I don't know what kind of computer I should buy. I already have a monitor and the computer doesn't have to be very powerful since I really only plan on playing 2-D vertically scrolling shmups and some older classic vertical games. So if anyone could give me some tips on buying a very cheap, small computer that would be well suited for a bartop that would be great. Also, I have never messed with a de-cased computer and will probably need some help with that (getting  5V and 12V from the power supply, hooking up a master on/off switch), but I'm not really at that point yet.

Thanks,
BKD

[apfelanni]

in the end any selfbuild cabinet comes up to few hundred bucks cost minimum , no matter if its bartop, fullsize or cocktail . go with a cheap micro atx board with all on board ( if the onboard graphic card is soft 15 compatible it can be transplanted into any arcade cabinet if needed  ) . another option is 2 take a used computer , maybe a barbone from dell , hp or ibm . those p4 are small and powerful enough for 9x % of all emu games and wont cost much more than 50 credits. i usually take dell optiplex 270 , 280 gx for emulation . they have additional agp or pci xpress slots, in case they have to be adapted to different arcade envirements.   

[IG-88]

Can't say I totally agree with the above post. I got a vertical bartop that I built for under $50 but it's really basic. It all depends on what you have lying around to use.

The computer in it is 400mhz with 64mb of ram running spystyles boot cd. It runs all kinds of shumps just fine. I got it from a garage sale for $5.

As far as the power goes, what exatcly are you going to use the 5v and 12v for? All you need is a way to plug in the computer, monitor, speakers and marquee lite (if you use one). I plugged in all mine to a common outlet splitter that I got from the hardware store for around $3. You shouldn't have to use the computer's PSU to power anything other than the computer itself.

I think the most expensive item on the whole thing was the encoder. $20-$25. You could use a keybaord hack too if you want to save some more, just remember they can be time consuming to make.

[BurgerKingDiamond]

As far as the power goes, what exatcly are you going to use the 5v and 12v for? All you need is a way to plug in the computer, monitor, speakers and marquee lite (if you use one). I plugged in all mine to a common outlet splitter that I got from the hardware store for around $3. You shouldn't have to use the computer's PSU to power anything other than the computer itself.

I thought that you needed 12V for a led marquee light. I was reading some other posts and I thought I saw that you can get 12V from somewhere on the computer.

[IG-88]

Now that you may have too. I have never used a 12v led in a marquee before. I've always used florescent lamps that run on 120v. I wouldn't think it would be an issue tho if you used some led's. Just use one of the molex plugs that typically run a cd-rom or hard drive.

[saleem]

it will end up as expensive as you want it to be but,to think you can do it cheap when you got nothing to start off with would be a silly assumption,assume it will cost you a fair bit.
 

[BurgerKingDiamond]

I've decided to put off the bartop for probably 6 months or so. I found a sweet new monitor for my full size and it's so much better now that I've decided to just work fixing up that cab as best as I can.

As for the bartop, I know it won't be cheap. My main concern was that I've never built a computer and don't know how to do it. I also don't want to buy too much computer since I will only be playing 2-D shooters that don't require something that great.

Anyway, I guess this topic is dead until I get my Raiden cab finished.

[leapinlew]

Can't say I totally agree with the above post. I got a vertical bartop that I built for under $50 but it's really basic. It all depends on what you have lying around to use.

A cab could be free if you have enough parts.

I think it's safe to say that a cabinet (bartop or otherwise) will cost a couple hundred in parts to make. Whether or not you scrounged the parts and have all the tools is irrelevant. The OP makes it pretty clear he'll be needing to buy quite a bit of hardware.

[IG-88]

Not that it matters now anyway, but what you are saying is it can be free if you have enough parts but still cost $200?

You work for the obama administration? 

[leapinlew]

Not that it matters now anyway, but what you are saying is it can be free if you have enough parts but still cost $200?

I shouldn't have left that line there. Originally it said: using your logic, a cab could be free if you have enough parts. I decided that was more harsh sounding than I intended so I removed it (only part of it though).

I think it's a tough sell to convince anyone that a cab can be made for less than $50. I think saying a couple hundred bucks is very easy. Considering most people will need building materials, tools, and electronics - it's easy to pass the $200 mark. Thats all I meant.

When you look at your bartop and add up the money you've spent spent acquiring the parts for it - you can only account for $50 or did it only cost you $50 at the time of construction?

[IG-88]

When you look at your bartop and add up the money you've spent spent acquiring the parts for it - you can only account for $50 or did it only cost you $50 at the time of construction?

Not sure what you meant by that. But I think I see what you are saying. If a guy has absolutely nothing (including tools) to start with then yes, you will go above the $200 mark. But then again I bet I could make me one for under $50 if I put my mind too it.   

[apfelanni]

ure right .. if ure well equipped with tools , electro garbage of any kind , wood and crappy arcadeparts taken from old cabinets u may end up with 5o credits for a full working bartop . but most people will have spend a few hundred bucks in the end .

yesterday a 17 year ole guy in a german forum asked if 60 euro would be enough to aquire a full size cab and mod it into a mame machine  . i d like to say its a challenge.  

[saleem]

to put a cab together for $50?

as in the cabinet build,mdf,batons,glue,screws,paint/laminate and tmolding.

a sheet of mdf here in uk is like £15 average,it would not be very much under that.

i think tools or the price of tools should not realy be included in the price of a build,even if you had to go buy a slot cutting bit for the tomolding as you can use it over and over again and for different jobs.

at the end of the day a standing/working cab is what its all about and its all about what that cost.

a magstick will cost you £20 (roughly) here in uk,buttons at £2+ a pop.encoder board £30+ with harness.just a sanwa stick is £14-£15.

if you want a good build just build it,count the cost at the end cos in my opinion if you set yourself a goal to build a cab for $50 just forget about it and get out of this hobby as its not one for tight pockets.
 

[BurgerKingDiamond]

I guess I should have been more specific. I've built a full size cab and know what most of the components cost. I used a free laptop that was donated to me, so I didn't have to pay for a computer. So what I was asking was how much would a small cheapish computer cost that would fit in a bartop.

I'm putting off this project for a while though, since I've rededicated myself to my upright.

[Epyx]

Depends on what you are content playing. You can get a mini-itx for under $90 and all you will need is a power supply, ram and video card. It will be more than capable of playing older MAME games right into the early 90s.  They have a small footprint and easily fit into any bartop.  A step up from that would be micro atx in terms of power/size and cost...also fits into bartops but you are spending more cause you will need to purchase a processor as well (sound and video can be had on them integrated).  THis will run you around $200 plus Power Supply and Ram etc.

[BobA]

I gave away a mame cab  a while ago that had no added artwork or nice touches but it did work.

Cab from freecycle 1 of 2 stripped units.
Computer found in alley set out for garbage pickup 1 Ghz Celeron with about 256 memory and 30 GB hard drive
Computer monitor from garage sale $10 now you can get them for free
Buttons and joystick from junk box
Black contact paper for control panel 3.00
Keyboard encoder $40
Wire, crimp on connectors from home stock.

So it cost about $53 and if I had bought the wire and connectors maybe $75
so cheap is possible if you can scrounge alot and do not have to buy any tools.

[IG-88]

Encoder was the most for Bob's project. There is even ways (not saying better) to save on that too. I just scrounged up a couple 12 button usb gamepads from the salvation army that I'm going to hack for inputs. Cost me a little over $4 with tax.

[BobA]

Yes the encoder was costly but I had one around.  I could have reduced it alot now as I found a fairly reliable source of $4 usb game pads that could be hacked. I got a couple from Goodwill and that would have reduced the cost to less than $20.

I'm sure that with enough scrounging you can build one for $0 but you have to start with a free or cheap cab as the raw materials to build one will cost $ no matter how cheap you go.

[leapinlew]

Do you guys not value your time at all? 

Lets look at all the true costs here:
Free cabinet from freecycle: Did they deliver it?
Home Stock of Wires, crimp, connectors, buttons and joysticks - were those free too?
How much time did you spend saving money? Using junk computers and parts almost always leads to spending more time getting the parts to work. Sure it's a hobby, but at the end of the day you want stuff to work. Using junk parts is almost a sure fire way to add a layer of complexity and time to your project.

I realize that these budget cabs are exactly that, budget minded. But I think it's a disservice to the community to sell off the notion of a sub $50 cabinet as common. Regardless, I don't really care how much you guys spent on your cabinets. I'd rather have a $200 nice cabinet, than a $50 functional one.

[IG-88]

No, I don't count my time as money when it comes to my hobby(s). To me that's just ridiculous. And as far as my "junk" that I use... my first bartop has been running damn near everyday for over 2 years with no issues. The other is almost a year old and I got another rocking for a few months. All on used/dumpster parts.  In fact the only problem I have had is with a flippen $30 "professional" encoder.

 I don't believe I am giving any kind of "disservice" by offering my opinion or showing someone that these don't have to be all that expensive. Maybe some of us don't have your skills or $$ to drop on these things but that doesn't give you the right to sound condescending either.

Perhaps I'm over analyzing your post but that kinda pissed me off.

[Ond]

I just read leapinlew's comment to mean that in general the cost of any half way decent cab is probably going to be more than $50 when it's all said and done taking into account all the miscellaneous stuff we might already have on hand but that was nevertheless paid for at some stage.    I'm all for the idea of scrounging parts and coming by freebies, I'll build a bartop, errr when I'm done with the current project   for 'nothing' from spares that I have including motherboard   in reality I still paid for some of the bits somewhere way back.  I dunno it's just my opinion but I think in general (there's that word again) you'd want to allow for around $150 - $200 for a nice/functional cabinet and that includes a moderate ability to scrounge.  Super Scroungers and Dumpster Bin Womble Commandos 'DBWCs' are exempt from this estimate.  (Ond you're such a lukewarm fence sitter)  

[BobA]

Just saying it is possible to get an under 50 dollar cab if you want to pinch pennies.  I did not say I would use it.... that is why the one I  built was given away.  I spend more then that on tools and other odds and ends each month.  That of course is why my junk box is more like junk shelves and are pretty full.

To be totally realistic.

Useable cab made from old arcade cab 200 to 300
Nicer cab with some artwork and marquee 400 to 500

Custom built from scratch add 250 for MDF and Laminate
Custom built from scratch with Bling the sky is the limit

 

Spelling correction

[leapinlew]

Perhaps I'm over analyzing your post but that kinda pissed me off.

I just re-read my post and it does sound more condescending than I intended. For that, I apologize. While the way I was trying to make my point may have not been the most polite, I still stand by what I have said. The OP wanted to get an idea of how much building a cab will cost and to me that means he's new to cab building and probably doesn't have a lot of extra parts. I think BobA's realistic numbers are spot on. If a poll were conducted, I'm sure the amount spent will skew towards >$400.

Obviously it's possible to build a functional cabinet on the cheap. It's also possible to find a Ms.Pacman in an old ladies basement for free on craigslist, but it's not easy. If someone comes to my house and asks me how much it would cost for them to build a cabinet - the answer is "around $500". And the few people who have got the bug and built one? The cost was $500+.

I don't see any reason for this to be a sore spot IG. I think we just disagree on the method to which we build cabinets. We both have fine cabinets, but I do not enjoy being thrifty. I buy parts which speed up the process (encoders, controls, etc.). You sound like you enjoy the hunt to re-use/re-purpose parts, and there is nothing wrong with that. Perhaps that is why there is a disparity between the total costs of our cabinets.

 

[IG-88]

Well said. You described my tastes accurately. I apologize for being over sensitive.