Author Topic: Its the... Oh my what have I let myself in for cab conversion (Read 9687 times)

Mark Thomas · « **on:** July 30, 2011, 11:59:59 am »

Hi guys,

I have recently taken the plunge and decided to purchased an old arcade cabinet with a view to converting it into a Mame cab. The cabinet itself has a few working (well so he said) components namely arcade monitor, speakers and coin door. The man I bought it off assures me that it was a Golden Tee cab at some point in its life but it came with out a control panel or any kind of identifying marks to confirm this.

Some of the side panels may need replacing as there are signs of damage which I am presuming came from the old age of the cab and from being transported around by idiots.

I have no wood working, computer or design skills what so ever so this whole project will be a real challenge for me and I am currently thinking I may have taken on a bit more than I can handle.

Having looked inside the cab all I can see is a mass of wires many of which I have no idea what they do. So I have researched on the forums and google with a view to getting a better idea of what I am dealing with. The wires will need to be cleaned up a bit as at the moment its a mess, but from my understanding they are all part of a jamma harness and each wire will have various functions like monitor signal, coin door, start button etc so it will be a matter of tracing each one back to see what its function is.

The plan is to mount a PC which I am yet to purchase inside the cab and connect this to the arcade monitor via an Ultimarc JPac, the PC will have an Ultimarc AVGA 3000 Graphics card which I ordered today and the control panel will connect via an IPac which I have purchased off EBay.

A theme has yet to be decided for the cab but in time I am sure I will have a clear plan on how I wish it to look.

I will be using the Groovy Mame build 143 as I have been advised that this is the best Mame built at present to run games on an arcade monitor to ensure best emulation along with the 143 rom set. I would also like to use the aimtrak light guns with the cab to play games like Carnevil, Operation Thunderbold, Aliens, Lethal enforcers, T2 etc etc.

My main priorities at this stage:

1: Check to see if the arcade monitor works, establish what the few components left in the cab do and if they are left overs from the Golden Tee or essential parts needed to ensure everything works.

2. Tidy up wiring inside the cab.

3. Identify which parts of the cab need to be replaced due to damage.

4. Establish what PC components are required and what specifications work best for latest Mame and Emulators.

5. Choose which emulators to run in cab.

6. Choose a front end

7. Design a control panel for cab.

I'm hoping that you guys will be able to guide me through this project and I will no doubt be calling on your expertise and asking for help at various stages.

I will post a few pics so you can see what I have purchased.

Many thanks in advance

Mark

Mark Thomas · « **Reply #1 on:** July 30, 2011, 12:15:58 pm »

Arcade monitor and video card/board? sorry not sure of its official name.

Mark Thomas · « **Reply #2 on:** July 30, 2011, 12:21:52 pm »

Additional components not sure what they are? they don't seem to be wired up to anything at present. Are they hangovers from the Golden Tee days or essential parts that I need to connect or wire up to something?

Mark Thomas · « **Reply #3 on:** July 30, 2011, 12:24:43 pm »

Mass of wires inside cab and Jamma connector

Mark Thomas · « **Reply #4 on:** July 30, 2011, 12:26:53 pm »

Cabinet and electric coin mech

Well Fed Games · « **Reply #5 on:** July 30, 2011, 12:59:40 pm »

Nice cabinet... I always love to see the golden tee cabs become something cooler!

You're in the right place... I had no experience with any of the skills needed for cab conversion, but I'm getting closer to completing my current project. It is definitely a fun hobby.

eds1275 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 30, 2011, 01:05:01 pm »

Quote from: thefearsomefearful on July 30, 2011, 12:59:40 pm

Nice cabinet... I always love to see the golden tee cabs become something cooler!

when I see people say this, I assume they haven't played GT properly - and that is of course with 3 other people, and at least half cut lol - I love golden tee

Well Fed Games · « **Reply #7 on:** July 30, 2011, 11:29:18 pm »

Quote from: eds1275 on July 30, 2011, 01:05:01 pm

Quote from: thefearsomefearful on July 30, 2011, 12:59:40 pm
Nice cabinet... I always love to see the golden tee cabs become something cooler!

when I see people say this, I assume they haven't played GT properly - and that is of course with 3 other people, and at least half cut lol - I love golden tee

No offense intended, I find golf in all its forms off-putting, save for miniature. To each his own, I guess. I do wonder why Golden Tee has never had a console port (to the best of my knowledge)... I know it has lots of fans and is a recognizable series. Maybe the trackball is too key to the experience? I could see a port to something like the DS being possible.

eds1275 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 31, 2011, 12:21:49 pm »

im not offended, everyone has different tastes.

newmanfamilyvlogs · « **Reply #9 on:** July 31, 2011, 12:25:57 pm »

some kids watch saturday morning cartoons...my 3 year old wants to play a round of golden tee. It's golf at an arcade speed. And there are easter eggs hidden if you don't plan on actually playing it. There's a guy peeing on a bush hidden up in the trees on one of the courses in GT2k.

Looks like that monitor is a Hanatrex Polo 25".

Mark Thomas · « **Reply #10 on:** August 03, 2011, 11:29:15 am »

Quote from: cotmm68030 on July 31, 2011, 12:25:57 pm

Looks like that monitor is a Hanatrex Polo 25".

Thanks buddy I appreciate that still trying to identify each part I have.

emphatic · « **Reply #11 on:** August 03, 2011, 01:26:35 pm »

Quote from: thefearsomefearful on July 30, 2011, 11:29:18 pm

I find golf in all its forms off-putting

First you tee off, then you start putting?

I haven't gotten the appeal either, but I just stay clear of all gimmicky controlled games. Stick + buttons FTW.

compute · « **Reply #12 on:** August 04, 2011, 08:07:00 am »

Quote from: thefearsomefearful on July 30, 2011, 11:29:18 pm

I do wonder why Golden Tee has never had a console port (to the best of my knowledge)...

It hasn't been ported to a console, but . . .

http://www.amazon.com/Peter-Jacobsons-Golden-Tee-Golf-Pc/dp/B00001QEQS/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1312459429&sr=8-7
It has made it to PC,

http://www.amazon.com/Radica-I6001-PlayTV-Golden-Golf/dp/B000EYF7YQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312459429&sr=8-1
and there is a cheap TV Plug-in game based on it. I'll have to pick one up if I see it for $5 or less. I'm curious about that trackball.

Mark Thomas · « **Reply #13 on:** August 05, 2011, 08:27:56 am »

Ultimarc Arcade VGA 3000 graphics card has now arrived

Now for a topic that will no doubt have many varying opinions.

I will need to buy PC components for my mame project but not having a great deal of knowledge I plan on buying all the parts and getting a friend to construct it all. I plan using the following emulators:

Mame with 143 Rom Set
Neo Geo
Model 2
Snes
Nes
Master System
Genesis
Sega CD
Dreamcast (if this is emulated)
GBA
Daphne
Capcom system

I will also be using Aim Trak light gun games like Area 51 and CarnEvil

What motherboard/ processors and PC specs are considered to be best suited to run all the above at their optimal settings? I have heard that certain games like CarnEvil and some emulator won't perform well with certain PC's so I want go ensure that what I buy will be perfect for my project.

newmanfamilyvlogs · « **Reply #14 on:** August 05, 2011, 09:37:31 am »

I'd start with a budget first and try and optimize within that.

The AVGA3000 should be sufficiently powerful enough to run NullDC, a dreamcast emulator.

You probably shouldn't look at anything more powerful than an Intel i5 chip at the moment, the speed gains for the money spent are hard to justify. A ~3Ghz Core2Duo should be sufficiently powerful. AMD chips/motherboards can usually be purchased at a lower total cost, however they seem to not be as efficient on a clock-per-clock basis as Intel chips as far as emulation goes.

The best system is the one you can afford.

Hunk_4TH · « **Reply #15 on:** August 05, 2011, 09:02:46 pm »

Quote from: Mark Thomas on August 05, 2011, 08:27:56 am

Ultimarc Arcade VGA 3000 graphics card has now arrived

Now for a topic that will no doubt have many varying opinions.

I will need to buy PC components for my mame project but not having a great deal of knowledge I plan on buying all the parts and getting a friend to construct it all. I plan using the following emulators:

Mame with 143 Rom Set
Neo Geo
Model 2
Snes
Nes
Master System
Genesis
Sega CD
Dreamcast (if this is emulated)
GBA
Daphne
Capcom system

I will also be using Aim Trak light gun games like Area 51 and CarnEvil

What motherboard/ processors and PC specs are considered to be best suited to run all the above at their optimal settings? I have heard that certain games like CarnEvil and some emulator won't perform well with certain PC's so I want go ensure that what I buy will be perfect for my project.

Not really much help. But the Dreamcast is most definitely emulated. Check this emu out. http://code.google.com/p/nulldc/ there is also a separate version for Naomi. Also note that the Dreamcast Nulldc doesn't support Wince games yet such as Sega Rally 2

Mark Thomas · « **Reply #16 on:** August 13, 2011, 08:12:24 pm »

Thanks for the advice guys, it's good to know Dreamcast has been emulated I will definitely look into that.

I have passed on those specs to my friend who will be looking into pricing it all up for me.

I was wondering in relation to the light gun side of the project if 2 guns can be set up at the same time for 2 player games like T2, Virtua Cop etc?

Mark Thomas · « **Reply #17 on:** August 14, 2011, 09:08:44 am »

Just been asked by my mate if there is a motherboard of choice for mame/emulator projects? He is looking into pricing up the components. Do you guys use a specific type or have a prefered model?

Many thanks

newmanfamilyvlogs · « **Reply #18 on:** August 14, 2011, 03:42:55 pm »

The i5 is the best proc at the moment. the i7 doesn't really gain much. After that the core2duo. Amd is fine too, but intel chips seem to have the edge on a clock speed basis.

Mark Thomas · « **Reply #19 on:** August 14, 2011, 04:00:57 pm »

Thanks Cotmm,

My friend says that the i5 processor is definitely the best choice currently. But asked -

Did they mention you need a specific brand of motherboard or can you use any? I would imagine any but i know the arcade vga3000 graphics card is specialist and might not play nice with all motherboards.

newmanfamilyvlogs · « **Reply #20 on:** August 15, 2011, 07:54:43 pm »

it shouldn't matter. any i5 compatible board shouldn't have an issue with the current gen of the AVGA PCI-e cards. it's specialized from an output standpoint, but to the computer it's just any other video card.

Mark Thomas · « **Reply #21 on:** August 15, 2011, 10:54:53 pm »

Quote from: cotmm68030 on August 15, 2011, 07:54:43 pm

it shouldn't matter. any i5 compatible board shouldn't have an issue with the current gen of the AVGA PCI-e cards. it's specialized from an output standpoint, but to the computer it's just any other video card.

Thanks again buddy i'll pass it on

Mark Thomas · « **Reply #22 on:** August 15, 2011, 11:11:32 pm »

Could anyone advise me where I could get a new one of these please? Its a bezel for my arcade monitor which I have been told may be a Hanatrex Polo 25".

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

I have had a look on the internet and found that most of the bezel are very much bigger than this one and look cheap im not sure where this one came from but it fits in my monitor and the cab like a dream and is very thin in comparison to others I have seen.

Mark Thomas · « **Reply #23 on:** August 30, 2011, 08:41:32 pm »

Hi folks,

Iv been quiet of late mainly due to work commitments, so as a result this project got shelved for the last few weeks. I have been looking over the arcade cabinet with a view to restoring it to a reasonable standard. I would like it to look brand new but due to my limited skill set I'm not sure this would be achievable.

Looking at the cab the side panels have quite a bit of damage around the edges. I'm not sure if or how I would be able to repair this. I might have to get a whole new piece cut from mdf.

What would you guys suggest?

I am also thinking of removing the arcade monitor from the cab and sanding the whole thing down as it currently has a very bad paint job which looks like someone has done with a tin of black paint.

Mark Thomas · « **Reply #24 on:** September 01, 2011, 04:34:45 pm »

Hi Guys,

Iv made some real progress today.

Iv removed the arcade monitor from the cabinet a scary experience what with the discharging process but it all went well, my only fear is i might not remember how to put it all back together again.

I also removed the speakers and a few other items but have left all the wiring in there as not sure what they all do yet. Iv notice a few more damaged areas as well but I think that I will be using some Bondo to repair these areas. Only problem iv found is that I cant find any Bondo in the UK

can anyone suggest where I can buy some?

Mark Thomas · « **Reply #25 on:** September 01, 2011, 04:37:49 pm »

Arcade monitor minus the cab

Mark Thomas · « **Reply #26 on:** September 16, 2011, 03:47:54 am »

Hey Guys,

My friend who is building my PC for this project has emailed me this and has asked your views on the forum on it's suitability?

Processor
http://www.ebuyer.com/251596-intel-core-i5-2500k-3-3ghz-socket-1155-6mb-cache-retail-boxed-processor-bx80623i52500k

Motherboard options are probably any P67 motherboard. You don't need onboard graphics if your using the graphics card for your arcade machine. Most seem pretty good. Might go for one with an overclock option such as:

http://www.ebuyer.com/261288-msi-p67a-gd53-b3-p67-socket-1155-8-channel-audio-atx-motherboard-p67a-gd53-b3-

Thanks folks, Look forward to hearing your feedback

Mark

newmanfamilyvlogs · « **Reply #27 on:** September 16, 2011, 05:38:45 am »

I run a 3.06Ghz Core2Duo in my cab and the only games that are not playable are the ones that no one can play anyway, and this processor is quite a bit faster than mine.

That proc will probably be fast enough to even run Playstation 2 emulators at a reasonable speed.

Mark Thomas · « **Reply #28 on:** September 16, 2011, 12:56:32 pm »

That's excellent news thanks again for all your help so far. Iv amended the second link as I realised I had posted the processor link twice

Mark Thomas · « **Reply #29 on:** March 27, 2012, 11:27:37 pm »

Do you think that spec would run CarnEvil?

lanman31337 · « **Reply #30 on:** March 28, 2012, 12:31:40 pm »

I have an AMD 4200+ with 2 gigs of ram that'll play it just about perfect.

Mark Thomas · « **Reply #31 on:** April 01, 2012, 08:39:45 pm »

Thanks buddy 👍

Mark Thomas · « **Reply #32 on:** April 20, 2012, 07:33:45 am »

A bit more progress on the cab, iv started to fill in the holes and repair the damaged areas with some isopon P38 (nearest thing to bondo I could find in uk)

Mark Thomas · « **Reply #33 on:** April 20, 2012, 02:25:05 pm »

Mark Thomas · « **Reply #34 on:** April 20, 2012, 02:29:31 pm »

Quite a bit more damage so slapping the Isopon on and letting it dry out then sanding it down.

Mark Thomas · « **Reply #35 on:** April 20, 2012, 02:35:01 pm »

Let the sanding process begin

Didnt take that long and im really impressed with the finish.

Mark Thomas · « **Reply #36 on:** April 20, 2012, 02:43:28 pm »

Iv now gutted the inside of the cab completely removing the old worn out jamma harness and wires, im going to order a brand new jamma harness prewired up to save time but not sure what to buy or where from. This is the old one

Any advice on where and what to buy folks?

cheers


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