My arcade setup... Overkill??? probably so!

[Drnick]

For a brief moment I thought we were getting somewhere,  How wrong I was.

Hmmmmm. That ps2 playing Roms idea is interesting. I might get a 10/100 USB Ethernet connector for that

As they say in "Dragons Den"

[Malenko]

For a brief moment I thought we were getting somewhere,  How wrong I was.

Now you understand why I am encouraging him to put a 2TB drive in a local machine and stop with all this unneeded networking, NAS, Server, terminal servers. thin clients, etcetera ?

I think I'll tap out too.

[sandheaver]

For a brief moment I thought we were getting somewhere,  How wrong I was.

Now you understand why I am encouraging him to put a 2TB drive in a local machine and stop with all this unneeded networking, NAS, Server, terminal servers. thin clients, etcetera ?

I think I'll tap out too.

Yes, but you understand why he wants to, right?  He'll have multiple emulator machines around the house.

I will not argue for one moment that I think the server/client idea is a good one, but I understand why he approached it this way.

[brihyn]

I would think you could simply put the batch of roms onto the primary gaming rig, create a share, and connect to this share from the other emulator pc's, rather than spool up a Win2k12 server, deal with the cooling, etc.
Then again, what do I know...it's not like I'm a network engineer.

[epicfatigue]

Sorry top chime in here, i understand why you want the server,
But tackle it from a different approach, because believe me you will never get the result you want this way, i don't want to come across as rude but i also don't want you to waste your money on something that just wont work for you.

Get a desktop or convert your Rack to go in the machine, your going to have to modify a lot for this cooling the unit itself as form factor will be an issue.

However as i was saying take it from a different approach, make your machine have the ability to play games through the internet with your friends.
having lans is kool, but as you get older you will find friend disappear people move on you will move out you wont have the space you have always have etc etc etc i could go on forever there.

So with that note make your machine able to play your classics and the new and be able to play through steam etc etc with your mates they will be using their computers you will be using you mame machine.

Have a little look at some of the features in my machine, they might be something you like the concept of.
I am a rookie in this field, but i do have a large amount of skills i have acquired in life.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,131026.0.html

[crtrrss]

Was 5ghz really necessary on your machine?

[epicfatigue]

Was 5ghz really necessary on your machine?

Yes, i wanted to be able to play Gauntlet Legends, it was a favorite of mine and it had to be on there, it stuttered at 3ghz playable at 4Ghz smooth as silk at 5Ghz, the unit can hit just under 6Ghz but i don't feel the need for it to be at that all the time.

I Just wanted to show you that you can create this LAN environment by making use of the Internet.

Good luck with you build.

Take it slow do things right, you have all the time in the world, majority of us on here have family kids etc etc
The only time i get is in my lunch break.

Good luck have fun play hard

[Malenko]

Yes, but you understand why he wants to, right?  He'll have multiple emulator machines around the house.

I will not argue for one moment that I think the server/client idea is a good one, but I understand why he approached it this way.

Nope, the odds of him needing every rom, CHD, ISO etc on every machine is slim to none. He can share a folder on a machine and not need a server. If he has one really good computer why would he want to go play on another one? Why build a MAME cab then go play street fighter on a keyboard in your closet? Then again, what do I know...it's not like I'm a network engineer too.

Wait yeah, I am (probably just like brihyn)

[DaveMMR]

Yes, but you understand why he wants to, right?  He'll have multiple emulator machines around the house.

I will not argue for one moment that I think the server/client idea is a good one, but I understand why he approached it this way.

Nope, the odds of him needing every rom, CHD, ISO etc on every machine is slim to none. He can share a folder on a machine and not need a server. If he has one really good computer why would he want to go play on another one? Why build a MAME cab then go play street fighter on a keyboard in your closet? Then again, what do I know...it's not like I'm a network engineer too.

Wait yeah, I am (probably just like brihyn)

Yeah, it seems like one of those ideas that's seems good on paper but completely impractical in reality. Forget even sharing - why not just get a bunch of external hard drives and hook them up to other places (or move it around - do you need to play Donkey Kong in one part of the house while another is playing Super Mario World?). And if the idea is to stream from some portable hardware (like a PSP or something) then why even bother building an arcade cabinet, anyway?

I know a lot of this is 'because I want to prove I can', but there's a big difference between 'can' and 'should'.

[powtripp]

But guys, this is the technology of the future... streaming games. Arcade machines will eventually be nothing more than a monitor screen, controls, and an internet connection....

http://www.onlive.com/

Seems interesting to me.

[jammin0]

But guys, this is the technology of the future... streaming games. Arcade machines will eventually be nothing more than a monitor screen, controls, and an internet connection....

http://www.onlive.com/

Seems interesting to me.

This business model hasn't really taken off like they claimed it would.
http://techland.time.com/2012/08/20/onlive-launches-new-company-to-avoid-bankruptcy/

Besides, I thought the whole point of arcade cabinets was the nostalgia of the old thing.  I am not old enough or purist enough to completely understand it but people spend hundreds to thousands of dollars restoring cabinets with only one game.  It has nothing to do with the future.

50 years from now 90% of the population might use an electric vehicle but I bet there will still be people restoring classic cars.

[mcseforsale]

It'd be easy enough to do in an arcade setting with a good wireless setup and some thin-clients.  So, you could have 50 cabinets each with a thin client in each one running a served mame setup.  That'd be pretty easy.  Now with HP thin clients going for 80 bux/dozen, it would be fairly cheap, too.

But, why? When you can get an off-lease 2Ghz core-2 for 99 bux.

AJ

[sandheaver]

But, why? When you can get an off-lease 2Ghz core-2 for 99 bux.

where?

[mcseforsale]

Just sign up for emails from tigerdirect and/or geeks.com.  You'll see them flash around.

AJ

But, why? When you can get an off-lease 2Ghz core-2 for 99 bux.

where?

[JDFan]

But, why? When you can get an off-lease 2Ghz core-2 for 99 bux.

where?

Here's one example with a Pentium D 3.2 GHz. dual core : ( http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wholesale-IBM-M55-3-2-GHZ-OFF-LEASE-Ultra-Small-USFF-/290592553702#vi-content )

Specifications:

Processor : Pentium D 3.2 GHZ, 64-bit ready. Multi-core (2 total)

RAM : 1 GB (2 slots can be easily upgraded)

Hard Drive : SATA 80GB (easily upgraded)

CD\DVD Drive

Front Ports : Headphone, Microphone, 2 High Speed USB

Rear Ports : 1 PCI Slot Free, 2 Sound Line In, 4 High Speed USB, LPT, VGA, Serial, Network Jack

Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet

SoundMAX SoundCard

Intel(R) Q965/Q963 Express Chipset

[crtrrss]

Well..... That got off topic. I'm gonna end that here. Always check EBay (or Craigslist if u live in a large city) for off lease computers. I will buy plexi soon and I'm wiring the machine right now

[DaveMMR]

But guys, this is the technology of the future... streaming games. Arcade machines will eventually be nothing more than a monitor screen, controls, and an internet connection....

http://www.onlive.com/

Seems interesting to me.

Streaming games? Yay, an arcade machine that will depend on an internet connection. It's retro goodness mashed together with the crippling restrictions of DRM (Hey, have you played the new SimCity? Of course not - no one can!)

Not that these games take up so much space that you need to store them remotely anyhow. It's a solution to a problem no one has.

[crtrrss]

Exactly. Hard drives are only getting cheaper

[Unstupid]

It's a solution to a problem no one has.

[crtrrss]

Well I got my machine running. I also added the buttons to the control panel. I will post more pics when I'm done wiring. For now, I took off the coin box thingy and found the coin counter.... Someone made a LOT of $ off this machine

[epicfatigue]

Well I got my machine running. I also added the buttons to the control panel. I will post more pics when I'm done wiring. For now, I took off the coin box thingy and found the coin counter.... Someone made a LOT of $ off this machine

You should reset that to 0 and wire it into your cabinet its a awesome addition to the cabinet, its very simple too.

[crtrrss]

I don't plan on using coins. Ill install a button on the machine that counts as that later. For now, I just press 5 on the keyboard

[DaveMMR]

For aesthetics, stick a microswitch behind the coin rejects to trigger the credits. (Assuming you have a working coin door, I forgot and don't feel like digging through this thread right now.) Looks better than a button and it can still accept coins too as sort of a very large piggy bank.

[crtrrss]

The coin door is completely screwed up. There is no way I could use it at all. I am thinking about copying the barcade idea and putting a mini fridge down there instead

[Endprodukt]

Haha, this is getting out of control.

[crtrrss]

Maybe so

[crtrrss]

I am trying to get the ultimate machine (in my standards)  for my room. My family is building a house that will have enough room for the arcade machine in my room. This would be my main gaming rig

[crtrrss]

As for me, a way to keep my Mountain Dew cold is a necessity while gaming

[chopperthedog]

Dude find the "modify post" button. And for F sake learn how to post pics properly.

Oh, mountain dew will have you diabetic before you're 20.


good day.

[Malenko]

The coin door is completely screwed up. There is no way I could use it at all. I am thinking about copying the barcade idea and putting a mini fridge down there instead

I stand by my suggestion that you get a function arcade machine first, add the bells and whistles later.

[Endprodukt]

If ultimate means ridiculous in this case I totally agree.

[crtrrss]

If ultimate means ridiculous in this case I totally agree.

Yes, yes it does

[stripe4]

Read through the thread and the only thing I could come up with is this:

[chopperthedog]

^^^LOL!!!



good day.

[stripe4]

But in all seriousness, get yourself a dedicated NAS box - Synology DiskStation, QNAP or something similar. This unit alone will provide 90% of solutions to your networking, rom and media sharing and other ideas.

Not only that, you can also:
put it in a closet and not worry about heat (as opposed to the server, actually lack of proper cooling could be a fire hazard, too)
set it up to turn off during nights and turn back on in the morning (electricity costs money)

I'm just afraid all this virtualization you intend to do will mean less enjoying stuff and more configuring it.

[drventure]

I'm just afraid all this virtualization you intend to do will mean less enjoying stuff and more configuring it.

Amen. Unless you're just REALLY into setup and config and maintenance of multiple units, a bunch of infrastructure will get old FAST.

Build a box, slap a PC with a 2TB drive in it and your mame cab is done.

If you want to serve up media, get another box with 2 big drives, mirror them, and load it up with your media. Backup your GAMES folder from the Mame box to your media box, and then backup all your media to the cloud.

If you really want simple, build a Jukebox separately, and just put your media there, don't worry about streaming/virtualization/etc/etc at all.


Now, that's assuming you're not shooting for am MCSE or some other certification. Hell, I had win server with MSSQL and Exchange running for years while I was learning how to admin that stuff. But, that got old, and I moved to GMail and SQLExpress. Now, my server is just one big mirrored network drive that backs itself up to the cloud. Really simple.

[lordnacho]

I'm still thinking everyone is replying to an advanced spambot.  It's a learning computa'

[crtrrss]

I would be the worlds best spambot then

[yotsuya]

I would be the worlds best spambot then

The world's best spambot could have got us those monitors for $80 shipped. 

[Endprodukt]

Haha