PC or XBOX powered bartop ? + mini rant / Opinions & advice wanted

[mike boss]

I often find I get carried away with ideas. I'd LOVE to have a super cool cabinet with an awesome, super powered PC. The ability to play the new MK game, Injustic, Super Street Fighter IV, etc. Then I come to my senses....I have two XBOX 360's and ALL of these games....and I NEVER play them! Then reality slaps me twice, I will not spend the money to get such a PC....so this would never happen.

I'm hoping this summer to wrap up a bunch of projects and lose ends. Certain projects like getting my Aim Trak units installed into my GunCon shells has taken me three years...YEP....three years. Perhaps odd that I enjoy the coin-op hobby so much as I am not much of a gamer anymore. My machines get used more when people come over as the novelty kicks in. Even console gaming is something I do very little of. The reality is is that my games are more just something to look at, which is not what they are designed for. But it has become the reality of my inventory.

None the less I enjoy the hobby. I like working on my machines, adding things and making improvements. This summer as noted I would like to get a few things done so I can say the machines are "officialy done!." Finish my Aim Trak install, rewire a machine and add a 132 in 1 board, and a few more odds and ends.

I'd also like to finish my newest project, a bartop unit that I will theme in the style of a Nintendo Punch-Out! This is where I would like some help. I don't wanna spend much on this project. I'd like to use up existing parts I have on hand. I have a MOST of what I need to power this unit with an XBOX or a PC. I'm torn as to which route I should go.
I thought I would seek some help and get some opinions.

If I were to go the route of using an XBOX I have the following list for what I have/need.
Am I missing anything ?

xbox (modified w/ various games, emulators, and complete US ROM sets)  - have
rgb to vga - have
xbox to usb (for controls) - have
joystick + buttons - have
kade - have
hd cable - have
speakers - NEED
pc monitor - NEED

For PC :

pc - have
hard drive w/ Hperspin image  - have
kade - have
joystick + buttons - have
pc monitor - NEED
speakers - NEED

[BobA]

You need a monitor and speaker for each build.  Decide on what ROMS you want to run and pick the choice with the power to do them most easily.   If you PC is faster than and Xbox go for it or vice versa if you Xbox give you best performance for what you want go that way.

[mike boss]

Went with the PC.
Going to try and sell the XBOX consoles.

[jmike]

Went with the PC.
Going to try and sell the XBOX consoles.

Selling xboxes.  How much and what you got on there Vision? Coin-Ops?

 

[lilshawn]

be aware you can get an xbox for, or only slightly more than free these days.

i would have used the xbox. you ain't playing xbox everyday.

you can use a computer for anything.

[mike boss]

If the PC problems keep up I'll make the switch to XBOX.
I feel both the old PC's and the old XBOX consoles are worth nothing really.
But I'd get a couple of dollars for the XBOX units vs the PC which is worth squat !