Another newb wants to build a cocktail cabinet

[Duhjoker]

   Hi guys!! Im new to the forum here and new to building computers.

I would like to design and build my own cocktail cabinet arcade game. Ill be coming up with my own cabinet, im gonna say 3 1/2 to four foot long. My idea is to replace my coffee table with it. So i would like to add a drawer and would also like to make it juke box. Or at least make it able to upgrade to a juje box.

I can pretty much source everything but the brains. I looked at the "Read this First" and i would just like a level C platform so it will play some NES games like super mario, zelda, and such along with the classics like Pac-man.

Ive been looking for what the guide says but i am comming up short. Would yall mind helping locate an affordable brains system? Please?

[GSXRMovistar]

By brains do you mean computer? Also not familiar with the term level C platform in this context, can you elaborate?

If you just away to play simple games (old consoles, some classics in Mame) then maybe a Raspberry Pi solution would suit, very small so easy to integrate into a build.

[paigeoliver]

By brains do you mean computer? Also not familiar with the term level C platform in this context, can you elaborate?

If you just away to play simple games (old consoles, some classics in Mame) then maybe a Raspberry Pi solution would suit, very small so easy to integrate into a build.

Pretty sure the FOUR FOOT LONG table he is building will have plenty of room for a traditional PC.

To the original poster. Almost any PC you can find anywhere (including the garbage) would be suitable. Everything you want to do was possible on the hardware of 20 years ago.

[yotsuya]

Pretty sure the FOUR FOOT LONG table he is building will have plenty of room for a traditional PC.

Aw, c'mon now. Guys are build 4 foot wide cabs now. 4 foot wide cocktails are just a natural progression.

[Duhjoker]

Yea i dont have much room and a 4 foot long (not wide) 2 player machine will fit perfectly. And and only as tall as coffee table so you have to sit on the floor to play.

On a the radpberry pi, can it play up to 32-bit games? Like street fighter? Does is still need a hard drive and video card?

I meant option C on this thread

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=14155

[paigeoliver]

Yea i dont have much room and a 4 foot long (not wide) 2 player machine will fit perfectly. And and only as tall as coffee table so you have to sit on the floor to play.

On a the radpberry pi, can it play up to 32-bit games? Like street fighter? Does is still need a hard drive and video card?

I meant option C on this thread

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=14155

You don't want a raspberry pi. There is literally not a worse choice you can make. Anyone who suggests you use that is either trolling you, has no idea what they are talking about or are trying to justify the fact that they ruined a project with one by pretending it isn't terrible.

Also, making it super short and sitting on the floor to play doesn't work. The viewing angle won't be right. Also if space is actually an issue than you should be building a cabaret cabinet and not a cocktail.

Finally, most people vastly overestimate how much space an arcade game takes up. A normal arcade game has about the same footprint as those end tables next to your couch.

[yotsuya]

Finally, most people vastly overestimate how much space an arcade game takes up. A normal arcade game has about the same footprint as those end tables next to your couch.

Yep. Agreed.

[Duhjoker]

I guess what i mean is an elaborate coffee table. I definitely have the room for what i want to build.

Thanks for the tip on the raspberry pi. So now im just looking for a cheap used tower.

[Duhjoker]

Ok i plan on using a 20 inch flatscreen pc monitor. The cabinet only has to be a couple inches wider than the screen on the long sides. It wont be 4ft long but maybe about 3 to 3 1/2 feet long. And you were right about playing it on the floor but at the height of my curent table you could sit on the couch and play and still see the screen area.

What do you think?

[monkeybomb]

I think you should attach the monitor to a board with a hinge so you can flip up the screen and play console games from the couch.  Also,  be sure you get a monitor that allows you to see the picture from various angles.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[GSXRMovistar]

You don't want a raspberry pi. There is literally not a worse choice you can make. Anyone who suggests you use that is either trolling you, has no idea what they are talking about or are trying to justify the fact that they ruined a project with one by pretending it isn't terrible.

Well none of those point apply to myself, I've seen a few Pi setups and they run the older stuff quite well to be honest. I suggested it with the consideration that the OP may be wanting to build a traditional looking table (not cocktail cabinet or arcade machine). A flatscreen and Pi combo could easily be fitted into a standard looking coffee table, 4 corner legs and a 4in deep tabletop.

[monkeybomb]

the OP may be wanting to build a traditional looking table (not cocktail cabinet or arcade machine).

That's what I'm reading.  This simply isn't a cocktail cabinet and if there is the amount of space it sounds like, I think the computer advice should parallel a pedestal.  A PC opens the door to everything, including using the music software he already has set-up. With a windows PC he can add whatever, newer games, a big cheap internal HD, steam, ect.  If he really wants linux when it's all said and done, he can still do it with a windows PC, only it's faster.  If there isn't a space restriction, what can the Pi do that a PC can't do better?

[vwalbridge]

Regardless of how cheap it is, I believe the Pi is something that should only be considered in a build if space is a premium. (ie, NES, gamegear, coleco tabletop, micro arcade, etc)

Otherwise, I think it should be avoided because the cost of small, fan-less Windows-based machines are getting very competitive.

If space is not a concern, I can't think of any reason I'd choose a Pi over a Windows computer.

[Phreakwars]

I wouldn't put a Pi in it either.

This dude has some cheapy computers for sale if your looking: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,133968.0.html

Or you could always hunt up an HP Slimline or similar pretty cheap on eBay.

If your trying to minimize space, buy a mini ITX board and small form factor power supply. Pair it up with a low wattage CPU. It's MAME, no need for an 8 core 125 watt CPU.

For graphics a GT 730 makes an excellent choice in price, performance, and dead silence since it uses no fan. Or, if you don't want a card sticking out, any of the AMD AM1 series boards with integrated graphics works well. Cheap too.

So many ways to go here... not really a matter of what to get, but rather how much do you want to spend?

[Duhjoker]

I'm no stranger to arduino but from what I can see of the Pi there would still be extra I would have to buy to run it. If I buy a used widows PC though I get almost everything need at once for the same price as the Pi.

Let's go ahead drop what I said about how much space I have.

I would like to have the whole top as one sheet of tempered glass or acrylic with a lid to go o even that so I can still use it as my table without hurting the cabinet. Being able to tilt the screen is a good move but I still have a tv and game consoles.

This is ,ore like a "have nothing better to do with my time kinda project". Something to do for fun. And you would be surprised at how much I can stuff into a small space. Thank you 90's pc game 3D Tetris.

I would also like to add a coule 6x9's and a 10inch woofer for jukebox mode and stereo sound for gaming. Is there a way to do that with a PC Card or will I need to buy an amp and stuff?

[GSXRMovistar]

You'd need an amp to drive a 10" sub but I'd also be concerned about having a speaker of that size so close to all the other components if it ends up being a tight fit.

Having a glass top was one of the main criteria of my table arcade build:- http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,148135.0.html

So far I've had no issues with viewing angles, but the panel I used whilst old was pretty good.

[Duhjoker]

Thanks for the link but that's still a lil pricey for old technology. If I eBay it I can get the tower the graphics card and a sound card for under $75.

[vwalbridge]

I would like to have the whole top as one sheet of tempered glass or acrylic

Do not use acrylic. You will thank me us later.

Is there a way to do that with a PC Card or will I need to buy an amp and stuff?

You definitely need an amp.

[Duhjoker]

Yea tempered glass is my first choice. I've used acrylic before on a lizard cage and it sucked!!!!

Aluminum is pretty cheap and makes a perfect shield to ban magnetic waves.

[paigeoliver]

None of that changes the fact that it is still the worst possible choice you can make. I mean, theoretically you could revive that old "Mame on a digital camera" trick from 15 years ago, that would probably be worse.

Suggesting the pi as a go to mame solution is like answering "1997 Hyundai" to someone who asks "What car should I buy".

You don't want a raspberry pi. There is literally not a worse choice you can make. Anyone who suggests you use that is either trolling you, has no idea what they are talking about or are trying to justify the fact that they ruined a project with one by pretending it isn't terrible.

Well none of those point apply to myself, I've seen a few Pi setups and they run the older stuff quite well to be honest. I suggested it with the consideration that the OP may be wanting to build a traditional looking table (not cocktail cabinet or arcade machine). A flatscreen and Pi combo could easily be fitted into a standard looking coffee table, 4 corner legs and a 4in deep tabletop.

[monkeybomb]

Suggesting the pi as a go to mame solution is like answering "1997 Hyundai" to someone who asks "What car should I buy".

I think Shriners car might be a better answer.  For folks that need to go through a tiny tunnel to get to the store, it might be the best option.  But you can only carry so much stuff since it's a little underpowered.

[Duhjoker]

Talk to me about monitors and orientation. The cabinet I'm building will be a 2 player machine made like a regular cocktail cabinet. can wide screen monitors he used? Is there a way to set up orientation so it plays like a classic 2 player cocktail table? How does all that work?

[monkeybomb]

What is a "regular cocktail cabinet" to you?  To me it's ms pacman, but I don't think the players can face each other from 4 feet away and still see the game properly.  Are you thinking Asteroids? Maybe q-bert?

Cocktail games can be flipped in MAME just like they do at a restaurant.

Why would you want a 16 x 9 monitor for something that is going to get 4:3 usage?

[Duhjoker]

Yes like a ms paceman cabinet.

I'm down to 3foot and a 20 inch screen

[mgb]

Stick with a 20-21" 4:3 monitor.
Try and go with an IPS display if you can.

I'm currently building a slim cocktail with this setup and it's only going to be 26" long

heres the build thread http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=146042.40
I'm currently working on re-designing the shape though.

There's some info in this thread that you may find helpful when choosing a monitor.

Good Luck

[Duhjoker]

Heres what im going after except the conyrolls being completely under the glass and not so high

[paigeoliver]

That one is missing the glass entirely.

Heres what im going after except the conyrolls being completely under the glass and not so high

[Duhjoker]

No the one pictured has no glass but mine will. I was just showing a reference pic of the type of machine i would like to build.


Ive got an X-box 360 thats collecting dust and maybe has 100 hours total on it. Can it be used instead if buying a computer? Can i still use a monitor or do i need a regular flat screen.

[Duhjoker]

The xbox 360 idea is crap. But i did run up on a few 60-in-1 boards  so i might go that way, though i would like to play some 32bit games like streetfighter2.

[mgb]

I would think the 360 would be a better route than the 60-in-1

Either that or a cheap used PC.

There's a guy on this forum selling them $150 or so

[Duhjoker]

I found a computer i like, but im
Not sure about the graphics card.

Can an intel graphics media accelerator 4500 do 32-bit games like street fighter?

Do i NEED a network card or can i burn the MAME programs onto a disc?

[Duhjoker]

Ok would a dell 745 and an ati radeon HD 4550 512 pcie video card?

[Duhjoker]

can any body tell me whether a Radeon ATI HD3450 256mb video card can handle 64-bit games?

[paigeoliver]

Mame doesn't really even use your video card.

[Duhjoker]

Tell me aspect ratio. Im having a hard time finding a 20 to 22 screen thats 4:3.and finding a square one is next to impossible. Arent most TV's and monitors adjustable?

[Duhjoker]

Or dont.

   Ok whats the best way to add speakers? Im planning on using something like a couple of regular 4x10's or a pair of 6x9's. Not gonna do the 10" just yet.

    Any opinions on controls?

[mgb]

This calculator can you figure out what kind of 4:3 image you can get on different sized 16:9 displays
http://tvcalculator.com/

There are many ways you can go with the audio.
check out parts express for speakers and amps http://www.parts-express.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=G+-+Brand+-+Main&utm_group=G-Brand-Main-Exact

You can use a small amp like this http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-dta-1-class-t-ac-dc-battery-powered-mini-amplifier-15-wpc--300-380

Just remember when going component wise with an amp and speakers, match the loads, for example don't use 4 ohm speakers on an amp that only handles 8 ohm loads

you can also simply mount in some logitech speakers. there are many models with remote volume pods that can be mounted in the coin door or something for easy accessibility.
http://www.amazon.com/Cyber-Acoustics-Subwoofer-Frustration-CA-3602FFP/dp/B00BXF5HQ8/ref=lp_172471_1_6?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1448641295&sr=1-6

[paigeoliver]

Tell me aspect ratio. Im having a hard time finding a 20 to 22 screen thats 4:3.and finding a square one is next to impossible. Arent most TV's and monitors adjustable?

Go on craigslist and buy a 21" crt monitor, it will be 4:3 and will be cheap and will be much better for mame than any CRT (and has essentially the same image size as a 27" widescreen).

[Duhjoker]

   Ok thank you

   I still need advice for the controls. Ive found two different sets of jamma controls, One that uses the USB and another that looks like it connects to a video card? What would be the best option for me?

[mgb]

You're gonna have to clarify what you're talking about with the controls.
Go to the video card??? Are you talking about an old game port setup?

Post some pics