Probably going to use a TV but...

[cbmeeks]

I'm one of these guys who is about 88% purist....lol

In other words, I would love to have a real arcade monitor but I just can't afford $500 for one....at least not yet.  Wife is kinda excited actually about building a MAME cab.

Anyway, we were at Best Buy looking at 25" or 27" TVs to use.

I do have a few concerns about using a TV so maybe some of you who use a TV can help me out here....I was actually lucky enough to find the only copy of "Project Arcade" so I bought it.  Haven't read it all yet....I am going to build the standard upright in that book.

So, here goes.

1) When I was at Best Buy I actually tried to lift a 27"....now, I have a 27" in my bedroom that is staying there and I can carry it without too much trouble but the ones I tried to lift tonight seemed to weigh 100 tons...lol   So, any issues with supporting the weight of these things??  Any tips?

2) Heat.  TV's where never meant to be in a cabinet and I am NOT about to remove it from its case (too chicken)....any tips on this?  I thought about putting a fan or two above the TV to suck out heat (since hot air rises).

3) I know I know I know that arcade monitors are authentic but I just can't afford one.  SOOO, is a TV using S-Video really that bad?  Right now MAME is running on my primary PC with a 17" monitor and I have 25% scanlines on. Looks pretty damn good to me.  I KNOW it's not perfect/acurate but I can live with a little flaw.

Thanks!

-cbmeeks

[delta88]

As far as the wieght issue.. eat more weaties? I'd say a few 2 x4" s and ypour good to go.

I have a Pc in my entertainment center(a tv in a wooden cabinet) hooked up to my 27" phillips via the 128mb vid card using S-Vid. Looks great. a giant pc monitor.

As far as heat. if you take just the rear cover off of the tv you wouldnt mess with anything electronic. Its the front bezel that holds all of the guts in palce.  A fan is alweays a good idea. electronics will act differant once they are under more heat. I Have 6 fans in my pc case and it still runs at 125F and thats a 1.4 not overclocked it goes up ta 145ish if I crank the cpu up ta 1650mhz  so sure a fan will never hurt.

anything else? I can send pics if ya need?

[cbmeeks]

Well, like I said I am chicken...lol

Besides, if I buy a TV and gut it I will probably screw something up.

Do you think the fans would be enough?

Sure!  Send or post pics.

cbm  AT  signaldev.com

[delta88]

you dont have to gut it. You'd only have to remove the back cover off of the tv. its kinda like a shell. Like I said "not messin with electronics"  (but your are building a mame cab?)  

a fan or a small vent/grating on the top of the cab or near the top on the back panel (heat rises) would do.

[TaaJ]

I Have 6 fans in my pc case and it still runs at 125F and thats a 1.4 not overclocked it goes up ta 145ish if I crank the cpu up ta 1650mhz  so sure a fan will never hurt.

Holy crap, get a new heatsink.  Or at least reapply some thermal paste.

[cbmeeks]

Well, I hooked my computer to my livingroom PC and it looked like CRAP!

Mega crap.  Couldn't even read any fonts and Popeye would resize right (bottom third of the screen was below the visible area).

I was using an RCA plug for that.

I may try again using my bedroom TV (newer with SVideo) and get me an SVideo connection to see if that looks any better.

I just know if I take the case off of a new TV my wife will put me in the doghouse.  lol

cb

[fredster]

The fonts look bad, but the resolution isn't near what it was.  The games play great on it.  Svideo or no, it won't look much better.  It's the way it works.

Try using the large fonts, as large as you can, maybe try the accessability features too.

As far as heat goes, you can leave the back of your cab open on top, so it's like an entertainment center.  If you go to garage sales, you can find old pcs and such that have fans in them, or buy one at radio shack.  

As far as the weight goes, just mount it on a self that's glued and screwed to the side walls of the cab.  Use 2x4's and a 3/4" plywood (NOT MDF) self.

I have tied a PC monitor down using ratchet straps in one of my mame cabs.  Another one I built a frame of 2X4's and it's kinda loose.  

[cbmeeks]

Well, too late. Already got 3/4" MDF

I think I will put "L" braces on the sides and plop a 2x4 in the middle...like a pole to help hold the weight