First Cabinet from Scratch...

[Ravant]

Well, this is going to be my first constructed arcade cabinet. I'm done trying to get a full arcade experience via PC. I've decided I'm going to make this thing a nice sized, durable upright. I've got it planned to be 72" tall from floor to top of roof, about 28" wide, and most likely 26" deep at the base, a little deeper at the control panel, obviously, and about two inches more shallow at the marquee. The size of the control box is yet to be determined. I'll have to build a mockup once I get all the buttons and joysticks. One thing's certain. It will be four-player. Also, I've got some custom art and my auto-detailing background behind me to paint it... hopefully it'll look nice. The specs are as follows:

PC:

• P4-based Celeron 2.0 GHz processor w/ "aftermarket" cooling.
• 1024 Megabytes (1 gigabyte) of PC2100 DDR RAM
• 40 gigabyte 7200 RPM Hard Drive
• 400 watt, dual-fan Power Supply
• ATI Radeon 9800 XT (removed from gaming PC when upgraded to X850)
• Sound Blaster Audigy 2
• Creative Labs 5.1 channel speakers
• ASUS P4V8X Motherboard
• Aluminum Case with side fan and ducting system for the processor from Newegg.com

Controls:

• Happ Controls Horizontal Microswitch pushbuttons
• Debating over Happ Controls Super Joysticks or Happ Controls Competition Joysticks
• Debating over Happ Controls USB/PS-2 3" or 2.25" trackball.
• Happ Controls Mini Over-Under coin door+ .800mm token coin mech
• Debating on a spinner+serial connection.

Other Specifics

• Vision Pro 19" SVGA Horizontal Mount Monitor
• 15 Watt fluorescent lighting for Marquee

If you want to know any more about it, I'll gladly post it. That's all I could think of at 1:30 in the morning. 

[Minwah]

Sounds good but a few thoughts, assuming this is primarily for MAME:

You probably only need 512mb RAM,
You don't need 5.1 speakers,
You don't really need a nice case, or indeed a case at all,
Don't buy a Happ trackball interface, you can get an Oscar mouse hack to do the same job for $9,
If you get a spinner, don't use serial, again use an Oscar USB mouse hack (you can even use the same one as for the t/ball if you don't mind a switch),
19" monitor sounds too small for the size of the cab, esp. 4 players...I would go for 21" minimum,
An arcade monitor would give more authentic results than an SVGA,
If you were to go for an arcade monitor, and ArcadeVGA graphics card would be a good choice.

These are only suggestions, I don't know what you want to use your cab for.  Good luck with your project

[Ravant]

I appreciate the advice. Lemme explain myself a bit.

Yeah, the PC is a bit of overkill in the RAM department, however, I was able to get 1 gig of RAM for the same price as 512 thanks to a three-day sale that ended last week over at Newegg.com. Also - I'm making the case just to ensure everything is at least mostly organized. The aluminum structure of the case will keep the heat away from the interior components, as well as this case having great fan placement. It was only 23 bucks, and on the same sale as the RAM, shipping was free on all the objects in the order if I ordered the case. I'm not one to pass up a great deal.

Also, either way, I can't use any USB hacks at all. I am running the software from a FreeDos front-end I'm trying to design. And as has been said in countless other posts, we've all been searching for USB DOS drivers for ages. They simply don't exist, unfortunately. Also, I'm not buying a Happ trackball interface. They sell a 3" and 2.25" trackball with the USB/PS-2 interface built-in. Also allows me to buy a cheaper keyboard encoder from Hagstrom Electronics rather than having to get the $119.00 one... I'm saving about 30 bucks by using the Happ Controls trackball.

Also, the 19 inch monitor is saving me almost 200 bucks. I may, if the funding changes, change the arcade cabinet a bit to accept a 27 inch monitor. The reasoning behind 19 or 27 is to get either Vision Pro monitor from Happ's PC Arcade section. Eliminates a LOT of work for me, and saves me a little bit of cash, for I won't have to buy a $200 Universal Video Converter to be able to run VGA resolutions if the need should arise. As for resolutions and getting an arcade monitor, the monitor types that I'm using support lower resolutions enough to simulate an actual arcade monitor, however, scanlines will have to be simulated. They only support maximum resolutions of 800x600, anyway.

Again, I appreciate the help. And to add to my first post, the total estimated cost of the project is around $1,400 if I go via a 19" monitor, or $1800 if I go via the 27" one.

[elvis]

I have to agree with Minwah here... a 19" in that beast will look like a postage stamp.

When it comes to monitors, size matters.  I'm using a 21" in mine and it's way too small, and I've only got a 2P cab.  I'd hate to see 19" on a 4P.

Luckily I've just won an ebay auction for a 26" tube which is heading my way right about now.

[ras2a]

I'll chime in with the screen size too, a 25" TV in mine and I'd still prefer something bigger (28").  Deffo get as large as you can.

[Ravant]

Well, thanks for the info. I figured the price difference would be worth it, but upon a second look at the monitor, I decided to go with a 27" monitor instead, and have to redesign the demensions. I doubt if the plans will be fully adhered to, but hopefully things will go well. Any other advice, or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

[Ravant]

Well, this project is, unfortunately going to take to the back burner for a while. My car was a victim of a hit & run which caused over $2000 in damage. When I can fix the car, and finally save up for the arcade again, the project will take to the skies once more.

[Com[Plex]]

because size does matter,
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,32551.0.html

I used a 31.5 inch mitsubishi vga monitor for my dinner table cab.
I could go bigger...