Small LCD (10"-15") questions

[Man-Machine]

Hi there, I'm planning to build a small portable tabletop MAME cabinet that I can move around the house and take it to parties easily. So I'm thinking in using a small LCD monitor (10"-15") but I have a few questions for you guys:

First, where do you find LCD montors like this for a reasonable price? It seems like 14-15" are most available but any smaller becomes harder to find and more expensive because of touch screens or car mounts, industrial grade, etc.

Second, how well do these little LCDs perform with old MAME games? Are they any different from standard bigger LCDs monitors? Plug and Play?

Third, I was also comtemplating using laptop screens. I've seen a few 13" on eBay but I have no idea how to connect a computer to a loose laptop screen. I also have an old Sony laptop that I could use for this project but I need some tips before I taking it apart. I don't know how I'd be sending data and power to it. 


Any ideas on all this???

[leapinlew]

1. LCD's can be tricky in the sense that some resolutions aren't supported and you may have a bit of a time trying to get mame to work on them properly. My last cabinet was a bartop - it has a 17" LCD in it and is made with 3/4" MDF. It isn't light. (around 60lbs).

2. If you do some shopping - you should be able to get a decent LCD screen for under $100.

3. The performance on these LCD screens varies. Even with mine, I notice a bit of tearing. I'm pretty sure it's the LCD because it's happened regardless of what video card/computer I've put on it.

4. Skip the laptop screen unless you plan on using the whole laptop. Check out The Coders Partybox - I believe he used a Laptop with the laptop screen. Connecting a computer to a laptop LCD isn't going to happen painlessly if at all. If anything use a laptop and output to a monitor.

One other option is building an arcade in a box. You can create a control panel and put the computer inside the control panel. You can then plug it up to someones TV.

[Man-Machine]

I'm planning to build an arcade as small as I can, with like a joystick a 2 buttons. Something around this size...

http://www.yvan256.net/projects/micromame/

I have no problem finding 15" LCD monitors but I'd rather get something around 10-13" so that I can get the cabinet to be small and lite. That's what I'm looking for...

If I find an LCD monitor this small, I might put my MacMini in the cabinet. They're only 6.5". If not, then I'd just use the whole laptop. I just don't know how to take the laptop screen apart but still leave it connected to it...

[leapinlew]

We have a few people here who either made small cabinets or are currently making small cabinets. Check out:

Pixelbox - http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=50248.0
Mamemasters Donkeykong - http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=61384.0
The PartyBox - http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=53486.0
Tomatocade (real small) - http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=56653.0

My project isn't as portable, but it's semi-portable
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=60017.0

Good luck.

[Man-Machine]

Hey thanks, great links with lots of great tips!

[Yvan256]

I'm planning to build an arcade as small as I can, with like a joystick a 2 buttons. Something around this size...

http://www.yvan256.net/projects/micromame/

I have no problem finding 15" LCD monitors but I'd rather get something around 10-13" so that I can get the cabinet to be small and lite. That's what I'm looking for...

FYI the LCD screen in that cabinet is a 6.4" Sharp TFT display and video is a simple composite signal from the mini-ITX motherboard. No, the picture isn't sharp, but I also didn't pay a fortune for the display. Got lucky one day on eBay.