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Looking for pre-build input
crummy:
Hi all!
I'm looking to start work on my second cabinet soon (first was a test-the-waters bartop). I learned a lot from the first one, and by that I mean I made a lot of mistakes, so I'd like to get some input before I start putting saw to wood.
Specifically, what is wrong with my design? What potential issues could I have, or what should I be wary of? I'm pretty inexperienced at woodwork so I'm trying to keep things relatively simple.
The first cabinet was a pretty simply layout, jostick+6 buttons. I'm looking to go a little more complex this time, and here's the current layout. I'm a little unsure of the trackball button locations - is there a more commonly used location, such as above the trackball?
Thanks for the input!
Edit: Oh, and I'm looking at this computer to run everything. Can MAME be compiled with dual core support? Any large performance increases?
FunWithFire:
I would move the trackball down to where the center of the three buttons below it are, and then reposition the three buttons to line up with the player 1 and 2 buttons at the top. That will give you more spin room for Golden Tee type games. Plus you wouldn't have to worry about your hand hitting or resting on the buttons with games like Marble Madness and such.
shardian:
ditch the trackball buttons all together and use p1 or p2 buttons 345 for trackball games. That is where the trackball game buttons would be on a real machine anyways.
crummy:
--- Quote from: shardian on November 02, 2007, 02:52:41 pm ---ditch the trackball buttons all together and use p1 or p2 buttons 345 for trackball games. That is where the trackball game buttons would be on a real machine anyways.
--- End quote ---
Great, that's good to know. I suppose I could bind those keys to mouse1/2/3 for windows, as well.
u_rebelscum:
--- Quote from: crummy on November 02, 2007, 02:19:17 pm ---Specifically, what is wrong with my design? What potential issues could I have, or what should I be wary of?
--- End quote ---
Is it a little low? Will the marquee block the top part of the screen? Keep in mind I'm 5'11": I'd move the CP (probably eveything) up 4 to 6 inches and the either the marquee back or another ~6" up (for a total of 10"-14").
Again, I'm going on my height, but most arcade cabs have CPs ~38-41" off the ground, AFAIK. And I couldn't stand a lit-up marquee in my face, let alone blocking part of the screen, lit or not lit.
--- Quote --- I'm a little unsure of the trackball button locations - is there a more commonly used location, such as above the trackball?
--- End quote ---
I'd do as shardian said, but map mame so both P1 & P2 buttons work. If you want the "TB buttons" to be mouse buttons in windows or other games, though, some people might get confused without separate mouse buttons.
Anyway, most arcade trackballs were on the left and/or right side of the TB.
--- Quote --- Can MAME be compiled with dual core support? Any large performance increases?
--- End quote ---
Yes it is compiled that way by default, but you need to "set OSDPROCESSORS=2" ("set OSDPROCESSORS=4" for a quad core, ect) and enable multithreading in mame (-mt at commandline or multithreading 1 in mame.ini) to get the full effect. Even so, most games only get a small increase (2%-10% AFAIK). OTOH, a few games get bigger changes (links below). Having a 64 bit OS and 64 bit mame sees a big change on the slower games, too.
Check this thread and the links to the mame32 benchmark page.
edit: punctuation, spelling
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