My first MAME cabinet ROBOTRON X

[barkbusters]

I was introduced to MAME about a year ago, played it on my PC for about a week till I was completely hooked and had to have a cabinet of my own. After reading posts for about a year I decided upon the Ultimate Arcade II plans. The last time I did any woodworking was in grade eight wood shop. I convinced everyone to get me home depot gift certificates for christmas and very impatiently waited for warmer weather. We gat and warm spell and I went and bought the MDF and BAM more snow. I got up one day and it was sunny but not so warm but couldn't resist. I started laying out the sides of the cabinet and the modified base so I could put casters on it. Everything took about three times as long as it should but I got all the pieces I was cutting cut and right. I built one of the saw boards that are in the woodworking forum and it is the best tool I own next to the router. Using a router for the first time with a pattern bit was probably the most nerve racking thing I have done in a long time. I have almost finished the base, will post pictures when I am done it. The weather after the first day turned to crap again so I started on the CPO and Marquee graphics.

[cmoses]

WOW, looks like a very adventurous control panel - 2 trackballs, 2 spinners, 4 joysticks, and lots of buttons.  I hope you plan to do a test layout to see if it all works for you.

What is the diamond shape in the middle?

[mayhem]

why are u using a xbox logo !!!!

[Bender]

WOW, looks like a very adventurous control panel - 2 trackballs, 2 spinners, 4 joysticks, and lots of buttons.  I hope you plan to do a test layout to see if it all works for you.

What is the diamond shape in the middle?

and a 2 way joystick? that is a lot for one panel 

[barkbusters]

Iam testing the set up on cardboard. Not done yet. I have changed the layout several times, the CPO is the latest but not necessarily last. The diamond in the middle is a Happ throttle and the fourth joystick is a Happ flight stick. I am using the xbox logo because my son got involved and wants his xbox in the cabinet as well. My favourite game ever is ROBOTRON and he added the xbox 360. I am going to use a KVM switch with hotkeys to flop back and forth and I've also got the PC usb wireless adapter for the xbox controllers to use on console setups as well as player 3 and 4 in mame. The panel is 48" wide so it is definately a large 2 player panel but it has all the controls I want for all my favorite games with appropriate space between them, at least thats the goal.

[Spyridon]

Wow, that panel seems like over kill.  I think you really need to scale it back. 

[barkbusters]

Had a great day today. Got the base done with the casters and a good part of the lower cabinet put together. Hopefully the lower cabinet will be done tomorrow.

[barkbusters]

Another good weekend, other than I look like a boiled lobster. Got the bottom finished, the top sides put on, the flange plug put on the back for power and changed the keyboard drawer from the plans. My son had a desk with the flip down keyboard drawer and it eventually got ripped off. The back of the drawer is spring loaded using those magnetic clicky things that are used on glass doors on entertainment centers. The PC parts arrived last week and will be building the PC this week if I can find a free night.
E8400
Gigabyte mobo
8 gig pc8500 memory
Vista 64
2 - 1.5 TB Hard drives
1- 500 GB hard drive
2 port KVM switch to switch between PC and Xbox
7 port USB hub for the CP
I am going to overclock the CPU and hopefully get 4 GHz out of it
I am not ordering the controls until the cabinet is done. I know I would be one to start playing and stop finishing. Not taking the chance. I plan on using,
Ultimarc
3 of U360
2 of U Traks
2 Spin traks
Arcade VGA 2
IPAC
HID board
Groovy Game Gear
Happ buttons with the micro leafs on them
LED marquee Light
Happ
Analog flight stick
Turbo Throttle
Does anyone have a circuit to build fan controllers?

[Ginsu Victim]

You forgot to add sprinkles.

Oh, and where do the kittens come out?

[heemid]

What did you use to draw your CP?

[barkbusters]

I drew the CP in inkscape. Its easy to use and free. Just downloaded it and did the tutorials to learn how to use it. I have never done anything like it and it took about a day to figure out how to do what I wanted and another day and a bit to do it.

[barkbusters]

Saving the sprinkles for last.   

[Ginsu Victim]

Why 3 U360s when you have places for four sticks? Also, with that monster panel, you could've skipped the U360s, got 4 sanwas, then added a dedicated 4-way, since you have no real concerns about over doing it. (Would've saved a bundle, too)

[barkbusters]

The fourth joystick is a Happ Analog Joystick w/ B-8 Grip. I like the U360's because they can be programmed to most sticks easily but most importantly no clicky clicky micro switches. I have a friend that has them, feels like a leaf, sounds like a leaf, and no leaf problems. The reason for over doing it, I spent the better part of my life from about 12 to 19 in the arcade feeding the games every quarter I had. I liked most all the games. Fast forward, get wife, three kids and a full house. I would love to fill my lower level with dedicated machines but would need to get rid of wife and two daughters. I could keep my son he understands. The control panel is the size of a 4 player panel with two players of controls spaced to what I have laid out to be comfortable for me. I want to be able to play as much as I can. My wife very reluctantly gave me a corner to put my machine. I may be able to build a cocktail after that it can go in my sons room but that would be the end of it for my building. Player 3 and 4 will be able to be played using a xbox 360 controller if wanted. If it doesn't work out I'll rebuilt the CP, MDF is the cheapest part of this hobby so far.

[Ginsu Victim]

Oh, I wasn't questioning the use of the U360s themselves. I have them on my CP and love them. I just didn't understand your setup and you clarified. Thanks.

[drventure]

I like the layout, but then, my panel is a tad on the franken- side so maybe that's just me . Is it mainly intended for 2 player or will it be 4 player as well.

One thing that I just realized a few days ago. Even though my outside 2 sticks are 8ways and the middle 2 are u360's, and the 8ways are mounted diagonal, I can still use the, for 2 player, 2 stick each games.

Just map the 360's to the diagonal as well, and the motion becomes quit natural (at least for me).

I just don't have any topfires... Anyone converted a u360 to a topfire

[barkbusters]

It is intended for two players, but my son wants his xbox 360 in the cabinet as well. I got the wireless adapter to PC so the controllers can be used for the 360, console emulators if desired and for player 3 and 4. Having enough space is more important to me than having players 3 and 4 on the CP.

[Ginsu Victim]

3.5 TB of space and 8 GB of RAM? That's a bit much for a cab, don'tcha think?

[barkbusters]

3.5 TB  way overkill for MAME. My kid is into console emulators and has already got over 1.5 TB of crap.  Everything of mine will fit on the 500GB drive. I am running Vista 64 and it runs better on 8GB of ram. Everything I read so far said emulation is all about GHz and the best set up to get the CHD's running full speed was a E8400 dual core O/C'd to 4 Ghz and Vista 64. What's your thoughts??

I am posting here to make record of what I am doing, as well as get other opinions on what I am doing, and maybe occasionally to stop the insanity. I am an electrician by trade, then became a controls engineer before leaving to work for my wife. Most of my past life I don't miss but tinkering I definately miss and this is most certainly the biggest tinker toy ever. It's everything I loved about my past jobs rolled up into one box.

Almost everything I have learned about this is from here, everyone here that contributes should be proud. I can't think of any other website, that deals with any subject that's as comprehensive as this one. Cheers to all. 

[Silas (son of Silas)]

3.5 TB of space and 8 GB of RAM? That's a bit much for a cab, don'tcha think?

I suppose I should keep quiet about the 6x 2tb drives configured with Linux RAID going in my cab then?  (oops, nearly forgot the 8gb solid state drive the thing will boot from)

To be fair though, when my cab is finished it will have 2 purposes. Its main function in life will be to re-home the guts of my linux media server that currently runs 24x7 in the corner of my sitting room and is home to my entire CD and DVD collection. It serves media to 3 TVs, 3 computers and 2 stereos.

I figured why add another PC to my electricity bill, when I can use my arcade cab to serve media?

The whole thing is fanless, mega efficient PSU and all the drives are WD Caviar Green energy saving devices, all set to spin down when not in use, monitor, amp and sub all quiesced based on PC state and the Linux OS runs in Powersave mode for the CPU.

I can hear Tim 'The toolman' Taylor as I type this.... "More Power!"

[barkbusters]

 
Maybe you should call the cab Tool Time.
All hail those who use technology to its fullest.
A cabinet takes alot of room and the more it can do the better.

[Ginsu Victim]

A cabinet takes alot of room and the more it can do the better.

Though some of us are fans of the "less is more" approach.

[barkbusters]

Why exactly do you keep busting my balls??
I am posting here to share what I am doing as well as get ideas to maybe do things better along the way. If I just wanted to show off I would have waited until I was done then posted everything. Obviously you believe less is more and I believe more is more. Their are plenty of people on this forum that believe both ways. Please respect my opinions and help me. Your first post was;
You forgot to add sprinkles.
Well help me out and give me ideas for the sprinkles.
Anyway my monitors arrived today, a D9800 for the main screen and a 7" LCD touch screen to use CP Wizard on or the jukebox.

[Ginsu Victim]

Why exactly do you keep busting my balls??

I wasn't. I just presented an alternative opinion.

Your first post was;
You forgot to add sprinkles.

Oh, well yeah, I was totally bustin' your balls there.

[barkbusters]

Finished the back of the upper cabinet, put in the door and the speakers. I got Logitech Z-2300, cut the hole so they would just fit in. When I laminated it, I taped in 1/4" spacers so the laminate would 1/4" smaller than the real opening. That way I could still use the Logitech grilles and the edges would be finished.
Next sunny day I have off I will be putting in the monitor. I am going to mount it on plywood, double thick 3/4", like the old Williams machines and the door on the back will allow me to remove it from the back instead of having to remove the glass.

[barkbusters]

It's been a while but got the cab finished and wired minus the CP, work on that next. It's playable with the Xbox 360 controllers. My son is loving it. Have lots of config to do. It's safe to be playable only because I want the CP not the controller. Sound is fantastic. The monitor looks great. I have a bunch of cleaning to do yet its quite dusty.

[Donkey_Kong]

It's looking great man!   

[Epyx]

I am sure you will love the D9800, I know I do.  I would recommend removing the digital adjustments board from the back brace and placing it somewhere near the front so that you only have to remove your Bezel/Glass to make monitor adjustments if/when required...saves you from having to call someone in and get into the "how does the colour look now!?"

[kronic24601]

So ... exactly how wide is the area for the monitor? I am looking at the Plans for the UAII but it doesn't say exactly (ya ... I know) it assumes 25", but they use a different monitor. The 9800 (so far as I understand) is 24"wide ... witch doesn't leave much room for a bezel.

Can you help a guy out?

(It is 25", then how wide is the bezel on the sides?)

Thanks!

[Kman-Sweden]

I like it ALOT!   
Are you gonna go H2O to cool the CPU after overclocking?
You might wanna move the Xbox because it'll probably be bouncing ontop of the Z-2300. 

[barkbusters]

kronic 24601
Because I laminated the sides of the bottom cabinet the opening ended up 25 1/16" The bezel is about an inch on both sides I had to cut off less than a 1/4" off each side of the bezel so it would fit, so the cab couldn't be much wider and still have the bezel fit without gaps

Kman_Sweden
Thanks Alot man 
Right now I have it running up to 4.0 Ghz on air only. The Gigabyte motherboard has a pretty easy utility for overclocking. Most of the time its running 3.0 Ghz, only some of the CHDS in mame have made me go faster. When I first put EPSXE on, I used the same setup as my old PC so frame speed wasn't limited. It was so fast you couldn't see movement in the games.
I am building a shelf for the Xbox, my son has just been harassing me about making it playable for him so I turned the bass down and put it on top.

[barkbusters]

kronic 24601
Also I mounted the Monitor on two pieces of 3/4" plywood sandwiched together and cut wedges out of 2 by 4 to support the back of the frame. The whole assembly is bolted in like the old Williams cabs. I put the door in the back so four bolts and the monitor slides out the back. I thought it would be easier than removing the galss and sliding it in the front. Plus the door gave me access so I could mount the KVM switch and the volume control in the back, easy to get to but hidden away. I can take more pictures of the monitor mounting if you would like.

[drventure]

That is one strong setup. I considered it, but, given the state of mame and a lot of the chd games, I figured "put a decent machine in now and in 3-4 years, upgrade when the prices have come down and the cpus have gotten even faster/mame has gotten better at multicore utilization".

Still, If I could've, I would've 

OCing has always been a little intimidating I guess.

[mytymaus007]

Nice cab whats the latest, any new pics. Does surf planet run on your SUPER computer. Luv the game but mine is super slo MO

[barkbusters]

I'm stuck right now. I'm leaving on holidays to Australia for three weeks, so any extra money is going towards that. CP will have to wait till October.

[blackwatchplad]

3.5 TB of space and 8 GB of RAM? That's a bit much for a cab, don'tcha think?

I suppose I should keep quiet about the 6x 2tb drives configured with Linux RAID going in my cab then?  (oops, nearly forgot the 8gb solid state drive the thing will boot from)

To be fair though, when my cab is finished it will have 2 purposes. Its main function in life will be to re-home the guts of my linux media server that currently runs 24x7 in the corner of my sitting room and is home to my entire CD and DVD collection. It serves media to 3 TVs, 3 computers and 2 stereos.

I figured why add another PC to my electricity bill, when I can use my arcade cab to serve media?

The whole thing is fanless, mega efficient PSU and all the drives are WD Caviar Green energy saving devices, all set to spin down when not in use, monitor, amp and sub all quiesced based on PC state and the Linux OS runs in Powersave mode for the CPU.

I can hear Tim 'The toolman' Taylor as I type this.... "More Power!"

....   
  u just blew my mind.. probably the most hardware intensive cab I've ever heard of.
tho a brilliant move.. an arcade cab and a server all in one.
throw a phase change set up in there and overclock the cpu and go for a record on  the most overclocked cab ever.