Anyone here have a MAME cabinet?

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Wondering if anyone here has built one or modified an existing cabinet. I've seen a few sites on them, but was just wondering if anyone has any input on it. How difficult it is, how long it takes, etc. Wouldn't need to be super powerful I wouldn't think. Duron 1ghz or so, G400, 3-4 gig drive, 256MB ram, etc.

Probably would make the cabinet myself instead of buying an old one and working with it. Better to buy something like the HotRod or X Stick or build my own controller?

What type of output? Monitor or a TV? What size?

 

[FatAlbo]

I plan on building one some day. Check out this site if you haven't done so. Lots and lots of info about people's experiences building their cabinets. If you've got the money, you might as well get one of the ArcadePCs from HanaHo Games.

 

[Heretik]

Check out the "Ultimate Arcade Machine" this guy built. Definitely not cheap, but very nice. He gives some ideas on cost and where to get parts, as well.

 

[DeschutesCore]

I built one out of an old Shinobi cabinet back in 2000. I used a K6-2 450 with 128MB for CPS games and classics. My kids loved it, but the controls I had built didn't quite handle the load of three kids and two adults playing on it all the time. We eventually tore it down and gave the parts to a neighbor.

DC

 

[LiekOMG]

Reguarding what type of output to use. While a PC monitor would be a lot easier to look up, i would highly recommend using a TV/arcade monitor instead. PC monitors are just way too sharp and you kinda lose the feel of a real arcade cause you can see the individual pixels.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Damnit those things are high. The full size deal is $4000+$400 shipping. Can take out their P3 1.0 ghz with 10 gig hard drive for $1000, and $600 if you do your own 21" monitor which brings it down to $2400 before shipping.

I could get the pc for $150 or so (I'd just lay the boards inside, no case for the PC). I guess just a 20" flat screen or curved tv? Gonna be assy to see in Windows though. I would probably make it from all wood. Maybe have a black veneir top for the wood.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Anyone else? Looks like it's going to cost a bit more than I thought to build it myself...

 

[Mavrick007]

I was looking at this one the other day online. It's also an ArcadePC but I found a price for it a bit easier.

I wish it told more on the specs though cause I don't know what cpu, mem, hard drive or anything for hardware is included.

Have you checked out Mame X for the Xbox yet? It looks pretty good.

Hehe Got a spare $3000 you can loan me?

 

[ElFenix]

wow, those are pretty cool.

 

[globalstud]

Originally posted by: DOACleric
Reguarding what type of output to use. While a PC monitor would be a lot easier to look up, i would highly recommend using a TV/arcade monitor instead. PC monitors are just way too sharp and you kinda lose the feel of a real arcade cause you can see the individual pixels.

Sorry but that is a terrible idea. The proximity of your eyes to a TV in an arcade cabinet would be torture. MAME had settings to add scanlines to emulate the effect of an arcade monitor.

I'd recommend the fastest CPU you can afford. It will play the newer games. An older CPU will definitely not. One of the credos of the MAME team is that CPU's will get faster so all games will be playable someday. You can do onboard sound and video since you aren't losing much there.

I would like to do this someday. I have never seen many of these games before but they are fun without the glitz.