Ultimate MAME machine...
Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 1:17 pm
While telling a freind over the winter I wanted to build a MAME cabinet with the spare computer parts I had. He said "I wonder what it would be like to play Street Fighter on your 55" or with characters 3 feet tall or more".. that really got the gears turning - leading me to the idea of a projector instead of a old monitor mounted in a huge arcade cabinet. - I mean really who didnt sit at a movie theater as a kid just wondering how awsome it would be to play Mario Brothers on that screen? While the projector I have wont get quite that big. I can still get it to a 25 foot screen. Just need to find a screen/wall to project it on it.
what turned out to be an attempt to build a old school arcade machine with spare parts I had has grown quite a bit.
my adventure in buiding a cheap MAME arcade machine hasnt been so cheap. Here is what I have so far.
GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L motherboard- $40.00 - craigslist
p4 3.0ghz processor- $25.00 - ebay
CPU heat sink- $15.00 - ebay
8600gt 512mb vid card - I had one not being used.
segate 40gb SATA hard drive- $19.00 - ebay
g.skill 1gb RAM - I had one not being used
Thermaltake 430W Power Supply - $39.00 - newegg
Benq MP610 DLP 2000 projector - $241.00 - ebay
DVD drive- I had one not being used.
case fans- I have some
wireless adaptor- I had one not being used
keyboard & mouse - $10
power strip- I had one not being used
Stereo receiver - I had one not being used
speakers - ??? not sure what type of speakers I will use yet. I am not sure how i want to go about this one yet- I could either:
1) use computer speakers and mount somplace. I wouldnt need the receiver then. -sound would be poor but easy.
2) mount some nice 6x9 (car speakers) to each side if the case- much better sound -I could use the receiver to pick up radio stations if no wireless network in the area for music. This would add to cost I dont have any currently.
3) just build in speaker connections to the cabinet to allow for connecting to floor speakers. Best sound - less mobil as I would need to lug around floor speakers as well- again would need to buy speakers adding to the cost..
The projector can be used for more than just the arcade. Last night we watched Beowolf on a 110' screen.
I still need
X-arcade controller- for $100 and up depending on the type.(they are sweet just like the old school arcade controlls)
materials to build a screen. (should be under $100)
materials to build the arcade cabinet-with wheels of course. (should be under $100)
So what started out as just an arcade cabinet - I've decided to turn into a mobile gaming/theater/computer. And I say mobil loosly- more like something I can roll around the house if need be. But would be secure enough if i wanted to take camping and needed to haul it. whats camping with out being able to play Pac-Man on a 6 foot screen...
If anyone can think of something I might have missed - or has any ideas on how to go about building the cabinet I would like to hear your thoughts.
Also, do you guys see any problems mounting the electronics to wood? ie:motherboard, PSU- I have a case i could strip down if need be but would rather not if i didnt have to.
I'll keep you guys posted on the progress. I hope to start building in about two weeks.
what turned out to be an attempt to build a old school arcade machine with spare parts I had has grown quite a bit.
my adventure in buiding a cheap MAME arcade machine hasnt been so cheap. Here is what I have so far.
GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L motherboard- $40.00 - craigslist
p4 3.0ghz processor- $25.00 - ebay
CPU heat sink- $15.00 - ebay
8600gt 512mb vid card - I had one not being used.
segate 40gb SATA hard drive- $19.00 - ebay
g.skill 1gb RAM - I had one not being used
Thermaltake 430W Power Supply - $39.00 - newegg
Benq MP610 DLP 2000 projector - $241.00 - ebay
DVD drive- I had one not being used.
case fans- I have some
wireless adaptor- I had one not being used
keyboard & mouse - $10
power strip- I had one not being used
Stereo receiver - I had one not being used
speakers - ??? not sure what type of speakers I will use yet. I am not sure how i want to go about this one yet- I could either:
1) use computer speakers and mount somplace. I wouldnt need the receiver then. -sound would be poor but easy.
2) mount some nice 6x9 (car speakers) to each side if the case- much better sound -I could use the receiver to pick up radio stations if no wireless network in the area for music. This would add to cost I dont have any currently.
3) just build in speaker connections to the cabinet to allow for connecting to floor speakers. Best sound - less mobil as I would need to lug around floor speakers as well- again would need to buy speakers adding to the cost..
The projector can be used for more than just the arcade. Last night we watched Beowolf on a 110' screen.
I still need
X-arcade controller- for $100 and up depending on the type.(they are sweet just like the old school arcade controlls)
materials to build a screen. (should be under $100)
materials to build the arcade cabinet-with wheels of course. (should be under $100)
So what started out as just an arcade cabinet - I've decided to turn into a mobile gaming/theater/computer. And I say mobil loosly- more like something I can roll around the house if need be. But would be secure enough if i wanted to take camping and needed to haul it. whats camping with out being able to play Pac-Man on a 6 foot screen...
If anyone can think of something I might have missed - or has any ideas on how to go about building the cabinet I would like to hear your thoughts.
Also, do you guys see any problems mounting the electronics to wood? ie:motherboard, PSU- I have a case i could strip down if need be but would rather not if i didnt have to.
I'll keep you guys posted on the progress. I hope to start building in about two weeks.