Considering buying an arcade, but I know nothing...

[MrPopo]

Honestly the real difference between building a MAME cab vs. building an arcade cab is that for the MAME cab you'd have the controls go into something like the I-PAC to get them recongized on the PC, while with the arcade cab you would have it go into a JAMMA connector. If I were you I'd look up the pinout for a JAMMA (warning, it's big) and then the buttons, video, and power go into that.

[the7k]

That's really the only difference?

If I had a spare PC monitor, speakers, etc., I could use those even with an authentic arcade circuit board? Most of the MAME cabs I've seen use PC components rather than authentic arcade parts, with the exception of the control panel.

I just thought they'd be incompatible - but again, I don't know anything about this sorta thing.

[MrPopo]

I believe using a PC monitor with a PCB requires you to set up a video circuit to make the PCB's video output match what the PC wants to take in. Arcade monitors operate on a different frequency than PC monitors. Similarly, you can get a PCI card from Ultramarc that lets you output a PC to an arcade monitor, thus you can have all the parts being authentic except the PCB is replaced with a PC.

The main reason that people use PC components for the video and audio is that its cheaper when you're building from scratch. Getting an arcade monitor will run you far more than just sticking in a standard PC LCD, and it requires special hardware to adapt the signal. If I was going to do a MAME cab I'd want to convert an existing arcade machine and use the Ultramarc stuff to keep it as authentic as possible without having to own a ton of PCBs.

[elvis]

Similarly, you can get a PCI card from Ultramarc that lets you output a PC to an arcade monitor

You can also use PowerStrip or Soft15KHz under Windows, or a custom xorg.conf under Linux.

Plenty of documentation for all of the above over on arcadecontrols.com.

[the7k]

I believe using a PC monitor with a PCB requires you to set up a video circuit to make the PCB's video output match what the PC wants to take in.

Something like this? http://www.happcontrols.com/monitors/49272700.htm

[the7k]

Eh, it's looking like no matter how I try to piece it together, I'd still come out a lot cheaper just buying the Darkstalker cab. I might just hope I can get him to come down on the price. Even if it's in horrible shape, the price of an empty cabinet from any place else actually exceeds this thanks to shipping.

Unless someone lives in Broomall, PA and can have this shipped to me on the cheap. http://cgi.ebay.com/Arcade-Empty-Cabine ... 35a578781b

Does anybody know where I could get a cheap build-it-yourself arcade kit? The only ones I've seen are these (http://www.mameroom.com/Categories.asp?ID=UPRIGHT), and they far exceed the price of just buying that Darkstalkers unit.

[MrPopo]

Unfortunately I haven't seen any kits that are cheaper than that site's. That's the real pain in the ass with trying to get arcade cabs; the transportation from seller to you.

[gtmtnbiker]

I just wanted to add, did anyone else think 7k was going to be buying an actual arcade, and not just an arcade machine, when they first clicked on the topic?

Yes. That's what sucked me into the thread.

Ditto. Why can't people put some thought into crafting a half-way decent subject line?

[the King]

Eh, it's looking like no matter how I try to piece it together, I'd still come out a lot cheaper just buying the Darkstalker cab. I might just hope I can get him to come down on the price. Even if it's in horrible shape, the price of an empty cabinet from any place else actually exceeds this thanks to shipping.

Unless someone lives in Broomall, PA and can have this shipped to me on the cheap. http://cgi.ebay.com/Arcade-Empty-Cabine ... 35a578781b

Does anybody know where I could get a cheap build-it-yourself arcade kit? The only ones I've seen are these (http://www.mameroom.com/Categories.asp?ID=UPRIGHT), and they far exceed the price of just buying that Darkstalkers unit.

Just keep your eye out on craiglist for an empty cab or even post a wanted to buy empty cab listing.