Irish arcade machine builders

Optimus Prime

I had a look in the bios for the auto power on feature and i dont seem to have it on my pc so im going to have to try do something with the power button i think. Set it turn off the pc on a press and wire it up to a button somewhere, maybe onto the underneath of the control panel if i can, im undecided on whether on not get a coin mech on the front, it might look that part though if it powered on the pc.

sengoku

Sometimes the "Auto Power on" is a jumper pin setting on the Mobo. Just follow the wires from the "PC Power on" button to the Mobo, it usually leads you to a cluster of pins. Look on the circuit board surrounding the pins and see if there is any indication of an auto power on setting. The instruction book for your particular Mobo will give more information on the "auto power on" option (if it has one?) and should be available online.

Optimus Prime

Cheers, i never even considered that i will check it out tonight.

sengoku wrote: »

Sometimes the "Auto Power on" is a jumper pin setting on the Mobo. Just follow the wires from the "PC Power on" button to the Mobo, it usually leads you to a cluster of pins. Look on the circuit board surrounding the pins and see if there is any indication of an auto power on setting. The instruction book for your particular Mobo will give more information on the "auto power on" option (if it has one?) and should be available online.

Myrddin

keithgeo wrote: »

Yeh i was thinking about doing that alright but i was just a bit worried about the heat build up inside the thing, but i guess that would be a problem either way. Im also trying to figure out how the hell im going to turn the pc on when its in there lol. can you get extension cables and that to wire up the power button on the pc so its a longer cable, i seen people that can turn on there cabs by pressing the insert coin button on the front, that was pretty cool looking!

I've my pc internals mounted on a piece of pli-wood, and can lift the whole lot out in one if needs be. It's better for heat/ventilation. I have the power button wired to a hidden arcade button on the underside of my control board, from the motherboard power pins to the switch I just used two long pieces of thin electrical wire.

Myrddin

keithgeo wrote: »

Cheers, i never even considered that i will check it out tonight.

You could check & see if a later BIOS revision ads support for it, usually ACPI 2.0 is a good indication there are advanced power management features. If so, all you need do is flash the bios.

nacimroc

Just wire a switch to the PC's power switch! Its 2 wires and any momentary switch will work fine (as in the coin return button on front). It would be annoying to have to plug the unit in every time you want to turn it on.

I also mounted my PC internals to a piece of MDF which was on a keyboard sliding rails so it slid out the back to work on all the bits if needed. You can use plumbers metal strap to hold the parts down and get some PCB feet to hold your motherboard to the timber. If you have any PCI cards they will not sit up straight when out of a case so that plumbers strap works good too.

You should install some fans at least blowing positive pressure in! The exhaust will clear itself if you dont want more fans but don't forget you are putting hot components inside a giant timber box and fans only cost 3 quid each so...

Kidchameleon

Hi All,

Has anybody ever bought from happcontrols.com, if so I assume they ship to Ireland? Anybody any experience with Makvision monitors? Would they be suitable for a Mame cab? I'm looking at this one: http://www.happcontrols.com/monitors/49271500.htm

Do you guys know of any better monitors available out there?

Cheers.

Myrddin

Kidchameleon wrote: »

Hi All,

Has anybody ever bought from happcontrols.com, if so I assume they ship to Ireland? Anybody any experience with Makvision monitors? Would they be suitable for a Mame cab? I'm looking at this one: http://www.happcontrols.com/monitors/49271500.htm

Do you guys know of any better monitors available out there?

Cheers.

Happ controls are 100%, I've used them so they do deliver here alright. That screen is serious overkill for a Mame cab, not to mention the delivery costs on something like that. Contact Mitchomagic here, he should have a few monitors there hanging about.

Optimus Prime

I started building the cab tonight! Cut out the side to measure in a piece of Plywood, going to use that to make the actual sides tommorow night. When you see the wood cutout the excitement starts!

Kidchameleon

keithgeo wrote: »

I started building the cab tonight! Cut out the side to measure in a piece of Plywood, going to use that to make the actual sides tommorow night. When you see the wood cutout the excitement starts!

Could you throw a few pic up? Ill be starting my cab soon aswell!

Optimus Prime

Ill stick one or two up tommorow if i can its just the side in plywood. Ill be taking pics of everything for the guides im putting up on the site. I have plans drawn up too!

Kidchameleon

Just looking at the IPac and JPac and noticed this:

Important Legal Note.
For legal reasons we must state here that the J-PAC is not designed to be used in revenue-earning applications where a credit mechanism is used. The J-PAC contains no specific interface functionality for any credit device. Although it has inputs which connect to the JAMMA coin signals, these are designed such that activating a switch connected to them causes the MAME "coin" keycodes (5 or 6) to be sent. These are designed to be used with panel pushbuttons not coin doors or note acceptors.

While I have no intention of making money out of my Mame cab, id really would love to have a working coin mech. Is there any way to acheive this? I thought the "coin" connection on the IPac would sort it, seems its just for a button.

Note to Mods:

Feel free to remove this post if there are any legal implications.

Myrddin

Kidchameleon wrote: »

Just looking at the IPac and JPac and noticed this:

Important Legal Note.
For legal reasons we must state here that the J-PAC is not designed to be used in revenue-earning applications where a credit mechanism is used. The J-PAC contains no specific interface functionality for any credit device. Although it has inputs which connect to the JAMMA coin signals, these are designed such that activating a switch connected to them causes the MAME "coin" keycodes (5 or 6) to be sent. These are designed to be used with panel pushbuttons not coin doors or note acceptors.

While I have no intention of making money out of my Mame cab, id really would love to have a working coin mech. Is there any way to acheive this? I thought the "coin" connection on the IPac would sort it, seems its just for a button.

Note to Mods:

Feel free to remove this post if there are any legal implications.

Coin mechs do still work with the JPAC. The coin mech is simply wired to a pin on the jamma connector, & functions as Mame key 5. I think what the disclaimer means is that there are no specific inputs on either xPAC for a coin mech.

Optimus Prime

The two side panels are now cut out and looking well! Its coming together now, next week the tv bottom, pc and tv shelve.

Optimus Prime

Just bought this off ultimarc, i was wondering if you guys could let me know if im missing anything ill need??

ArcadeVGA 3000 Card PCIe
Daisy-Chain Harness Cable Type: 6.3mm (1/4in) Connectors
I-PAC 2 Interface.Cable Type: USB Cable
J-Stik x2
Joystick Mounting Kits x2
PCB Mounting Feet
Ultralux 5 Volt LEDs Color: White x2
Ultralux 5 Volt LEDs Color: Blue x12
Ultralux Chrome Illuminated Pushbuttons Color: White x2
Ultralux Chrome Illuminated Pushbuttons Color: Blue x12
Ultralux Logo Inserts Logo: Pack of Start1,2,Coin ($)
UltraStik 360 Extra Tops Color: Blue x2
Wiring Kit 1

Bought a vga to scart cable off ebay the other day too.

Kidchameleon

keithgeo wrote: »

Just bought this off ultimarc, i was wondering if you guys could let me know if im missing anything ill need??

ArcadeVGA 3000 Card PCIe
Daisy-Chain Harness Cable Type: 6.3mm (1/4in) Connectors
I-PAC 2 Interface.Cable Type: USB Cable
J-Stik x2
Joystick Mounting Kits x2
PCB Mounting Feet
Ultralux 5 Volt LEDs Color: White x2
Ultralux 5 Volt LEDs Color: Blue x12
Ultralux Chrome Illuminated Pushbuttons Color: White x2
Ultralux Chrome Illuminated Pushbuttons Color: Blue x12
Ultralux Logo Inserts Logo: Pack of Start1,2,Coin ($)
UltraStik 360 Extra Tops Color: Blue x2
Wiring Kit 1

Bought a vga to scart cable off ebay the other day too.

Putting similar order in soon, how much did all that come to?

Optimus Prime

300 quid including delivery and tax, make sure you order off there in $ though, for some reason its more in € about 50 quid more..

Kidchameleon

keithgeo wrote: »

300 quid including delivery and tax, make sure you order off there in $ though, for some reason its more in € about 50 quid more..

Cheers for the tip man. Keep us posted on your progress

nacimroc

Did you consider your control buttons if you are using a PC? What I mean is the buttons to select the game, 1 player, coin button, escape button, back to menu buttons etc ?

Optimus Prime

1 and 2 player buttons i have, dont have esc etc i thought you can do stuff like that by holding down say 1 player and it makes the other buttons do others stuff, like holding down shift?

I was thinking about it last night alright, im going to have a wireless keyboard too though because i found a great jukebox app too that needs a keyboard.

Myrddin

P1 & P2 Start buttons pressed simultaneously functions as escape with an xPAC. I cannot express fully the awesomness of those devices :cool: You can of course change the button mapping/combos to anything you want too.

Optimus Prime

heres what i got in the post yesterday..

nacimroc

Yes you can! You can hold certain buttons for a shift function, but it might make it a bit complicated for someone who doesn't know how to do it ? (All opinion I suppose so no biggy)

For wireless keyboards this little thingy is great if you havent seen it before
http://www.chinavasion.com/product_info.php/pName/wireless-keyboard-touch-pad/

Myrddin

keithgeo wrote: »

heres what i got in the post yesterday..

Wow, I'm jealous even though I have one Building it is so much fun, trying, but fun. Fair play :cool:

Andrew76

keithgeo wrote: »

heres what i got in the post yesterday..

Nice! I have half that stuff packed in boxes waiting to be put together also, plan to get started after chrimbo. Thanks for the updates keith, keeping my eye on this thread.

Optimus Prime

building the cab is holding me up, i planned to have it finished at this stage, but at the minute i just have the two sides cut out.

o1s1n

Oooh, that looks lovely alright. Nice colour choice!

Optimus Prime

Cheers! Love that wireless thing Nacimroc , might have to get one of them too!! Just been messing around with the pc here, ive pulled the motherboard out of the box and the powersupply and hard drives.

Put it back together on a chopping board for now, have the pc mounting kit screwed into it etc. My power on button was wired up to the motherboard using what looks like a smaller IDE cable. the power button itself was on a small board with a few leds. its directly on the board though and not connect with a cable so i tought i might have a problem wiring up a power on button. But!! I then was messing in the bios and discovered the "Turn on, when the pc recieves power" setting, so im just going to use that. Ive now removed the power button completely from the mother board as its not needed... for now..

Optimus Prime

My vga to scart cable finally arrived from fleabay. 24 euro delivered, its expensive enough but needed. So i can finally plug in my arcadevga card tonight and install soft15hz and hook it up to my tv for the cab!

Andrew76

Pretty sure you don't need soft15hz with that ArcadeVGA card you got from Ultimarc. Says it natively outputs to 15Khz (or 25Khz if needed).