Irish arcade machine builders

Optimus Prime · 22-10-2010 01:32PM

Thanks guys, can you send me that link? id need to buy a graphics card with s-video out so spending 20 on the cable isnt a problem.

Would prefer to buy it than go through making it myself! Thanks though.

CathalDublin · 22-10-2010 01:59PM

Here's the official soft-15khz developers thread to check which cards are best to use
You'll get much much better, more accurate arcade graphics using Scart(RGB) and soft-15khz
http://community.arcadeinfo.de/showthread.php?t=8170
I can make you the cable if your interested? (you just tell me the length you'd like and give me a day or 2)

Optimus Prime · 22-10-2010 02:10PM

Ive read through that, and i have to be honest i understand very little in it! lol

So i need a VGA to Scart cable, and graphics card that is supported by that project? is that right?

Myrddin · 22-10-2010 02:11PM

Cathal is spot on, stay well away from s-video. Use a vga out in conjunction with soft15khz.

Optimus Prime · 22-10-2010 05:08PM

Do i have to download soft15hz or something off that site, i cant seem to find it anywhere, doesnt help though that its all in German! I have read through, the english parts, and get whats going on now. how do i get a vga to scart cable, doesnt seem to be any on fleabay!

Im picking up a 21inch tv the weekend off adverts has a scart on the back.

Have my pc, but it has an onboard graphics card, not sure if its intel or ati ill have to check when i get home.

Im going to spend some time over the weekend looking at hyperspin seems to look better than mala.

When i measure up this tv i can start building the cab, a carpanter friend is helping me out with this part.

purplec · 22-10-2010 10:59PM

For best results use any series 4 ATI graphics card. You'll pick a 512 up in pc world for 50 euro.

That's the best for soft15khz

CathalDublin · 23-10-2010 01:22AM

heres the link to the download, you'll need it running to display the correct resolution and freq
http://community.arcadeinfo.de/showthread.php?p=59291#post59291
As above i'll make the cable for you if your not confident about diying it.
Hyperspin is a brilliant frontend and i've used it since the first beta but just to warn you don't even try run it without a dual core processor or you'll run into trouble with screen tearing/delayed controls/etc

Optimus Prime · 23-10-2010 10:36AM

CathalDublin - would be great if you could make it i wouldnt know where to start, ill throw you a few quid just let me know.

thanks for the download like there to soft15hz. need to get a graphics card now. my pc just seems to have standard pci though.

CathalDublin · 23-10-2010 03:44PM

You should still be able to pick up an ati pci card no problem or even an agp if you have a slot.
I know marxcomputers have a pci one for 49euro
Put an advert in the wanted section on adverts and I'd say you'd get a card no problem for a tenner.
PM me and I'll make that cable up for you

Optimus Prime · 23-10-2010 04:40PM

I just checked my pc their and it actually only has an agp slot doesnt seem to have any pci S)

oh an i meant to ask whats the general consensus on size of tv? i picked up a 21" today from adverts but looking at it now im thinking maybe its actually too big.

CathalDublin · 23-10-2010 04:58PM

No PCI, Weird? is it a brand name PC?
I'd a 21" TV in mine, then I replaced it with a 21" Polo arcade monitor, I'd actually like to pick up a 25-26" in the future as I find the screen a little small.
I definitely wouldn't go any smaller than 21" unless its a cocktail your planning.

Optimus Prime · 23-10-2010 05:03PM

yeh its a dell pc.

thats cool, i was getting a bit worried.

CathalDublin · 23-10-2010 09:16PM

you'll get a second hand agp card over on adverts that will suit no problem.
sure my ArcadeVGA2 card is AGP and ultimarc still sell them afaik

Optimus Prime · 03-11-2010 03:31PM

i Stuck an update over on the site on what i have done so far, ive done more than this to be honest but walking a fine line between talking about roms, box art, marque, screenshots etc.. lol

http://www.gamersireland.ie/?p=8221

its basically autobooting xp to a frontend and hiding XP.

Let me know what you think.

Thanks

Optimus Prime · 04-11-2010 06:04PM

CathalDublin wrote: »

you'll get a second hand agp card over on adverts that will suit no problem.
sure my ArcadeVGA2 card is AGP and ultimarc still sell them afaik

I keep changing my mind about what way to go with this, ive looked up this ArcadeVga card and im tempted to get this now. My question is though, will this work with a vga to scart cable into a normal crt tv? Or do i need to buy an arcade monitor for it?

sengoku · 04-11-2010 07:15PM

[SIZE=+1]What about other alternatives?
[/SIZE]
TVs
We said earlier that arcade monitors were originally based on TV designs. So why can't you just use a TV and plug into the TV-Out connector on a VGA card? Well you can BUT you will not get an arcade-real picture.............

Read on here! (You'll need to scroll down the page a bit)

Optimus Prime · 04-11-2010 07:37PM

I think im just going to buy that Arcadevga card and use the vga to scart cable CathalDublin is kindly making for me, then use soft15hz.

I just added a load of stuff to my basket over on ultimarc.

For 210 euro delivered i can get pretty much everything i need.

ipac2
arcadevga
12 blue ultralux translucent buttons - 12 leds
2 white ultralux translucent buttons - 2 leds
daisy chain harness
2 x j-stiqs
2 x blue ball tops for the j-stiqs
1-2 player logo inserts
and joystiq mounting kit

Might buy all that next week..

Andrew76 · 04-11-2010 10:39PM

keithgeo wrote: »

I think im just going to buy that Arcadevga card and use the vga to scart cable CathalDublin is kindly making for me, then use soft15hz.

Unless I'm mistaken if you're using the VGA card from Ultimarc then it eliminates the need for soft15hz? That's the one I got anyway for that very reason. I thought that soft15hz was only required if you're going to use an everyday graphics card?

Optimus Prime · 04-11-2010 10:42PM

if thats the case then even better! cheers.

05-11-2010 02:01PM

keithgeo wrote: »

i Stuck an update over on the site on what i have done so far...Let me know what you think.

Great write up. A very concise simple walkthrough of what was actually one of the trickiest parts of getting the right look and feel for my cab, sorting out the boot and login screens and editing registry values to tweak the xp system's behaviour.

Added to bookmarks. Well done.

Optimus Prime · 05-11-2010 03:04PM

Cheers, i plan on putting up everything i do there in step by step format. I have drawn up plans expanding on ones i found on the net too. couldnt really find any decent plans for a cab, bits and pieces here and there. but not one i really liked.

07-11-2010 03:21PM

keithgeo wrote: »

Cheers, i plan on putting up everything i do there in step by step format. I have drawn up plans expanding on ones i found on the net too. couldnt really find any decent plans for a cab, bits and pieces here and there. but not one i really liked.

If I was building a cabinet from scratch, I'd use a 28 inch monitor or a 28 inch TV with a suitable arcade chassis, and model the cabinet on a Japanese Candy.

Now that I think of it, maybe the best design would be the Jaleco Pony III with the 25 inch monitor.

nacimroc · 07-11-2010 07:53PM

Although I would love a 28 inch, I make mine with a 25 inch TV only because that is the maximum width of a door I can get it through. Would be unfortunate to find out after you can't get a finished cab into the house.

Are you going to build a mock up panel to test it all first and get it all set up ?

I dont know if I mentioned before, but the best advice I could give you is NEVER make the cab playable before its finished. When you have it playable it is just far to much fun playing it instead of doing some menial sanding, wiring etc to get it finished!

Myrddin · 07-11-2010 07:59PM

nacimroc wrote: »

When you have it playable it is just far to much fun playing it instead of doing some menial sanding, wiring etc to get it finished!

Thats a great point, I've a few bits left on mine to tidy up etc, but as it's fully playable I've put it all to the back of the list. Leave out something crucial until your ready to start configuring controls/software etc.

Optimus Prime · 08-11-2010 12:13AM

Im going with a 21inch tv myself, i want to keep the cab average size this first time, i got a nice tv with not much bulk on the sides past the screen. im going to drop 220 quid on parts next week and i will hopefully be started the cab at some stage this week.

Optimus Prime · 08-11-2010 04:20PM

Couple of questions re the inside of the cab.

Would you guys take the motherboard, drives etc out of the pc case and mount on the inside of the cab or would you leave everything within the pc case and just stick that inside?

Is there a major need for ventalation, will a few gaps cut in the back with mesh covering them do the job or is there a need for something more complicated?

o1s1n · 08-11-2010 04:46PM

I've seen a few people get a flat board and attach all the pc componant parts to that. You could even screw four JAMMA pcb legs onto the board to give it some authenticity.

Optimus Prime · 08-11-2010 05:01PM

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!

o1s1n · 08-11-2010 05:03PM

I think I read somewhere that it's possible to set it up so that the pc boots up automatically once plugged in - like a real cab would.

Andrew76 · 08-11-2010 05:07PM

keithgeo wrote: »

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!

The very thing I wondered too. There's some power on type connection on most motherboards that you can wire up to the button on your cab. EnterNow could explain better but I've seen his in action, powers up and down the pc. Very cool indeed. Or some motherboards auto power on after being turned off I think.

As for your PC case vs mounting components, I suppose it depends. If you're building a pc from scratch then it makes more sense to just mount the components to a wooden board, no need for a case. Assuming the inside of your cab has a bit of space then once there's some holes/vents here or there it should be fine.
But if you already have the pc inside it's own case then I was thinking that possibly the only reason to take the parts out is for the power on/off wiring issue that you just raised. Anyway, Logie and EnterNow would know way more on this.

Irish arcade machine builders

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