How to Build a Kick-Ass MAME Arcade Cabinet

[HardOCP News]

MaximumPC has posted a guide today that details the process of building an arcade cabinet out of an old PC.

You can bring the classic arcade experience back to life, in your own house. With a MAME arcade machine, you and your friends can play your favorite old games, on the authentic controls they were made for. In this article, we’re going to show you, step-by-step and with a lot of pictures, exactly how to build the custom arcade machine you’ve always dreamed about using old PC parts.

 

[tenjuna]

$800 and a weekend

 

[tenjuna]

oops sorry for the double picture :-/

 

[synapsis]

I already posted about mine here: http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1445220

It spends 85% of the time playing AVIs on my main TV, 10% playing Galaga, and 5% playing odd random Japanese porn games.

 

[Sacrilego]

$800 and a weekend

LOL, I put in the same altec lansing speakers on mine
My cabinet looks really getto though, working on cleaning it up.

 

[J-Will]

makes me want to build one

 

[srangara]

Anyone done a table version?

 

[MrLonghair]

Real arcade [H]ardware is the thing go with.

Waiting three months for the right time to have it hitch a ride in a truck up to my city:

$75

The one arcade game I've always wanted, on an original legal arcade PCB: $120

Setting that bastard to free-play and mastering it in the privacy of my own pantsless home: Priceless

 

[PurduEE]

Awesome find!

My dad and I used to play lock-n-chase all the time on my old Intellivision. Those are really fond memories.

 

[dnphamus13]

I already posted about mine here: http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1445220

It spends 85% of the time playing AVIs on my main TV, 10% playing Galaga, and 5% playing odd random Japanese porn games.

Only 5%....

 

[dandoekno]

could i use a socket 478 pentium 4 to power one of these?

 

[Time2Kill]

could i use a socket 478 pentium 4 to power one of these?

Yes

 

[Serpico]

I wish the article had gone deeper into the different types of buttons and joysticks out there. I modded my fighting sticks a few months back and now I wouldn't dream of using anything but Sanwa buttons.

http://www.modchipman.com/30mm-sanwa-pushbuttons-30mm-c-144_145_147_153.html
http://www.gamingnow.net/30mm-pushbuttons/obsf-30

Ridiculously sensitive, no resistance, reliable as hell, you just can't go wrong with them. Pair that with a Sanwa joystick and you're good to go.

Here's a shot of the Hori sticks I modded recently (I almost feel guilty calling it a mod, it was as simple as changing the stock Hori buttons to Sanwas and changing the ball-top to match the color )

I know I'll be using similar parts if I ever build a MAME cabinet someday. Fun stuff.

 

[Serpico]

Oh man, the link of shitty MAME cabinets that the article links to is hysterical: http://www.wickedretarded.com/~crapmame/

WTF?

 

[Serpico]

HAH, pwned

 

[JAdamz]

Mine...started with an old Centuri Track & Field cabinet that I got for free: